They've Got Spirit: Seneca Valley Approves Online Raiders Store

students and alumni may soon be able to order Raider–themed items with just the click of a mouse.

At Monday’s school board meeting, athletic director Greg Caprara unveiled plans for an online spirit store that will sell hats, sweatshirts, T-shirts and more with the trademarked Seneca Valley logo.

Caprara said Swan’s Sport Shop, a sporting goods store in Ohio, would operate the site at no cost to the district. Swan’s also would be responsible for maintaining the site’s inventory, sales, and shipping. Caprara said the district would receive a 20 percent cut of the company’s gross sales on the items.

Because of space constraints, he said the district has no stores at its schools to stock spirit items for sale to students.

“We’ve really never had that opportunity here,” he said.

He said people usually buy their Raider-logo items through Seneca Valley’s various booster clubs. He said the online store would not compete with these groups.

In fact, the boosters will be welcome to sell their items on the new site. Caprara said any proceeds from booster-item sales would go directly to their groups.

“We’re not trying to beat them or compete with them,” Caprara said. “I don’t think that would be appropriate.”

With the school board’s approval on Monday, Caprara said Swan’s should send potential designs and material samples to him within the next five days. 

He believes the items will be a hit with students and alumni, especially those who have moved from the area and may want to purchase items with their alma mater’s name.

“People say, ‘I wish I could buy this or that,’ ” he said. “This will give them the opportunity.”

He said he hopes the site will be up and running before the start of the school year on Sept. 7. When it goes live, the store's website will be www.thesenecavalleyspiritstore.com.