Graduation
gifts offered on, around CSULB campus
By Kristen Wooley
On-line Forty-Niner
 Finding
the perfect graduation gifts around this
time is not as hard as one would think.
Parents, friends and fellow graduates have
a wide variety of gifts to choose from in
the University Bookstore gift departments.
“May is our second busiest month next to
December for purchases.” Fred Neely, director
of bookstore services said. “As we get closer
to graduation, more people buy popular items
that represent the years spent at college.”
Shoppers can find license plate frames,
T-shirts and mugs with Cal State Long Beach
logos on it. Very popular items, which Neely
said are a more recent addition to the merchandise
are certificates of appreciation and Thank
You notes. The certificates and notes can
be given to fellow graduates, teachers,
family and anyone that would like to give
thanks to the people who have supported
them through their college career.
Diploma frames are another hot item at the
bookstore.
“They have become very popular over the
last five years because diplomas used to
be able to be sealed in a plaque form, now
they can be conveniently framed,” Neely
said.
All the traditional merchandise is sold
as well including university seal medallions
that can be worn with cap and gowns to regular
school logo T-shirts. Teddy bears
wearing class of 2003 logos, souvenir tassels,
and various colored graduation stoles and
alumni merchandise, also in great demand
during grad time.
“People had come in before asking about
party supplies in previous years, so this
year we started carrying streamers, confetti,
paper plates and napkins that are graduation
related.” Neely said. “We try every year
to find new and different ways to keep students
and buyers happy.”
For the less ambitious shoppers that don’t
want to fight the traffic in the bookstore,
there is an on-line ordering option. Almost
all of the popular graduation gift items
can be ordered on shopthebeach.com. For
those last minute gifts, the bookstore sets
up tents on campus during graduation weekend,
that Neely said attracts a lot of buyers
that want to hand the graduate something
on the graduation date.
Those looking for gifts outside of school
affiliated merchandise have often visited
local flower shops and even car dealerships
for the luckier graduates.
“This is a time that does increase sales
mostly around late May to mid June. We sell
a lot of base trucks and Corollas, nothing
real expensive. But a lot of people end
up walking away with a car for graduation,
it’s great,” Jaime Navarro, assistant sales
manager at Toyota of Long Beach said.
Bringing a little color to the picture,
flowers are great to had or send graduates
on the actual day.
“We usually see around a twenty percent
increase in sales during graduation.” Robb
Gerkin, co-owner of Flowers by Vickie said.“We
sell a lot of mixed bouquets and Hawaiian
lays, as well as balloons and graduation
themed teddy bears.”
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