The five convenience stores on campus known collectively as 5 Bites have been undergoing many new changes and improvements, including a new head manager, the implementation of a recycling program and a stamp card program, and the addition of combination packs at a reduced price, since the beginning of the semester.
5 Bites is actually a very new business on campus, having started only two years ago, and it is completely student-run as a program under Houghton Student Enterprises (HSE).
Though a relatively new business, it has been doing quite well.
“This year we kicked off pretty strong and have gotten solid business” said Moeun Sun, Assistant Manager for 5 Bites at Burke Field and Nielsen Physical Education Center.
Senior Austin Rudd has stepped into the position as manager of 5 Bites this semester. Before the semester even began, Rudd was emailing the managers of the different store locations asking for new ideas to implement this semester.
One new program which 5 Bites has implemented is a stamp card program. Now students can receive a stamp for every 50 cents they spend at a 5 Bites store. Once they have collected twenty stamps, they can redeem the card for a candy bar.
5 Bites has also begun a new recycling program. This program works the same way that it does at any other store location in New York where patrons can get 5 cents for turning in recyclables with an NY State stamp on them.
“It’s a way to encourage people to come to 5 Bites and to thank them,” says Elena Velazquez, store manager for Lambien.
Something that has not yet begun, but will be starting in two weeks, are combination packs. Each of the store managers for the five locations has put together specialized combination packs which will be sold at about a 15% reduction in the price. For example, Velazquez made a combination pack for Lambien which includes an IBC Rootbeer, popcorn, and a snickers for $2; if all those items were bought individually, the order would total $3.25 at the Lambein store.
This gives people who are already buying these things a discount,” said Rudd.
Besides these new programs, 5 Bites is also working on getting a computer program with which to do their inventory.
“We have had problems with different software to organize our inventory,” said Velazquez.
However they have recently received new software for free, which should be working soon along with scanners to scan the items which people purchase.
The managers of 5 Bites are also going to be looking for different items to add to their stock and will be choosing new items with the help of student’s feedback.
Overall many new programs have started with other changes underway.
“All of this has happened in just the past couple weeks,” said Velazquez.