AURORA HIGGINSON / Arizona Daily Wildcat Retail and consumer science senior Christie Calhoon finalizes a purchase at the A-Store in the Tucson Mall Monday afternoon. Christie spent last semester studying retail in London and now works at the A-Store for credit toward graduation in May.

Retail majors run UA apparel shop in mall

A unique collaboration between the UofA Bookstore and two campus groups has taken the form of a clothing store in the Tucson Mall, aimed to give students a valuable experience in retailing and management.

The "A Store" has been open since late November and is managed and staffed by UA students.

The store has been a collaboration of the UA chapter of Students in Free Enterprise, the Center for Retailing and Consumer Sciences and the bookstore.

The idea started two years ago and required prior university approval, including presenting the proposal to the dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Eugene Sander, said Melinda Burke, director of the Center of Retailing.

The store sells a variety of UA merchandise including T-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, basketball shorts and children's clothing.

"The store is an opportunity for students to apply what they learn in the classroom," Burke said.

Burke said the store is the first of its kind because students are a part of every aspect, including staffing, merchandising, development, visualization and sales.

Along with applying what is learned in the classroom, the store serves as an "entrepreneurial approach to identifying an alternate funding source to support students and the community," Burke said.

The student-team of 24 employees work for independent study credit, Burke said, but they also gain valuable experience that they can apply toward a career after graduation.

Xiomara Ramirez, an A Store employee, said her experience has been rewarding, and she has gained valuable experience that she will be able to apply to her career.

Ramirez, who is also a member of the SIFE program, has worked in retail before but said this experience is different because she can take a more hands-on approach and can be more proactive in the whole process.

Ramirez, a business management senior, said the store has already surpassed their sales goals, with holiday revenue taking care of the store's rent expenses through the next few months.

Burke said that although she did not have exact figures, the store doubled their sales goal within the first six weeks.

Since the A Store is an extension of the UofA Bookstore, the UA merchandise is not less expensive, but feedback from customers and the community has been positive so far, Ramirez said.

The team is hoping word of mouth and press releases will help spread the message about the store to the community, Ramirez said.

If sales continue to rise, the retailing department plans to expand the 300-square-foot store to 800 square feet by March Madness time, Burke said.

Ramirez said that although they play radio coverage of the UA basketball games, they plan to include television sets in the new expansion because many mall patrons come in to see how the team is playing.

Burke said so far, she is very happy with the success of this "completely different experience" and is pleased to see the students "take ownership and be dedicated to the success of their store."