The new school year kicks off, as always, with a little bit of madness.
The ninth annual Meijer Madness is scheduled for 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24. The festival-of-sorts has become an annual tradition, a place for students to find last-minute deals on back to school items.
Taking place after students old and new have arrived on and off campus, the event offers discounts, DJs, giveaways and a first look at the community for new students. Besides the retail franchise, 30 different vendors from around town will be spread throughout the parking lot, appealing to students with deals and giveaways.
Local radio affiliate Y-102 will be providing much of the outside entertainment. There will be a DJ inside the store, in addition to a cleared out space for dancing.
The event is an opportunity for students scrambling for overlooked school supplies and various necessities for their home away from home. Meijer provides a 10 percent off coupon that can be used on all general store merchandise or apparel in a single purchase. This excludes all non-general merchandise and apparel: food, alcohol, tobacco, gift cards, lottery, prescriptions and all items at the Meijer gas station.
It is also an mPerks weekend. mPerks is Meijer’s digital couponing system. By signing up online, students can save an additional 15 percent on their purchases on the night of Meijer Madness.
Busing from campus to the event is provided, with the retailer anticipating around 5,000 students.
“We want to introduce ourselves to the students,” Chris Schwandt, Meijer store supervisor, said. “We want them to be customers of ours throughout their entire stay at Ferris. Our idea is to introduce ourselves to them by having this event.” ///