Ideas, information and industry news for collegiate retailers

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.

Since last October, University Book Store at University of Wisconsin – Madison has been under renovation. The 20,000 square foot remodel focused on adding space to their selling area and creating a more retail-centric atmosphere. The results, according to director Kevin Phelps, are phenomenal.

Students are all over social media and one of the newest avenues they’re exploring is Snap Chat, the real-time picture chatting app for iOS and Android. With the app, users can take photos, record videos, add text and drawings, and send them to a controlled list of recipients. Users set a time limit for how long recipients can view their photos, up to 10 seconds, after which it will be deleted from the recipient's device and the company's servers.

Typically, when one thinks of change, big, significant differences come to mind. But, sometimes, small steps can be just as effective. That was certainly the case at Washington and Lee's University Store, during the winter buyback.

The latest craze in pop culture seems to be the supernatural; science fiction and fantasy have intertwined and quickly become a mainstream genre. With an array of popular television shows, movies and even video games all featuring frightful creatures and superhuman heroes, this trend is well-known to students and a great way to bring some humor to your store! Connect with your customers on a lighthearted level by hosting a Geek Week, dedicated to those who love the abnormal.

We all know that college students love their social media, and Pinterest, the fastest growing social network in history, is quickly becoming their most-visited platform. One of the most commonly pinned items among the demographic is craft projects, and many students spend countless hours filling their boards with creative ideas.

The ninth-seeded Shockers kept the country on the edge of their seats this season as they advanced to the Final Four with four wins, one over top-seeded Gonzaga and one over second-seeded Ohio State. And in their first Final Four since 1965, they had the Cardinals fighting hard for a win.

Foster a connection between campus and community members by inviting local businesses to showcase locally grown or made items in a street fair outside of your store. This task may sound overwhelming, but we’ve broken it down into manageable steps and made all of the marketing materials you’ll need. Take a look:

Students are all over campus, and many college stores wish they could be too, especially during busy times like buyback. For Kennesaw State University Bookstore, that wish is now a reality; instead of waiting for students to come to them, they’re bringing the store to students with the creation of their very own Bookstore Bike.