Ideas, information and industry news for collegiate retailers

On Friday, February 7, 2014, UC Davis is launching UC Davis Wears Red Day, a new campus-wide initiative spearheaded by the Chancellor's Office--in partnership with Dr. Amparo Villablanca, Director of the UC Davis Women's Cardiovascular Medicine Program, and Adele Zhang, curator of the UC Davis Design Museum--to help raise awareness with the entire UC Davis community that heart disease is the leading killer of women, as well as men, in the United States. The goal is to have as many departments and organizations as possible participate by wearing red and by identifying their own ways to encourage heart health, focusing on their unique strengths and abilities.

We all know that price is essential to winning student business. And, convenience is the key to keeping it. In order to gain continued sales from any customer, you have to ensure that your store’s processes are simple and seamless for both your staff and your students; which is exactly why Stacy Elofir, director of University Store at Towson University, decided to create an after-hours drop off option for rental returns.

After a long winter break, it can seem like spring break is years away to students. A quirky Groundhog Day promotion is the perfect way to break up the monotony of studying and classes. We’ve created four unique ways to engage your students in-store and on social media. Choose the one that best fits your needs or combine them for extra fun!

The latest holiday craze is the Elf on the Shelf, a popular new holiday tradition that’s based on a 2005 children's picture book. The story, which explains how Santa Claus knows who is naughty and who is nice, includes a doll and the mischievous elf’s location is supposed to change each day, providing children with the responsibility of locating its current perch.

The end of the term is always a hectic time for college stores. Last semester, Titan Shops attempted to change that with a promotion that got rental books back in their hands earlier. Their simple, yet effective approach allowed them to ultimately streamline the return process and reduce the stress on their staff.

With new processes, come new challenges; that’s a fact of life. But, many also offer new benefits. That was the case at Indian Hills Community College Bookstore this term. The store, which has always relied on paper requisition forms for faculty book orders, transitioned to online faculty adoptions through MBS Systems inSite for the first time during their 2013 winter quarter.

Sometimes, showing is better than telling. When it comes to convincing students you have better deals than online retailers and the store down the street, that’s definitely the case. This month’s Marketing Plan is designed to make educating students on all that you have to offer both interactive and informal. By hosting this fun event throughout textbook rush, you’ll not only lighten the mood during a stressful time, but also have an easy opportunity to show students your prices aren’t so bad. Check it out!

Out with the old, and in with the new. That’s the approach Ben Jastorff, manager of Trojan Center Bookstore at Dakota State University, adopted when he recently accepted the position at the store. Jastorff wanted to clear out inventory, some of which had been in the store for nearly two years, to make room for the updated apparel he had ordered.

Our industry has heard about the digital revolution for years; how e-books will overtake print and the textbooks on our shelves will become a thing of the past. Although, we’ve certainly seen a growing number of students taking advantage of digital content, the percentage has remained minimal, leaving the majority of stores wondering if this major shift will ever come.

You never know what will strike a chord with your students, so sometimes the best place to start is with your staff. In fact, that’s what Western Oregon University Bookstore did with their most recent promotion. Web Specialist and Head Cashier Mara Hoaglin was sharing her interests with coworkers one day, and was surprised to learn that her manager was also a big fan of the British TV show, Doctor Who. The store’s gift buyer quickly chimed in with the fact that she had access to Dr. Who merchandise, and the idea snowballed from there.