Foreword Online

Ideas, information and industry news for collegiate retailers



Elizabethtown College Store Serves Students and Parents With Pop-up Locations

Posted by Liz Schulte on 12/14/20 6:30 AM

This year has required college stores to adapt normal operation strategies, pivoting with a moment’s notice. Elizabethtown College Store had never done a pop-up location before this year, but when it needed a way to better serve students and parents on campus, the store made it work.

Read More

Spotlight: Clatsop Community College Bookstore Remains Open to Help Students During Pandemic

Posted by Liz Schulte on 7/27/20 8:00 AM

The Clatsop Community College Bookstore is in an unusual position: it never closed down during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the rest of campus moved online and closed to foot traffic, the college store remained open, becoming a single point of contact for all student needs. We sat down with Denise Russell, Bookstore/Copy Center Manager and Adjunct Professor, to discuss how the bookstore expanded its service during this time.

Read More

Spotlight: Madison College Bookstore Decreases Overhead and Improves Customer Experience with Counter Service

Posted by Liz Schulte on 5/28/19 7:00 AM

Collegiate retailers are asked to lower student costs, increase school revenue and decrease overhead expenses all while providing students with a great customer experience. Creative solutions and retail innovations have helped many college stores meet these demands.

Read More

Just Say Please

Posted by Lori Reese on 8/21/18 5:30 AM

Discovering what satisfies customers can be as simple as self-reflection. Young and old, we want courteous, swift service that meets a need, slakes a thirst or fulfills a desire. We also want shopping to be fun, and we want associates to be personable and informed. However, knowing when and how a customer experience has gone awry is complicated.

Read More

Rushing Toward Rush

Posted by Liz Schulte on 7/11/18 5:30 AM

Rush is right around the corner. Are you prepared? We compiled some of the best practices to prepare for one of your busiest times of the year.

Read More

What Is Customer Service?

Posted by Liz Schulte on 6/27/18 5:30 AM

There are as many definitions for customer service as there are industries. The position has to be fluid enough to cover whatever needs to be done. However, defining expectations for employees helps them meet the business’ and customer’s expectations.

Read More

Three Reasons Customers Don’t Voice Their Complaints

Posted by Liz Schulte on 11/27/17 5:30 AM

Customer service can be tricky. You want to do everything in your power to make the customer’s experience with your business pleasant, but inevitably there will be times when someone has a bad encounter. If they tell you the issue, it can be resolved. Often, though, customers don’t give voice to the complaints. Unless there has been an egregious error, most customers will just walk away disappointed or angry, which leads to a loss of customers and revenue to the store.

Read More

The Top Five College Store Complaints and How to Fix Them

Posted by Liz Schulte on 4/18/17 5:30 AM

Finding ways to improve your store’s customer service is a matter of survival. Customer experience is a trendy buzzword in retail: it is a critical shift in perspective. Young consumers are abandoning brand loyalty, letting their individual experiences direct where they will spend their time and money. That decision comes down to their experience with your store, whether in-person or online.  

Read More

Centennials Focus on Quality

Posted by Liz Schulte on 3/15/17 5:30 AM

As the millennials are graduating, centennials are moving in, bringing a new set of values with them. They have high expectations, a focus on quality, a strong sense of thrift and the shortest attention span to date. Having never experienced life without technology, this resourceful generation is about to change the rules and it is up to the rest of us to keep up.

Read More

2017 Spring Rush Survival Guide; Are You Ready? - [Infographic]

Posted by Kate Seat on 1/13/17 5:30 AM

As the spring rush season begins, we wanted to share a survival guide and checklist, setting you up for success this season. Good luck and welcome to spring 2017!

Read More

Subscribe for updates

Share your experience

Contact our editorial team to set up an interview or to contribute a guest post.

Most popular posts