At the beginning of April, MBS Store Technology Solutions held its biannual training event for system partners. Forums is always a great week of learning and networking for campus stores. MBS System Sales Consultant Jeremy Hawkins joins us today to share three takeaways he learned through the weeklong event.
As a sales consultant with MBS Store Technology Solutions, I do not get to use the system the way a college store does. Undoubtedly, I learn something new or am reminded about a feature of the system with each encounter — whether through formal training, a store visit, or the implementation process with a new system partner. This year’s virtual fall forums training event was no exception. I want to take a moment to share some of the sessions that stuck with me.
Why is the campus store a great place for students, and the rest of the campus community, to shop? With the increase in competition, both on and off campus, it is important to remind your students, faculty and staff why the campus store should be their top choice.
Before 2020, online sales were not a big part of the University of Manitoba (UM) BookStore’s revenue. The brick-and-mortar store served its campus while few students chose to shop online. However, after 2020, all of that changed. In order to continue to serve the school’s community, a robust online presence was essential.
In-store foot traffic probably slows down significantly over the summer. Take this natural lull to develop a strong eCommerce strategy that will boost your store’s online sales for the entire year and help increase summer sales.
For most people, price matters. A great bargain can entice you to make an unplanned purchase. Likewise, a price tag higher than what you anticipated (or high shipping costs) can cause you to hesitate. Price matching is one way to reach price sensitive shoppers and increase sales.
2023 is almost here. After this week, Foreword Online will be taking a short break. We will return on January 9, 2023, with more helpful stories. Let’s take a moment to look back at 2022 and all that we have learned.
In a crowded market, what are the top competitive advantages college stores have? Online and locally new competitors are popping up for college stores. Everyone is vying for students’ attention and likely offering similar deals. However, independent college stores have some innate competitive advantages that can help you keep and expand your market share. Let’s take a look at some of the ways the MBS system helps you leverage your store’s advantages.
Providing unparalleled support, improving college store processes and helping lower costs drives MBS Store Technology Solutions’ innovation and commitment to excellence. We are always working to bring the latest technology to college stores to help streamline store processes, giving you more time to engage and interact with customers.
In the latest installment of Campus Store Conversations, we sat down with Kristine Herman, Manager, Johnson County Community College Bookstore, to discuss how her store and the MBS system have evolved and adapted together to best serve the store’s customer base and provide the materials they need to be successful.
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