The end of term is naturally a busy time for college stores. There is a lot to do in a small amount of time and you may have limited resources available. We have gathered some time-saving tips for you to help streamline rental returns this term.
Liz Schulte is an author and business owner with a background in customer service, marketing and higher education development.
The end of term is naturally a busy time for college stores. There is a lot to do in a small amount of time and you may have limited resources available. We have gathered some time-saving tips for you to help streamline rental returns this term.
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Topics: buyback, used books, textbook buyback
After the last couple years, many students on campus haven’t participated in or experienced a “typical” buyback. This term, make a plan to introduce, or re-introduce, students to the benefits of selling back their course materials.
Topics: textbook rental, course material fulfillment, rental
Students are back on campus; it’s time to bring them back into the store. By providing students with the options and cost-savings they want most, your store can regain market share and forge strong relationships with current students. Offering a strong rental program encourages students to visit the campus store rather than relying on online competition.
In the latest installment of Campus Store Conversations, we sat down with Kristine Herman, Manager, Johnson County Community College Bookstore, to discuss how her store and the MBS system have evolved and adapted together to best serve the store’s customer base and provide the materials they need to be successful.
When Bob Jansen, MBA, CCR, Director of Retail Operations, Three Rivers College, decided equitable access was the right solution for his campus, he used the MBS system's flexible features to help streamline his store’s program.
Effective communication with students is pivotal to college store success. If students don’t know the campus store is having a sale, then they won’t attend. The same principle applies to end-of-term buyback and rental returns. However, communication with students isn’t as easy as just sending a single email. How can stores keep their message from disappearing into the crowd of voices vying for students’ attention?
The POS is one of the most important tools in the college store. A problem with the POS can quickly escalate without the proper support services. That’s why MBS Store Technology Solutions provides college stores with dedicated POS support representatives. We recently sat down with MBS Store Technology Solutions System Support Manager Sam Horn to discuss how his team supports college stores.
When students purchase books at the beginning of the term, cost is one of the top deciding factors for them. Therefore, college stores that are able to offer students as many low-cost options as possible can better compete with online retailers. When you are ordering course materials for the next term, do not forget to also submit your rental list to MBS.
College stores do not operate with the same goals and priorities as traditional retail stores. Where traditional retailers may seek to encourage shoppers to buy unnecessary goods and push profit margins, college stores are tasked with ensuring students have the necessary materials for class and to help provide cost savings. We spoke with Shannon Blackadder, Textbook and Trade Manager, University of Calgary Bookstore, to discuss how the store ensures students receive great services and prices.
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