Foreword Online

Ideas, information and industry news for collegiate retailers



UMBC Bookstore Increases Online Sales With Savvy Marketing

Posted by Liz Schulte on 5/11/20 6:00 AM

The University of Maryland Baltimore County Bookstore is working hard to adapt and adjust to current conditions. We recently spoke with UMBC Bookstore Director Erin McGonigle to find out how they engage students, increase eCommerce sales, improve their omnichannel presence and promote the UMBC community.

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How to Motivate Gen Z Student Workers in Campus Retail

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

Student employees can be a great resource for campus retail. They bring new energy into the store and provide helpful insight about their likes and dislikes. However, how does this latest generation of student workers differ from previous generations?

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4 Campus Retail Events That Inspire Community

Posted by Lori Reese on 5/4/20 7:00 AM

When bookstores build community, they fuel campus retail relevance. The four bookstore events presented here have successfully nurtured community at colleges across the country. All are powerful bookstore marketing tools that bring campuses together.

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Campus Store Conversations Buyback and Rental Returns Panel Discussion

Posted by Liz Schulte on 4/29/20 6:30 AM

Organizing buyback and rental returns is top of mind for many college stores as they work to develop strategies that will best support their store, students and school. We invited stores to join us for a Campus Store Conversations roundtable discussion to share what their stores have planned for the end of term.

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25 Customer Service Trends That Strengthen College Stores [White Paper]

Posted by Liz Schulte on 4/27/20 6:30 AM

Fantastic customer service has the power to set your store apart from the competition. Regardless of store size, the time and care you take with your customers will strengthen your position in the campus community and demonstrate the service you provide. But what does great customer service mean in today’s collegiate retail environment?

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Spotlight: University of Pittsburgh Stores on Marketing College Store Events

Posted by Lori Reese on 4/22/20 7:00 AM

For the University of Pittsburgh Stores’ Steven Wilson, events are a powerful college store marketing tool. He manages The Pitt Shop, one of the University of Pittsburgh’s two standalone apparel stores. Situated on a main thoroughfare that links the university and downtown Pittsburgh, The Pitt Shop attracts students, faculty, staff and city-dwellers looking for the latest in Panthers attire. We sat down to talk to Mr. Wilson about marketing bookstore events for a wide range of customers.

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How Can inSite Buyback Alerts Help You Communicate With Students About Your Retail Buyback?

Posted by Liz Schulte on 4/20/20 6:00 AM

With students not on campus this term, many stores are looking at out-of-the-box ways to buy back books from students for subsequent terms. Some stores are offering a drive-up buyback. However, convincing students to make the trip to campus could be difficult. Utilizing inSite Buyback Alerts gives your store a way to let students know the buyback value of their books from the start.

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Our Campus Store Partners’ Furry Friends

Posted by Liz Schulte on 4/17/20 6:30 AM

Many of us are adjusting to a new work-from-home routine. We asked you to show us your feathery, woolly and furry friends as you settle into your new office environment. We’ve compiled the fun images you shared of your pets, and some of our pets, to hopefully add a smile to your day.

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Spotlight: UC Davis Stores on Why a College Store System Needs a Business Intelligence Tool

Posted by Lori Reese on 4/13/20 7:00 AM

For University of California Davis Stores Associate Director of Finance Tracy Roman, a college store system is incomplete without a superb business intelligence tool. Ms. Roman was among the first to test drive the latest iteration of Dashboard, the real-time analytics tool for college stores that integrates with the MBS system. We sat down to talk to Ms. Roman about how business intelligence is shaping the future of campus bookstores.

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The Hawk Bookstore Lowers Costs and Increases Revenue with SimpleSource

Posted by Liz Schulte on 4/8/20 6:30 AM

The Hawk Bookstore at Santiago Canyon College has found a solution that helps lower overhead costs, improve student savings and increase sales. What has made such a difference in the store? More used books.

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