If you’ve ever spotted Annandale High School gear at CVS or other local stores, you might be surprised to learn that those sales don’t actually support the school. Principal Shawn DeRose recently clarified that while the gear looks great, none of the profits from those sales make their way back to Annandale High.
“Annandale merchandise that you see at CVS and other stores in the community, that percentage does not go to Annandale,” DeRose explained.
Still, it’s not all bad news. For many students, simply seeing Annandale gear on the shelves is a source of pride. “I think it’s kinda cool seeing Annandale merch at CVS, ‘cause it shows off our school,” said senior Cardin Tran. It’s a sentiment shared by many in the community who enjoy seeing the school’s name out and about.
But when it comes to supporting the school directly, buying merchandise through the school is the best way to give back—and strengthen the bond between the school, its students, and the wider community.
“We’ve had some success selling our old, cushioned Annandale chairs. Most recently, the class of 1974 celebrated their 50th reunion, and a number of alumni bought some chairs,” DeRose said. “So it’s a good piece of Annandale gear that you can take on within the actual years.”
The chairs, originally used in the school for games, were repurposed for sale appealing to graduates who wanted to own a piece of the school’s history. This particular sale during the reunion illustrated how selling branded items can strengthen the bond between alumni and the school.
DeRose also sees potential for current students to get involved in designing and marketing school-branded gear.
He suggested that students in the fashion marketing class might want to take on the challenge of creating their own Annandale merchandise. “I think it’s a great idea [for students to design merchandise],” DeRose said. “I would suggest maybe our students in fashion marketing class reach out to our activities office and see if there’s opportunities for them.”
By involving students in the process, the school hopes to give them practical experience while further deepening ties with the community. According to DeRose, it’s all part of a larger goal. “I think…the more connections that we have to our business internships selling gear—the more connections that we have with our communities, I think the stronger we are as a community.”
Selling merchandise isn’t just about making money—it’s about building relationships. From students designing gear to alumni buying mementos, the school is using these efforts to bring the community closer together, one t-shirt, chair, or sweatshirt at a time.
