The store is a Yalie's nightmare. There is crimson everywhere--on the floor, on the walls, on the shelves--and all of the goods for sale are Harvard-related.
In short, a shop which purports to be the only store in the U.S. marketing nothing but Harvard merchandise opened in Cambridge yesterday.
"After 347 years, it's about time for the Harvard Shop," reads the sign in the window of the Kennedy St. emporium.
The first item sold in the Harvard Shop was a bright raspberry rain poncho, complete with Harvard insignia. The raspberry was a mistake, according to store manager Nancy Ramsey: the ponchos were supposed to come in crimson.
Thus far, the color difference hasn't affected many people. On the store's opening day, Ramsey estimated, 20 or so people took a look around and about one-third made purchase.
Among the tourists who browsed in the shop yesterday was Yale alumnus William Greenwood. Greenwood said he dropped into the store "to find something to embarrass my Harvard friends."
He was a bit surprised to see the shop here in Cambridge. Greenwood added. "You might expect it in a big Western sports school but it's not exactly Harvard's style." he explained.
The Harvard Shop does not currently sell anything out of the ordinary. The merchandise is mostly clothing and includes 14 varieties of Harvard T-shirts, plus one for every House Banners, mugs and furniture are also for sale.
Ramsey said she would like to sell kitchen supplies, underwear, stationery and other gift items, but wants to "avoid too many gimmicks and concentrate on fine-quality merchandise."
Through both insignia and the name, the owners of the Harvard shop join the many entrepreneurs in the areas who capitalize on the University's reputation.
When asked about the possible legal complications of using Harvard's name one Harvard. vard lawyer said that there is no general policy on the issue. At times the University takes offense while at other times it does not, he explained.
He cited the lengthy relationship between the University and the Harvard Cooperative Society, which allows the Coop to include "Harvard" in its name.
Deputy General Counsel Martin Michelson said an important question would be "whether the enterprise claimed to be authorized by Harvard University." Such a false claim could lead to litigation, he added.
The store's co-owners, Paul R. Corcoran Jr. '54 and Robert H. Weiss '54 said they have not consulted University officials, nor do they plan to. "We don't know what Harvard thinks. "Corcoran said, adding." A lot of people have used the name. If you do it in a tasteful manner, I can't imagine that there can be any repercussions."
The owners were optimistic about the shop's chances for success. Weiss said the store, which will cost "considerably more than $10,000, "will" caster to a wide range of students, alumni, and tourists."
The owners, both native Cantabrigians, said they left no one yet had thoroughly exploited the market for Harvard merchandise. Corcoran said. "All our energies are going into one specific type of product."
And Weiss, referring to another neighbor hood shop, added. "If a store can sell 47 different kinds of popcorn, we can do this.
