|
news
Shop
until you drop, give back to campus
By Laurisa Franklin
On-line Forty-Niner
Prada bags, high
heels, movie posters, logo stickers, key chains, and even
your name on rice can be found at Cal State Long Beach for
students to purchase.
Shopping on campus
will not only help you, but CSULB as well.
"We want our
students to be happy," said Roman Gulon, general manager
of the Forty-Niner Shops, Inc. "We look for vendors that
offer the best goods at the best prices."
Shopping on campus
can help students save money on reliable merchandise. In the
Shops students and faculty can find items like books, food
and clothing. These items are well researched by "professional
shoppers" like Gulon before they become available to
students.
The books offered
by the bookstore are mainly publishers that the CSULB faculty
chooses for classes, or for their own research.
Food offered on
campus is based mostly on quality. The food service industry
is looking for competitive prices, and what students and faculty
on campus like.
CSULB clothing
is also sold on campus. Many students and faculty enjoy wearing
clothes that show their college pride. Gulon shops for clothing
ideas in several different ways.
"We look at
gift shows for what the trends are," Gulon said. "We
also look to see what other campuses are providing."
If you cannot find
what you are looking for indoors, you might want to look outside.
Many off-campus vendors are invited to sell their products
to students and faculty.
Purchasing Director
Bill Beck looks for outside vendors that have done a good
job in the past, are pleasant, take returns, and follow all
the rules.
"We want to
provide items that students cannot find in the stores on campus,"
Beck said.
Beck oversees these
vendors to make sure they are selling items that are good
investments for students. Beck explains that while they are
always looking for new vendors, he gives priority to seniority.
The Shops want to provide items that students consistently
buy.
"If the vendors
don't sell, we don't have them back," Beck said.
Beck believes that
these vendors are good for students. He said their services
provide students with options.
"Students
are busy and don't have time to go shopping," Beck said.
"These vendors allow them to grab a little gift quickly
while they are here."
One concern that
many students have is about the credit cards advertised on
campus. The companies that provide credit cards on campus
are first cleared by the Shops. Currently CSULB has only two
credit card companies on campus.
"We want to
make sure that students don't have too many cards, and get
themselves into trouble," Beck said.
Credit card companies
are screened for reliability and asked not to be offensive
or aggressive towards students.
"We have already
asked three credit card companies to leave and not return,"
Gulon said.
While shopping
on campus may benefit students, it also benefits the school.
The Shops have
a program called "Keep it on campus." Because the
Shops is a non-profit organization, their profits go directly
back to the school. According to the Shops Web site all revenues
from the sales of products and services from their operations
go toward improving facilities, services, and to supporting
the mission of the campus. Campus programs they assist include
Associated Students, Inc., President's Scholars, visiting
artists, Student Orientation and Registration, University
Outreach, athletics, and more.
A percentage of
the merchandise that is sold by off-campus vendors outside
also goes back to the school. The percentage varies by the
volume each vendor sells, but is usually around 15 to 20 percent.
A portion of the
Shops mission statement explains their intentions. The role
of the corporation is to provide appropriate goods and services
at a reasonable and competitive price, and to help develop
and maintain an effective learning environment.
The shops on campus
are not just for coffee, scantrons and textbooks. They allow
students and faculty opportunities to shop quickly and productively.
The next time students are in need of a pair of heels, consider
a store where the most time is spent, CSULB.
|
