Apple campus store shuts down

As the spring semester 2010 ends, Indiana Wesleyan’s campus Apple store will close its doors. The store, currently located in the 1920 Gallery in IWU’s Student Center, houses a mixture of student artwork and Apple products that students can purchase during the gallery’s business hours.

The 1920 Gallery, which is intended as a venue for student art, opened in 2007. Currently the gallery is displaying a portion of this year’s senior art show.

According to Executive Vice President of IWU Dr. ToddVoss, “The 1920 Gallery was created in collaboration with the art department and my office to offer all students a chance to display and sell their incredible work (in a highly visible location).”

While the gallery itself will not be closing, IWU will not be renewing its contract with Apple “due to increased sales volume expectations from Apple and increased inventory requirements,” Voss said.

Initially, Apple was included in the 1920 gallery as a way to “increase traffic and sales,” Voss said. “They approached us about opening a campus store and we thought if we did, the Gallery may be the best location to do so since so many art students use Apple.”

According to Voss, the IWU Apple Store is the only stand-alone store on a college campus. Most stores at other universities are run out of another campus entity like a bookstore.

For Macbook users like Annastasia Bonczyk (jr), the campus Apple Store is nice to have around.

“It’s a lot more convenient,” Bonczyk said. “The closest computer store is 30 to 40 minutes away, so it’s nice knowing that I can bring it right here on campus and get it taken care of.”

Despite the benefits of an on-campus store, Apple’s presence is motivated by profits.

“I’m not sure how much they are committed to small school presence,” said John Jones, vice president for information technologies at IWU. “It’s a business to them. If they can’t make money at it, they’re not going to be in it.”

Although Apple will not have a concrete presence on campus, IWU students will still be able to receive an educational discount at Apple’s online store.

With the closing of the Apple store, Voss hopes to return the 1920 Gallery to its original purpose, while adding new incentives like international fair trade items and other rotating displays along with student art.

“Even though we are disappointed that Apple could not adjust their expectations for us, we are equally excited to continue the gallery with some fresh new concepts and offerings,” Voss said.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, March 18th, 2010 at 8:00 AM and is filed under Frontpage.
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