Ideas, information and industry news for collegiate retailers

Many college stores are making plans for fall amid uncertainty. While trying to plan for multiple scenarios, it is important to maximize the number of options available to students: a strong web presence with a responsive site, fast delivery, curbside pickup, and streamlined in-store pickup and purchasing. But how are stores streamlining in-store purchasing and keeping customers and employee safe? For many college stores, counter service is the answer.

COVID-19 has changed the way college stores across the nation operate. Adapting to current conditions and new restrictions, college stores have found ways to work within this new normal. Southeast Technical College Bookstore has taken the challenges they face and used them to improve customer service and add more convenient options for students. Bookstore Manager Jason Skiff recently spoke with us about the changes the store has made to prepare for fall.

College stores are preparing for a lot of changes this fall: unprecedented restrictions, limited staffing, a lower number of occupants allowed in buildings, etc. Part of preparing for these changes is identifying the best delivery options to serve your campus. With your MBS system, you can add as many delivery options as your store needs on your website, including various forms of shipping, in-store pickup, additional pickup locations and dorm delivery.

Words like unprecedented have been coming up a lot lately to describe the current state of nearly every industry that has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The educational industry is no exception. During these truly unprecedented times, college stores like the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Bookstore have demonstrated their adaptability, creativity and flexibility as they continue to find ways to proudly serve students and their campuses. We recently caught up with NWTC Bookstore and The Buzz Coffee Shop Manager Gretchen Bonnema to hear how her store is preparing for a 100 percent online fall term.

Ordering through MBS SimpleSource helps stores save money, time and get more books. The process is simple. Start your SimpleSource order as soon as possible. The earlier titles are submitted, the more discounted inventory you will have access to as the wantlist is reworked. Follow the progress of your order fulfillment in SimpleSource with easy to understand charts and graphs or set your cycles and let them run. We will take care of the rest.

The Clatsop Community College Bookstore is in an unusual position: it never closed down during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the rest of campus moved online and closed to foot traffic, the college store remained open, becoming a single point of contact for all student needs. We sat down with Denise Russell, Bookstore/Copy Center Manager and Adjunct Professor, to discuss how the bookstore expanded its service during this time.

This year college stores might have a hard time getting on-time adoptions from faculty members. If adoptions come in late, how can your store get low-cost books you need in time for rush and minimize the amount of work required?

An in-person buyback makes it hard for college stores to ensure both student and employee safety, but the Delta College Bookstore at San Joaquin Delta College came up with an ingenious plan that not only ensured everyone’s health and safety, but also made quarantining books simple. We recently sat down with Michael Williams, Auxiliary Services Operations Supervisor, to discuss how their buyback and rental return was set up and what made it a success.

As COVID-19 is changing retail, campus stores are rearranging and remodeling their space to meet the current demands for health and safety. As college stores reopen, they must consider how students and customers can safely shop in the store and how the current environment has evolved customers’ retail expectations.

Since the end of March, college stores have had to make quick adjustments to meet the unprecedented demands created by COVID-19. As the San Joaquin Delta College campus responded to the pandemic, the Delta College Bookstore stepped up with a plan to safely offer students a centralized location to return and pick up materials.