Dorm-In-A-Box targets rising college costs & affordability with product launch and business plan to save freshmen $200 million annually at Top-100 Universities.
Saint Louis, MO April 17, 2009: With college costs increasing unabated at a staggering 6.5% clip for decades,
Saint Louis based Dorm-In-A-Box brings marketplace “best practices” to bare on college campuses nationwide.
Citing the need to make residence hall essentials more affordable, President and Managing Director,
Chris Vahlkamp began an 18 month fact finding campaign before launching the concept commercially in
February. Soliciting advice from dozens of University experts, administrators, and students from across the
country, the company has assembled a compelling campaign to design, source, manufacture and deliver bundled
packages directly to each student’s dorm room. Vahlkamp states; “we develop outstanding, quality products
to the specific needs of our university partners, bundle the product into individual kits, and route the shipping
container directly to the university where the product is placed in each freshman student’s dorm room.”
Purchased by the school on behalf of all incoming resident freshmen, the company reduces costs by 65% to
70% or $843 per student. Vahlkamp adds; “Imagine the convenience of having all of the products necessary
for residential life available and in your room upon arrival, eliminating the hassle and expense of shopping for
hundreds of items at various retail stores.” “Dorm-In-A-Box is an extension of our design abilities bringing
sourcing efficiencies and related cost savings associated with Private Label products to college students” adds
his design chief. Students potentially could receive as much as $1200 worth of college essentials for as little as
$349 depending on choices made by each institutional administrator.
Resonating on several levels, the company continues to drive interest on University campuses by promoting efforts aimed at sustainability, supporting cost containment, enhancing affordability, supporting student diversity as well as providing equal access to educational essentials regardless of income.
In January the company validated the concept at the American Council on Education (ACE) conference in Washington D.C. resulting in overwhelming validation of the concept by college Chancellors, Presidents, and administrators. “We stole the show and the sensibilities of everyone! So did our latest extensive consumer research survey, in which 88% of parents voted “Yes, I WOULD WANT the University to purchase this on my behalf.” Not only have parents embraced the concept, but an overwhelming 76% of students welcomed the new concept as well.
The company will exhibit at The Association of College and University Housing Officers — International (ACUHO-I) Conference in Baltimore, Maryland June 27-30, 2009