Students can now purchase textbooks for less money, thanks to the success of the U football team.
Demand for the red, white and black products sporting the U logo are up, and so with an increase in sales, the U Bookstore said it plans to return the extra revenues to students.
“Having this great football year is allowing us to lower text books by 5 percent,” said Earl Clegg, bookstore director.
“Our sales are up dramatically; they have increased in excess of 50 percent.”
U students must buy the books with their UCards in order to receive the discount.
Trevor Snarr, a junior majoring in public relations said, “I have a U hat, beanie, hooded sweater and two T-shirts-one is a MUSS shirt the other is retail.”
Apparel is the “most profitable item” in the U bookstore, according to Clegg.
Jed Dymock, merchandise buyer for the bookstore said, “We are able for the first time to discount books for students.”
Not only have sales in apparel increased, Clegg said, “It’s helped build sales in other departments.”
That increase in revenue will allow the store to give back to the students in other ways as well.
“All salaries, heat, everything is paid by the bookstore, if there is money left over at the end of the year, it is given back to the university to build parking lots or fix up Kingsbury Hall. Whatever is left over after paying the bills goes back to the U.”
Clegg added, “The more money the school has, the more scholarships they can give.”
Not all students, however, are as excited about the football team or about purchasing U products.
Heather McGirk, an undecided freshman, said she dosen’t own any U apparel. Ty Campbell, a senior studying political science, said he bought a U hat because he “felt like [he] wasn’t supporting [his] school.”
The apparel items in highest demand for U students are hooded sweatshirts, beanies and T-shirts, according to U bookstore officials.
Within the past four years, the bookstore has begun to sell apparel for both men and women.
In years prior, most apparel was only available in men’s sizes, cuts and styles.
Sales up in the Salt Lake Valley
Not only has the campus bookstore seen dramatic increases in the demand for U products, but local stores that carry U products have also seen increases in the demand and in sales of the products.
Jesse Calvillo, assistant manager at a local (350 W. 1300 South) Wal-Mart said, the products “are selling like crazy.”
Calvillo also mentioned that there has been an increase in the sales of red-colored products such as raincoats, umbrellas and beanies.
“We push it up front on game day and watch it go out the door,” Calvillo said.
Reana Butterfield, apparel assistant at a local Fred Meyer (3215 S. 3200 East), also said that there has been a large increase in the amount of apparel sold that bears the U logo and that has the red, white and black colors of the U.