Mar 23, 2008

Sales of U of M merchandise soarBy James DowdCommercialAppeal.com

The news is out: Tiger Fever is spreading and it’s not just contagious on the court.

With the whirlwind surrounding the University of Memphis men’s basketball team, the devotion to Tiger Blue is helping some local businesses rake in the green as sales of university-related merchandise pull in customers.

Christine Thomas stocks up on University of Memphis apparel with the help of Tiger Gift Shop assistant manager Colby Bowen. The store, at 549 S. Highland, opened in November and has experienced solid sales, thanks in part to the basketball team’s success.

On a recent morning, Allison Collier waited outside Tiger Gift Shop at 549 S. Highland a good half-hour before the store was set to open. Her goal: Score a tournament shirt to wear to show off her Tiger Pride during March Madness.

Eventually the 23-year-old UofM graduate student stole away to run a few errands, but she returned when the doors opened to snag her prize.

“I moved to Memphis three years ago and it took about two seconds for me to become a Tigers fan,” Collier said. “My family kids me about it, but I’m a serious fan and I’ve already told them that this year we’re going all the way. We’re going to take it all.”

That sort of enthusiasm is music to the ears of merchants, who are witnessing a run on Tigers-related items.

At Tiger Gift Shop, situated on the Highland strip near the UofM, manager Jeremy Stinson has witnessed a growing interest in team merchandise since the store opened last November, and the Big Blue tidal wave shows no sign of cresting.

Read complete article.