When Bob Jansen, MBA, CCR, Director of Retail Operations, Three Rivers College, decided equitable access was the right solution for his campus, he used the MBS system's flexible features to help streamline his store’s program.
When Bob Jansen, MBA, CCR, Director of Retail Operations, Three Rivers College, decided equitable access was the right solution for his campus, he used the MBS system's flexible features to help streamline his store’s program.
Effective communication with students is pivotal to college store success. If students don’t know the campus store is having a sale, then they won’t attend. The same principle applies to end-of-term buyback and rental returns. However, communication with students isn’t as easy as just sending a single email. How can stores keep their message from disappearing into the crowd of voices vying for students’ attention?
The POS is one of the most important tools in the college store. A problem with the POS can quickly escalate without the proper support services. That’s why MBS Store Technology Solutions provides college stores with dedicated POS support representatives. We recently sat down with MBS Store Technology Solutions System Support Manager Sam Horn to discuss how his team supports college stores.
When students purchase books at the beginning of the term, cost is one of the top deciding factors for them. Therefore, college stores that are able to offer students as many low-cost options as possible can better compete with online retailers. When you are ordering course materials for the next term, do not forget to also submit your rental list to MBS.
College stores do not operate with the same goals and priorities as traditional retail stores. Where traditional retailers may seek to encourage shoppers to buy unnecessary goods and push profit margins, college stores are tasked with ensuring students have the necessary materials for class and to help provide cost savings. We spoke with Shannon Blackadder, Textbook and Trade Manager, University of Calgary Bookstore, to discuss how the store ensures students receive great services and prices.
Topics: MBS Rental, textbook buyback, course material trends
There are many different types of shipments you may need to send to MBS throughout the year. To help simplify shipping, we have consolidated the various shipping instructions you might need into one post that you can easily bookmark or print for future access and review.
Adopting a new collegiate retail system doesn’t have to be a monumental undertaking. With ample support, unfettered access to product experts and tailored training, your collegiate retail system switch will take your store to the next level. MBS Store Technology Solutions’ implementation team provides all of this and more.
The college store website is one of your most valuable sales and marketing tools. Not only does it provide easy access to your store’s inventory, but it is a great avenue for student communication. Commodore Books & More had a website redesign on their to-do list for a long time, but it never seemed like the right time. After 2020 sent college store websites skyrocketing in day-to-day importance, the store knew it was time to undertake the redesign.
Those viewing MBS from the outside might assume we are like any warehouse operation. We check in, shelve and ship out course materials — that is true. However, MBS is also so much more. We are a technology company, industry leaders and innovators who serve and support educational institutions.
When college stores have the support they need, they can offer more to their campus community. The day-to-day system tools from eCommerce to back-office can have a huge impact on how much can be accomplished in a day. However, stores must have access to ongoing training, quality customer support and knowledgeable product experts to truly maximize their capabilities.
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