Collegiate retail events build campus relevance. With excellent planning, campus stores can host events with a strong return on investment and become staples in campus life. We’ve culled advice from collegiate retail experts nationwide and found three proven best practices for planning successful bookstore events.
The UMBC Bookstore’s Yum Shoppe has always been a student favorite. Bookstore Director Erin McGonigle remembers being a Yum Shoppe addict when she was a student. For the UMBC community, it truly is the convenience store with more. So, what do they do to inspire such student, alumni and community loyalty?
Creating word of mouth and inspiring customer traffic are essential to a sale’s success. Traditional in-store sales and online sales have a lot of similarities. Both require marketing, social media and a prepared staff. However, there are a few things you can do to ensure your online sale goes smoothly and improve results.
Topics: bookstore events, campus retail
If you’re like me and you want to make a difference, there is no business more rewarding than campus retail.
Have you ever bought clothing online and it didn’t fit like you expected? There simply isn’t one body type that represents all students. Purchasing clothing online can often feel like rolling the dice because the images and models you most often see do not represent you or your body type. The importance of eCommerce sales has only grown due to recent events. This fall consider adding more body inclusivity to your website to inspire more sales.
As summer rush approached, Hagerstown Community College Bookstore Manager Tammy Crockett knew there was a way the store could continue to serve students, keep them safe and give them convenient, one-stop shopping. By holding a drive-up rush event, the store could provide students with everything they might need to start a new term and save them shipping costs.
The University of Maryland Baltimore County Bookstore has curated a collection of creative events that entice student participation throughout the year. With fun games, giveaways, community-generating sidewalk sales and an incredible convenience shop with a diverse selection, every student can find something in the UMBC Bookstore that inspires them to come back. In February, we sat down with UMBC Bookstore Director Erin McGonigle to discuss how she inspires campus store foot traffic with bookstore events and marketing.
College stores have always been able to offer students and the campus community a more personal experience than online competitors. As more shopping moves online due to COVID-19, how can college stores continue to stand apart? The Morehead State University Store emphasizes community and offers a personal touch to online orders that encourages customers to come back again and again.
The University of Maryland Baltimore County Bookstore is working hard to adapt and adjust to current conditions. We recently spoke with UMBC Bookstore Director Erin McGonigle to find out how they engage students, increase eCommerce sales, improve their omnichannel presence and promote the UMBC community.
Topics: bookstore events, college stores
When bookstores build community, they fuel campus retail relevance. The four bookstore events presented here have successfully nurtured community at colleges across the country. All are powerful bookstore marketing tools that bring campuses together.
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