College bookstores are often the first stop for students in need, but when they can end up spending up to $1,200 a year on textbooks, it’s no wonder that students look primarily for deals. Here are a few ideas to boost sales while remaining conscious of rising costs for students.
Online Textbook Promos
With the necessity of remote learning over the COVID-19 pandemic, textbooks became virtual as well, and therefore, cheaper on average. Offering virtual textbooks and promotions during busy textbook-buying seasons is a great way to boost sales while prioritizing students’ wallets.
Getting Students Involved
Getting students involved with your store is a great way to remind them about the one-stop-shop right on their campus and get them in the door to see new products and featured items. Ways to do this vary, but things like student t-shirt design contests and student-oriented store decoration are useful for getting them interested in coming into your store.
Seasonal Promotions
By the end of the holiday season, seasonal promos were everywhere. However, the holiday season isn’t the only opportunity to use promotions. Football games, midterm season, and spring break are all examples of academic ‘seasons’ to take advantage of and promote, from discounts for every touchdown or promos for a post-exam pick-me-up.
Sponsor On-Campus Events
Sponsoring or creating events on campus is a great way to combine promos with increasing student visibility of your store. One thing all students love is something free, so offering something like a raffle or free food at existing events will allow you to get your brand on students’ minds.
Final Thoughts
Overall, there are so many opportunities for promos this year with adequate planning. From raffles to partnerships with other on-campus organizations, these promos can even create long-lasting relationships on campus while boosting sales and student knowledge of on-campus stores.
Sources
https://educationdata.org/average-cost-of-college-textbooks
https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/hundreds-of-free-ways-to-promote-your-college-store#gsc.tab=0
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