Students who use embarrassingly large amounts of toilet paper, garbage bags or red Solo cups have a new Web site that might make their lives easier.
PennTen.com is a student-founded online retailer that stocks, sells and delivers 10 popular dorm supplies in bulk.
The new business is a spin-off of Penn Drinks, a company formed last year that offers bulk drink deliveries.
Through the PennTen Web site, students can order typical dorm supplies in bulk at cheaper prices than buying the equivalent amount in smaller packages at area retailers.
Items include a six-pack of Scott paper towels for $10.39 and an 18-pack of EasyMac for $9.18.
Like Penn Drinks, PennTen also saves students the hassle of lugging heavy boxes around campus by delivering the items to dorms.
The items PennTen stocks will eventually be controlled by its consumers.
The Web site features a poll each week where customers can vote for an item they want on PennTen's list of supplies. Each week, the worst-selling item is replaced by the most popularly requested item from PennTen customers.
The idea for PennTen evolved through conversations between Penn Drinks founder Jason Toff, who graduated from Wharton last May, and Wharton senior Linda Cheung.
Toff said PennTen's strategy of limiting the number of products available for sale will be a big benefit.
"It's really hard to simulate the experience of going to a grocery store online . because there are so many options," Toff said.
While Penn Drinks and PennTen will share marketing and delivery costs, Cheung said the two sites will have different approaches.
"Penn Drinks is more sleek and professional and cool," she said. "But with PennTen, there's more of a wholesale feel."
Cheung said some of Penn Drinks' difficulties in attracting customers may have come from the fact that the Web site's design was just a little too polished.
"People didn't realize with Penn Drinks that they were getting a deal. But we wanted to make it obvious," Cheung said.
Through Penn Drinks, a 12-ounce can of soda costs 70 cents. The same beverage costs 75 cents at vending machines around campus.
PennTen intends to use creative marketing techniques and a sense of humor to attract more students.
The company's first publicity efforts will include a toilet paper logo and free samples throughout the move-in period.
Cheung hopes students will find the company useful.
"I'm really excited, and I'm a little scared," she said. "It's a huge investment of my time and even my own money to keep all the supplies."
PennTen's first delivery date is set for Sept. 3.
