Foreword Online

Ideas, information and industry news for collegiate retailers



Make It a Date with Your Store

Posted by Jason Smallheer on 1/9/17 5:30 AM

Valentine’s Day is about more than chocolates and roses. It’s also an opportunity for you to "Make It a Date with Your Store" with a special sale and fun social media campaign.

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Win FREE Textbooks for a Term

Posted by Jason Smallheer on 12/1/16 3:45 PM

“Win free textbooks for a term!” This type of message will have a line outside your door because the prize has a high perceived value.

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12 Days of Giving Sale

Posted by Jason Smallheer on 11/3/16 11:39 AM

Once students return to class from Thanksgiving, the countdown is on for the extended holiday break. Lasting anywhere from two weeks to more than a month, students are counting the days until they have time away from the books.

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Turn Black Friday into Green Friday to Support Charities

Posted by Dean Asher on 10/3/16 5:00 AM

Black Friday is traditionally the biggest day of the year for the bulk of the retail world. Although your store actually has its big day at some point in the late summer or early fall, there's no reason you can't get in on the day-after-Thanksgiving action.

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Don't Fear the Foot Traffic

Posted by Kate Seat on 9/1/16 5:00 AM

If you ask us, Halloween is the holiday that has it all: You get to dress up in a fun costume, go to parties, stay out late and — the best part — it’s socially acceptable to gorge yourself senseless on candy and treats. Sounds perfect!

Many college students agree, so that makes this holiday an ideal opportunity to attract new customers to your store and encourage existing ones to come back in with a series of killer events.

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Promote Your Website Off-line

Posted by Dean Asher on 8/1/16 5:00 AM

"If you build it, [they] will come."

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Social Scavenger Hunt

Posted by Joe Clarkin on 5/31/16 10:24 AM

Creating fun ways for students to interact with your store early on in their college experience is crucial to your long-term success. If you can establish a positive relationship from the jump, then you very well may have earned a loyal customer for the next four years, if not even further.

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Boost Return Business through Customer Loyalty Month

Posted by Joe Clarkin on 4/1/16 11:01 AM

In the college bookstore, loyalty doesn’t have to be an intangible concept that you can’t quite quantify. For a store like yours, there are few, if any, things more valuable than repeat customers who show a consistent desire to come back to you first, ahead of your competitors. Whatever their reason is – be it your wider selection, friendly service staff, etc. – your store is in a position to reward your customers for their continued loyalty, and you can dole out those rewards in a number of ways.

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Foreword Online Marketing Plans

Posted by Erica Martin on 4/1/16 9:20 AM

Our partner stores always amaze us with their innovative ideas, strategies and events. But we also understand that, sometimes, your schedule can make it very difficult to prepare for and implement them. That’s why we developed our Monthly Marketing Plans! Each month, we’ll provide you with access to new strategies you can easily implement to drive customers to your store, website, and even social media sites.

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Foolish Flash Promotion

Posted by Dean Asher on 3/1/16 9:35 AM

Sometimes it’s frustrating for college stores to see their customers shop elsewhere, despite knowing the value you offer them as their on-campus store. You might say it’s downright foolish. Take advantage of April Fool’s Day to play a few harmless pranks on your students and show them why they shouldn’t shop anywhere else with the Foolish Flash Promotion!

This promotion will involve a lot of humorous shenanigans everyone can enjoy, but also gives big savings to a few lucky students and points out all the reasons your store is the best place to shop.

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