Topics: Higher Ed, bookstore events, bookstores
When the new Passport Center in the University of New Mexico Bookstore launched with a “soft opening” in April, a few weeks before its grand opening in May, no one was sure how much business it would attract. The UNM Global Education Office, which runs the center in partnership with the bookstore, kept hours and staff to a minimum.
Topics: Higher Ed, K-12, student behavior, cybercrime
A global ransomware attack raises awareness about cybercrime, but a less-publicized scam is likely to impact students more: phony third-party sellers on Amazon that snag credit card information and fail to ship promised goods.
The University of Maryland Baltimore County Bookstore finds new ways to engage customers. Knowing the industry is changing, and students have more options, UMBC Bookstore Director Bob Somers challenges his team to think outside the box and keep customers coming through the doors.
Topics: video, Bookstore marketing, mobile technology
There are new apps created daily. Some are better than others, but few generate the kind of excitement the iOS app “Clips” did when it was released last month. What makes it better than any other video app already on your phone? That’s what we are going to find out.
Topics: Higher Ed, college retail, customer experience
The retail layoffs started last year, as business journals projected job losses on a scale not seen since 2010. Then, in January, Macy’s and Sears announced hundreds of stores would be shutting down. Even Wal-Mart has shown it’s not immune. The retail behemoth announced in the same month it would cut roughly 1,000 jobs.
You don’t need to live at 221B Baker Street to love a good mystery. As the semester winds to a close, it is a busy time for everyone on campus. Keep this month’s event simple, engaging and easy to manage with one or all of these ideas for a terrific Mystery May event designed to bring people into your store without taking up a lot of time.
The MBS Systems Training Spring Forums was held at MBS Textbook Exchange in Columbia, Missouri, April 18-20. More than 30 attendees from 19 schools learned from the MBS Systems experts about Arc, inSite, security enhancements, networked with peers and discovered how to make the most of their MBS System. This year’s forums attracted guests from Rhode Island to California, Oregon, and points in between.
Topics: data security, customer experience, centennials
Traditionally in business, cybersecurity is something that happens in the background and with the hope the customer never notices it is there. The steps a company or institution takes to protect those who use their sites have been hidden from plain view. However, the ongoing publicity surrounding high-profile security breaches have made consumers want reassurance that their information will be secure with your business.
Topics: Higher Ed, course materials, student savings
For Lycoming College's bookstore director Tricia Bausinger, the recent decision to partner with MBS Direct is more than an opportunity to inject new life into a business. It’s a chance to offer better service to a rapidly-changing student body.
Finding ways to improve your store’s customer service is a matter of survival. Customer experience is a trendy buzzword in retail: it is a critical shift in perspective. Young consumers are abandoning brand loyalty, letting their individual experiences direct where they will spend their time and money. That decision comes down to their experience with your store, whether in-person or online.
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