“˜Love for Sale’ at UCLA Store

It’s that time of year again.

The UCLA Store will host another frenzy of strewn BearWear and
jam-packed aisles as both students and faculty hunt for red-lined
sale items today.

“It’s usually pretty crazy,” said Chris
Moffitt, a third-year psychology student who works in the BearWear
department.

Previously known as the Anti-Valentine’s Day Sale, the
day-long event is traditionally held the day before
Valentine’s Day. Merchandise in the store can reach discounts
of up to 50 percent.

The 12-hour sale, which starts at 7:30 a.m., also extends to Lu
Valle Commons and the Health Sciences store.

This year, the Associated Students of UCLA is hoping to garner
$481,000 in total sales, said Keith Schoen, UCLA retail store
director.

BearWear sales typically constitute the majority of sales,
accounting for nearly $200,000.

Last quarter, ASUCLA was hoping the Halloween sale would bail
them out from mediocre Score Big sales, due to a low-scoring
football team.

Though ASUCLA seems to be in a similar situation this quarter
with the men’s basketball team in a 5-14 rut, Schoen said the
Valentine’s Day sale is held regardless of Score Big.

“We don’t want to tie athletic performances to store
sales,” Schoen said.

The basketball Score Big program gives a discount which varies
in accordance with points scored by UCLA’s top scoring
player; UCLA must first win these games in Pauley Pavilion for
students to get a discount.

But if the rainy weather extends until Friday as forecasted, the
actual sales could be lower, as previous years have indicated,
Schoen said.

Due to a downpour last year, ASUCLA brought in $465,000 in
Valentine’s Day sales after initially shooting for
$500,000.

“Rain will keep people away from the store,” said
Patrick Healey, UCLA Store general merchandise manager. “At
the end of the day, people are more inclined to go home.”

Though some students say the rain could deter them from the
sale, most are planning to head into the store anyway.

“I’ll be on campus anyway,” said fourth-year
communications student Christy Elder, who plans on purchasing items
from the BearWear department and Copeland’s.

ASUCLA typically holds one day-long sale each quarter, raking in
the biggest sales with the fall quarter Halloween sale, which can
reach over $600,000.

The Valentine’s Day sale, known as “Love for
Sale” this year, and the “Summer Sizzler” event
are the smaller discount days.

“Halloween is the first sale of the year before the
holidays,” Schoen said. “With the Valentine’s Day
sale, you buy maybe one thing for your boyfriend or
girlfriend.”

Some students wish ASUCLA could hold sales more often, instead
of once a quarter.

Third-year psychology student April McKinney said she might not
necessarily have money during the three times of the year when the
sale is held.

“I think that the sales should happen more often,”
she said.

To accommodate the extra customers in the store on Thursday,
ASUCLA will be needing an additional 20 to 30 employees, Healey
said.

Because some employees will work extra hours, they might need to
stay until 9 p.m., as opposed to the usual time of 7:30 p.m., said
Lila Sapola, a first-year mathematics student who works in the
BearWear department.

“We’re expecting a lot of hours. There’s
folding, cleaning, straightening to do after the sale,”
Sapola said.