SDSU Bookstore business booming on the Internet

Shelbie Kinsey

Shelbie Kinsey

The SDSU women’s basketball team placed first in the Summit League and has now secured the No. 7 seed in the NCAA tournament, but what does this mean for the University Bookstore?

Since the full transition to Division I, things have been different for the bookstore. Sales have been up, even more since the Jacks entered the tournament.

“The Summit League T-shirts sold out really fast,” said Marilyn Hesby, a full-time clerk at the bookstore.

She also noticed a jump in sales since SDSU has made the transition to Division I, and sales increase when the athletic teams do well. Hesby has been working at the bookstore full-time for 17 years.

“I have noticed a slight jump in sales since the team made the tournament. It is similar to when the Pride went to Pasadena. I think that people in the community and on campus want to show their support.”

Bookstore Director Derek Peterson has seen similar changes.

“Online orders usually spike a week or so before a big event, and before going D-I, we primarily shipped in the Midwest. Now, we ship throughout the country,” he said.

People buying merchandise range from students to alumni and faculty to residents of Brookings and the surrounding areas.

“I stop into the bookstore quite often. If I have a long break from class, I will quickly go in and browse. I do not usually use the online store much. It is more convenient for me to just stop in when I want to buy something,” said Kylee Knight, a sophomore nursing major from Hartford, S.D.

Even if students prefer to pay the campus store a visit, the online store is definitely doing something right.

“Every year, our online sales grow, including book sales,” said Peterson.

The bookstore is gearing freshmen towards buying their books online ahead of time. There is really no difference in cost by shopping online, but a huge benefit is the convenience.

“Last year we had around 1,400 people buy their books online, which means there were 1,400 less students crowding in line,” said Peterson.

The bookstore publishes all the buyback values. Knowing what a book is worth can be a plus when shopping around. Also, buying books online gives students the best chance to get to the used books early and save a few dollars. The information about books is usually put on the site mid-summer, and books are available to buy Aug. 1, said Peterson.

The only problem with the store versus online is that there is only so much square footage in the store, and there is unlimited space on the Internet. In the future, the site is looking to advertise to students more via Facebook and will become more interactive with students, Peterson said.

Hesby feels that no matter the outcome of the NCAA tournament, sales will stay steady if not go up because of the exposure that the team will give SDSU.

#1.881806:2147496646.jpg:DSC_0339.1.jpg:Jillian Morgan, a freshman from Carol Stream, Ill., checks out some of the new merchandise offered in the bookstore since the finalization of the Division-I transition.:Patricia Solis