Ideas, information and industry news for collegiate retailers

Most stores decide beforehand exactly what a customer's discount is going to be. But at North Dakota State University Bookstore, management leaves that up to fate. They do so by providing a bowl filled with scratch and win cards in front of their bookstore that customers can use to win anywhere between a 15 and 50 percent discount on any clothing or souvenir and gift items.

October 9 was the fourth annual National Student Day — did your store participate? Here's a look into what some other college stores cooked up, in the words of the bookstore staff members who helped make it happen:

It’s undeniable: October has a lot going for it. From the obvious (Halloween!) to the important (Breast Cancer Awareness!), there are many opportunities to scare up some interaction with your students and community. This month, the Stevenson University Stores got into the spirit once again by holding their third annual Pink-a-Boo and Trick or Treat sales.

They might have held their party a little early by Prince’s standards, but the University of Dayton Bookstore welcomed its freshmen students to school while going back in time.

Titan Shops, at Cal State University – Fullerton, always seems to be doing something to get new customers into their store. Whether it’s putting on an open house or traditional sales to coincide with holidays like National Student Day, Titan Shops Marketing Coordinator Katie Cover is usually busy planning something new and exciting. The most recent special event was a “secret sale,” something that the store likes to do a few times each semester.

The ‘90s may have been, like, the coolest decade ever. (You don’t have to convince us; just check out this marketing plan.) And we aren't the only ones flashing back — the Elizabethtown College Store dedicated a whole day last week to celebrating the ‘90s, with special sales, games, prizes and plenty of social media interaction inspired by everything fresh from back in the day.

The University Store at Murray State University recently rolled out the red carpet for the crème de la crème of its customers.

If you were to walk around the University of Arizona campus this fall, it would be difficult to ignore the university’s colors being worn by students, faculty and visitors alike. The supplier for a great deal of the apparel you would see is the University of Arizona BookStores, and considering they offer 25 percent off of a variety of items, there’s very little reason for customers to go elsewhere.

Would your employees be willing to “get pied” for a great cause? Last week, the staff of College Corner Coffee & Books in Alma, Mich. volunteered their faces for target practice for a pie-throwing event to raise money and awareness for Relay for Life of Gratiot County.

As they transition to their new store, Wingate University Bookstore found themselves with excess inventory that they knew they couldn't bring to the new location. But rather than just throw things away, Assistant Director Rachel McCullough and the rest of the bookstore staff came up with a creative way to get customers in their store while shedding their surplus items.