History
1994 | UD purchased Rudy’s Fly-Buy, providing oversight to the students who operated the business. Meanwhile, four UD students recognized the potential of Rudy’s and formed Dayton Student Agencies (DSA), a group that researched additional student-business opportunities. DSA created comprehensive business plans for three new businesses: a UD clothing outlet, a bagel shop café and a gourmet coffee shop—all of which formed the foundations of Flyer Enterprises. After viewing DSA’s proposals, Dr. Deborah Bickford saw potential for a coffee shop in the LTC space of UD’s Roesch Library and worked with the students to launch the second student-run venture at UD, The Blend.
2000 | While Rudy’s Fly-Buy and The Blend each had divisional presidents, both entities were not associated. Both student-run businesses recognized their common need for a formal advising structure and stronger University control. In joining forces, the two student-run businesses approached UD faculty to design a new student-run business model.
2001 | After working with faculty, the two student-run businesses merged together to form Flyer Enterprises. The corporate model called for a Board of Directors, made up of University administrators, to provide oversight to the student Executive Team, made up of divisional presidents. Rudy’s and The Blend also had divisional management teams responsible for daily operations. The structure provided limited advisement from the University while ensuring that the ventures remained student-run.
2002 | Flyer Enterprises opened its third division, The Blend Express, a coffee store modeled off of The Blend. The Blend Express is located in the Atrium of Miriam Hall, UD’s business school building.
Later that year, another important partnership manifested between Flyer Enterprises and UD Dining Services. Contracts were arranged for joint ventures between the two entities, and FE’s fourth division, Rudy’s on the Hill, later renamed Stuart’s Landing (nicknamed Stu’s), was born. Stu’s is a popular convenience store for residents of Stuart Hall, a first-year dorm located up the trek of Stuart Hill.
2004 | The Galley Café, a snack shop that serves ice cream, opened as Flyer Enterprises fifth division and a joint venture with UD’s Dining Services. The Galley Café is located in Kennedy Union.
ArtStreet Café, a wholly owned division of Flyer Enterprises, opened in November as the sixth division. The eatery is located in the center of the UD student neighborhood and offers Panini sandwiches, quesadillas, lettuce wraps, and salads.
2006 | In January, the third joint venture with UD Dining Services, The CHILL, opened as a part of UD’s new, state-of-the-art RecPlex. In its first semester of operation, the CHILL offered only fat-free frozen yogurt and bottled drinks. Flyer Enterprises managers led the development of a full product line made up of popular smoothies and healthy snacks.
2007 | Flyer Enterprises closed Rudy’s Fly-Buy. Although the division struggled to generate sufficient profits, it established potential growth opportunities for Flyer Enterprises and is remembered as the stepping stone of the student-run business.
Despite the loss of its first division, Flyer Enterprises received another venture opportunity in August to operate a joint venture with the UD Bookstore. Flyer Spirit, a UD-themed clothing store, was established as Flyer Enterprises first off-campus division and opened on Brown Street.
2009 | Flyer Enterprises’ eighth division, FE Catering, opened in August which combined the catering services of The Blend and ArtStreet Café. The newest division operates out of ArtStreet Café and takes catering requests in the FE Office located in Miriam Hall, room 303.
The same year, a group of students independent of Flyer Enterprises were approached by UD’s Business Administration dean, Dean Matt Shank, to create a nonprofit student-run business. The group of students created a business proposal for Flyer Consulting, a student-run nonprofit consulting group that would provide business advice to Dayton area nonprofits. Flyer Enterprises adopted Flyer Consulting as its philanthropy, donating 10% of its revenue annually to the student-run nonprofit.
2011 | Flyer Enterprises runs a pilot program for a potential new venture. The program is successful, and Flyer Enterprises adds FE Storage as their ninth and first service-based division. FE Storage offers students a convenient opportunity to store their belongings over the summer.
Present | In just ten years, Flyer Enterprises has grown tremendously and is currently one of the fastest growing student-run businesses in the nation. It operates nine divisions, has more than 170 student-employees, and is the only student-run business in the U.S. with a philanthropic arm. The students of Flyer Enterprises continue to explore growth opportunities and serve the UD community as needed.