2008 College Store Margins
Products available in college stores are sold with a margin, as in any retail operation. Margin is the difference between cost and retail price, reflecting work required to bring products to market. Different margins are used for certain product categories, or "departments." The following chart shows departmental gross margins reported as a percent of net sales.

Departmental Gross Margins as % of Net Sales

Mean
(Average)
25th %
Percentile
Median
(Mid-Point)
75th %
Percentile
New Course Books 22.7% 20.7 23.2 25.2
Custom Published Materials 25.4% 20.0 25.0 32.0
Used Course Books 35.9% 32.9 36.0 39.1
Course Technology 20.9% 12.3 20.0 25.0
Total Course Materials 26.6% 24.8 26.8 28.7
Trade Books 26.4% 21.4 29.4 34.9
Professional Reference Books 22.9% 18.4 21.5 31.2
Total General Books 27.4% 21.4 26.7 35.0
TOTAL BOOK SALES 26.9% 24.8 26.9 28.6
 
Computer Hardware 11.8% 4.7 8.0 12.2
Consumer Electronics 24.9% 15.1 26.0 33.4
Computer Software 15.9% 12.0 18.0 20.7
Digital / Computer Supplies 25.9% 19.0 27.8 34.4
TOTAL DIGITAL PRODUCTS 18.3% 10.9 16.2 25.4
 
School / Office Supplies 37.6% 31.8 39.3 43.3
Instructional Supplies 30.7% 25.4 30.8 39.8
TOTAL SUPPLIES 36.0% 30.6 37.5 43.1
 
Insignia Apparel 37.7% 33.4 42.0 45.7
Non-Insignia Apparel 37.0% 28.9 40.0 45.9
TOTAL APPAREL 37.5% 32.7 40.9 45.3
 
Insignia Gifts 36.9% 33.1 40.0 46.6
Non-Insignia Gifts 35.6% 30.2 39.5 46.7
TOTAL GIFTS 36.7% 32.9 39.4 45.6
 
Food / Beverages 33.4% 28.2 32.4 37.5
Other Merchandise 31.8% 22.3 35.2 46.3
TOTAL GENERAL MERCHANDISE 33.2% 27.1 34.2 40.7
 
TOTAL NON-BOOK SALES 32.3% 26.9 32.1 37.6
TOTAL NET SALES 27.7% 25.0 28.0 30.6