Ideas, information and industry news for collegiate retailers

In order to succeed in the competitive college store industry today, you need to not only have the necessary tools, but also the knowledge of how to use them. Just like your student customers, you should be continually learning.

Each year, Bobbi Difronzo, merchandise distribution manager at Inver Hills Community College Bookstore, looks forward to the summer months for one reason in particular: vacation! A welcome tradition for her and her two children, she enjoys the chance to get away, to explore new places, or to visit old friends. This summer, however, Bobbi combined all three during a trip to the MBS Headquarters! 

Today, Omar Iftikhar, General Director of System Development at MBS and former IT Director at the Titan Shops, shares his past experience at Symposium and why he can’t wait for this year!

With the upcoming Fall rush season upon us - it's a good time to review how to identify fraudulent orders. Credit Card fraud is an unfortunate reality of doing business on the internet. Ensure your store is protected against potentially fraudulent orders by promoting awareness.

Host a competition similar to the likes of ‘Top Chef’ for an event that benefits your store and local businesses but most importantly, engages students. Faculty and staff will cook a dish of their choice for a panel of “local celebrity” judges. Students can sit back and enjoy watching their professors get graded for a change!

Students, parents, alumni and staff will all be eager to show their school spirit in the days leading up to homecoming festivities.  Take advantage of this potential to increase in traffic in your bookstore by hosting themed events throughout the week and offering special savings.

Known for his unwavering commitment to both the company and our customers, Alan Leach, Marketing Services Representative, is retiring this Friday after 36 years! Referred to as Mr. MBS, his hard work and friendly smile have touched many and will not soon be forgotten. So, today, we take a look back at all that he has accomplished and experienced in his many years at MBS.

Growing up in a generation raised on computers, students expect information at the speed of now. But with tight budgets and a never ending to-do list, it can be hard to staff enough employees to provide instant answers for each customer. New technologies, such as QR Codes, however, offer an easy solution.

After noticing a dramatic decrease in attendance at their main commencement ceremony, the University of Oregon recently decided to take another look at their traditional approach and identify room for improvement.

Gaining your student’s loyalty from the first day of their college experience is essential to your store’s long-term success.  Acquaint students with the services your store has to offer, while helping them navigate the campus, through an interactive Scavenger Hunt.  At each location, students will find a QR code, scannable by a smartphone, revealing a clue to the next location.