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Writer's pictureJoseph Stanek

Top 10 UNBELIEVABLE Ways that Scholarshop will Level-Up UoPeople

Updated: Jan 8, 2023




UoPeople gave me all the tools I need to level-up my businesses, and the least I can do is use these tools to help them level-up theirs! Behold: I’ve created Scholarshop, the University of the People online merchandise store, as a gift to UoPeople – because

a.) I’m grateful for the tuition-free MBA

b.) fourteen years is long enough to go without a merchandise store and

c.) we all deserve the chance to show off our hard work and accomplishments with some sweet UoPeople merch! Can I get an amen?


A-MEN


But wait, this is where it gets good: Scholarshop is much more than an online store… I’ve designed it to be a critical asset in UoPeople’s growth from every single angle (yes, that strategic thinking is a product of UoPeople’s education, however did you know?). I’ve narrowed it down to a list of Top 10 UNBELIEVABLE Ways Scholarshop will Level-Up UoPeople, and it starts right now:



1. MONEY


That’s right: cold, hard cash. You don’t need my experience as a nonprofit executive to know that most nonprofit organizations aren’t going to turn away a big fat donation… especially when that big fat donation comes not once, but four times a year indefinitely into the future. The UoPeople Scholarshop’s business model necessitates sizable quarterly donations to University of the People comprised of 100% net proceeds from sales. And during this awesomely unprecedented period of growth for UoPeople (hello, student body of +126,000 – whoop whoop!), we’d make sure our donations go toward whatever UoPeople needs most to keep the Education Revolution going strong. And if they don’t need money, we’ll make sure our proceeds go toward assessment fees, because I could sure use a discount there!



2. FREE ADVERTISING


In the Business Administration courses at University of the People, we are taught the importance of developing intangible assets that add value to our businesses; a partnership with Scholarshop adds immeasurable value to UoPeople because our global network of customers will be walking advertisements - literally - for UoPeople! We're not just talking about in public places, either... social media will explode with images and videos of proud UoPeople students, alumni, faculty, parents, you NAME it, boasting their new threads and products with UoPeople’s name all over them! An increase in visibility like that is priceless. (But we already know that, right?)



3. SWAG


...Speaking of new threads, I mean, come on. I need a "Who's Sallie Mae?" hoodie and t-shirt in every color.



(But really though, who is she?)

And did college even happen if there’s no t-shirt to prove it?? These are the important questions.


4. ROOM FOR MORE INNOVATION!


I know UoPeople has something else up its sleeves for changing the world, and they deserve a chance to experiment a little! With an influx of donations and free advertising that will come from Scholarshop, UoPeople can strategize how to reallocate existing funding to innovative ideas they’ve been dying to try out. President Reshef said it’s time for scalability in his TED Talk, so let Scholarshop help you scale, President Reshef! We’ve got this!




5. PROOF THAT TUITION-FREE EDUCATION WORKS

For those who don’t know, I’m a current MBA student at UoPeople, and I came up with the idea for the “UoPeople Online Store” (before I found my real footing with the name “Scholarshop”) during my first term as a student here. Little by little, I’ve pieced Scholarshop together with the help of my world-renowned professors (that’s right, I’ve chosen advisors from within, because our faculty “gets” the Education Revolution more than anyone else). Scholarshop is destined for success and a partnership with UoPeople would serve as a real-life, unabashedly public endorsement from UoPeople in the quality of education they provide to their students.


(Wait a second, now that we're halfway through, did I mention that Scholarshop comes at NO COST TO UoPEOPLE? One more time for everybody in the back: Scholarshop comes at NO COST TO UoPEOPLE.


This is a gift from a grateful student. Period. Scholarshop will operate independently of UoPeople’s resources at no burden to them. THE ONLY THING I NEED FROM UoPEOPLE IS THEIR PERMISSION TO USE THEIR ARTWORK AND NAME IN THIS CAPACITY. That is the only hold-up right now, as I wait for approval. UoPeople has nothing to lose. You may now resume your scheduled programming.)



6. IMPROVED STUDENT PERFORMANCES,

EVEN AFTER GRADUATION

A study by Varsity Brands showed that students who display school spirit (like those with access to university stores):

  • Perform 75% better academically;

  • Are more socially and civically engaged;

  • Are 94% more likely to have higher self-esteem;

  • Are +90% more likely to stay in school, graduate on time, and publicly endorse their education and experience.



7. ENHANCED MISSION STATEMENT


UoPeople’s commitment to diverse populations across the world will be reflected in Scholarshop’s products. Because our customer base is so wonderfully diverse and international, Scholarshop will eventually offer the largest culturally inclusive catalogue of products in the entire university store industry.



8. COMMUNITY


In a recent Zoom meeting with 300+ members of UoPeople’s student body, all anyone could talk about was how awesome it felt to be surrounded by each other. In an exclusively virtual environment, WE NEED TO FEEL A SENSE OF COMMUNITY for our own wellbeing and trust. Something as simple as a UoPeople-branded t-shirt from Scholarshop has the power to unite us all... alumni, faculty, and supporters, too! And by the way, I’ve partnered with over 90 international suppliers to make sure Scholarshop is able to deliver to everyone in our globally distributed network. Check out all these places we’re able to deliver (green countries):



When COVID restrictions loosen up, our wingspan will get even larger. The UoPeople Scholarshop will cater to all within UoPeople’s globally distributed network.



9. ENHANCED SUSTAINABILITY COMMITMENT


We all know UoPeople’s pledge for sustainable practices would never condone an unsustainable business model, especially one to represent its brand! I’ve built Scholarshop to be the world’s most sustainable college store (reviewed and verified by Guinness World Records) to ensure that we amplify UoPeople’s stance on protecting our planet’s natural resources.




10. SILENCE THE HATERS


If you Google "University of the People,” the first three suggested searches that auto-populate are:

  1. “Is University of the People a real university?”

  2. “Is University of the People a good university?” and

  3. “Is a degree from University of the People worth anything?”

These are legitimate questions that we have all undoubtedly asked at one point or another, and all three can be answered with Scholarshop:

  1. By creating visibility for University of the People through UoPeople-branded merchandise, University of the People is given a chance to exist outside of our virtual environment in the real world.

  2. Most people associate “good” universities with name recognition, or by someone they know who graduated from there. Scholarshop will make UoPeople’s name publicly visible (without expensive advertising) and will identify graduates for all to see.

  3. And people will know our school is worth something when they see our own people proudly displaying our school’s name on clothes and products that integrate into their lives.


Actions speak louder than words – we can tell people the answers to these questions all day long, but they’ll finally understand when we are able to show them who we are and the incredible things we can do.


Let’s start by showing them Scholarshop.




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