In October 2010, Phil Wein, president of Emporium Luggage, was looking for ways to expand his retail luggage operation. Like many firms in the luggage industry, his leisure travel segment had been hurt by the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which forced several luggage retailers to retrench. More recently, the U.S. recession that started in 2008, and the…

More than any other area of business, expertise in personal selling and sales management can best be seen through applied learning styles. Many universities are now offering sale concentration in marketing or even MBA degrees. However, many students still feel instructors' teaching methods are outdated. Instructors use many different techniques…

The purpose of this paper is to describe an educational partnership experience between rural retailers and graduate students in a Merchandising, Apparel and Textiles program. Students were afforded an opportunity to work with small business owners in rural communities, giving them real world exposure to the actual challenges being faced by…

Improvement of turnover (the rate of merchandise activity in a store) can mean more sales and more profits for college stores. Some ways to improve merchandise turnover include improved store layout, merchandise mix, and purchasing techniques. (MLW)

Recounts the activities that a number of bookstores have sponsored in order to generate children's interest in books, such as making valentines in February, having Santa Claus pay a visit in December, and having children tape record their favorite stories so that blind children can listen to them. (DF)

Increasingly, college bookstores are departing from the traditional model and becoming high-technology retailing environments, providing books, merchandise, food services, and entertainment in one location. Critics say they lack charm and are attempting to do too much; supporters feel they are better positioned for sales in a competitive market.…

The teaching and learning of geographical and mathematical knowledge in early modern England was a complex interaction among scholars, practitioners, merchants, and gentry. Each group had different values and goals associated with geographical knowledge and therefore different educational venues and different topics to be investigated. This paper…

Because of real estate tax problems, most college stores are unable to advertise off campus, but at the University of Rochester the public relations department periodically prepares a news release that centers around the bookstore. Another public relations tool, a pamphlet with rules, procedures, and operational information, is reprinted. (MLW)

High freight costs stimulated the idea of renting a truck to pick up publisher textbook orders. Benefits, including lower cost per 100 pounds of freight and scheduling when there is room to receive cartons and crew to process the books, outweigh the problems encountered. (MLW)

A ruling in a dispute over whether the State University of New York System was justified in barring from its Cortland campus a group selling kitchen products is discussed. The case involved the legality of a regulation that bars most commercial activity from SUNY campuses. (MLW)

A large part of any merchandising program is picking products that will sell. Sixty alumni professionals were asked about their ideas. Some of the winners included a watch with the institution's seal, a windsock, and athletic shoes. Some of the losers included a sweater and a commemorative plate. (MLW)

Lack of space became a problem when the university bookstore moved into its new quarters; more space was needed to meet the demand for clothing and secretarial supplies. A student record store was purchased and electronic gear including stereos, tape recorders, electronic calculators, etc., were added to the inventory. (MLW)

With the help of a professional consultant and the results of a questionnaire to determine faculty opinions and preferences, the University of Chicago Bookstore was able to evaluate its problems and revitalize its operation. Problems addressed included: physical environment, staff development, management and business practices, and special…

A 1989 centennial celebration at Thacher School in California prompted the college preparation boarding school to move from selling one item--the traditional striped school tie--to a range of products that matched their mission to celebrate their centennial and inspire alumni support. Thacher School found it is best to keep merchandise simple and…

Some suggestions for troubleshooting when problems develop with a college merchandising program cover topics such as delivery delays, product quality, promotional material, merchandise that outside manufacturers sell directly through ads in alumni magazines, and "lemons." (MLW)