Press Release

Follett Higher Education Group Announces New Chief Merchandising Officer

August 08, 2023

Respected Industry Leader Jeremy Bare to Oversee Merchandising Strategy and Advance Retail Growth 

WESTCHESTER, IL (July 19, 2023) – Follett Higher Education Group, North America’s premier partner to colleges and universities for memorable retail experiences and course material solutions, has named Jeremy Bare as Chief Merchandising Officer effective July 1. In this role, Bare will lead Follett’s store merchandising strategy, leveraging her deep expertise in assortment strategy, localization, merchandise planning, and product development to strengthen Follett’s ability to deliver top-tier student-centric experiences across academics, retail, and athletics. 

Most recently, Bare served as the Chief Merchandising Officer at a national specialty retailer operating across 20 states on the East Coast. Bare also held leadership positions at Macy’s and CVS Health, where she developed assortment-building processes and strategies that delivered locally relevant products to each unique market, leading to comp sales growth.  

“We are thrilled to have Jeremy join our leadership team,” said Follett Higher Education CEO Emmanuel Kolady. “Her extensive experience in team building, coupled with her expertise in merchandising, make her the perfect fit to further elevate our retail experiences. Jeremy brings a personal passion for college sports and is excited to leverage her insights and skills to support a best-in-class collegiate fan experience. Under her leadership, I am confident we will not only enhance our merchandising strategies but also foster a culture of innovation and growth for our campus partners.” 

Bare said, “I’m incredibly excited to join Follett Higher Education. I look forward to working with this dynamic team to evolve best-in-class store assortments and enhance customer experiences to help campus communities inspire school pride and meet their goals.” 

To learn more about Follett Higher Education, visit follett.com/contact

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About Follett Higher Education Group | highered.follett.com

Follett Higher Education partners with more than 1,000 colleges and universities across North America to inspire, enable, and celebrate the academic journey. We’re shaping the future of higher education—with memorable retail experiences, pioneering technology, sustainable practices, and programs that ensure students get instant, equal, and affordable access to the course materials they need to be successful. Building on 150 years of experience serving college campuses, Follett delivers industry-leading expertise to help schools of all sizes create one-of-a-kind solutions, foster academic enrichment, and evoke campus pride.