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Boosting bookstore sales
By Ryan Parker
parkerya@mscd.edu

Photo by Cora Kemp • ckemp4@mscd.edu Though she works in the Auraria Campus Bookstore, Metro student Wendi Garritano is a member of CoPIRG, a nonprofit organization that is working to get publishers to lower textbook prices.

The Auraria Campus Bookstore’s sales have increased by almost half a million dollars from this time last year, which the director of the store said he believes is due to a new unity among the campus’ three colleges and the Metro student body’s growing pride in their school.

According to a recent report released by the Auraria Board of Directors, the bookstore saw a $490,081 increase in sales from last year. New textbook sales accounted for $334,388, and used textbooks added an additional $129,001.

“The cost of living has increased a bit from last year and that plays a part into it,” said Michael Clarke, the bookstore director.

Also, this December the store raised its buy-back rate 15 percent, which helped populate the shelves for the spring semester.

“We paid out $82,000 more this December than we did last December,” Clarke said, adding that the total payout for used books was up more than $1 million from last year.

Though sales are up, expenses for the bookstore have increased as well, up more than $400,000 from last year.

“We have more student hourly rates for the employees and credit card fees are up too,” said Sandra Sales, the chief financial officer for the Auraria Higher Education Center.

According to Sales, after expenses were paid, the actual profit of the bookstore was $80,778.

“That profit the store made will go back into the Student Auxiliary Revenue Bond Fund,” Sales said, explaining that the fund is set up to keep student fees down from year to year as new expenses for the campus are faced.

An increase in the availability of different clothing items and other merchandise has also aided the bookstore’s high sales.

“It seems like they have a lot more stuff this year and I like the designs on the shirts and I think it’s great they have coffee mugs and stuff like that too. Plus, it’s good to be proud of your school,” said Metro student Blair Bonham.

Sales of general merchandise have brought in $123,229 more than last year.

“I have seen and have been told by others that the spirit on campus is rising. You are seeing a lot more Metro State hoodies and baseball hats being worn by the students on campus,” Clarke said.

The push toward new merchandise began when the former director of the bookstore met with focus groups and determined what products students were interested in, according to Clarke.

“They have a new design for the baseball hats this year and I like it a lot better than it was last year. It fits better and looks nicer,” said Metro student John Buch.

Not all of the store’s sales are up. The computer section saw a decrease in sales from last year.

The decrease has a lot to do with the sale of iPods, which the bookstore offered last year at a discount that was extended to the store by Apple. Clarke said that because of the discount last year the bookstore was the cheapest place to get iPods. But this year things are different.

“We are not offering it this year. That is not our choice. The offer is extended to us by Apple and we, in turn, extend it to the students, but they didn’t do it this year. So, now ours are the same price as everywhere else they are sold,” Clarke said.

According to Clarke, the bookstore will continue with the projects it has started, along with carrying merchandise that is appealing to the student body.

“We just like to have what the students are looking for,” Clarke said.