Sorority lip balms and kleenexes decorate the countertop. Fraternity shot glasses and visors line the walls.Spools of ribbons and plush teddy bears fill the shelves. These are among the many offerings Hoos Greek, Inc provides to the University Greek community.
Assuming its position on the Corner in August 2001, Hoos Greek has settled quickly in the community, Hoos Greek owner and manager Laura M. Futty said with pleasure.
Futty, who grew up in Charlottesville and graduated from George Mason University, said she remembers her own college days in the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. Having no Greek store at Mason to frequent, Futty said she would return home and visit the Greek store that existed then in Charlottesville.
After returning permanently to Charlottesville, however, she found the Greek store long-gone and in need of replacement.
And so the idea of Hoos Greek, Inc. was born.
Futty attended Inter-Fraternity and Sorority Council president meetings to gauge student enthusiasm for a new store through questionnaires.
"Once we got a really positive response from them, we took it from there," Futty said.
Managing the store completely solo with only four part-time Greek student employees, Futty offers merchandise for all Greek organizations -- the IFC and ISC, the Black Fraternal Council and the Multicultural Greek Council.
"We try to work with all fraternal organizations," Futty said. "We have services for organizations not known on a national level but known here on a local level."
Labeled in its web-site, www. Hoosgreek.com as "Your Interest Source for All Things Greek," Hoos Greek is packed with an assortment of merchandise.
"We carry a wide variety of items -- especially for the sororities," Futty said, citing shot glasses, decals and bottle opener key chains as some common favorites.
Hoos Greek builds its inventory based solely on public response, Futty said.After establishing the store, Futty said she created a mass e-mail list for her customers to inform them of sales and promotions.
"The advertising e-mailing base has worked really well, since we can target the Greek community directly that way," Futty said.
By maintaining contact with the University Greek community, particularly the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, Futty said she feels she has developed relations within the community.
Evidence of such relations are manifest in events Hoos Greek takes part in, such as paddle parties -- during which the store is closed exclusively for girls coming in to make paddles for the sorority sisters.
With bid-day just completed and big sister week and initiation right around the corner, Futty said she knows Hoos Greek will have busy months ahead.
"This is definitely our busiest time of year by far," she said.
But regardless of what time of year it is, Futty said she completely enjoys her store.
"I wanted to open a business that I would enjoy going to daily," Futty said. "Charlottesville was in need of a Greek store, and we obviously filled that niche."
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