From new in-store branding and merchandise to plans to add pop-up shops at campus events, University of Wisconsin-Stout alumna Hanahh Eggum is thrilled to be the new manager at Stoutfitters, the campus store.
Stoutfitters, which is owned by Follett and located in the Memorial Student Center, offers class materials for students, as well as branded UW-Stout items for students, staff and alumni to show off their UW-Stout pride.
Eggum, who graduated in December 2019 with a degree in retail merchandising and management with an emphasis in apparel marketing and buying and product management, started as the Stoutfitters manager in mid-July.
“I absolutely fell in love with Stout and the community of Menomonie,” Eggum said. “I just love how much care and passion the professors have. I truly admire Stout’s values. Working in Menomonie at Stout within my major is a dream come true.”
While attending UW-Stout, Eggum had an internship in the 2018 spring and fall semester at the Niche, a student-run boutique in Heritage Hall offering fashion merchandise and accessories, school accessories, home décor and beauty and health products.
She also had an internship through the Cooperative Education and Internship Program supported by Career Services at Sleep Number corporate offices in Minneapolis during the summer of 2018 as an operations intern. Sleep Number president and CEO is UW-Stout alumna Shelly R. Ibach.
Eggum also worked at University Housing as a resident assistant and hall manager and was a member of the Stout Retail Association. After graduating, she started her career at Menards Corp. in Eau Claire as a merchandise planner in the electrical department. While there she learned to do some electrical work setting up displays for the department.
This summer, Eggum said Stoutfitters has been busy with giving the store a “facelift” and serving incoming first-year students and their families who are stocking up on UW-Stout branded gear.
“We have been changing how items are displayed and where they are displayed,” Eggum said. “We’re looking at adding new merchandise. We’ve added new branding using signs with Stoutfitters and StoutProud. I love having the opportunity to talk with parents and students and make the connection with customers. This is a major moment in the life of new incoming students. I want it to be a memorable experience for them.”
Eggum, originally from Wautoma, also plans to increase Stoutfitters’ social media presence.
Malinda Hebert, assistant director of the Memorial Student Center, said staff are excited to have Eggum as the new manager.
“In the short time she has been on board, she has brought a new energy to Stoutfitters,” Hebert said. “She is a fairly recent UW-Stout graduate, which gives her an advantage of having a pulse on what students are looking for in apparel, supplies and gifts and what the store is missing in product and services.
“Hanahh has some great ideas to enhance the services provided, such as expanded hours, plans to update and add in-store branding, which will add spirit and hopefully increased interest in visiting Stoutfitters. Hanahh also has plans to provide some pop-up shops at select campus events, bringing the store to event attendees.”
As an alumna, Eggum knows UW-Stout and is already brainstorming how Stoutfitters can support and complement events and build relationships with departments across campus, Hebert said.
Eggum transferred to UW-Stout after about two years at what is now known as UW-Oshkosh, Fox Cities Campus. “UW-Stout is the only public school in the state that offers my major,” Eggum said. “I still believe this is the best place for my program in the country.”
Eggum lives in Menomonie with her partner, Zoe Slewitzke, a senior majoring in graphic design and interactive media concentrating in communication design.
Eggum is passionate about making Stoutfitters grow and thrive. “I love seeing how we can do a different procedure and make it better.”
