I’m Oliver Smith, a 23-year-old final year Marketing, PR and Advertising student here in Derby. I’ve always felt driven to experience as much as possible. University was up there on that list of things I felt I couldn’t afford to miss, and Derby ended up being the perfect choice for me, especially because of its central location and the balance it offered between my studies and the lifestyle I wanted. Derby was my only choice, and I’m thankful I got in.
My biggest consideration alongside university is my passion for motorsport. I compete in Trials, a sport about navigating motorcycles over obstacles slowly, and avoiding putting your feet down or inadvertently cartwheeling down hills. I’ve been riding since my dad put me on a bike at the age of three, and it's taken me around the world, competing in championships alongside friends and building memories I’ll never forget.
A typical week
Doing all this alongside uni is a challenge in itself, though the lesson structure allows me to have enough time to focus on my studies for two days a week and leave the rest to balancing everything else.
- Depending on how badly I have cartwheeled the bike at the weekend, Monday is traditionally spent washing and fixing my poor bike and any renovations needed on my van conversion (my other hobby that takes an unhealthy amount of time).
- Tuesday and Thursday are spent at university for my seminars and lectures.
- Wednesdays are for riding and training.
- Fridays are spent getting ready before spending both weekend days riding somewhere in the UK.
I do a ridiculous amount of miles each year. I think 27,000 just in Trials miles. Around this, I go to the gym 3-4 times a week, an occasional MTB (Mountain Biking) adventure for product testing, which leaves the evenings for work and lazing on the sofa. But regardless of where I am, I’m also thinking of projects that could help grow my business.
Starting a business
When I began my foundation year at Derby, I decided it was the ideal time to invest all the money I had saved into a new business. I identified a gap in the Trials market for cost effective clothing that still retained a high quality. In recent years, gear brands have shifted to a corporate look, with all riders clad in lycra and barely distinguishable from each other, losing their individuality outside of riding style. I wanted to change this by introducing unique designs that stood out from other brands.
So my solution was to start ‘MIRO’, where each year I can update the clothing to suit the market trends in both Trials and other bike related sports. I also experiment with limited edition collections to generate buzz and attract attention for the brand. The year’s theme has been Cars the movie, which has been a hit with the engine loving community of Trials, as well as big children.
MIRO got its name from my dog Milo. Possibly the most docile, simple creature ever, his laid back nature inspired the feel for the brand. The logo is then the Cantonese symbol for ‘big’. Originally I thought it meant ‘dog’, but a business trip to Taiwan led to me finding out the true meaning after ordering a Big Mac. A happy coincidence.
To produce the clothing, I found a supplier in Pakistan who was able to fulfil small order quantities at a suitable price to maintain profit margins. Once that was sorted, I started the design process, sending everything over for production. Since our first batch, we’ve refined the process together, and now, four collections later, we’ve created a product we’re both really proud of.
Making it work
Most people were supportive when I started the business, especially my parents, whose advice was invaluable. They've both built their own businesses, so their guidance helped me avoid mistakes. I couldn’t have done it without them (cheers Ma and Pa). What I didn’t expect was how much support I’d get from the University itself.
In my second year, I found out about ‘Be the Boss,’ a programme that helps students develop their own businesses while studying. My lecturer encouraged me to enter the ‘Pitch Perfect’ competition, where I presented my strategic business plan to a board of business experts. Not only did I win funding, but I also made valuable connections that have helped MIRO grow, both from people within the University and outside business contacts. That’s been the big outcome from this that I truly value.
Balancing my time between studies, running a business, and competing in sport is no easy task. Some weeks can be overwhelming, but the support I’ve received at Derby - from lecturers to university services - has made all the difference. Whether it’s flexibility with my course schedule or opportunities to connect with people who can help grow my business, Derby has truly helped me thrive in multiple areas.
Achieving balance
Of course, university life isn’t all about hard work. I’ve made some amazing friends through sport, and while my social life looks a bit different compared to the typical uni experience, it’s been fulfilling. My time at Derby has taught me the importance of balance and making sacrifices to reach long-term goals. I did try out the party lifestyle during my first year, and while I enjoyed it, I knew that if I wanted to succeed in both my business and sport, I’d need to make some changes. If you want to make strides in your path, throwaway experiences like that are definitely worth having, but not living to.
MIRO is now four years old and beginning to stretch its legs within the business world. Yes, it’s often challenging to balance the three facets of my life. Some days the amount there is to get done becomes overwhelming and I become a passenger on a train of bad thoughts and no productivity. On the contrary, the days where I am in the zone and tick all the jobs off my list are great.
I’ve personally seen peers in classes start their own business alongside studying and do so successfully. Where I differentiate is participating in sport at a world level, so my time is constantly divided between the business and sport. Each both aids and distracts from every other aspect of my life.
But the whole purpose of studying Marketing alongside starting my business was to marry them so that each aspect could help the other. Now in my third year I can see the benefits of having a way to constantly compare and contrast my studies within the real world. It’s allowed me to apply everything learned in both situations back into each other. This has taught me invaluable lessons. Everyone involved at the University of Derby has been supportive in my endeavours, which I can’t thank them enough for.
Looking into the future, I want to see the business grow and eventually start knocking on the door of bigger brands, breaking into new countries and department stores across the globe. Mountain Bikes are my next venture, where I want to take MIRO into shops in the UK, and support my little brother in his efforts to be a professional in that sport. I’d like to graduate with a good degree I can be proud of. And all I really want is a Go Outdoors Trade member card. That’ll do.
Discover our Marketing courses
.png)
.png)
-(1).png)
