Meijer Welcomes 40,000 College Freshmen at "Meijer Mania" Events

Retailer hosts more than 20 in-store parties for incoming students across the Midwest

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Aug 21, 2014, 04:29 ET

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Aug. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Midwest retailer Meijer is welcoming an estimated 40,000 incoming college freshmen as they head to campus this fall during the widely-popular in-store parties dubbed "Meijer Mania."

These annual Back-to-College events celebrate incoming students in style during a night of fun – complete with a DJ, photo booth and interactive contests – while helping them collect their last-minute dorm and classroom essentials. The retailer kicked off Meijer Mania events in mid-August and will host a total 23 events across the Midwest through early September.

"Our Meijer Mania events generate a lot of energy among the students, who are embarking on a new experience," said Cathy Cooper, senior director of promotions and sponsorships at Meijer. "They bring their creativity and school spirit, and share the fun with their family and friends through social networks like Vine, Instagram and Twitter. We are pleased to partner with so many colleges and universities to help ease the transition for these students."

To follow what students and the community are saying about these events on their social media channels and in the news, visit the Meijer Mania feed on Storify: https://storify.com/meijer/meijermania

Meijer began throwing in-store parties for incoming college freshmen about a decade ago to give students a chance to get to know their peers in a fun environment, and introduce the Meijer brand to those who may not have grown up shopping at the Midwest supercenter – some of whom may learn how to pronounce the retailer's name for the first time, Cooper said.

In total, an estimated 40,000 students – about 1,700 freshmen per event – will bus from campus to their local Meijer store location for a night of festivities. Typically, a DJ will get the crowd pumped up while students participate in interactive games and contests, snap pictures in the photo booth, and stock their carts with snacks and school supplies. Meijer also provides samples and coupons, and occasionally hosts big-ticket giveaways.

One of retail's leading shopping seasons, Back-to-School and College is a $75 billion industry, according to the National Retail Federation. Meijer Mania events help spread out the spending during a time when college students and their families are busy preparing for the school year.

About Meijer: Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 213 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. As a pioneer of the "one-stop shopping" concept, Meijer stores have evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive electronics departments, garden centers and apparel offerings. For additional information on Meijer, please visit www.meijer.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter @twitter.com/Meijer and @twitter.com/MeijerPR or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer.