Students bring business to Bloomington

On move-in day, thousands of IU students descend upon Bloomington for the school year, and local businesses said they couldn’t be happier.

“We see an increase in donations at the end of the school year, and when students move back they can find something that someone has no use for anymore,” said Cindy Graham the vice president of marketing for Goodwill in Central Indiana.

The Bloomington East Goodwill Store receives the most business when students return to IU, she said.

“We’re very eager for students to shop,” Graham said.

Goodwill has a college promotion sale that will give students a 20 percent discount storewide until Sept. 16.

Many Bloomington businesses depend on the week long influx of students to remain afloat throughout the year.

“Eighty percent of our business is done four weeks out of the year,” said General Manager Greg Lloyd of T.I.S. College Bookstore on Third Street. He explained that two weeks account for the majority of fall semester sales.

“This week and next week we will be hit pretty hard,” Lloyd said. The second two weeks make up sales for the spring semester and will not happen until students return after winter break.

Ian Wilridge, manager of Amused Clothing on Fourth Street, shared similar thoughts when he said he expects his revenue to double this week.

“We’ve been in business for the last 14 years, so we’re kind of used to it,” said Jen Moore, production manager at Bloomington Bagel Company.

She said the business is extra staffed while an increase in production occurs to satisfy consumers. Businesses are well aware of the financial opportunity that accompanies Welcome Week, so some adjust their marketing strategies accordingly.

This Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Campus Candy will have a shuttle running between the residence halls to bring freshmen to their store.

“We didn’t know what to expect. August was our slowest month, but it’s picked up. We’ve watched the numbers double every day,” said co-owner Mark Tarnofsky.

And businesses such as 900 Hair Design look for students to become regular customers.

“It’s always interesting and fun, to say the least, to meet new students,” Timi Hernoy, a stylist at the salon said. “Once a student comes here, they stay until their senior year.”

Hernoy, who has been a hair stylist at 900 Hair Design since 2006, understands the stress students experience while searching for a new hair stylist.

“A lot of people don’t even know we exist,” Hernoy said. “Most students come from big cities or small towns and are terrified to go to someone new.”

Students also bring their parents to local businesses, which means less delivery orders and more dining in at Mother Bear’s Pizza, owner Ray McConn said.

Parents usually come with their students because it’s located across the street from the campus, said Manager Heather Meyer.

“The first week back is one of the two busiest weeks of the year for us,” McConn said and added that sales during move-in week increase about 50 percent over any summer week.

“We’ve been through this so many times,” McConn said. “It’s busy, and it’s kind of
fun actually.”