“Collegiate Retail is one of the best in the business. I’d recommend Russell to anyone seeking to solve their bookstore challenges. He communicates extremely well and makes everyone feel comfortable, informed and able to make good decisions. He is a true expert who genuinely cares about his clients.”
— Patrick Sisneros, Blue Mountain Community College, Chief Operating Officer
As a community college serving a diverse commuter-based student population, Blue Mountain Community College’s bookstore found itself at a crossroads. As students spent limited time on campus and the faculty and industry shifted toward digital course materials, the BMCC bookstore had seen a decline in both revenue and relevance. The college sought an online bookstore solution that could provide direct access to course materials and supplies for all students, ease of use for faculty and staff, and a robust online platform that was flexible, powerful and affordable.
After initial discovery discussions with project leadership and additional campus stakeholders, we led the RFP development process and managed all communications with interested bookstore providers. Our team set up and managed presentations and vendor assessments, and helped negotiate the contract with the selected firm.
We facilitated the relationship and workflows between the college and vendor to ensure clear communications, planning and implementation at every step. As the work advanced, we provided guided consultation to ensure deliverables and goals were met, and that the platform would serve the needs and objectives of students, faculty and staff with one easy-to-use online solution.
We partnered with the college through the successful launch of the platform and collaborated to ensure its successful adoption and use across all stakeholder groups. The online store made the transition from onsite to online retailing seamless and ensured every student had access to the course materials, merchandise and other resources they needed to succeed.
Today, the bookstore is fully online and is seeing universal adoption. As a result, the college is realizing significant savings and students are able to purchase course materials and branded products quickly at all times of the day. And, with BMCC’s Inclusive Access program, students are realizing significant cost savings.
“Collegiate Retail is one of the best in the business. I’d recommend Russell to anyone seeking to solve their bookstore challenges. Russell is not only a true expert but an incredibly good person who is very easy to work with. He communicates extremely well and makes everyone feel comfortable, informed and able to make good decisions. He genuinely cares about his clients.” – Patrick Sisneros, Blue Mountain Community College, Chief Operating Officer