Post on 19-Feb-2017
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
Your store needs aneCommerce solution.
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
After all, nearly 81% of young adults own and
shop with mobile devices.
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
But there’s a lot of misinformation and uncertainty
out there about your eCommerce options.
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
Here are 11 myths college retailers might have, and how they can overcome them on the way to
providing better service and convenience to students.
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
Myth 1:“We can’t match online competitor’s prices,
so what’s the point?”
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
Price is important, but so is customer service. In an
eCommerce setting, that means helping students save and being
attentive to their needs.
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
With the ever-presence of technology in students' lives, that
means your eCommerce store needs a range of price options and the ability to engage students and respond to questions quickly on
social media.
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
Myth 2:“If I o�er price comparison, I’ll lose sales.”
$10.95 $8.95
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
Three out of four college-age customers are comparison-shopping online already. By o�ering it on your
site, and as long as your prices are competitive, students are more likely to buy from your store. (Plus, you can
often earn a�liate revenue if your students buy elsewhere.)
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
Myth 3:“A website’s a website —
anyone can view it on any device!”
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
If not mobile-friendly, your store can be virtually impossible for
customers to navigate, driving them away. More than 25% of online
transactions are now mobile — be sure your store is optimized for
omni-channel.
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
Myth 4:“Students will automatically and easily find
my store online.”
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
Students are shopping online, but that doesn’t mean they’ll instantly
discover your web store. Market and promote your store so your
customers know where to look, and rest assured your web store is a�liated
with their school.
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
Also, try to get buy-in from your school to help promote your store on
your campus' website, as well!
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
Myth 5:“It’s tedious to o�er freebies, sales and more.”
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
An eCommerce tool designed with college stores in mind will
make it easy to o�er the sales and incentives you want. Whether it’s
flash sales, buy-one-get-one deals or more, your store can do it all and
keep customers happy.
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
Myth 6:“Students can’t earn in-store loyalty online.”
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
Loyalty isn’t just for brick-and-mortar purchases. With
the right eCommerce solution, your students can use your loyalty
program wherever they’re buying. This can even drive up in-store
tra�c by up to 13%!
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
Myth 7:“eCommerce cuts students o� from
proprietary tenders.”
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
An optimized, college retail-focused eCommerce
solution will integrate with your system, so you can accept student financial aid, credit, debit, gift cards
and more!
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
Myth 8:“Online shopping isn't secure.”
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
A secure system makes a secure store. Your web store can utilize your system's security features,
keeping customer data safe and preventing you from processing
one of the fraudulent transactions that cost retailers
$3 billion last year.
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
Myth 9:“It’s too di�cult to keep your inventory updated
in real time.”
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
It’s not impossible when your system does it for you! Integrated
eCommerce solutions use the same inventory as your physical store, so
what you’re displaying is always up to date.
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
Myth 10:“Students will always prefer the convenience of
a physical store for all types of transactions.”
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
The majority of shoppers like buying online and picking up
in-store. O�ering an online store which still gives students the
convenience of in-store pickup can boost your sales tra�c.
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
Myth 11:“We don't have a web designer, so it will be
too hard to brand or update our store.”
2711 West Ash Street, Columbia MO, 65203 | 800.325.4138 | www.mbsbooks.com
You can easily customize your site's look and functionality with a turnkey solution that includes a content design manager for easy updating. Plus, the right solution will have a dedicated support rep
on hand when more extensive changes are needed.
Sources
Cohen, H. (2013, October 21). 67 Mobile Facts To Develop Your 2014 Budget - Heidi Cohen. Retrieved February 26, 2016, from http://heidicohen.com/67-mobile-facts-from-2013-research-charts/
What social customer service is really worth: Stats. (2014, June 16). Retrieved February 26, 2016, from https://econsultancy.com/blog/65018-what-social-customer-service-is-really-worth-stats#i.yruikc2jzejj10
U.S. generations: Comparing prices online 2015 | Statistic. (2015). Retrieved February 26, 2016, from http://www.statista.com/statistics/306617/us-generations-comparing-prices-online-for-big-purchases/
Over 27% of global online transactions are now on mobile devices - Adyen. (2015, April 30). Retrieved February 26, 2016, from http://www.adyen.com/home/about-adyen/press-releases/mobile-payments-index-april-2015
Rowland, A. (2014, November 17). Promote your online store without spending a dime - The Garage. Retrieved February 26, 2016, from https://garage.godaddy.com/smallbusiness/market/promote-online-store-without-spending-dime/
Asher, D. (2014, November 17). ISU Cross-Promotes like Crazy on inSite. Retrieved February 26, 2016, from http://foreword.mbsbooks.com/?p=10332
Carter, B. (2015, December 31). Customer Loyalty Statistics: 2015 Edition. Retrieved February 26, 2016, from http://blog.accessdevelopment.com/customer-loyalty-statistics-2015-edition#lmktg
Demery, P. (2013, March 28). Online fraud costs e-retailers $3.5 billion in 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2016, from https://www.internetretailer.com/2013/03/28/online-fraud-costs-e-retailers-35-billion-2012
Why Retailers Should O�er Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store - eMarketer. (2015, June 8). Retrieved February 26, 2016, from http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Why-Retailers-Should-O�er-Buy-Online-Pick-Up-In-Store/1012579