Purchasing from College Stores has Buying Local Benefit

National Association of College Stores touts support for campus, local economy

OBERLIN, Ohio, Aug. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The start of a new semester can be overwhelming to many college students and the convenience of one-stop-shopping at the college store can be comforting. However, spending money at the campus store has the added benefit of supporting the local economy.

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According to the National Association of College Stores (NACS), college stores in the U.S. directly employ 150,000 persons, of which approximately 30,000 are students. In addition, more than 1,300 small to large businesses supply goods and services to the collegiate retail market.

College stores make an average of four cents on every dollar spent on a new textbook, with the majority of that going back to the educational institution.  A 2010 survey of NACS members found that college stores contribute an average of $223,691 annually to their college campuses.

"When a student makes a purchase from the campus store, they can be confident that a portion of that price will be returned to the campus through a variety of ways including scholarships, paying the salaries of student workers, and supporting student activities," says NACS Director of Public Relations Charles Schmidt.

"For example, Dixie State College Bookstore sells the Starving Student Card, which provides students with a variety of special offers and services from dozens of area businesses," said Schmidt. "The DSC Bookstore then uses the proceeds from sales of the Starving Student Card to fund a student scholarship."

The Council of Smaller Enterprises and I Buy Northeast Ohio state that for every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $45 stays in the local economy creating jobs and expanding the region's tax base. Similar examples can be found throughout the country.

About NACS
Headquartered in Oberlin, Ohio, the National Association of College Stores (NACS) is the professional trade association representing the $10 billion collegiate retailing industry. NACS represents more than 3,100 collegiate retailers and approximately 1,000 associate members who supply books and other products to college stores. NACS member stores serve America's college students while supporting the academic missions of higher education institutions everywhere. Additional information on NACS can be found online at www.nacs.org.

SOURCE National Association of College Stores

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