WCU Stories      August 23, 2018

Nick Provost ’13 (left) and Peter Moyle ’13 (right) are co-owners of a startup business called Gnarcissist Gear, which specializes in affordable and sturdy polarized sunglasses. Provost and Moyle developed their business plan as part of a class assignment when they were students at WCU. The plan won the 2013 Awesome Business Idea Competition hosted by SiteDart of Franklin and a $1,000 cash prize, which they used to register a trademark and order their first shipment of product.

The inexpensive and durable eyewear accessories are designed for outdoors enthusiasts in particular. The sunglasses now are available in 20 retail shops in Western North Carolina and several other states. “We’re really trying to take it to another level this year,” Provost told the Smoky Mountain News in a profile on the business. His partner Moyle told the newspaper, “It’s been quite the journey…because doing something under your own idea and self-motivation is just such a good feeling.”