Students search for sales
Suddenly, it feels like spring. And there is no better place to buy warm-weather clothes or even to purchase discounted winter outfits than right here on Grounds.
So it's no wonder that signs boasting bargains on $15 men's shorts and $15 women's jeans have lured dozens of students to the large tent sale outside the University Bookstore.
Forrest Haskins started his clothing outlet, The Missing Button, about six years ago in San Diego, but never established a store. Instead, he travels to different colleges across the country and sets up shop, selling his discounted merchandise. Haskins came to the University on Monday, and plans to stay through next Wednesday, weather permitting.
Haskins said he tried to set up inside Newcomb Hall, but it does not allow vendors inside. The bookstore agreed, however, to let Haskins assemble The Missing Button outside with a stipulation that part of the proceeds benefit Alphi Phi Omega, the University's co-ed service fraternity. Although it is more labor intensive to set up the racks and tables of clothing every morning at 7:30 and dismantle the display every evening at sunset, Haskins has not been complaining.
"We've been doing good," he said.
The apparel consists of Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and J. Crew brand-name clothing.
"This is appropriate merchandise for U.Va., and a lot of schools actually," Haskins said.
He said he tries to target large schools that are located "in smaller, non-metropolitan areas. Places where students might otherwise have to drive five, 10 miles to the mall."
"The Missing Button" recently traveled to James Madison University, and after one more week in Charlottesville, Haskins said he plans to go to Clemson and the "Big Ten schools like Michigan State and Illinois."
First-year College student Sarah Copeland passed the conspicuous blue and orange tent Monday on her way home from lunch and stopped in yesterday to hunt for bargains.
"There's not a great selection for women," she said. "But there's more for men. I've found a lot for my boyfriend."
Copeland thought the prices were far lower than those of comparable retail outlets.
Haskins claimed that "the stuff is all 50 to 80 percent below what you would find at other stores."
He said he can charge such low price because he buys his clothes from wholesale distributors that benefit from closeouts or end-of-season merchandise surpluses.
Theo Diamond, a third-year Architecture student, found out about the sale from his roommate.
"It's a good chance to buy clothes when we're away from home and don't have our parents to help us with money," he said.
Compiled by Julia Salasky
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