Souvenirs and Gifts Section

sellers, and mugs are more popular than ever, perhaps since people spend more time at home.

Most of The Bronco Bookstore’s sales have shifted online during the pandemic. Aase said he now devotes as much or more attention to the shop’s digital presence, using the same display philosophy that works in the physical store. “Keep it simple. They can’t buy it if it’s not visible,” he advises. In person, “keep enough space around merchandise so people can move. Don’t fill up the floor like an overstuffed burrito.”

At Kilgore College in the Texas town of the same name, Bookstore Manager and Buyer Kenton Beal displays gift merchandise by theme and season, rotating new items up front. Top-selling items continue to be classic souvenirs like key chains, coffee mugs, decals and water bottles. To keep the selection fresh, Beale introduces seasonal palettes.

“Neon colors are kind of all the rage right now,” the manager explained. “I look at what people are carrying around with them, what the trends are.”

In Kutztown, Pennsylvania, the buying team at the Kutztown University campus store looks for seasonal twists. “For Christmas, we’ll have gnomes, nutcrackers, ornamental ornaments, things that

What Types of Higher-Priced Gifts Sell Best for You?

Higher-end college bookstore gifts fall into two categories: trendy, like the Hydro Flask stainless steel bottles that sell for upwards of $30, and classic, namely diploma frames.

“Hydro Flasks have always been in demand, and a winner for the store,” noted Sandy Brower, gift buyer at the University of San Diego’s Torero Store. Other coveted gifts are skateboards emblazoned with the university logo and artisan Christmas ornaments, which Brower calls “lifelong keepsakes.” “And for alums, logo watches featuring historic architectural features of one of the original campus buildings have been a new and successful item,” Brower noted.

Lawn signs, a popular way to celebrate outdoors during the pandemic, are a highlight this year at the University of Wyoming cam- pus store in Laramie. “People are showing their pride,” said Apparel and Gift Buyer Jessica Lindmier of the signs, which sell for $20 to $80. “Whether they’re staying home or celebrating in person, there’s a lot of excitement around graduation.”

Hydro Flasks, priced from $30 to $50, are favorites at the store all year round. “We do great with any size bottle,” said Lindmier. “Students love it, tourists love it.”

Hydro Flasks are among the few luxury items at The Bronco Bookstore at California State Polytechnic University, a two-year school in Pomona. “We’re a division II commuter college, and our customers are price conscious,” observed Store Director Clint Aase. “There’s never been much demand for high-end items apart from computers and technical necessities.” The exception are those upscale bottles in trendy colors, which fly off shelves at $40 and up.

The top splurge at Kilgore College Bookstore in that Texas town is typically a diploma frame, which retails for $75 to $130. Keepsake frames are also winners for Kutztown University Campus Store in Kutztown, Pa., where patrons are more likely to spend for a graduation. “All our frames sell well, as well as license plates and home decor with a Kutztown theme,” said Assistant Buyer Sarah Huff. “We have a lot of graduation-related merchandise right now.” Home décor is a perennial category for higher-end gifts; pillows and blankets — some embroidered — sell for $40 to $60, along with accent pieces like a wooden campus clock tower. ❖ are a little different, explained Assistant Buyer Sarah Huff . “We try to stay in the know about what’s coming up.”

Graduations, campus tours and orientation sessions all offer opportunities for souvenir shopping. At a spring alumni event, Huff and Buyer Karri Shearer set out a graduation themed table featuring 2021 graduation face masks, which were a hit. The team plans to do a similar display for this summer’s orientations.

“Lanyards sell well for people coming to see the school in person,” Huff noted. New spring hats, such as fresh styles with leather patches, were a recent highlight. And drinkware is a consistent favorite on the gift side. “Sports bottles are big, and our mugs are selling like crazy right now,” said Huff in April. “People like to give mugs to each other.”

With activity picking up on campus, Shearer and Huff are buying more confidently. “We were kind of in the dark for a while about knowing when people would return,” said Huff in April. “We started with just restocking, but now we’re focusing more on novelty.” ❖ RSN