The campus bookstore is an important part of any college or university. It serves as a hub for commerce, community, and knowledge. The target customer audience for any campus bookstore is, of course, students. It’s important that the student shoppers in your store have positive experiences with your store that will keep them coming back throughout their college days. Keep reading to find easy and helpful ways you can improve the student experience in your bookstore!
Consider Price Matching
The number one concern for most students when shopping is price. Tons of college students are busy with classes, organizations, volunteer work, and other activities that eat away at their budget. Saving a few dollars at your bookstore can be the deciding factor for students on your campus that turns them into recurring customers. Price matching is an effective way to show your student shoppers that you understand their financial situation and will attempt to make your store the most affordable option for them.
Electronic Labels Help Everyone
Electronic shelf labels are an easy and efficient way to provide product information for students. Electronic labels can show stock inventory, product formats, specifications attached to certain items, if an item is on back-order, and can be integrated into your existing system to help save your employees time during busy days.
Implement Store Pick-Up Solutions
In this digital age, an online shopping experience is crucial for just about any business. However, providing an ecommerce option doesn’t mean you have to pay an arm and a leg for shipping. Store pick up options, like smart lockers, are a proven method that make customers happy and increase their odds of returning. Lockers and other pick up options give offer students the convenience of getting their order on their own time and freeing up your employees to focus on other matters in-store.
Allow Students to Pay with Financial Aid
Many students rely on financial aid to pay for course materials and other items your store carries. Integrating payment options for financial aid allows students to pay for those expensive textbooks, headphones, speakers, or other high-price items. Consequently, this frees up their wallets to purchase whatever else they might have wanted from your store but decided to avoid due to financial constraints.
Host Community Events
Hosting community events is a fun way to attract students to your bookstore and give them a reason to come back. Trivia, karaoke, arts and craft sessions are a few ideas that many students love and will actively participate in. It also helps to attract customers to your store who have never been before!
Sources
https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/give-students-a-better-in-store-and-online-experience#gsc.tab=0
https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/improve-the-student-experience-in-your-campus-store#gsc.tab=0
https://www.parcelpending.com/en-us/blog/modernizing-the-college-bookstore-experience/
https://follett.com/blog/heres-how-to-maximize-your-stores-impact-this-fall/
https://www.xanedu.com/blog/5-tips-for-campus-bookstores-to-increase-foot-traffic
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