With the recent opening of the Urban Outfitters in downtown Syracuse on Aug. 19, Syracuse University students and local teens, alike, are as excited to work at the store as they are to shop through its racks.

‘If I thought I actually had a chance of getting a job there, I’d apply’ said Noah Silverstein, a sophomore English major. ‘There’s a lot of competition. Everyone wants to work there.’

The young employees at Urban Outfitters represent a large majority of the Syracuse student body in terms of style and interest, said sophomore art photography major Max Jackson.

Beyond just SU students, young adults and teenagers have been applying for the position as well.

‘We did a lot of hiring before we opened, but we still receive applications,’ said Andrew, a manager at Urban Outfitters. ‘I don’t know if they’re all students from the university but a lot of the people applying are young.’

Urban Outfitters benefits from younger applicants, Andrew said. Having a youthful staff that knows what customers are looking for is great for business and helps retain regular shoppers, he said.

Urban Outfitters’ popular image as a trendy fashion store convinces some students to apply.

‘I think people who are part of the whole hipster movement would want to work there, and Syracuse has a lot of people like that,’ Silverstein said. ‘Urban is the store that creates a main image and sets the trends, and people try to emulate it best they can. It’s an image I’d want to be a part of.’

Image and brand name aside, a main reason for the high interest in employment is the employee discount. With a discount of up to 40 percent that is redeemable not only at Urban but also at its sister stores, Anthropologie and Free People Clothing Boutique, employees have found a way to make money and save money at the same time.

Employees are faced with the temptation to use their paychecks to further expand their wardrobe.

‘I knew from the start that any money I make was going right back to Urban,’ said Jasmine, a SU junior philosophy major who works at the store. ‘It’s bad, but worth it, I think.’

Though the chain outfitter has been popular with potential hires, students realize the issues that can come with working at the downtown clothing store. ‘If I had a car and the time, I’d work there,’ Jackson said. ‘It pays minimum wage, so the only reason I’d work there is for the discount.’

Much like the customers, any article of clothing found on the employee can just as easily be seen on the store’s shelves and racks. With the appeal of pushing their personal styles, employees see the store as a great venue to promote their fashion sense.

‘Working where you shop is just ideal in every way,’ Jasmine said. ‘Where you buy your clothes from says a lot about you, and where you work says even more. People use clothes to represent themselves, but when you work for a store or brand, it’s more about you representing the clothes. It’s a pretty cool feeling.’

dmodiama@syr.edu

 

Published on September 6, 2010 at 12:00 pm