The W Shop–Westminster University’s new spirit and merchandise store in Shaw Student Center–is now open for anyone to peruse the brand-new designs.
This grand opening isn’t entirely new to Westminster, though. The transition to a virtual Barnes and Noble College site was announced last semester after the previous company decided that Westminster no longer had the “volume to warrant an in-house” bookstore.
With the bookstore’s transition to digital copies only, the clothing and merchandise section has taken up the space entirely.
“I’m hoping that, just because it isn’t a bookstore anymore, more people will come here to rep Westminster,” said Kenzie Archuleta, a junior sociology major and student-employee of the W Shop.
“I see a lot of other school’s clothing on campus. It would be cool to just see our clothing from the store all over,” Archuleta said.
Now that Westminster is in control of the design and sales of the spirit shop, students can give feedback on the merch and work in the store.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what students want and how that shapes the merchandise,” President Beth Dobkin said.
The W Shop also plans to start selling items through pop-up shops at school events, Chief Marketing Officer Sheila Yorkin said.
The W Shop grand opening offered a raffle for free Westminster merchandise and food and drinks for all in attendance. In celebration of the grand opening, all items were 10 percent off.
One day before the grand opening, a scavenger hunt took place on the @westminsterslc Instagram story. Students had a chance to win a 20-dollar gift card to the W Shop by finding the location that was posted.
The store aims to make Westminster gear appealing, and accessible and encourages students to represent their university.
