Customer service can be tricky. You want to do everything in your power to make the customer’s experience with your business pleasant, but inevitably there will be times when someone has a bad encounter. If they tell you the issue, it can be resolved. Often, though, customers don’t give voice to the complaints. Unless there has been an egregious error, most customers will just walk away disappointed or angry, which leads to a loss of customers and revenue to the store.
It’s the time of year where goals start creeping into consciousness. We are evaluating the goals we fell short on this past year and establishing new benchmarks for next year. It is also around this time that the onslaught of articles come out about whether or not goal setting is even worthwhile. On one hand, goals can inspire employees to reach higher, but on the other, they can also become a hinderance and waste precious time.
Social media can serve many functions. It is a great tool to network with peers, it can strengthen your store’s brand, and it makes conversing with your customers easier. But, merely having a presence on social media isn’t enough to garner results. Finding new and creative ways to engage with your audience is an essential part of establishing a robust online presence.
The Christmas creep is upon us. The term was coined in the 1980s and refers to the holiday shopping season that begins earlier and earlier each year. This year is no exception. Almost as soon as Halloween ended, Christmas was making its way onto the shelves of most retail stores — and into consumer consciousness. The Black Friday mentality is evolving to a month-long event rather than a day of intense shopping. With online sales expecting a major boost, what’s in store for brick-and-mortar retail this holiday season? How can college stores capitalize on the forecasted trends?
How important are a store’s mission and vision statements? This question can garner a fair amount of debate. Some will adamantly support the practice, stating that when everyone is on the same page and have shared expectations, they work toward a common goal. But, there are also the people who have been in education for a long time and have witnessed many hours go into the creation of a mission or vision statement, only to then see the words collect dust and get ignored.
Jim Luecke is a strategic sales consultant for MBS. In the over 12 years he has worked with schools and stores, Jim has collected an abundance of industry knowledge. He uses that expertise to help schools find course materials distribution solutions that best suite their unique needs and situations. We sat down with him to discuss where he sees the industry heading and what trends are gaining momentum as he visits schools across the country.
December is an especially busy month. Although finding a time for an event can seem impossible, an end-of-the-year boost in sales is too important to pass up. This year, why not try a simple event that is a little bit different than what you have done in the past? Jolabokaflod.
The semester is just getting underway, but already the North Dakota State University Bookstore is making headlines with newly implemented changes that have saved students money and decreased bookstore expenses. NDSU Bookstore Interim Director Kim Anvinson took the time to discuss with us how the bookstore does its part to increase student affordability and to welcome new and returning students to campus.
We had the pleasure of sitting down in Oklahoma with Territory Manager David Ritz to discuss how he thinks college stores can gain student trust.
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.
