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Confederette Volleyball Player Finds Her Niche Via Internet [Times Record, Fort Smith, Ark. :: ]
[September 02, 2014]

Confederette Volleyball Player Finds Her Niche Via Internet [Times Record, Fort Smith, Ark. :: ]


(Times Record (Fort Smith, AR) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Sept. 02--Claire Wilson could have just as easily found herself working the deep fryer at one of the many fast food joints that line Rogers Avenue.

But Wilson saw her future a year ago via the Internet, and it had nothing to do with serving fries. The Southside volleyball standout is working toward her future as a local retail blogger.

She promotes a number of area stores that pay her for her services with store credit.

"I started my fashion blog last August," she said. "I basically started it because I wanted to inspire other people about clothing and what they can wear. Basically, I work with a few stores, and each month I promote their clothing throughout the month, and I'll get a credit for the store and I'll get to pick out the clothes, and I'll style them how I want to and get to pick out the clothes." It's not a six-figure job just yet. But Wilson has her foot in the door.



"Hopefully, I'll get paid within the next few years," Wilson said. "I'm planning to attend some blogger conferences and figure out ways to make good money." Big-city bloggers can earn up to $100,000 or more, Wilson said.

"It's different from what other kids are doing," she said. "I hope to do something in the future with digital retailing or e-commerce. It's been a good fit." Wilson, who is involved with Southside's FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), competed in a web design contest as a junior and qualified for nationals. At first, Wilson didn't tell her parents about her fashion blog.


"I just kind of did it on my own," she said. "I watched YouTube videos for hours every day. I would sit in my room watching YouTube videos -- how to do it, how to start it. Within the next two months, I told my parents I was doing it and then my mom (Kim) started taking my pictures for my blog, and now she proofreads everything for my post and my dad (Steve) looking for magazines to give me to keep up on fashions." When she's not blogging or breaking down fashion trends, Wilson has become a key cog in the Confederettes' volleyball success. She isn't the biggest player or the hardest hitter.

But the 5-foot-8 outside hitter quietly contributes.

"Coming up as a 10th-grader, she was kind of under the radar," Southside coach Steve Haaser said. "Going into last year, we thought we would try Claire, but there were some strong doubts she could do the job.

"(But) she stepped up and performed tremendously last year, and she's carried that over to this year." Wilson and teammate McKenzie King had 10 kills apiece in Thursday's sweep of Russellville. But Wilson admits an influx of talent -- with the addition of Maddie Pressley and Andee Tiffee -- didn't guarantee playing time.

"I definitely have worked for my position," Wilson said. "Last year, I played outside hitter, but we have so many good girls, I'm going to have to work hard every second to get playing time.

"It's stressful but I think it's good for all of us." "She's (Wilson) a sweet girl," added Haaser. "She's just a good solid player." Wilson's blog can be found at the following address: http://clairewilsononline.com ___ (c)2014 Times Record (Fort Smith, Ark.) Visit Times Record (Fort Smith, Ark.) at www.swtimes.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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