L.L. Bean Bootmobile Rolls Onto Campus

For students who forgot to pack their winter clothing or just wanted to grab a pair of new boots without leaving campus, they could on Nov. 20. The Marist chapter of the National Retail Federation Student Organization partnered with Student Activities to host the L.L. Bean Bootmobile pop-up shop on campus offering students 20 percent off on all items. 

Built out of aluminum and fiberglass, the Bootmobile has covered more than 350,000 miles appearing in 25 states, two countries, and dozens of college campuses. Marist College was the second to last stop for the bootmobile as the college tour of upstate New York ended with L.L. Bean at Vassar College on Nov. 21.

The goal of the mobile pop-up shop is to travel all over the country providing customers with special savings on popular L.L. Bean products, fun games, giveaways, and a variety of ways to spend more time outdoors together. 

When the Bootmobile arrived on campus, students were quick to stop and take pictures with the larger than life shoe and browse the clothing options. Stationed outside the Steel Plant Building, it was convenient for customers to park in the Beck lot or just stop by when walking around campus. 

Students, faculty and community members made a long line from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., enjoying 20 percent off their total purchase. The surrounding atmosphere of music, bean bag toss games, and smores over the fire pit put student, Kyla McLead, into a great mood.

“It was adorable, I loved it,” said McLead. “They had a very large selection of merchandise and the people were very helpful. There wasn't actually anything in the boot, but it was really cute.”

The “boot” served as a decorative outer shell on the company’s pick-up truck, while the shopping took place in a L.L. Bean branded boutique trailer parked in the lot.

Not only did students enjoy the merchandise offered, but the pop-up store allowed customers to pick custom boot laces with any purchase of bean boots. Catherine Cremin spoke with excitement about the custom shoelace stand.

“It was great, I enjoyed myself,” said Cremin. “I got some nice new boots with custom laces for 20 percent off, and I also got to enter a raffle. I couldn't ask for anything better.”

Taking over the Marist College Instagram story for the day, members of the Marist chapter of the National Retail Federation Student Organization (NRFSA) showed students what the L.L. Bean pop-up shop had to offer.

Martha Villarreal Barrera the president of NRFSA also recognized the practical experience their organization members gained from having a retail shop right on campus.

“Through today's events, students will get a greater understanding of how to run a pop-up shop, gaining their experience and how customer service can impact retail,” said Barrera. “We learned a lot from the experience, and learned how a pop-up shop opertates.”

The pop-up shop will continue touring at the conclusion of their upstate college tour on Nov. 21. For future Bootmobile L.L Bean events, their schedule can be found https://events.llbean.net/.