Ideas, information and industry news for collegiate retailers

Just because things slow down once school begins doesn't mean you have to accept slower sales! By taking a proactive approach and scheduling a mix of fun events throughout the semester, you can expand your customers' perception of your store from "just" the place to pick up their course materials to a year-round staple. Here are some easy ways to get started:

For many college stores, summer means a slower pace and less foot traffic. Though it can be tough to come up with new ways to make your store stand out,  knowing what other stores have tried can be a big time-saver. That was the case for Director of Campus Stores Margo Ketels of the University of Dubuque's Babka Bookstore, who found inspiration right here on Foreword Online.

As the spring rush season begins, we wanted to share a survival guide and checklist, setting you up for success this season. Good luck and welcome to spring 2017!

Thirty years ago, your customers were virtually a captive audience. Now there are new innovations and trends surfacing on a daily basis, leading to more competition than ever before. Are you prepared to meet it?

With seven locations in town, including four on or next to campus, The Duck Store has been a vital part of the University of Oregon campus and the Eugene community since 1920.

For most retailers, the busiest time of the year is approaching. The carols start playing, holiday decorations appear — if they haven’t already been up since August — and managers nationwide start hiring seasonal help to accommodate increased crowd volume and extended hours.  

As a college store leader, you face an entirely different set of challenges.

Extending hours during home football games, offering secret sales, participating in on-campus events — the staff of The Ichabod Shop at Washburn University are always looking for new ways to make sure their store is an asset to the students and community they serve. This year, they added a promotion designed to address two common concerns for many students: how to save money on course materials and still receive them before the start of classes.

Rush is over, finals and buyback are ahead — October is the sweet spot between two of your busiest times during the term. That makes this the perfect opportunity to plan a fun, fall-themed in-store event. Here's your chance to increase sales for your store with inspiration from some of our favorite Foreword Online features. 

The word “fad” exists for a reason.

Some retail phases come and go — selfie stick, anyone? — and just because something’s popular, doesn’t mean your store should jump on board. With rental you should just wait and see, right?

Wrong.

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.