Ideas, information and industry news for collegiate retailers

Most of your customers were born in the 90’s, so bring them back to their childhood with a fun flashback event! 90’s Night is the perfect opportunity to bring students into the store and show them that you’re here for much more than just textbooks and school supplies; you’re a destination for interactive events, too! We’ve come up with tons of activities you can host throughout the week or on a designated date – the choice is yours! Take a look:

Social media is opening the lines of communication between business and consumer and allowing for a whole new form of interaction. So, it’s no surprise that crowdsourcing, or soliciting feedback from a group of people to solve a problem or develop an idea, is taking off like wildfire in the world of retail.

College stores are always looking for new ways to connect with their students. For TCTC Campus Store, inspiration is often found in popular culture. For example, their latest initiative, Fall Frenzy, brings customers into the store for a series of in-store events that are based on current trends and correspond to each day of the week. Best of all, it cost very little to implement!

When it comes to textbooks, students will do anything they can to save. That’s why many stores offer a Guaranteed Buyback program, allowing customers to lock in their end-of-the-term buyback value at the time of purchase. While we all understand what this program entails, it’s a novel concept for many students, especially the incoming class. Finding the time to effectively explain this initiative during the busy rush season, however, can be a difficult task.

With the evolution of digital technology, society has become entranced by screens. From cell phones to computers, tablets to TVs, they have literally invaded every aspect of daily life. This shift has undoubtedly affected the way consumers shop and, as a result, the way retailers advertise.

The old saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” has never held more truth. With the advent of photo-sharing applications such as SnapChat and Instagram, the way people communicate is beginning to shift. On a daily basis, thousands use a simple picture to tell a story of the day’s events or to share a specific feeling.

You offer lots of programs that are designed to save students money and streamline their school experience. But those programs are only effective if students know about them. We’ve devised an easy way for you to spread awareness about your price comparison program and, ultimately, encourage your customers to take full advantage of it. Just follow our step-by-step instructions below. Take a look!

Promotional items can be a very effective way to get your customers excited about an event or offering. But, in order to have an impact, you need to take a few things into consideration. The key, according to Dave McKenna, director of Holy Cross Bookstore, is finding out what products your audience really wants.

High school graduates often have a mile-long wish list as they head off to college. From dorm decor to textbooks, there’s a lot they need to start the next phase in their educational career. To gather all these supplies, however, parents often have to shop around at several stores and even rely on graduation gifts to fill in the gaps. What if there was a way to make it easier for families to stock up while gaining the revenue from all those sales at your store? Now, there is! We have an option available for stores using MBS Systems Gift Registry and for those without the application; read on to learn more.

As community service projects, we can "adopt" a classroom and we can "adopt" a highway. At this time of year, faculty at Western Illinois University "adopt" textbooks, and now they can gain departmental scholarships in the process through an initiative established by the University Bookstore.