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

Social Media Spectacular Part One

Posted by Liz Schulte on 6/23/17 5:30 AM

Building a fanbase on social media isn’t as hard as you think. It boils down to knowing how the platforms work, understanding your audience and offering a variety of content. Once you master these elements, apply consistently. Your posts can experience what I call the web effect — a reach that builds itself as friends influence each other’s choices. Over the next three Fridays, we’re going break down how each of these aspects — platforms, audience, variety — should influence what you do on a day-to-day basis.

Welcome to the social media spectacular!

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Cost Savings Through Scale

Posted by Liz Schulte on 6/20/17 5:30 AM

College stores are in a hard position. Stuck in the middle, everyone wants something. Students want lower costs. Faculty want their students to have their books in time for class. Administration wants to see the store make a profit. Making all three channels happy isn’t an easy task. Utilizing the principle of economy of scale can help you achieve that.

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Think, Plan, Do with a Year's-Worth of Marketing Plans

Posted by Liz Schulte on 6/1/17 5:30 AM

Coming across a fun marketing idea when it is too late to implement is disappointing. As the year progresses, there are naturally times when setting up marketing events is easier than others, but the good ideas rarely seem to fall in those moments. Take advantage of one of the slower times of the year by making a plan. This month, instead of offering a single idea, we have 10 social media marketing events you can personalize and line up throughout the year to fit your schedule.

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Happy Memorial Day

Posted by Liz Schulte on 5/29/17 5:30 AM

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Welcome to Clips

Posted by Liz Schulte on 5/10/17 5:30 AM

There are new apps created daily. Some are better than others, but few generate the kind of excitement the iOS app “Clips” did when it was released last month. What makes it better than any other video app already on your phone? That’s what we are going to find out.

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Mystery May: Fall in Love with a Great Book

Posted by Liz Schulte on 5/1/17 5:30 AM

You don’t need to live at 221B Baker Street to love a good mystery. As the semester winds to a close, it is a busy time for everyone on campus. Keep this month’s event simple, engaging and easy to manage with one or all of these ideas for a terrific Mystery May event designed to bring people into your store without taking up a lot of time.

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Should Cybersecurity Be Shared With Your Customers?

Posted by Liz Schulte on 4/26/17 5:30 AM

Traditionally in business, cybersecurity is something that happens in the background and with the hope the customer never notices it is there. The steps a company or institution takes to protect those who use their sites have been hidden from plain view. However, the ongoing publicity surrounding high-profile security breaches have made consumers want reassurance that their information will be secure with your business.

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The Top Five College Store Complaints and How to Fix Them

Posted by Liz Schulte on 4/18/17 5:30 AM

Finding ways to improve your store’s customer service is a matter of survival. Customer experience is a trendy buzzword in retail: it is a critical shift in perspective. Young consumers are abandoning brand loyalty, letting their individual experiences direct where they will spend their time and money. That decision comes down to their experience with your store, whether in-person or online.  

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A Solution to Social Media Content

Posted by Liz Schulte on 4/14/17 5:30 AM

We talk a lot about the different social media platforms and the potential benefit of using them because they provide a direct connection with students. As Willie Sutton said, “Go where the money is … and go there often.” However, just being on the networks isn’t enough. The content you post and its effectiveness will directly influence the return on your efforts. What does that mean? Your store needs to understand the relationship social media forges between the store and the student, and what students expect in return.

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Expand Your Professional Network at MBS Spring Forums

Posted by Liz Schulte on 4/6/17 5:30 AM

Only a couple weeks away, MBS Systems’ Spring Forums is almost here. There is still time to register, but space is running out fast. Join MBS Systems for this free event in Columbia, Missouri, April 18-20 for three days of hands-on learning and networking with other college stores.

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