Exploring The EF Campus Store

Have you ever seen the campus store full of students during lunch time?

Since EF Academy Pasadena opened in 2022, the campus store in Cena has sold coffee, snacks, and ice cream. It has also been loved by students.

The International Changemaker interviewed some students and staff who are working at the store to find the importance of having a store on campus.

Interviews revealed that most students go to the store after lunch to get some snacks or coffee to recharge their energy for after-lunch classes. Although some students go there either after school or after dinner, working staff said that “after lunch time is the most busy.”

It was found through the interviews that more students preferred to buy drinks and ice cream, such as Häagen-Dazs ice cream, than sweets, snacks or chips. Most students tended to buy their own specific preferences at least twice a week, and some students who go daily customized their drinks.

While some students are happy with the current store, several have some ideas to improve the store services. Juha, an 11th grader, shared that “it would be great if the store had açai” or more kinds of snacks. Some students also asked for hot cocoa to be added to the menu during the winter.

Students also have ideas for store hours other than the menu they would like to see added. Currently the store is open from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM and 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM from Monday to Friday and closed on Saturday and Sunday. However, many students wish the store would be open on weekends.

The reason why the store is closed on weekends is because there is only one staff member who works in the store. The staff member, who asked that her name not be published, shared that she would inquire about hiring more staff for the store. She is the only staff member and she is constantly working to improve the store.

She said that she would “love to hear all students’ voices and see what they like, what kind of things they want to buy at the store,” then she can work on improving services for the next year. She has already made signs and devised ways for students to share their ideas.

She also shared that she is trying to make new menus for next year and if students have any ideas, she would “love to hear everyone’s opinion” and be free to talk to her.

Recently, Business Club has been helping to improve the store’s management, and, through suggestions on product lineups, the store is being developed so that more students can enjoy it.

Furthermore, the store now offers a wider variety of ice cream, candy and coffee than before. In addition, with more students utilizing the store than ever before, it has become more active. According to the staff member, “we are happy that the store has become even more popular” and thanks to the support of students.
The Campus Store is more than just a place to buy snacks, but a place for students to replenish their energy for class, and every day the staff is working on ideas to make it more comfortable for students to use. We can expect the Business Club and the staff to continue to make the store even better in the future.