The College Book Store has built a new business called The House in hopes of building off the success the store has seen with Ohio University and the Under Armour brand.
The House, located at 45 S. Court St., opened Aug. 20 and joins College Book Store and Cross Court Cards & Gifts as the third business venture for managing partners Andrew Stout, Mike Fitterer and Gene Armes.
Although the store is just 1,000 square-feet in size, it is unique because The House is the only collegiate store dedicated exclusively to the Under Armour brand, said Stout, who conceived the idea for the store last November.
“There are Under Armour stores and there are college stores that sell Under Armour,” said Stout. “But there is no 100-percent Under Armour collegiate store anywhere. We are the first.”
Even though Russell Athletic is Ohio University’s official athletics provider, Stout said the Under Armour brand has sold very well.
College Book Store carried only eight Under Armour items when it first began selling the brand in 2006. By 2011, the store offered 32 items and saw five times more sales in the same number of years, Stout said.
“People make a lot of money in this town on bagels, pizza and beer,” Stout said. “That’s not what we’re good at. We are good at serving the apparel and gear needs of OU students.”
To develop The House, College Book Store Inc. partnered with Gear For Sports Inc. of Lenexa, Kan., which is the exclusive provider of the collegiate division of licensed Under Armour products in the U.S.
According to a letter written by Jim Malseed, co-general manager of Gear For Sports, the company sees success in the creation of The House.
“It is certainly exciting to know that there will be a one-of-a-kind retail shop in Athens, Ohio with the primary focus being on Under Armour Ohio University products,” Malseed wrote. “We feel that this is truly elevating both the school brand and the Under Armour name in a way that is unique in the collegiate market.”
Stout said The House has a “boutique atmosphere” that reflects the “premium athletic brand.” The store carries almost every product sold by Under Armour and a limited selection of T-shirts featuring Athens County’s local high schools.
“I feel really good about being able to bring something compelling, bold and different to this campus, community and town,” Stout said. “I hope students also feel a certain pride in that Ohio University has something that no other school will have on their campus.”
Will Stevens, a junior studying biology, went to The House during its opening week and believes that the store does add something new to Uptown.
“I like and wear the Under Armour brand and consider it to be high-up in the world of athletic clothing,” Stevens said. “As OU moves up in football, basketball and other sports, I think it is awesome that we have an all-Under Armour store that reflects that.”
sl642509@ohiou.edu
