March 18, 2024
Annapolis, US 38 F

Annapolis Startup Wins $10K Grant & Car From Scion

Reed Gallant won $10,000, a new Scion, and year of mentoring to launch her new business, Roaming Republic.
Reed Gallant won $10,000, a new Scion, and year of mentoring to launch her new business, Roaming Republic.

Reed Gallant, owner of Roaming Republic, was named winner and finalist of the Scion Motivate Contest sponsored by Scion Motors. Scion accepted applications from young entrepreneurs across the United States in an effort to support new business growth in the fields of art, music, video and fashion. Gallant, along with 49 other semi-finalists, was chosen from a pool of 1,700 applicants to attend the Scion Motivate event in Santa Monica, CA last week. Semi-finalists had access to a bevy of talented business professionals and attended workshops designed to help take their businesses to the next level. Ten finalists were chosen to receive continued assistance from mentors, a $10k prize, and a new Scion.

Born and raised in Baltimore, MD, Gallant received a BA in Art from Washington College in Chestertown, MD. Gallant’s affinity for travel took her all over the globe before settling in Annapolis, MD. She comes from a long line of entrepreneurs and “it just felt natural” Gallant said about starting her business last June. Gallant’s company, Roaming Republic, is an import boutique focusing on women’s accessories from all over the world. She is a supporter of Fair Trade and hopes to establish her own collective of artisans abroad, bringing them financial sustainability while working with them to design and develop a line of accessories that will utilize the traditions and heritage unique to their countries while keeping up with current fashion trends.

scionScion stated “We invited 50 passionate entrepreneurs to our Motivate event in March 2013. But for 10 incredibly talented entrepreneurs, that was just the beginning. Those 10 winners impressed our mentors so much that they will receive ongoing guidance over the next 12 months, a $10K prize, and a new Scion to help them on their way to take their business to the next level.”

Gallant plans on attending festivals and markets this summer throughout the mid-Atlantic to promote her business and expand her brand. She will be attending the First Annual Charm City Folk and Bluegrass festival in Baltimore, the 3-day Privateer Festival in Fells Point, and many more to be announced. She and a colleague are starting a weekly Art Market-called mARTket- in the parking lot of 49 West Coffee House in Annapolis, running every Sunday from mid-April through October. Gallant also sells her items online at www.RoamingRepublic.com.

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