Foreword Online

Ideas, information and industry news for collegiate retailers



MBS Bids Fond Farewell to Steve Schwarz

Posted by Dean Asher on 3/17/16 9:39 AM

The mezzanine at MBS' corporate headquarters was overflowing with sourdough bread and puns as friends, family and coworkers gathered to congratulate former Western Regional Manager for Wholesale Steve Schwarz on his retirement.

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Arc Steals the Show at CAMEX

Posted by Dean Asher on 3/16/16 9:44 AM

Vice President of MBS Customer Relations Sarah Shiflett has seen a lot of positive reactions over the years she's given product demos and feature presentations. She's seen smiles, she's heard applause and cheers, but she'd never seen the level of excitement she witnessed at CAMEX.

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6 Tools Your College Store Absolutely Needs to Use [Download]

Posted by Joe Clarkin on 3/11/16 10:05 AM

Your store needs to be innovative, diligent in reaching out to customers and as keen at studying the market as your competitors if you want to thrive.

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Foolish Flash Promotion

Posted by Dean Asher on 3/1/16 9:35 AM

Sometimes it’s frustrating for college stores to see their customers shop elsewhere, despite knowing the value you offer them as their on-campus store. You might say it’s downright foolish. Take advantage of April Fool’s Day to play a few harmless pranks on your students and show them why they shouldn’t shop anywhere else with the Foolish Flash Promotion!

This promotion will involve a lot of humorous shenanigans everyone can enjoy, but also gives big savings to a few lucky students and points out all the reasons your store is the best place to shop.

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The Book Mark Has Big Hit with Candy Bouquets

Posted by Kate Seat on 2/28/16 11:00 PM

What do you do when you find yourself with an overabundance of a certain product? In most cases, you can either just send the surplus back or decide to get creative and find a way to make it work to your store’s advantage. That’s exactly the situation the staff at The Book Mark found themselves in, when they accidentally ordered over 300 candy bars from one of their vendors.

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Educate Faculty about Adoptions [Marketing Materials]

Posted by Kate Seat on 2/24/16 1:30 AM

When faculty members submit their adoptions on time (or early), your students have more opportunities to save when they purchase their course materials the following term. To make it easier for you to communicate the important role your faculty play in the price of textbooks, we've rounded up a selection of the free resources we've created over the past couple of years. Browse the materials below and simply click on each image to download each item or set.

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4 Ways to Combat Showrooming in Your Store

Posted by Joe Clarkin on 2/21/16 10:00 PM

Showrooming isn’t going anywhere. It’s become a staple of the in-person shopping experience, and retail stores across the country are working hard to prevent their customers from walking in their doors, checking out their products, and leaving before purchasing that same product online.

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The ISU Bookstore Gives the GIFT of Great Service

Posted by Kate Seat on 2/7/16 11:30 PM

Three years ago, the staff at the Iowa State University Bookstore adopted a new strategy striving for “Excellence in Customer Service.” After evaluating their approach to the unique challenge of a store with a great deal of floor space, a large, diverse inventory and a broad range of different types of customers, they came up with a new platform for expectation for all UBS staff members.

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Swap and Shop at Your Campus Store

Posted by Kate Seat on 2/1/16 10:57 AM

Whether you’d like to clear out some inventory or showcase new products, hosting a “Swap & Shop” event is a great way to get your customers to come in and see what you have to offer. And it couldn’t be easier: all they have to do to receive a discount on new apparel is bring in their old, gently-worn school gear. They’ll love the opportunity to refresh their wardrobe (just in time for spring), clean out their closets and — because you’re combining the event with a donation drive for a local charity — participate in a great cause!

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Centralia College Drives Facebook Engagement with Guessing Contest

Posted by Dean Asher on 1/24/16 11:00 PM

When bookstore employees stare at the miniature mountains of rental returns piling up in their store room at the end of each term, it's often a daunting feeling.

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