It’s almost time for back to school. That means stores need to start thinking about the best ways to communicate with new and returning students to help increase rush foot traffic and maximize your competitive advantages. We have gathered three student communication tips to help you select the best back-to-school marketing materials for your store.
Why do the University of St. Thomas Campus Stores offer a robust inclusive access program, digital textbooks, print and used textbooks, as well as a strong rental program? Because students want options. We spoke with Course Material Manager Tami Steinke about the store’s rental program and benefits it offers the campus store.
Lafayette College Store recently had a fantastic buyback. In fact, students were so enthusiastic about buyback they came back multiple times. We recently sat down with Assistant Store Manager Peter Violante and Course Materials Coordinator Darrell Parry to discuss how their store encouraged buyback participation and how word of mouth about the event spread across campus.
Topics: holiday
Our offices are closed on July 4 in observance of Independence Day.
Recently, Hibbing Community College merged with four other regional colleges in northern Minnesota, creating the new Minnesota North College. In order to accommodate the merger, the five separate college bookstores have consolidated into one bookstore serving six campuses. Consolidating resources, the smaller stores are able to effectively serve their campuses as well as thoughtfully evolve to better compete in a changing market. We recently sat down with Bookstore Coordinator Becky Mayo to discuss how MBS Store Technology Solutions is helping them with this evolution.
Guaranteed buyback simply means guaranteeing a minimum buyback price on qualifying textbooks upfront. When purchasing their textbooks at the beginning of term, students can easily see the minimum they will receive back at the end of term, making it simple to make informed, financial decisions. Best of all, you can offer this transparent pricing and guaranteed minimum buyback amounts without risk to the bookstore. Here’s how.
Summer is a fantastic time to clear out old or dated inventory to make room for your new fall merchandise. However, summer also means fewer people on campus which leads to less foot traffic for in-store sales. To maximize store traffic this summer, offer shoppers great bargains online and in-store.
Providing unparalleled support, improving college store processes and helping lower costs drives MBS Store Technology Solutions’ innovation and commitment to excellence. We are always working to bring the latest technology to college stores to help streamline store processes, giving you more time to engage and interact with customers.
MBS CRM helps college stores improve customer outreach and service. This incredible tool is free for MBS Store Technology Solutions partners. Already stores are benefiting from expanded customer service and marketing technology. We recently sat down with Kurt Kaiser, Assistant Director — Course Materials, Colorado State University, to discuss how his store is incorporating CRM into its processes.
Now is a busy time of year for college stores with graduation and buyback — and doing inventory is looming around the corner. It’s easy for things to fall through the cracks. Does your store have a plan for how it will handle textbook inventory that it won’t use again soon? If not, now is the perfect time to speak with your MBS representative.
Contact our editorial team to set up an interview or to contribute a guest post.
Customer Service
800-325-0530
cserv@mbsbooks.com
Order Processing
800-325-0577
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.
© 2026 MBS. All rights reserved.
