CSC Update: February 2024
CSC Update is a regular communication from Campus Stores Canada to keep members informed of industry updates and CSC’s current projects and initiatives.
IN THIS ISSUE:
What’s ahead:
February 20: Bookware User Group Meeting
This meeting is intended for anyone who is a current Bookware user or wants to learn more about the system. These meetings are member run so we can have an opportunity to share best practices, ask questions and collectively determine what types of supports or implementations we would like to see from Bookware.
Please join us on February 20 at noon Easter time prepared with any new projects you have finished with Bookware or any questions you have for the group.
February 21: Post Conference - Where are they Now?
Join us on February 21st at noon Eastern Time. This is our chance to catch up on how things are going now that the conference is done. Catch up with colleagues, give your feedback, and ask questions about next year’s conference.
CAMPUS STORES CONFERENCE 2024 - Post Conference
I am so overwhelmed by all the feedback from this year’s CSC Conference and Trade Show (in a good way). I want to thank all of the attendees and vendor partners who shared their experiences with me as it is the best affirmation of all the hard work and planning that went into bringing the Conference and Trade Show to Montreal. The question card pictured above is one of the ones I was asked during the icebreaker exercise and I can’t think of a better way to reflect on this year’s event. Thank you to the CSC Board, Greg and his team at McPherson Management and to everyone who attended.
Imelda May
CSC President
Conference Session Follow up
MANAGERS AND DIRECTORS SUMMIT
Follow up with: Imelda May, Capilano University
The focus for this year’s Managers and Directors Summit meeting was “Benefits Beyond the Bottom Line: Celebrating Store Success” where we brainstormed ideas and tactics on how to better articulate and quantify the value of the campus store to the greater campus community. While the contents of the conversation are confidential, the discussion in the room was engaging and almost everyone had a chance to contribute. We can’t wait to continue these discussions in the future as we explore how campus retail continues to change.
Why Strategy Matters: A Guide to Strategic Planning for Operations of All Sizes
Follow up with: April Walsh, University of Toronto
April mentioned that to be successful as a campus store. we need to have a vision and strategy. The strategy should be aligned with University’s mission and strategy should serve the vision. It would be including evaluation of the store space, services, and SKUs’ performance. Then have the store space, services, and SKUs purposely designed to suit the strategy to achieve the vision.
Profitability, KPI, and the future, oh my! Retail math for Everyone.
Follow up with: Jeff Nelson, National Association of College Stores (NACS)
Jeff’s presentation on “Profitability, KPIs, & the Future, Oh My! Retail Math for Everyone," provided a review of crucial aspects of retail operations. Centered around the Profit & Loss (P&L) statement, Jeff described how understanding and interpreting this financial document is important for assessing your stores profitability. With a focus on enhancing profitability, he simplified strategies for optimizing gross margin and effectively managing inventory, emphasizing the importance of key performance indicators (KPIs) in this process.
Jeff also highlighted the significance of benchmarking, demonstrating its role in providing valuable insights and contextualizing store performance within the industry landscape. Attendees were encouraged to leverage additional resources on NACS University and participate in industry surveys for deeper insights. Thanks Jeff, for a great presentation!
P.S. We love adorable spaniels at the end of presentations!
STORE TOURS
HEC Montreal follow up: Paul Rondeau, COOPSCO
McGill University follow up: Jason Kack McGill, University
Trade Show
Exhibitor
Ahead
All Star Dogs
Alpha Broder
Augusta Sportswear
Barbarian Bruzer
Bardown Sports
Bookware
Campus eBookstore
Campus Outfitters
CANCOLL
Catalyst Group
Cesium Telecom
Cocoburry Inc.
Cutter & Buck
DGN Marketing
Dubwear
FIEL
Gertex
GGS
Greenglass Group
Greentown Scrubs
Hotline Apparel
Hype and Vice
Itoya Profolio Group
JanSport
JPT Sales
Katalyst Licensing & Promotions
L2 Brands
Lago Apparel
Liberty Clothing
Lifestyle Market
Login Canada
Master Ring Jewellery
Merangue
Microcad
Milburn Universal Designs
Millennium Micro
MV Sport
NG Labs - Boxercraft
Niagara River Trading Co.
Parkdale Novelty Co.
Portables Plus
Pukka Custom Headware
Quo Vadis Canada
Radley Prep
Sharper Marketing
Sparta Pewter
Spirit Products
Staygood Clothing / TH Clothing
StickerYou Inc.
Tallships Trading Company
The Avid Group
The CSI Group
The Douglas Stewart Company
The Fanatic Group
Toques from the Heart
Varisty Collection
VitalSource
Water-Infusions
WillLand Outdoors
Willo Labs
chris.tamas@aheadsales.net
elan@allstardogs.com
dnt.tom@gmail.com
dkavaner@augustasportswear.com
customerservice@barbarian.com
ben@gobardown.com
info@bookware3000.ca
info@campusebookstore.com
clientcare@campusoutfitters.ca
info@cancoll.ca
cg-orderdesk@catalystbiz.com
customercare@cesiumtelecom.com
info@cocoburry.com
jamie.trowbridge@cutterbuck.com
twilson@dgn-marketing.com
info@dubwear.com
sales@fiel.com
marisa@gertex.com
johnl@ggsltd.com
paul@greenglassgroup.ca
admin@greentownscrubs.com
jenna@hotlineapparel.com
customerservice@hypeandvice.com
info@itoya.com
julienbrown@vfc.com
jptsale_tuk@hotmail.com
kkim@thekatalyst.com
iainlonsway4@gmail.com
info@lagoapparel.com
sales@libertyclothing.com
info@lifestylemarket.ca
orders@lb.ca
humberticoparra@gmail.com
sales@merangue.com
pamme@microcad.ca
frank@milburndesigns.com
nparante@milleniummicro.ca
info@mvsport.com
customersuccess@boxercraft.com
sales@nrtc.ca
sales@parkdalenovelty.com
valerie@portablesplus.com
webrequest@pukkainc.com
eprudhon@quo-vadis.ca
info@radleyprep.com
sue@sharpermarketing.com
david@sparta.net
dleblanc@spiritproducts.com
info@staygood.clothing
retail@stickeryou.com
customerservice@tallshipstrading.com
info@avidapparel.ca
info@thecsigroup.net
custserv@dstewart.com
jody@thefanaticgroup.com
toquesfromtheheart@gmail.com
thewrightstuff@shaw.ca
verbahello@vitalsource.com
keri@water-infusions.com
patrick@willlandoutdoors.com
sales@willolabs.com
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Breakout Sessions
Course Materials
Follow up with: Sean Bell, University of Lethbridge
Clarity in Course Material Terminology - Glossary
Speed Dating on Industry Topics - Topics
Digital Resource Provider Panel
Participants: VitalSource, Willo Labs, Campus eBookstore
Future Proofing the Publishing Industry - SWOT Worksheet
General Merchandise
Follow up with: Shannon Blackadder, University of Calgary
Hot Products Showcase
Strategies for Growth - Worksheet
Thanks so much to all our sponsors!
Member and Industry News
This section of our CSC Update is a place where we can share your news. Share with us information including who is retiring from your store, who is new to your store, what is happening in the industry, share an interesting article you think other members should see. Please email greg@campusstores.ca information you would like highlighted in our next CSC Update.
News for this month!
Industry News
Login is pleased to announce the creation of Login POD, a Canadian print on demand solution, powered by Publishers' Graphics (PG), the leading experts in print on demand in North America. Launching in April 2024, Login POD will be based at Login's Corporate Headquarters and Distribution Centre in Winnipeg, Canada. This solution is a print on demand, warehousing, and delivery system, allowing books to be printed, packaged, and shipped from our centrally located facility to the Canadian marketplace.
Recent Posts in Member Space
Danielle Brown of Dalhousie University is looking for pictures of shelving and displays that you are using for Health Science reference material.
Becky Colbeck of the University of Lethbridge is looking for your cargo sweatpants dealer. Send her your best!
Congratulations to Michael Byun of Douglas College who won the prize from the Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE) if you’d like to know more, you can see the post here or get in contact with Andres Krisch.
Lynn Lockhart of KPU is looking for bulk pads of 3-hole lined paper, do you know where to get some?
If you have questions you can get answers as well! Email books@campusstores.ca for course materials questions, merch@campusstores.ca for general merchandise questions, or members@campusstores.ca to reach everyone!
Happy to Help!
If you have any questions, need support, or are interested in becoming more involved with CSC, you can email me at greg@campusstores.ca or call me at 1 (888) 288-4044.