Rush: The Transformation Begins

We’re gearing up for what we refer to as “Rush” here at Book Culture.

Twice a year, our store transforms into course book central, as students from area colleges (mostly Columbia and Barnard) arrive in throngs to purchase their textbooks for the new semester. A substantial number of faculty support Book Culture by purchasing their course books through us each year. This results in a “rush period” of ordering, stocking and selling course books for a considerable number of classes. (As of today, we have over 600 courses registered with us.)

Behind the scenes, Rush has been underway since before the holidays. Our coursebook buyer has been placing faculty orders for several weeks, and the receiving crew has been processing and maneuvering our growing stock, as a constant flow of deliveries continues to arrive at the store.

Just about everyone on staff has participated in the preparation for Rush. Late last week, a team of folks began work on the physical transformation in the store. First, backstock and remainders were boxed up and transferred to a nearby temporary storage space:

Next, temporary shelving was installed on the second floor:

Additional changes, including more shelving and extra cash registers, will be added in coming days. Rush officially gets underway when Columbia Law School students start classes on January 14, a week ahead of most other graduate and undergraduate students.

Stay tuned for more photos of what unfolds at this busy time of year. We’ll also share some handy shopping tips to help students shop smart during rush!