The Merchandising and Retail Committee (MERC) at IIM Udaipur is a dynamic and multifaceted organization with two primary objectives. First and foremost, MERC is dedicated to promoting the prestigious IIM Udaipur brand by actively engaging in designing and procuring customized merchandise. Through this endeavour, the committee plays a pivotal role in fostering a strong sense of identity and pride among the IIMU community, making the brand synonymous with excellence. Secondly, MERC caters to the various utility needs of the IIMU campus community, ensuring that the students, faculty, and staff have access to exclusive offers and discounts through retail tie-ups with food chains, restaurants, apparel stores, etc. Moreover, MERC is deeply committed to supporting other clubs and committees at IIM Udaipur by providing customized merchandise to meet their unique requirements. MERC's dedication to branding, utility provision, and collaborative approach significantly contributes to the holistic development and satisfaction of the students and the IIMU community.
The Merchandising vertical of the committee is responsible for designing and procuring an array of IIMU-branded products, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies, catering to the diverse needs of students and various committees throughout the academic year. MERC is a financially self-sufficient committee and primarily employs a pre-order model for most merchandise launches. Orders are solicited from the IIMU community, extending to alumni, and subsequently, a consolidated bulk order is placed with the chosen vendor. Additionally, MERC collaborates with apparel and fabric retailers to set up their stalls on campus, providing convenient access to a range of products. MERC annually also partners with a reputable suiting apparel firm, facilitating their presence on the campus and offering exclusive discounts to the campus community for made-to-measure suits. This multifaceted approach underscores MERC's commitment to enhancing the IIMU experience by addressing merchandising needs professionally and efficiently.
The team's scope of responsibility includes the design, procurement, and distribution of IIMU-branded notebooks and diaries, as well as the creation of gift items, including mugs, sipper bottles, vacuum flasks, keychains, etc, tailored to the preferences of the IIMU community. The committee continuously works towards bringing new and lucrative gift items for the community. MERC further extends its utility by operating a transient convenience store during the first week of the incoming batch's arrival on campus, providing IIMU-branded gift items to those registered through Unnati. Furthermore, MERC takes on the prestigious role of designing and publishing the annual Yearbook, a cherished tradition, commemorating the MBA and PGPX graduating batches' academic journey, thus significantly preserving memories and celebrating accomplishments.
The services vertical of MERC collaborates with food outlet chains in Udaipur, such as Domino's, Pizza Hut, KFC, and Biryani By Kilo, Xero degree, Café Therapy, to provide food delivery services to the campus and secure dine-in discounts at various local restaurants for the campus community. MERC also engages with food outlets to set up stalls during events like Solaris, Audacity, and other summits.
The Merchandising and Retail Committee operates year-round, maintaining ongoing collaborations with various vendors, restaurants, and hotels. MERC consistently takes significant initiatives to enhance the visibility of the IIMU brand through merchandising and meets the diverse needs of the campus community, encompassing students, staff, and faculty.
