The college store website is one of your most valuable sales and marketing tools. Not only does it provide easy access to your store’s inventory, but it is a great avenue for student communication. Commodore Books & More had a website redesign on their to-do list for a long time, but it never seemed like the right time. After 2020 sent college store websites skyrocketing in day-to-day importance, the store knew it was time to undertake the redesign.
When college stores have the support they need, they can offer more to their campus community. The day-to-day system tools from eCommerce to back-office can have a huge impact on how much can be accomplished in a day. However, stores must have access to ongoing training, quality customer support and knowledgeable product experts to truly maximize their capabilities.
Website expectations are constantly changing. In addition to keeping information updated, college store eCommerce sites must also keep up with their web design and ensure easy customer navigation. When Brian Beahan, Bookstore Supervisor, Century College, started in April of 2019, he knew the website would be the first project he needed to work on. After a complete website redesign, he is still working to ensure the store’s customers get the very best user experience.
For college stores like Ridgewater College Bookstore, updating the website to display all of the available inventory, share up-to-date information and streamline the purchasing process became a top priority in 2020. Joining the Ridgewater College Bookstore staff a month before COVID shutdowns, Bookstore Coordinator Megan Andresen had to quickly get up to speed on the MBS system and create a cohesive online presence for the bookstore.
Implementing a new retail system is a big job with a lot of different pieces that need to come together. However, going from an obsolete system to a complete omnichannel retail solution offers benefits that are well worth the effort.
Over the course of 2020, eCommerce sites became even more important for college store success. Suddenly, it was essential that most of the store’s merchandise and products were available and easily accessible online. We recently sat down with Joe Buskirk, Coordinator for the College Store, Harford Community College, to discuss how they were able to quickly update their site to better serve students and the campus community.
When you walk into a department store and see a clearance rack, you probably check it out. The same is true for online shopping. When that Instagram ad catches your eye or you are simply in the mood to shop online, you still want a great deal. A dedicated clearance page on your site highlights the merchandise you need to move, makes it easy for customers to find a great deal and will inspire customers to visit your site more often.
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?
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