Summer renovations at Grand Canyon University’s Lope Shop are set to greet students and families with several updates ahead of Welcome Week, scheduled for August 25 through September 1. The campus retailer, which experiences its highest traffic during Welcome Week and Family Weekend, has introduced new features and merchandise in preparation for the influx of visitors.
Among the visible changes are rustic wood paneling throughout the store, a purple glass tile backsplash, and beams on the ceiling that will be painted purple before students arrive. The Ink’d Greetings kiosk has also been relocated from the back to the front of the shop.
Andy Dunn, director of Campus Retail and Licensing, said preparations are underway for an estimated 18,000 to 20,000 customers during Welcome Week. To handle this volume, staffing will increase by adding 20 to 30 temporary staff members and nearly tripling student workers per shift from 20 to between 20 and 25. Full-time staff will remain at six to eight employees.
“We are receiving new merchandise every day. It almost feels like Christmas around here with all the boxes being opened and hearing the ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ each time we see what new item just got received,” Dunn said.
More than 30,000 pieces of merchandise are expected to be sold in just five days before classes begin. New offerings include hydroponic garden products aimed at helping students decorate their residences with indoor plants requiring low maintenance. Other additions feature Hugarounds—microwave-safe stuffed animals designed for neck comfort—and expanded sections with large signage targeting specific groups such as mothers, fathers, and grandparents.
A dorm display will be featured in the women’s section of the store. For younger visitors, coloring books will allow them to design their own version of GCU.
The Lope Shop’s recent changes aim to enhance both its appearance and product selection as it prepares for one of its busiest times of year.
