MPorium at Marist Doubles Sales at Grand Opening with Alumni-Inspired Theme
October 1 - 2024 — Enthusiasm and soaring sales defined the grand opening of MPorium at Marist this semester, offering a unique shopping experience for Red Foxes past and present.
MPorium at Marist is a non-profit, student-run live retail laboratory dedicated to providing an opportunity for students to gain real-life experiences by running an on-campus fashion boutique. It’s also a place where the Marist community can shop trendy Marist merchandise, jewelry, accessories, and more.
The boutique is operated through Retail Entrepreneurship, an experiential class that, like an internship, allows students to immerse themselves in the world of retail. Students enrolled in the class are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day functions of the boutique through specialized teams.
The first project of the semester was the grand opening of the store, which took place on Sept. 24. Students from all seven teams collaborated to create the fall '24 theme, Collegiate Core. A new theme each semester allows students to experiment with fresh product assortments, marketing strategies, and store inspirations.
This semester’s grand opening was a smashing success, with sales more than doubling the goal set for the day. There was a 118% sales increase over last fall’s grand opening and a 58% increase from the boutique’s previous biggest sales day.
All proceeds sustain the daily operations of the boutique and benefit the MPorium scholarship, awarded to outstanding first-year Fashion Merchandising students each year.
“Watching our vision come to life and receiving so much positive feedback from everyone has been an incredibly rewarding experience,” said Lauren Peruta '24, the co-Student Lead of the Visual Marketing team who is using MPorium as her Senior Capping project. “I couldn’t have imagined concluding my time at Marist in any other way.”
The store was packed with excited students, faculty, and staff during the Grand Opening, with lines out the door. Photo by Lauren Lagasse '25/Marist College.
"If there was ever a semester where all the stars aligned, this is the one," said Professor Rebecca Brown, the faculty advisor for MPorium. "It all came together, from the products to the visuals to the theme. It makes me happy. The effort that these students put into it is incredible. They are so passionate about it."
An Ode to Alumni
Collegiate Core is inspired by the campus’ classically collegiate architecture, photos from the Marist Archives, and the importance of alumni to the Marist community.
The store is designed to look like a student’s dorm: handmade felt pennants decorate the walls, and vintage tennis rackets tied with ribbon to spell out “MPorium” hang in front of the window. Photos from the Archives share a glimpse into what life at Marist was like for alumni, including football games and a visit from Marc Jacobs.
“We were excited to make the theme of Collegiate Core personal to Marist through images from the Archives,” Grace Kolker '25, the co-Student Lead for the Visual Merchandising team said. “We were really inspired by the idea of vintage college life.”
Ava Kazias '26 (left) and Carly Lefkowitz '26 (right) handed out nostalgic goodies to shoppers. Photo by Lauren Lagasse '25/Marist College.
During the grand opening, students snacked on some nostalgic favorites, explored the renovated store, and snapped polaroids in a corner of the store made to look like a student’s dorm, complete with a desk from Marist Housing.
“What I love most [about Collegiate Core] is the history behind it. Working with the archives, working across campus, and being able to see the fruits of everyone’s labor,” Brown said.
Hands-On Learning
Students in the class spent the weekend before the Grand Opening renovating, decorating, and stocking the store with a selection of new inventory. A fast favorite was the Frankie the Fox tee drawn by Ryann Lambert '26, a member of the Buying team. The shirt sold out by the end of the day.
Ryann Lambert '26 and the sold-out Frankie the Fox tee. Photo by Lauren Lagasse '25/Marist College.
“It’s such a rewarding feeling that people enjoy things that I make. At the Grand Opening, people were already walking around wearing their new shirts. I’m very excited for things that we make in the future!” Ryann said.
Additional standouts include Swedish candy from the viral brand Bon Bon, a fresh selection of jewelry, and the Red Fox sweat set, also designed by Ryann.
A product display designed by the Visual Merchandising team, featuring photos from the Marist Archives. Photo by Lauren Lagasse '25/Marist College.
Retail Entrepreneurship is open by application to students of all disciplines and consists of seven specialized teams: Buying, Marketing, Finance, Store Operations/HR, E-Commerce, Events/Community Outreach, and Visual Merchandising. Applications will open in the second half of the semester.
MPorium is open in the Steel Plant from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 11:00 am - 6:00 pm on Tuesdays, and 11:00 am - 4:00 pm on Fridays. Shop MPorium online at MaristMPorium.com
