Best-in-Class Experiences: What Makes Campus Stores Stand Out?

What’s the secret sauce for delivering an exceptional campus store experience? Just ask our campus partners!

We love seeing how colleges and universities continue to find new ways to spark school spirit within the campus store using intentional, precise merchandising and authentic, engaging shopping experiences.

In this spotlight, we’re featuring two schools that have made their campus stores a thriving student-driven destination: the University of South Florida (USF) and the University of South Carolina (UofSC). Each store exemplifies what it means to lead with operational excellence, strong visual merchandising, and deep alignment to the student experience. Explore their best practices below!

Building a Dynamic, Shopper-First Experience at the University of South Florida

At USF, the campus store experience is curated with intention. The team takes a wardrobe-building approach to merchandising, ensuring that vendor assortments are grouped in ways that encourage multi-item purchases and lifestyle-based shopping. This thoughtful strategy makes it easier for customers to explore, coordinate, and discover products that fit their needs.

To keep the shopping environment fresh, products are rotated frequently based on seasonal motivations and trending categories, with in-demand items placed in high-traffic areas to maximize visibility and engagement.

EXECUTING WITH CLARITY & STUCTURE

What sets USF apart operationally is a task planning model grounded in visual collaboration and prioritization. Each task is assigned to a specific team member, providing clear ownership and improving team coordination.

This structure supports:

Streamlined execution of daily responsibilities
Effective prioritization during peak periods
Proactive planning aligned with sales cycles and visual resets

Additional best practices include:

Customer-ready stockrooms that support timely replenishment
High standards for product placement and visual storytelling
Regular collaboration with planners and licensees to respond quickly to emerging trends

Popular product lines such as Elevate U Beauty, ZooZatz, and a campus-based Kahwa Café partnership bring energy and excitement to the floor, while a lead display runway and balanced pricing strategy (mixing trend-forward with budget-friendly options) ensure broad appeal.

Ultimately, the store embodies USF’s identity through color-forward design, emblematic gear, and displays that celebrate Bull pride.

Creating a Destination for School Pride at University of South Carolina

With nearly 20,000 square feet of Gamecock gear, ample parking, and a highly engaged team, the University of South Carolina store has become a must-visit destination for students, alumni, and fans.

WELCOMING, ENGAGING, AND CUSTOMER-FIRST

From the moment guests walk through the door, they’re met with a welcoming team ready to assist and engage. The store team prioritizes personal interaction, actively helping customers find what they need and relaying feedback to buyers and planners to fine-tune the assortment.

The Power of First Impressions

One of the key practices that sets this store apart is the commitment to walking the floor daily with a fresh perspective. The team continuously evaluates:

Is the space open, neat, and inviting?
Are displays impactful and on-brand?
Does the layout support natural traffic flow?

If the answer is “no,” they make it right. Follett’s Merchandising Guide, created by a team of collegiate retail experts, serves as a toolkit for display enhancements and presentation upgrades, ensuring the space always delivers a “wow” moment.

CAPTURING MOMENTS THAT GO BEYOND RETAIL

A fan-favorite feature? The accessory display features oversized Noggin Boss hats and large novelty chains, which has become a major photo op. Students, fans, and their families can often be found snapping pics and sharing their Gamecock pride—turning retail into a social moment.

The store is a full expression of the UofSC brand: every product, display, and team interaction contribute to a cohesive, high-energy environment rooted in Gamecock identity.

Shared Strategies That Deliver Results

While each store reflects the unique culture of its campus, several common strategies drive their standout performance:

VISITOR ENGAGEMENT

Encourage team-led interactions that personalize the experience
Capture feedback to shape assortments and delight returning customers

MERCHANDISING WITH PURPOSE

Group assortments around lifestyle and trend
Use seasonal resets and top-traffic areas to showcase priority items

VISUAL STANDARDS THAT INSPIRE

Prioritize neat, orderly, impactful displays
Lean into campus-specific colors, icons, and branding to tell a story

OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Apply structured task planning with clear ownership and due dates
Maintain stockroom readiness to ensure product flow and flexibility

These teams demonstrate what’s possible when operational excellence meets creativity and school pride.

Their success reflects the power of intentional merchandising, thoughtful planning, and meaningful connection to the communities they serve. Thank you to our campus partners, and the store teams that support their communities, for sharing these stories!

Do you have a standout example of merchandising and operational excellence at your campus store? Share your story with us!