Ideas, information and industry news for collegiate retailers

Online shopping is popular because it is easy. Shoppers can see the options available, read reviews and get the package sent conveniently to their front door. However, as a brick-and-mortar store, it is important to have that in-store foot traffic. How can your store give students the convenience of online ordering without missing the opportunity to bring them to your store? Add the in-store pickup option for website orders.

A collegiate retail eCommerce site that offers your college store’s wide array of merchandise and products is essential to success. While many students are excited about being able to shop in the college store again, the convenience of online shopping will encourage a portion of the student population to primarily use your website. We have gathered some tips to help you ensure your online merchandise is easy to find and convenient to order.

The college store website is one of the primary avenues for customers to make purchases from your store and a great way to share information with students. However, how can you attract repeat visitors to your website? One method is to keep your site fresh with ever-changing content and up-to-date information.

With more traffic being divided between brick-and-mortar stores and online retailers, it’s important that your store is ready to meet expectations both in-store and online. Think about the in-store experience for your shoppers. Where do most shoppers go when they come in? What are your bestselling products? By contemplating how in-store traffic patterns work, you can improve your website, make it easier for visitors to find what they are looking for, and improve the in-store and online experience.

On August 4, 2020, MBS in partnership with Toshiba hosted a webinar for system partners to go over the best retail practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Toshiba Channel Sales Executive Lora Coggins joined MBS Store Technology Solutions Manager of Customer Education Wayne Jones to present what tier-one retailers are doing in these unprecedented times.

College stores are preparing for a lot of changes this fall: unprecedented restrictions, limited staffing, a lower number of occupants allowed in buildings, etc. Part of preparing for these changes is identifying the best delivery options to serve your campus. With your MBS system, you can add as many delivery options as your store needs on your website, including various forms of shipping, in-store pickup, additional pickup locations and dorm delivery.

Going into the fall term, it is important to strengthen your position on campus by lowering costs, both for students and the college store. However, how can stores lower costs while maintaining the service and quality customers expect? MBS offers college stores many cost-saving solutions that are also designed to help streamline store operations and elevate the customer experience.