The Campus Store hosted its first Campus Store Christmas Open House Saturday to help students get ready for the holidays.

The Campus Store will be closed for Thanksgiving, so the Christmas open house provided an opportunity for faculty and staff to get early shopping done.

April Ewing, inventory control and merchandising manager, came up with the idea of the open house and was in charge of the event.

“It’s our way of giving our students and faculty and staff some early shopping.” Ewing said. “We just thought that we would make sure that this is a good place to start.”

At this special event, the Campus Store showcased its Vera Bradley and Bare Essentials lines. There were giveaways and a gift with purchase during the event.

“The Campus Store is interested in bringing home [décor] to the campus, not just books and school supplies,” Ewing said.

However, despite he Campus Store’s Holiday cheer, it has not yet put up Christmas decorations.

“I don’t believe that we should put out Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving,” Ewing said. “It’s a little soon to have Christmas music or decorations.”

Will Morgan, senior accounting major from Longview, worked the afternoon shift of the event and expected a pretty good turnout.

“It’s kind of a wildcard Saturday,” Morgan said. “I really do expect it to be busy, with it being a preview weekend and promotion here in the store.”

Vera Bradley is one of the biggest promotions at the event.

“They are a girls best friend, and there is no particular generation they aim at,” Ewing said.  “It is very versatile and just has a very strong, long-lasting appeal.”

The store’s recently launched product is Bare Essentials make-up. It was incorporated into the event as a gift with purchase of $25 or more.

“This is another product that appeals to young and old and am excited about introducing this to our clientele on campus,” Ewing said.

More information about ACU’s Campus Store can be found at www.campusstore.acu.edu/home.aspx.