MSU currently commands 6.53 percent of the market share ­— the third-highest percentage in the nation.

Last year, MSU commanded 4.93 percent of the market share, meaning that MSU’s market share — or its total stake in overall sales — has increased 1.6 percent in the past year.

Powell said sports play a large part in how well a school’s merchandise sells.

“If a team is doing well, they’re going to sell a lot more T-shirts and hats,” he said.

Robbin Manor, general manager of Spartan Bookstore, credits the sales increase to the hype leading into the football season.

“Our fans were very excited coming into this year, with the football team rated up, and a higher rank, and things like that,” Manor said.

Manor said the sales of Spartan Bookstore are higher compared to last year. Sales had been down the past few years because of Michigan’s poor economic climate, and she describes the rebound as a “return to form.”

“I also think part of it is that the economy is starting to turn around in the state of Michigan,” she said. “People are starting to spend more money on things such as souvenir items and apparel items for the school.”

A rebounding economy means the consumer has more money in his or her pocket, she said.

“Instead of coming in and buying one item, they’re buying two or three items,” Manor said.

But Powell said although sports played a part in the sales increase, it doesn’t fully explain the dramatic 82 percent increase in national sales for MSU’s merchandise.

“It’s hard to know,” Powell said. “I would jest that the ranking in basketball has a factor here. It also may have to do with the new Nike jersey that (MSU has) come out with. That could lead to an increase in sales.”

Powell noted there is a definite correlation between sports and merchandise sales.

“We definitely saw a negative in Penn State sales with the scandal,” he said, referring to former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky’s sexual assault charges. “Penn State sales have been down since the scandal broke, so that’s a part of it.”

Psychology senior Leah Pifer said she purchases MSU merchandise to show her support for the football team.

“The last two years in the Big Ten … they’ve been pretty good,” she said. “That would be my reason. I love football.”

Manor believes businesses shouldn’t just thank the football and basketball teams for the sales increase.

“We’ve had a hockey team that’s coming around and we had a phenomenal season with our baseball this last spring,” she said.

“So, sports all around have made all of the fans very excited about this place. People want a part of the action, they want to be a part of it. They want that sense of belonging.”