Ideas, information and industry news for collegiate retailers

Everyone on campus has a stake in student achievement — including retailers. College advisers, tutors and faculty should focus on excellence, of course. But it’s easy to overlook how non-academic settings like the college bookstore might facilitate retention and graduation. A strong collegiate retailer does more than sell textbooks and supplies. It functions as a full-fledged student service.

A while back, I had the opportunity to attend the ICBA conference in Jacksonville, Florida. I’d always been curious about the conference and how it differed from other industry events. As the Marketing Director for MBS, I knew the logistical requirements for exhibitors, but I really didn’t know what to expect from the sessions and presentations. I had heard great things and recently have witnessed ICBA’s membership explode. So, when given the opportunity to experience their meeting, I jumped at the chance.