BYU-Idaho students back keeping Rexburg businesses busy

As BYU-Idaho welcomed its students back for the first day of the fall semester Monday, so did Rexburg businesses.

Greg Deussen of Broulim’s Supermarket says it is the busiest time of the year.

“We start gearing up about a week before the students come back, just to get our inventory to the right spot,” said Deussen.

He said they boost inventory throughout the store, but everyday household items are a big seller.

Freshman Sierra Graham and her roommates came to Broulim’s looking for just that. She arrived in Rexburg less than a week ago and has already made a trip to the store three times.

“It’s my very first time on my own,” said Graham.

She’s been busy stocking the shelves and furnishing her new place. Idaho Mattress Outlet Salesman Jesse Kissell counts on students like Graham for business. The outlet opened in Rexburg about a year ago.

“We felt like this would be a good place for it to be, because a bunch of college kids are looking for a cheap bed that will last them a while,” said Kissell.

He said the outletsaw a dramatic increase in sales last week.

“We had our big rush last week, we were staying a couple hours afterwards to make sure our customers got what they needed.”