By Yael Even
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.—A student-run business in Fayetteville brings vintage to its online site.
The owner of Voyce, Preston Parkhill, is a sophomore advertising and public relations major from South Lake, Texas. He has hosted over a handful of pop-ups before, but he said he is working toward growing his online audience.
“I am really just trying to create an online community as strong as my past audience in Dallas,” Parkhill said. “I also am looking to take a few more ambassadors and really focus in on ‘local celebrities’ and build more of a community in Fayetteville.”
Parkhill said he is in contact with a few basketball players from the U of A. He hopes to create NIL deals to have them represent his brand. Regardless, for Parkhill, the message behind Voyce dates to his roots.
“At the end of the day I just want to put out the most creative pieces,” Parkhill said, “While still maintaining those low prices.”
Parkhill said his love of vintage began in high school. He created Voyce in quarantine of 2020.
“My favorite thing to do is finding something you’re passionate about and seeing how you can make money off of it,” Parkhill said.
He hosted his first pop-up shop out of his parent’s garage. Parkhill said he got his close friends together to create some content, but—little did he know—there would be a long line of eager customers ready to get their hands on Voyce products.
“That first pop-up set such high expectation,” Parkhill said. “I think I sold out of everything but 10 items.”
Straight out of his parent’s garage, he is now preparing for his ninth pop-up at B-Unlimited. But Parkhill said the transition to Fayetteville was not easy at first.
Voyce Ambassador Max Hooten, sophomore business and information systems major from Bentonville, said he found out about Voyce through Parkhill.
“I love vintage myself,” Hooten said. “It’s easy to be an ambassador for a company you believe in and see as positive.”
Parkhill said he began donating 10% of funds to the National Alliance on Mental Illness after losing a close friend and co-partner.
Connor FitzGerald, a sophomore business major from Kansas City, Missouri, said he has loved seeing Voyce flourish.
“When I first heard of Voyce there were four different owners,” FitzGerald said. “Last year a lot of them dropped out and now Preston solely kind of runs Voyce. I think it’s grown in the sense of what Preston wants it to be.”
Beyond the clothes, Parkhill said he enjoys sharing his passions with the people he meets along the way.
“I’m like a little kid living my dream out there talking to people and selling clothes,” Parkhill said. “I just like making people feel cool.”