Foreword Online

Ideas, information and industry news for collegiate retailers



Liz Schulte

About Liz Schulte

Liz Schulte is an author and business owner with a background in customer service, marketing and higher education development.

Recent articles by Liz Schulte

5 Ways to Make It Easier for Customers to Buy From You

Posted by Liz Schulte on 9/16/20 6:30 AM

In today’s world, customer convenience is one of the most important services you can offer shoppers. Customers want a smooth shopping experience with options that go beyond product selection. By streamlining the online shopping experience, you can inspire more web sales and ensure customers will come back again.

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3 Ways to Add Body Inclusivity to Your College Retail eCommerce Site

Posted by Liz Schulte on 9/9/20 6:30 AM

Have you ever bought clothing online and it didn’t fit like you expected? There simply isn’t one body type that represents all students. Purchasing clothing online can often feel like rolling the dice because the images and models you most often see do not represent you or your body type. The importance of eCommerce sales has only grown due to recent events. This fall consider adding more body inclusivity to your website to inspire more sales.

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Happy Labor Day!

Posted by Liz Schulte on 9/7/20 6:00 AM

Happy Labor Day from MBS!

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Think Plan Do: 2020 Online Marketing Plan

Posted by Liz Schulte on 9/2/20 6:30 AM

Online sales are an essential part of retail. As customers depend on online ordering, it is important your college store’s marketing and sale events offer deals students can take advantage of online. This third installment of the Think, Plan, Do marketing plan focuses entirely on online marketing to engage students with your eCommerce site throughout the year.

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Campus Store Conversations: Campus Store Return Policies

Posted by Liz Schulte on 8/26/20 6:00 AM

Many college stores are in the process of reviewing their return policies for the fall term. Unprecedented conditions mean college stores have a lot of new considerations. We recently asked several college stores if they had updated their return policy and what their policy will be for fall.

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Hope College Bookstore Expands On-campus Delivery Options

Posted by Liz Schulte on 8/24/20 6:15 AM

Every college store faces challenges as they move to reopen. Taking into account local, state and federal restrictions, stores like the Hope College Bookstore have had to look for creative ways to solve unprecedented problems this term. For Hope College Bookstore the first major hurdle to overcome was how to handle course material distribution with limited occupancy restrictions.

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3 College Bookstore Retail Analytics to Pay Attention to This Fall

Posted by Liz Schulte on 8/19/20 6:15 AM

Retail metrics help stores make a variety of decisions from staffing to merchandise ordering. As college stores reopen for fall under new restrictions, limited capacity and social distancing requirements, what bookstore analytic metrics will be most important?

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Lincoln Land Community College Bookstore Triples Web Orders Over the Summer

Posted by Liz Schulte on 8/17/20 6:00 AM

For many of us, times are unpredictable. As college stores look toward the start of a new term, strengthening online sales, student convenience and in-store safety precautions are three areas that will have the biggest impact no matter what happens this fall. We recently spoke with Lincoln Land Community College’s Director of Campus Services Andrew Blaylock to discuss the college store’s web orders and how they are preparing for fall.

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Best Retail Practices for COVID-19 With Toshiba and MBS

Posted by Liz Schulte on 8/13/20 6:30 AM

On August 4, 2020, MBS in partnership with Toshiba hosted a webinar for system partners to go over the best retail practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Toshiba Channel Sales Executive Lora Coggins joined MBS Store Technology Solutions Manager of Customer Education Wayne Jones to present what tier-one retailers are doing in these unprecedented times.

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Will Counter Service Become the New Normal?

Posted by Liz Schulte on 8/12/20 6:00 AM

Many college stores are making plans for fall amid uncertainty. While trying to plan for multiple scenarios, it is important to maximize the number of options available to students: a strong web presence with a responsive site, fast delivery, curbside pickup, and streamlined in-store pickup and purchasing. But how are stores streamlining in-store purchasing and keeping customers and employee safe? For many college stores, counter service is the answer.

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