Newsletter
January 2003

A Note  from your President...

Greetings! 

Welcome to the first MACS newsletter of 2003.  I hope you all enjoyed the holidays and that “Back to School II is going as planned. 

A look back at 2002 starts and ends with the tremendously successful A Grand Re-union Regional Meeting.  Although the actual event occurred in October 2002, the work that went into this endeavor started more than a year and a half earlier.  I would like to take this opportunity to once again recognize the tremendous efforts of the Regional Meeting Steering Committee—Fred Puffenberger, Sue Smith, Blake Anthes and Mike Kuzak.  I can not adequately express the time, energy, and sacrifice they made to make this event the best possible.  On behalf of the entire MACS family —THANK YOU.

 Speaking of our steering committee, for two of these individuals, A Grand Reunion was their swan song:  After several years at Hope-Geneva Bookstore at Hope College, and five years as Meeting Coordinator for MACS, Sue Smith announced her retirement.  Also making a professional change, Fred Puffenberger has accepted a promotion within Cooley Law School, which takes him out of the bookstore.  Effective January 1st, Joelle Topp becomes the new manager.  I expect to see applications for Alumni Membership from both Fred and Sue.  (Got that you two?)  Good luck in your new pursuits! 

In the month of November, tragedy struck a member of our family– the daughter of Sherri Phillips, Baker College—Owosso, suddenly passed away.  A Memorial fund has been established to help out—see inside for more details. 

Looking ahead to 2003, I am happy to announce that the Spring Meeting will be held in Traverse City, June 1st-3rd.  With Sue’s retirement, the board is seeking individuals who would be interested in helping to plan this meeting.  See Help Wanted column inside. 

After the next board meeting on February 7th, things should begin to happen quickly.  Be sure to check the MACS website at www.michigancollegestores.org for the latest information. 

Speaking of the website, I would like to thank Betsy Jaakola from Northern Michigan University Bookstore for accepting the responsibilities of webmaster for the Association.  Betsy will also take over Directory Services beginning with the Spring 2003 edition.

 2003 should be a great year.  I hope you enjoy this edition of the Newsletter. 

Sincerely,
Scott Placeway
President
 

A Grand Reunion
Review

Total Attendees:  580      Individual Stores:  121

Store Personnel:  243      Vendor Companies:  129

Vendor Personnel:  337      Booths Sold:  142

Store Personnel by State:

  California    2
  Illinois  30
  Indiana  22
  Michigan  112
  Ohio  65
  Wisconsin  12 

Evaluations:  95% were in very good to excellent range in all categories.  Comments about featured speakers were very positive.  The educational sessions were rated highly.  The facilities ranked exceptional and vendor trade show very good. 

All those filling out the evaluations would like another regional if not next year, within two or three years at rotating locations throughout the region. 

Vendor response has been exceptional.  Many small stores attended that could not afford to go to NACS and came ready to buy.  There was high praise for the Grand Center set up for loading and unloading. 

Attendance by stores was a disappointment.  The cost was kept at the absolute minimum and Illinois even underwrote $700 per registrant, yet even then only 30 attended from that state.  The Wisconsin University system was put on a hold for travel unit until the end of September so numbers were less than expected.  The next regional committee will have to address very seriously how to attract store personnel in this shrinking market. 

A detailed evaluation and summation will be available soon.  The financial report is not complete as the Amway invoice has not been finalized.  We will finish in the black however, for that we can rejoice!

 On behalf of the Steering Committee, I want to thank the MACS Board for having the vision and courage to undergo such a project as this.  It was a lot of work, but everyone on the Board volunteered in some way to help put it on.  For that we are grateful.  It was indeed a team effort. 

Sue Smith, Coordinator
 

Member News

Our sincere condolences go out to Sherri Phillips, Manager, Baker College-Owosso whose 15 year old  daughter, Jayme,  passed away on November 24, 2002.  Cards and contributions can be sent to the Phillips home at 307 W. North St. Owosso, MI  48867.

Long time staff members  Fred Puffenberger and Joelle Topp have accepted new positions at Thomas M Cooley Law School.  In addition to the Bookstore,  Events,  Mail,  Copying and Recycling, Housekeeping and Weekend Information and Security will report to Fred. Joelle has accepted the position as the Bookstore Manager.  Best of luck to both of you!

Get Involved in YOUR

Organization 

          The following elected positions will be available on the MACS Board in October 2003:

President Elect
Secretary
Store Trustee/Meetings
Vendor Trustee 

If you are interested or know of someone who might be willing to serve (make sure they know s/he is being nominated) please contact:

Blake Anthes
Phone:  989-774-7495
Fax:  989-774-2480
E-Mail:  blake.anthes@cmich.edu
 

HELP WANTED

The MACS Board is seeking to fill the position of Meeting Coordinator.  We seek a highly organized individual to assist with meeting development, planning, and to provide consistency from year to year.  Benefits include lousy pay, long hours, hard work, fickle and transitory management...and the chance to spend time with the greatest group of people in the industry—your fellow MACS members.  This is a great opportunity to grow a resume, or for a retired alumni member to get active in the Association again.  To apply, please contact Scott Placeway at 517-796-8440.

Upcoming Shows 

CAMEX & C2O 2003
America’s Center
St. Louis, MO
March 7-11, 2003 

ConTEXT & CCRA 2003
Disneyland Hotel
Anaheim, CA
April 10-12, 2003 

MACS Spring Meeting 2003
Park Place Hotel
Traverse City, MI
June 1-3, 2003
 

Baby Boom Echo Causes Enrollment Surge 

  As the children of Baby Boomers reach college age, universities and colleges across the nation are experiencing unprecedented growth.  These increases, couples with budget cuts in some areas, have college stores looking for ways to service burgeoning enrollments and sometimes needing to do more with less.

  Beginning in the late 1990’s and reaching a peak this decade, the USA is in the midst of a college enrollment explosion.  Census data, high school graduation trends, immigration and a slowdown in the economy are leading government officials to project a 23% increase in national post-secondary education enrollment this decade.

  Student population growth has education systems across the county taking steps to manage escalation.  Some state are capping enrollment at the most popular university destination and directing the excess students to other universities in the system.  Others are limiting out of state enrollment or tightening admission standards.

  Other solutions institutions are using include decreasing the time to degree, increasing summer enrollment, scheduling more night and weekend classes, expanding off campus enrollment through learning centers and distance learning solutions such as video and internet based classes.

  College stores will  need to develop solutions to serve larger student populations.  Net-working through national and state bookstore associations can be a good source for obtaining information.   The California Association of College Stores Task Force shared with attendees some of the solutions their stores have implemented.  Some of the solutions includes:

·          Increasing off-peak business by extending hours and days of operation.

·          Stock and sell textbooks earlier.

·          Increasing e-commerce sales of textbooks, emblematic items and computers.

·          Instituting a Textbook reservation system.

·          Enhancing POS system to reduce a customer’s time in line.  This included assuring that credit card authorization would take no longer than five seconds and the installation of thermal printers to speed receipt printing.

·          Moving some business out of the store including textbook reservation pick-up.  This also included making other items available off site as to not to lost sales.

·          Utilize serpentine lines and “line tamers” to direct student traffic.

·          Take other services, such as buyback, to students.

·          Using movable fixtures to adapt the Bookstore during different selling periods.

·          Cross train employees so they can be utilized as needed.

·          Utilize existing technology to the fullest.

  Another solution offered was networking and store visitation to see how other stores are dealing with the increased business.  Across the nation, college stores have to handle the flood of new students.  Advance preparation is a key to success. 

From “The Connection”  December 2002
By Bob Van Der Meulen
 

WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS

President-Elect
Jess Soto
 Nebraska Book Co

Treasurer
Paul Wright
Northern Michigan University

Vendor Trustee
Andrew Carey
Manufacturer’s Representative

Store Trustee
Vicki Nash
Hillsdale College Bookstore
 

OUTGOING BOARD MEMBERS

President
Blake Anthes
CMU Bookstore

Treasurer
Lisa Wilson
Manufacturer’s Representative

Vendor Trustee
Tim Siegel
Service Wholesale

Store Trustee
Brad Miller
Henry Ford Community College Bookstore