Sophia Shen–

The Wildcat Den, an on-campus apparel shop popular with parents, students, and faculty, is being taken to the next level. Due to excessive demand in recent years, the Parents Association at Rye Country Day School will expand its consumer network to international markets. Starting in Canada, a local Wildcat store is scheduled to be built at the Eaton Centre in Toronto, and over the next month, stores will be launched in Colombia, Japan, Egypt, and France. The online store will also expand to accommodate customers from all over the world, with the addition of a robust international advertising team to drive sales.

The Wildcat Den has always been a fixture at RCDS, providing high-quality spirit wear. Every day, students flood the mini shop on school grounds, and every night, an average of 200 purchases are made online. The shop sells everything from t-shirts to backpacks; it’s known for its creative design and a broad spectrum of options, driving events like Spirit Days and providing quality athletic apparel.

The move to go international is an obvious next step as the PA hopes to increase sales by over eighty percent throughout the next year. By expanding its consumer base, the Wildcat Den will be able to reach a wider audience and capitalize on the current peak in consumerism. Not only will new products be created for the Wildcat Den, but the store’s prices will also increase in concurrence with the high demand. As more customers start to shop at the Wildcat Den, the prices are anticipated to rise by 15% to take advantage of a large clientele. The PA believes this change will support improvements at RCDS, including a more involved student-body.

In today’s economy, local businesses are competing for more consumers and exposure. As other local school stores are flourishing and starting to expand, Rye Country Day must aim big to advance ahead of the competition.

Although several parents have brought up concerns about RCDS spirit wear not appealing to international buyers, the PA has assured critics that their strong and strategic marketing and advertising team will attract materialists and shopaholics from all over the globe. The PA is confident that global sales will thrive, and the plethora of income will go towards funding improved education and new classes at RCDS.