The following article,Commemorative UMaine Ornament Helps Student Charity, written by Catherine Pegram, offers a great idea to college stores. By creating a unique piece of merchandise and offering a percentage of the purchase to a local or campus-run charity, your store can increase sales and enhance your students’ perception. Check out how UMaine is achieving this with their annual ornament to gather ideas for your own store!

A keepsake Christmas ornament for UMaine fans is now up for grabs and helping support a student charity. The University Bookstore is selling the commemorative ornament.

This is the 9th in the collection, each of which depicts a university landmark or symbol. This year’s design is modeled after Stevens Hall, the oldest building on campus.

Money made off the ornament sales goes to a different student charity each year. Circle K International, a college service organization that’s part of Kiwanis, will benefit from the 2011 ornament.

Colleen Gagnon, bookstore supervisor, says, “Total we have give out from the bookstore $30,000 to these different organizations. They are very grateful and it’s a great, great cause.”

The ornaments are $18.95 and the bookstore’s the only place you’ll find them.

Does your store already offer something similar? Tell us about it in the comments section!

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