Competition is everywhere and the "big dogs" aren't going to let up any time soon. So it's time for you to learn how to "become a leader of the pack." Donna Fenn, author of Alpha Dogs: How Your Small Business Can Become A Leader of the Pack, has more than 20 years experience writing about entrepreneurship and small business trends, and is a contributing editor at Inc. magazine. In this Catalyst Session, she will explain why yesterday's competitive tactics don't work anymore and why every business must reinvent itself as an "Alpha Dog." She tells stories from the entrepreneurial trenches, imparting lessons learned by a variety of small businesses, and explains how companies such as these beat the odds and their competition to became marketplace leaders. You will learn eight success strategies: innovation, customer service, branding, employee engagement, alliances, use of technology, community connections, and reinvention, to illustrate how you and your store can become a leader of the pack.

Based on his forthcoming book--Byte. Snack. Meal. The New Business of Storytelling--Nick will discuss the changing landscape in the storytelling industries: including newspapers, books, blogs, television, movies, advertising and beyond. He will explore the effects our bite-sized culture is having on our brains--looking at key research taking place in neuroscience, exploring the new narrative that is being formed around us, and the resulting effect on the entire business of storytelling--including course materials and campus book stores. After viewing the presentation, engage in an online discussion with your colleagues about this and related topics.

Join your peers from health science stores (nursing, medical, allied health, etc.) to explore best practices for success in today’s challenging marketplace. Trends in student purchasing, store sales, and the industry will be reviewed. Hear what proactive stores are doing to strengthen their presence on campus and in the community by incorporating new marketing, product, and outreach campaigns. Learn how to leverage your position to translate into increased sales and a healthier bottom line. This session is presented by the NACS Health Science Stores Committee.

We all know that "digital is coming", but what can campus stores DO NOW? NACS Digital Content Strategist Mark Nelson moderates a this panel presentation with representatives from four schools/campus stores that have created successful digital initiatives. Each panelist will discuss highlights of both strategic and tactical points related to their programs. The program models include Print-on-demand (POD), working with free content, and creating a partnership with the campus library. There will be time reserved for Q&A.

Want to deliver world-class service? What about increasing your average transaction and number of store visits? What would it take? Simple. Just do a 360! "360 Customer Service" is an easy-to-learn, easy-to-apply retail approach. Developed in conjunction with the staff at the BYU-Idaho Bookstore, this program was created in campus stores, for campus stores. Learn the tenets of this simple yet powerful program, and improve customer engagement and staff effectiveness in your store.

Challenging times require creative problem solving and new ways of thinking. In this non-conventional learning experience, you will learn to ignite your mind and gain divergent and convergent tools you can use to develop and apply creative thinking skills. You will then learn how to focus that creativity toward the challenges facing your store to generate creative and feasible ideas and solutions for some of your organization's specific priorities.

The collegiate retail industry has always had its share of channel conflicts in the distribution of merchandise. A trusted vendor might run a competing store or market the same merchandise to your students directly through its web site. In this age of rapidly maturing e-commerce and digital books, channel conflicts in the textbook marketplace have become even more common. While competition keeps an industry strong, no one wants to be in a position where they are unable to compete. In this session, a panel discussion will identify and quantify some of the more prevalent channel conflicts in the industry--including used and new books being sold directly to students at less than retail prices, the repatriation of international editions, and the sale of course materials to other vendors at prices below those offered to university bookstores. The session will explore what the industry can do to work with its vendors to avoid these conflicts. Panelists will also explore how our industry can avoid being handicapped by its competitors.

The expectation for campus stores to generate revenues keeps escalating. And let's face it-the economy is not cooperating! In this session, three members of the NACS Retailing Committee will present and then engage participants on some of the key ways to uncover dollars in your store that might be going unnoticed. The presentations and discussions will be focused around managing margins; effective use of ads, promotions, and sales; and evaluating vendors to ensure you're getting the best prices and services (especially for perennial products).

Everyone is trying to determine the best ways to leverage social media for positive business outcomes. In this session, leadership from Follett Higher Education Group will share insights and outcomes of store and corporate pilot programs using social networking to drive traffic to store events (and vice versa), build the store brand, and enhance staff recruitment. You will also learn considerations for HR policy implications of social networking that FHEG has learned from their efforts. The case studies discussed in this session will involve the use of Facebook, Jobs In Pods, Twitter, and YouTube.

A Process Map is more valuable than any treasure map. Ask any MBA! Process reengineering and process mapping are cost-saving tactics that are used in companies around the globe. This is your chance to learn these concepts from an expert that understands the work of campus stores and has worked with a campus store manager to implement them in his operation. You will have an opportunity to practice what you learn through an in-session simulation so that you will leave with a full understanding of the concepts.

Sandy Shugart leads one of the nation’s largest and most celebrated two-year colleges. He also is a published poet and songwriter—not exactly your typical institution president. Sandy espouses that our current undergraduates represent the first generation of truly postmodern students. The culture in which they have been steeped differs in profound ways from previous generations. In particular, their views and assumptions about institutions are deeply skeptical. However, they also bring gifts to our institutions, if we know how to connect with them. Using music, stories, and poetry, Sandy will lead a reflection on how to serve these students authentically. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to hear from a campus leader that offers a refreshing and entertaining perspective on the challenges we face in remaining relevant to and service-focused for today’s students. Dr. Shugart was an unsung star of CAMEX 2007. You don’t want to miss it!

What's a store to do? With significant challenges facing college stores as never before, the time is now to try something new, mix things up, take some calculated risks, and be relevant. By diversifying into categories often referred to as "other," stores will be able to meet the challenges of today with proven success. In this session, you will gain insight on how the challenges facing campus stores are not unlike those that have devastated a similar industry AND some lessons learned that can be applied to your business before it's too late. You'll hear from a college store colleague who has a success story to share and gain insights from other successful store approaches. Finally, you will leave with new ideas on how to diversify and thrive!

Join your peers from health science stores (nursing, medical, allied health, etc.) to explore best practices for success in today’s challenging marketplace. Trends in student purchasing, store sales, and the industry will be reviewed. Hear what proactive stores are doing to strengthen their presence on campus and in the community by incorporating new marketing, product, and outreach campaigns. Learn how to leverage your position to translate into increased sales and a healthier bottom line. This session is presented by the NACS Health Science Stores Committee.

We all know that "digital is coming", but what can campus stores DO NOW? NACS Digital Content Strategist Mark Nelson moderates a this panel presentation with representatives from four schools/campus stores that have created successful digital initiatives. Each panelist will discuss highlights of both strategic and tactical points related to their programs. The program models include Print-on-demand (POD), working with free content, and creating a partnership with the campus library. There will be time reserved for Q&A.

Textbook rental programs continue to be one of the hottest topics in the industry. And with federal grant monies fueling pilot programs across the nation, the spotlight is on! In this session, a rental program veteran joins with a newcomer to the rental program scene to shed some light on this hot topic. This is your chance to hear about typical and creative new rental program formats, case presentations from several newer programs, and information on federal grant pilot programs.

Looking for ways to enhance your store's buyback? This panel discussion promises to offer concrete examples and insights from successful "campaigns." Gain ideas on buyback marketing campaigns, promotions, incentives, contests, and events. When stores share what has worked for them and present concrete results, everyone benefits!

The collegiate retail industry has always had its share of channel conflicts in the distribution of merchandise. A trusted vendor might run a competing store or market the same merchandise to your students directly through its web site. In this age of rapidly maturing e-commerce and digital books, channel conflicts in the textbook marketplace have become even more common. While competition keeps an industry strong, no one wants to be in a position where they are unable to compete. In this session, a panel discussion will identify and quantify some of the more prevalent channel conflicts in the industry--including used and new books being sold directly to students at less than retail prices, the repatriation of international editions, and the sale of course materials to other vendors at prices below those offered to university bookstores. The session will explore what the industry can do to work with its vendors to avoid these conflicts. Panelists will also explore how our industry can avoid being handicapped by its competitors.

Eric explains how to:

Wonder how some general book departments are surviving these days? They're getting creative and putting their heads together with other store departments, campus colleagues, and diverse community groups. Special promotions, cross-merchandising opportunities, and author and non-author events are generating excitement and helping general book departments thrive. Come learn innovative new ways to promote your general books through store-wide marketing campaigns and imaginitive merchandising techniques. Engage in small group discussions to ferret out additional ideas for great events. And leave with checklists and how-to tips to help make every event run smoothly. This session is presented by members of the NACS General Book Committee.

A Process Map is more valuable than any treasure map. Ask any MBA! Process reengineering and process mapping are cost-saving tactics that are used in companies around the globe. This is your chance to learn these concepts from an expert that understands the work of campus stores and has worked with a campus store manager to implement them in his operation. You will have an opportunity to practice what you learn through an in-session simulation so that you will leave with a full understanding of the concepts.

The creation of web applications is modernizing all walks of life. Think: "There's an app for that." Is your store exploiting the technology that is available today? Web-based applications provide access to a wealth of information via the Internet and offer a platform that can quickly adapt to functional changes and market demands. In this session, you will investigate the potential for applications to become more fun, more efficient, and more personal to use via web-based functionality.

Based on his forthcoming book--Byte. Snack. Meal. The New Business of Storytelling--Nick will discuss the changing landscape in the storytelling industries: including newspapers, books, blogs, television, movies, advertising and beyond. He will explore the effects our bite-sized culture is having on our brains--looking at key research taking place in neuroscience, exploring the new narrative that is being formed around us, and the resulting effect on the entire business of storytelling--including course materials and campus book stores. After viewing the presentation, engage in an online discussion with your colleagues about this and related topics.

Join your peers from health science stores (nursing, medical, allied health, etc.) to explore best practices for success in today’s challenging marketplace. Trends in student purchasing, store sales, and the industry will be reviewed. Hear what proactive stores are doing to strengthen their presence on campus and in the community by incorporating new marketing, product, and outreach campaigns. Learn how to leverage your position to translate into increased sales and a healthier bottom line. This session is presented by the NACS Health Science Stores Committee.

We all know that "digital is coming", but what can campus stores DO NOW? NACS Digital Content Strategist Mark Nelson moderates a this panel presentation with representatives from four schools/campus stores that have created successful digital initiatives. Each panelist will discuss highlights of both strategic and tactical points related to their programs. The program models include Print-on-demand (POD), working with free content, and creating a partnership with the campus library. There will be time reserved for Q&A.

Textbook rental programs continue to be one of the hottest topics in the industry. And with federal grant monies fueling pilot programs across the nation, the spotlight is on! In this session, a rental program veteran joins with a newcomer to the rental program scene to shed some light on this hot topic. This is your chance to hear about typical and creative new rental program formats, case presentations from several newer programs, and information on federal grant pilot programs.

Looking for ways to enhance your store's buyback? This panel discussion promises to offer concrete examples and insights from successful "campaigns." Gain ideas on buyback marketing campaigns, promotions, incentives, contests, and events. When stores share what has worked for them and present concrete results, everyone benefits!

The collegiate retail industry has always had its share of channel conflicts in the distribution of merchandise. A trusted vendor might run a competing store or market the same merchandise to your students directly through its web site. In this age of rapidly maturing e-commerce and digital books, channel conflicts in the textbook marketplace have become even more common. While competition keeps an industry strong, no one wants to be in a position where they are unable to compete. In this session, a panel discussion will identify and quantify some of the more prevalent channel conflicts in the industry--including used and new books being sold directly to students at less than retail prices, the repatriation of international editions, and the sale of course materials to other vendors at prices below those offered to university bookstores. The session will explore what the industry can do to work with its vendors to avoid these conflicts. Panelists will also explore how our industry can avoid being handicapped by its competitors.

Competition is everywhere and the "big dogs" aren't going to let up any time soon. So it's time for you to learn how to "become a leader of the pack." Donna Fenn, author of Alpha Dogs: How Your Small Business Can Become A Leader of the Pack, has more than 20 years experience writing about entrepreneurship and small business trends, and is a contributing editor at Inc. magazine. In this Catalyst Session, she will explain why yesterday's competitive tactics don't work anymore and why every business must reinvent itself as an "Alpha Dog." She tells stories from the entrepreneurial trenches, imparting lessons learned by a variety of small businesses, and explains how companies such as these beat the odds and their competition to became marketplace leaders. You will learn eight success strategies: innovation, customer service, branding, employee engagement, alliances, use of technology, community connections, and reinvention, to illustrate how you and your store can become a leader of the pack.

Want to deliver world-class service? What about increasing your average transaction and number of store visits? What would it take? Simple. Just do a 360! "360 Customer Service" is an easy-to-learn, easy-to-apply retail approach. Developed in conjunction with the staff at the BYU-Idaho Bookstore, this program was created in campus stores, for campus stores. Learn the tenets of this simple yet powerful program, and improve customer engagement and staff effectiveness in your store.

Challenging times require creative problem solving and new ways of thinking. In this non-conventional learning experience, you will learn to ignite your mind and gain divergent and convergent tools you can use to develop and apply creative thinking skills. You will then learn how to focus that creativity toward the challenges facing your store to generate creative and feasible ideas and solutions for some of your organization's specific priorities.

Eric explains how to:

Everyone is trying to determine the best ways to leverage social media for positive business outcomes. In this session, leadership from Follett Higher Education Group will share insights and outcomes of store and corporate pilot programs using social networking to drive traffic to store events (and vice versa), build the store brand, and enhance staff recruitment. You will also learn considerations for HR policy implications of social networking that FHEG has learned from their efforts. The case studies discussed in this session will involve the use of Facebook, Jobs In Pods, Twitter, and YouTube.

Sandy Shugart leads one of the nation’s largest and most celebrated two-year colleges. He also is a published poet and songwriter—not exactly your typical institution president. Sandy espouses that our current undergraduates represent the first generation of truly postmodern students. The culture in which they have been steeped differs in profound ways from previous generations. In particular, their views and assumptions about institutions are deeply skeptical. However, they also bring gifts to our institutions, if we know how to connect with them. Using music, stories, and poetry, Sandy will lead a reflection on how to serve these students authentically. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to hear from a campus leader that offers a refreshing and entertaining perspective on the challenges we face in remaining relevant to and service-focused for today’s students. Dr. Shugart was an unsung star of CAMEX 2007. You don’t want to miss it!

Competition is everywhere and the "big dogs" aren't going to let up any time soon. So it's time for you to learn how to "become a leader of the pack." Donna Fenn, author of Alpha Dogs: How Your Small Business Can Become A Leader of the Pack, has more than 20 years experience writing about entrepreneurship and small business trends, and is a contributing editor at Inc. magazine. In this Catalyst Session, she will explain why yesterday's competitive tactics don't work anymore and why every business must reinvent itself as an "Alpha Dog." She tells stories from the entrepreneurial trenches, imparting lessons learned by a variety of small businesses, and explains how companies such as these beat the odds and their competition to became marketplace leaders. You will learn eight success strategies: innovation, customer service, branding, employee engagement, alliances, use of technology, community connections, and reinvention, to illustrate how you and your store can become a leader of the pack.

What are they all talking about? You’ve likely been told social media should be part of your business marketing plan. But what is social media, anyway? Isn't it all just fun stuff? How can it help your store? Join this online presentation and get a quick overview of some of the most popular social media sites. Gain a better grasp of the concept of "user-generated content" and learn which social media platforms might be relevant to your customers and your business.

Join your peers from health science stores (nursing, medical, allied health, etc.) to explore best practices for success in today’s challenging marketplace. Trends in student purchasing, store sales, and the industry will be reviewed. Hear what proactive stores are doing to strengthen their presence on campus and in the community by incorporating new marketing, product, and outreach campaigns. Learn how to leverage your position to translate into increased sales and a healthier bottom line. This session is presented by the NACS Health Science Stores Committee.

Holding a campus technology event can create quite a buzz and drive traffic to your store. That is, if you know how to plan it and do it well! In this session you will learn what it takes to create a successful event--large or small. Leave with an outline, timeline, and worksheet that will take you from idea inception to final completion.

Green. It's the hottest color in the rainbow these days! Join us for "Going Green" to discuss a variety of green topics impacting campus technology and book stores. This panel presentation will include examples of in-store recycling, hot green products, and how to market green products, as well as information on determining the "green-ness" of a product and how to reduce your store's carbon footprint. All store professionals are welcome to join this engaging (and green) discussion.

Textbook rental programs continue to be one of the hottest topics in the industry. And with federal grant monies fueling pilot programs across the nation, the spotlight is on! In this session, a rental program veteran joins with a newcomer to the rental program scene to shed some light on this hot topic. This is your chance to hear about typical and creative new rental program formats, case presentations from several newer programs, and information on federal grant pilot programs.

Want to deliver world-class service? What about increasing your average transaction and number of store visits? What would it take? Simple. Just do a 360! "360 Customer Service" is an easy-to-learn, easy-to-apply retail approach. Developed in conjunction with the staff at the BYU-Idaho Bookstore, this program was created in campus stores, for campus stores. Learn the tenets of this simple yet powerful program, and improve customer engagement and staff effectiveness in your store.

Looking for ways to enhance your store's buyback? This panel discussion promises to offer concrete examples and insights from successful "campaigns." Gain ideas on buyback marketing campaigns, promotions, incentives, contests, and events. When stores share what has worked for them and present concrete results, everyone benefits!

Challenging times require creative problem solving and new ways of thinking. In this non-conventional learning experience, you will learn to ignite your mind and gain divergent and convergent tools you can use to develop and apply creative thinking skills. You will then learn how to focus that creativity toward the challenges facing your store to generate creative and feasible ideas and solutions for some of your organization's specific priorities.

The collegiate retail industry has always had its share of channel conflicts in the distribution of merchandise. A trusted vendor might run a competing store or market the same merchandise to your students directly through its web site. In this age of rapidly maturing e-commerce and digital books, channel conflicts in the textbook marketplace have become even more common. While competition keeps an industry strong, no one wants to be in a position where they are unable to compete. In this session, a panel discussion will identify and quantify some of the more prevalent channel conflicts in the industry--including used and new books being sold directly to students at less than retail prices, the repatriation of international editions, and the sale of course materials to other vendors at prices below those offered to university bookstores. The session will explore what the industry can do to work with its vendors to avoid these conflicts. Panelists will also explore how our industry can avoid being handicapped by its competitors.

The expectation for campus stores to generate revenues keeps escalating. And let's face it-the economy is not cooperating! In this session, three members of the NACS Retailing Committee will present and then engage participants on some of the key ways to uncover dollars in your store that might be going unnoticed. The presentations and discussions will be focused around managing margins; effective use of ads, promotions, and sales; and evaluating vendors to ensure you're getting the best prices and services (especially for perennial products).

Wonder how some general book departments are surviving these days? They're getting creative and putting their heads together with other store departments, campus colleagues, and diverse community groups. Special promotions, cross-merchandising opportunities, and author and non-author events are generating excitement and helping general book departments thrive. Come learn innovative new ways to promote your general books through store-wide marketing campaigns and imaginitive merchandising techniques. Engage in small group discussions to ferret out additional ideas for great events. And leave with checklists and how-to tips to help make every event run smoothly. This session is presented by members of the NACS General Book Committee.

Everyone is trying to determine the best ways to leverage social media for positive business outcomes. In this session, leadership from Follett Higher Education Group will share insights and outcomes of store and corporate pilot programs using social networking to drive traffic to store events (and vice versa), build the store brand, and enhance staff recruitment. You will also learn considerations for HR policy implications of social networking that FHEG has learned from their efforts. The case studies discussed in this session will involve the use of Facebook, Jobs In Pods, Twitter, and YouTube.

Sandy Shugart leads one of the nation’s largest and most celebrated two-year colleges. He also is a published poet and songwriter—not exactly your typical institution president. Sandy espouses that our current undergraduates represent the first generation of truly postmodern students. The culture in which they have been steeped differs in profound ways from previous generations. In particular, their views and assumptions about institutions are deeply skeptical. However, they also bring gifts to our institutions, if we know how to connect with them. Using music, stories, and poetry, Sandy will lead a reflection on how to serve these students authentically. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to hear from a campus leader that offers a refreshing and entertaining perspective on the challenges we face in remaining relevant to and service-focused for today’s students. Dr. Shugart was an unsung star of CAMEX 2007. You don’t want to miss it!

Competition is everywhere and the "big dogs" aren't going to let up any time soon. So it's time for you to learn how to "become a leader of the pack." Donna Fenn, author of Alpha Dogs: How Your Small Business Can Become A Leader of the Pack, has more than 20 years experience writing about entrepreneurship and small business trends, and is a contributing editor at Inc. magazine. In this Catalyst Session, she will explain why yesterday's competitive tactics don't work anymore and why every business must reinvent itself as an "Alpha Dog." She tells stories from the entrepreneurial trenches, imparting lessons learned by a variety of small businesses, and explains how companies such as these beat the odds and their competition to became marketplace leaders. You will learn eight success strategies: innovation, customer service, branding, employee engagement, alliances, use of technology, community connections, and reinvention, to illustrate how you and your store can become a leader of the pack.

Based on his forthcoming book--Byte. Snack. Meal. The New Business of Storytelling--Nick will discuss the changing landscape in the storytelling industries: including newspapers, books, blogs, television, movies, advertising and beyond. He will explore the effects our bite-sized culture is having on our brains--looking at key research taking place in neuroscience, exploring the new narrative that is being formed around us, and the resulting effect on the entire business of storytelling--including course materials and campus book stores. After viewing the presentation, engage in an online discussion with your colleagues about this and related topics.

1 in 4: That’s the number of sales that occurred because of the way the merchandise was displayed, according to a study done by the National Merchants Association. During this presentation, merchandising guru Patty McCray-Roberts will teach you to develop depth in your displays—making them “pop” in your store and “speak” to your customers. Get ideas for themes and how to make them work for you throughout the year. Learn how to build excitement and make customers return again and again. The Principles of Art and Design can be incorporated into any display--transforming your displays into works of art.

Join your peers from health science stores (nursing, medical, allied health, etc.) to explore best practices for success in today’s challenging marketplace. Trends in student purchasing, store sales, and the industry will be reviewed. Hear what proactive stores are doing to strengthen their presence on campus and in the community by incorporating new marketing, product, and outreach campaigns. Learn how to leverage your position to translate into increased sales and a healthier bottom line. This session is presented by the NACS Health Science Stores Committee.

We know it's hard to stay on top of the constantly changing technology market. So we're going to make it a bit easier. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the fun as Shawn Rapier, Director of Sales for iFrogz, shows and tells about the latest and greatest technology products.

Green. It's the hottest color in the rainbow these days! Join us for "Going Green" to discuss a variety of green topics impacting campus technology and book stores. This panel presentation will include examples of in-store recycling, hot green products, and how to market green products, as well as information on determining the "green-ness" of a product and how to reduce your store's carbon footprint. All store professionals are welcome to join this engaging (and green) discussion.

We all know that "digital is coming", but what can campus stores DO NOW? NACS Digital Content Strategist Mark Nelson moderates a this panel presentation with representatives from four schools/campus stores that have created successful digital initiatives. Each panelist will discuss highlights of both strategic and tactical points related to their programs. The program models include Print-on-demand (POD), working with free content, and creating a partnership with the campus library. There will be time reserved for Q&A.

Want to deliver world-class service? What about increasing your average transaction and number of store visits? What would it take? Simple. Just do a 360! "360 Customer Service" is an easy-to-learn, easy-to-apply retail approach. Developed in conjunction with the staff at the BYU-Idaho Bookstore, this program was created in campus stores, for campus stores. Learn the tenets of this simple yet powerful program, and improve customer engagement and staff effectiveness in your store.

Looking for ways to enhance your store's buyback? This panel discussion promises to offer concrete examples and insights from successful "campaigns." Gain ideas on buyback marketing campaigns, promotions, incentives, contests, and events. When stores share what has worked for them and present concrete results, everyone benefits!

Challenging times require creative problem solving and new ways of thinking. In this non-conventional learning experience, you will learn to ignite your mind and gain divergent and convergent tools you can use to develop and apply creative thinking skills. You will then learn how to focus that creativity toward the challenges facing your store to generate creative and feasible ideas and solutions for some of your organization's specific priorities.

The collegiate retail industry has always had its share of channel conflicts in the distribution of merchandise. A trusted vendor might run a competing store or market the same merchandise to your students directly through its web site. In this age of rapidly maturing e-commerce and digital books, channel conflicts in the textbook marketplace have become even more common. While competition keeps an industry strong, no one wants to be in a position where they are unable to compete. In this session, a panel discussion will identify and quantify some of the more prevalent channel conflicts in the industry--including used and new books being sold directly to students at less than retail prices, the repatriation of international editions, and the sale of course materials to other vendors at prices below those offered to university bookstores. The session will explore what the industry can do to work with its vendors to avoid these conflicts. Panelists will also explore how our industry can avoid being handicapped by its competitors.

Eric explains how to:

The expectation for campus stores to generate revenues keeps escalating. And let's face it-the economy is not cooperating! In this session, three members of the NACS Retailing Committee will present and then engage participants on some of the key ways to uncover dollars in your store that might be going unnoticed. The presentations and discussions will be focused around managing margins; effective use of ads, promotions, and sales; and evaluating vendors to ensure you're getting the best prices and services (especially for perennial products).

Wonder how some general book departments are surviving these days? They're getting creative and putting their heads together with other store departments, campus colleagues, and diverse community groups. Special promotions, cross-merchandising opportunities, and author and non-author events are generating excitement and helping general book departments thrive. Come learn innovative new ways to promote your general books through store-wide marketing campaigns and imaginitive merchandising techniques. Engage in small group discussions to ferret out additional ideas for great events. And leave with checklists and how-to tips to help make every event run smoothly. This session is presented by members of the NACS General Book Committee.

Everyone is trying to determine the best ways to leverage social media for positive business outcomes. In this session, leadership from Follett Higher Education Group will share insights and outcomes of store and corporate pilot programs using social networking to drive traffic to store events (and vice versa), build the store brand, and enhance staff recruitment. You will also learn considerations for HR policy implications of social networking that FHEG has learned from their efforts. The case studies discussed in this session will involve the use of Facebook, Jobs In Pods, Twitter, and YouTube.