Area stores prepare shelves with additional merchandise for onslaught of shoppers

The week before school starts swarms of students flock to Bloomington to start another semester of studying, partying and campus life. But before hitting the books, local stores are bombarded with students buying everything from pencils to bedding to extension cords. \nAll around Bloomington, stores are extending business hours and stocking shelves to meet the high volume of shoppers flooding their stores for back-to-school. Some stores are also offering specials this week and in some cases, offering shuttle buses to and from the store.\nOne of the largest home furnishing and bedding stores in Bloomington is Bed, Bath and Beyond, 280 N. Gates Drive. Store manager Roger Cook said the store has prepared for the influx of customers by shipping extra items from regional stores and by extending store hours from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.\nAssistant Manager Julie Williams said the store also prepared with training new staffers and adding extra employees from several district stores. Williams said the best part of back to school is the broad spectrum of people that enter the store.\n"I can't even imagine how many people have been in here," Williams said. "The most exciting thing about this week is meeting people from all over the place. There are so many people from out of town and out of state. The best is meeting people from all over the world."\nFor the more miscellaneous items students need such as extension cords, laundry detergent and random furniture, Walmart is one of the more popular places.\n"We've got a lot of sales and many things like mirrors and clocks are marked down," General Manager James Rudd said. \nWalmart is offering Midnight Madness to students on Aug. 29. Twelve buses will shuttle students from dorms to Walmart from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. Rudd estimates about 3,000 students will be visiting the store at some point Friday night. A drawing will be held offering prizes such as DVD's, CD players and even a television. \nLocal radio station B97 is also joining in on the madness, broadcasting live at Walmart from 9 p.m. to midnight.\nThe rush for many of the stores will begin this week when students begin to filter in, but for Walmart, Rudd said it's only week two of extended hours and long lines.\nBesides bedding and furniture, posters are another high demand item for college students. Beyond The Wall, located at 512 E. Kirkwood Ave, offers posters and other items to decorate dorms and apartments. \nGeneral Manager Kate Walton said this is the busiest time of year for the store. \n"Everyone wants posters and we try and make sure we have everything out," Walton said. \nBeyond The Wall store hours are also being extended this week due to the number of shoppers. It is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. Assistant Manager Kevin Schmidt said the store hired extra employees to help with restocking because the merchandise goes so fast. \nAnd for those students who don't have the luxury of campus meal cards, Kroger in Jackson Creek Plaza, is offering IU students to sign up for the Student Plus Card, which offers certain items like hangers, drinks and pizza at a discounted price. \n"Students must sign up for a new card for the 2003-2004 academic school year," said Kroger General Manager Rick Snyder.\nKroger will also offer a shuttle service starting Wednesday at 6 p.m. Two buses will make six stops around dorms and shuttle students free of charge to Kroger from 6 p.m. to midnight through Monday. \n"Kroger is also donating 7,000 bottles of water to the dorms this week," Snyder said. "I remember as a parent how hot it gets unloading. Tell us if there is something we're not doing, and we'll be glad to do what we can." \n-- Contact staff writer Lindsay Jancek at lmjancek@indiana.edu.