Some Auburn businesses now display AU10 stickers in their windows, advertising their participation in a joint Student Government Association-Chamber of Commerce student discount. AU10 signifies 10% off discounts for Auburn University students.
Participating businesses range from Good Karma to Auburn Oil Co. Booksellers and from Charming Oaks to Ace Hardware. The complete list of the 48 participating businesses can be found on both the SGA and the Chamber of Commerce websites.
According to Anna Hovey, director of business development for the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, students can get the discount by showing their student ID at the point of sale.
Each business can determine which items or services apply under the discount, though certain items such as alcohol are excluded, Hovey said. The 10% discount was based on similar discounts offered in other cities with SEC schools.
Businesses with satellite locations, such as Ross House or Philly Connection, can choose whether discounts apply at those locations. On-campus locations will not have the discount, Hovey said.
“We love the opportunity to partner with everyone, but especially with stakeholders such as Auburn University and the SGA,” Hovey said. “[The partnership] really enabled our businesses to have an audience with the students. This year, especially with a large amount of students not being in Auburn since the end of the spring semester, it was a great opportunity … to gain some extra business.”
Hovey hopes that students who returned for the fall semester will help businesses that missed their patronage since March. She wants the discount to be an incentive for students to buy locally instead of online.
Though the Chamber of Commerce is not an extension of local government, Hovey also appreciates that students shopping locally will also keep sales tax local.
“This is something that all students can use to save money, especially during COVID-19,” said Michael Bennett, SGA executive Vice President of Outreach. “It’s also really helpful to these businesses because, in the business realm, it’s hard to think of places that have been hit harder than [local businesses] … We want to encourage students to support those businesses that have a discount.”
Bennett serves as an ex-officio board member, representing SGA in the Chamber of Commerce. SGA members pitched the idea for a discount to the Chamber, which in turn proposed the discount to businesses.
SGA will continue to work with the Chamber to bring awareness of the program to students. They will also assist in recruiting new businesses to the program.
“Since it’s our first year [of the program], there may have been some people who were unsure of what it would be like, if it would be a hassle or what the deal was,” Hovey said. “We want to keep the option open to any of our members who might be interested in joining. We will be following up after the holidays … to see if anybody is interested in taking part [then].”
The program has no end date, with plans to recruit new businesses and restart at the beginning of each academic year, Hovey said. The discount will be available year-round at participating businesses.
“Even if it weren’t a COVID year where we’ve experienced a good bit of loss, it would still be our intention [to partner with SGA],” Hovey said. “At the same time, the businesses wanted to welcome the students back. This is a small way for our businesses to say ‘welcome back’ to students in our City.”
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
Charlie Ramo, junior in aerospace engineering, is the content editor of The Auburn Plainsman.
