Ideas, information and industry news for collegiate retailers

MBS Store Technology Solutions partners can now register for the Fall Forums virtual events. Join us, Oct 28-Nov. 1, for a week of virtual learning, announcements, collaboration, and so much more. System partners will have the opportunity to get tips, connect with other MBS system users, explore ways to add efficiency and ask questions.

MBS System Partners can register today for Fall Forums, Oct. 28–Nov. 1

During the weeklong event, webinars and daily resources will provide tips and showcase solutions for maximizing your store goals while simplifying processes. Also, sessions noted with an asterisk will include open discussion at the end of the webinar where college stores can share their best practices, experiences and ask questions.

Please register for open discussion sessions by Wednesday, October 23.

Monday, October 28

Boost Customer Experience and Outreach with CRM

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is an excellent feature for managing customer accounts and viewing activity. This session will explore using your CRM history to generate focused analysis for creating compelling sales, promotions, and loyalty campaigns for your shoppers. Learn more about how to boost inventory turnover based on customer activity.

Best Practices for Daily Sales Reconciliation and Sales Error Resolution

Ensuring accuracy with sales posting is an important step in maintaining an accurate inventory. Learn best practices for confirming sales posting to inventory match the activity in-store and on-line. Review potential causes and effective strategies for avoiding common sales errors. Discuss steps for fixing sales errors quickly and efficiently.

Tuesday, October 29

Accurately Managing Textbook End of Term*

Properly managing Textbooks as a term cycle completes ensures simplification and accuracy for end of term and next term practices. This session will review best practices for inventory considerations such as reserve, extractions, and buyback. Additionally, tips for simplifying rental returns, shipments, billing, and more will be discussed.

This session focuses on strategies for boosting sales by increasing shopper potential in-store and online. MBS experts will guide you through key MBS features such as suggested selling in-store and online, promotions, CRM, and more. Learn more about analytics for studying customer behavior and engagement through dashboard, inSite, and ARC features. Discuss success stories for appealing to customers and growing sales per transaction with other industry experts.

Wednesday, October 30

Technology Management Part 1: Simplify Technology Item Management with ARC

MBS ARC provides several streamlining features for managing technology, special orders, and sales technology quotes. Learn about considerations with serialized merchandise and special educational pricing for technology. Explore features of placing special orders and sales quotes as well as receiving technology items with serials/model numbers. Learn about key reporting for managing serialized items.

Technology Management Part 2: Selling Technology Items In-Store and Online

The MBS technology management feature provides an optimized selling experience in-store and online. This session will discuss key components of a sales order in relation to the shopper experience. Learn how technology sales work in tandem with CRM as well as considerations with stock ledger in relation to special pricing or deposits. Discuss online sales for technology items including how to assign serials once purchased as well as the importance of AVS protections to avoid fraudulent orders. Review key reports for managing technology sales.

Thursday, October 31

Stock Ledger 101 - Exploring Your Retail Inventory

The Stock Ledger is the central retail inventory management feature of MBS ARC. All inventory transactions are tracked during each month for accurate reporting of your inventory value and cost of sales. Learn more about the activities that update stock ledger and how you can view the stock ledger history for current and previous months. Discuss considerations between Textbook and Merchandise inventory and how they impact your inventory. Finally, explore key reports that help you analyze stock ledger activity.

Advanced Inventory Management in ARC*

Several factors go into maintaining an accurate inventory throughout the fiscal year. While typical end-of-month steps will help ensure inventory is correct, occasional steps may be needed for adjusting your existing inventory. This session will explore using physical inventory throughout the year, creating purchase and shrinkage adjustments, price changes, and other features that help adjust inventory to ensure accuracy. Discussion will include proper usage for when to use each feature and how these inventory changes affect your Stock Ledger.

Friday, November 1

Refresh Your MBS Technology With a System Tune-Up

Your MBS Store Technology has the potential for maintaining a boundless amount of data in relation to your store processes and history. However, as your store evolves you may find older information begins to become a distraction as you complete daily processes. In this session, MBS experts will discuss ways to audit and declutter your history for optimizing your system. Review action steps you can take to purge old items, codes, orders, accounts, and more. Discuss the importance of planning with MBS Client Services and best practices for implementing data clean-up.

Best Practices for Optimizing Your Website*

MBS inSite is a powerful way to present your store to shoppers online. This session outlines proven strategies for website layout and engagement throughout the shopper’s journey on your site. Discuss with MBS and industry experts on practical, real-life ways to create a positive and productive order experience.

Register for each session through the Arc Message Center or by navigating to the calendar on the MBS Store Technology Solutions Resource Center. In the coming weeks, watch for more information about each event. If you have any questions, contact us at training@mbsbooks.com.