Wishing you a safe and happy Fourth of July!
Orientation events introduce students to the campus and all the services that are available to them during their time in school, including the bookstore. As students begin to come back to campuses, it is important for stores to participate in these events to let students know the campus store is still the best place to get their course materials for the upcoming term.
The transformative nature of 2020 has affected nearly every aspect of the college store. So, what does that mean for course materials and how has it impacted distribution? This post will explore industry changes and how MBS is working to help college stores.
As COVID-19 restrictions begin to lift, mobile sales and events will still be pivotal to the success of college stores. From pop-up locations to campus events and celebrations, the bookstore needs to be where students and customers congregate. That’s why it's important that your store’s retail system has the mobile options necessary to meet customer demands inside and out of the bookstore.
How can college stores enhance customers’ eCommerce experience? By offering shoppers filter options and recommendations, it is easier for site visitors to choose the best merchandise for them. At the MBS Spring Forums Systems Training event, college stores learned about MBS’ website tools that can help make merchandise stand out.
College store marketing is a must. Finding the best marketing techniques to drive online and in-store sales requires the right system tools and insight into your customers’ buying habits. At the MBS Spring Forums System Training Event, Manager of Customer Education Wayne Jones was joined by Megan Moser, Merchandise Manager, Business & Operations, University of Pittsburgh, to discuss how the MBS system helps college stores create promotional events that inspire shoppers year-round.
With another rush just around the corner, now is a good time to start thinking about how you can further streamline processes in your college store. We recently spoke with Jennifer Thomas, Director of Bookstore Operations, WCU Bookstore, to learn how her store streamlines order pickup with limited store occupancy and how they use their loyalty program to promote foot traffic all year.
Unprecedented challenges often require creative solutions. For the Western Carolina University Bookstore, the uncertainty with COVID and students returning home before the end of the fall term meant that buyback would also need to be adjusted to fit current challenges. The solution the store found was to hold a longer, cashless buyback for students.
Last week, MBS held its annual Spring Forums event. System partners came together virtually to learn helpful system tips, hear store successes and access a multitude of resources. To kick off the week, the first session discussed how to strengthen college store eCommerce sites and what to avoid when working on your website redesign.
As MBS’ signature publication, Foreword Online is dedicated to offering daily industry insight and cutting-edge news that keep college retailers ahead of the curve. Follow us on social media. Contact us with ideas and feedback. Subscribe for regular updates.
