Phoebe Barr ’19: Episcopal’s Kutteh School Store has for the last year undergone major renovations with frequent updates. Headed by Lisa McDonnell, the store has widened its selection of merchandise to offer new items to EA students, faculty and families. “I’m new this year,” McDonnell remarked and continued, “My background is in retail, and I worked for Marshall Field’s and for Ralph Lauren. I’m trying to add a little more excitement to the store.”
She also explained, “I’m trying to bring in a bunch of new items and new merchandise. ” These new items range from blue and white striped rain boots to new selections for girls. “We have lots more women’s items that are specifically cut for girls, we have new toys, like teddy bears, we have some new ties, new belts, and now we have new Christmas ornaments.” When asked how she got ideas for what to sell, McDonnell answered, “It’s a mixture of my ideas and student ideas. A lot of it is just ideas that I’ve had, but I also like to grab students with a catalog and ask them, hey, what do you think of this? Would you guys buy this? I want to have things that students like, especially.”
The store also moved locations this year, switching places with the teachers’ lounge. “The store was crowded in there,” McDonnell explained, “so they flip-flopped them.” The store’s new spot, and the many windows offer various spots for displays. It also has more room than the old location, allowing for things like the Christmas tree that has now been set up for the holidays. “I love the displays and the Christmas tree,” she expressed. “It’s a lot of fun.”
Photo Courtesy Brian Yackel ’18
McDonnell added more ideas to the Christmas festivities by introducing a new “wish list” idea for students and parents. “The wish list is where the students can come in and fill out a card of things that they want to have for Christmas. The parents come in and ask me to see their student’s card, and then they can buy things off the list,” she explained.
While the store has developed physically, it has also grown to encompass an online platform. McDonnell revealed her idea, saying, “There is a new online store in the works, too. The photography teacher and students are taking pictures for it.” She explained how the online store would be a way to reach out to EA alumni who are not able to frequent the actual store. “It should actually be here very soon, any minute now, because we’re almost done with it.”
Students seem to be reacting positively to the new changes, as Alex Conroy ‘19 said of the school store, “It’s pretty swell. They have a lot more items to choose from, and I like how much larger it is and the different variety it has.” Isabella Rodriguez ‘16 agreed, noting, “Everytime I walk past the store, there is something new in the front that I just have to buy. I love it.”