Ashland University’s Campus Store is reaching out to build stronger relationships with local businesses and service departments through a newly created T-shirt series titled “Accent on Ashland.”
“Accent on Ashland” was developed with the goal to introduce students, and perhaps community members, to the variety of iconic businesses in Ashland. The series is intended to continually feature up to six businesses or groups at once. If they wish, businesses and groups are able to rotate through several times.
The creators of “Accent on Ashland,” AU staff members Matt Portner, Terri Hudson and Jonathan Hunn are assisting participants in designing and promoting the T-shirts. Every business will have a unique design advertised on the shirts.
The T-shirts can be bought online or in the AU Campus Store. Participating groups have the option to donate a portion of every sale to their respective charities or scholarships. Each shirt will be printed to order, allowing for personalization.
The T-shirts featured in the series are displayed at the front of the Campus Store. Businesses participating now include the Ashland Police Department, Wendy’s, Luray Lanes, the Ashland Fire Department, Lyn-Way Restaurant and the Ashland Dairy Bar.
Rob Stoops, owner of Ashland’s Lyn-Way Restaurant, believes the T-shirt series is a great new way to advertise his business to AU students.
Jonathan Hunn, co-creator of the series, explained, “if the Ashland community can see the AU campus as a positive part of the community and if the students can start to see what all the places in Ashland beyond campus have to offer, this project will be a success.”
The T-shirt series was created to appeal to the AU community and students in a fun way, while also spotlighting local businesses. According to AU President Dr. Carlos Campo, “One of the primary goals of our new Strategic Plan, Ashland Rising 2020, is ‘Enhanced Community Engagement.’ The AU bookstore’s T-shirt series is a reflection of our commitment to be more intentional in the days to come about finding intersections between the University and the Ashland community. For us to be successful, we must foster great relationships with business, non-profits and the community as whole, and this series is an illustration of our ongoing commitment to Ashland thriving.”
