Donald "Buz" Moser

Monika Sinclair

Debbie Harvie, CCR

Vicki Morris Benion, CCR

George Masforroll

Laurie Bales

Lisa Gallivan-Reed

Kathy Grace, CCR

Tom Hoffa

Jim Lance

Anthony Martin

Jackie Middleton

Mike Roos

Don Williams

Brian Cartier, CAE

DeAnn Hazey

Jessica James

Kristi Runser

First of all, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the support the NACS Foundation has received this past year. Individuals, Stores, State and Regional Associations, vendors, partners, volunteers, those behind the scenes and NACS Inc. itself, all made a huge difference in not only what we have been able to accomplish but also for what we hope to achieve in the future. With that being said, I’d like to share with you a little about our efforts and of our plans down the road.

First, we are moving forward with several initiatives to get the College Store of 2015 results and deliverables into the hands of as many college stores as we can. At the NACS Foundation Board's strategic direction meeting in May, a conversation ensued about how to best share this information and engage our corporate members and how best to let them know about the fantastic programs the Foundation offers to the college store industry. As a result, a new Vendor Task Force was created to "Educate, Communicate and Engage."

Continue reading... www.nacsfoundation.org/news/torchlight/fall10fromthepresident.aspx

Jackie has been in the bookstore industry for nearly twenty-five years and joined the Florence O. Wilson Bookstore at The College of Wooster in 1995. Jackie is currently the Director of Administrative & Auxiliary Services.

Jackie has been active through the college store industry. She has served on multiple NACS Inc. boards and committees, NACAS committees, and served a term as the president of the Ohio Association of College Stores. She is currently serving a term as a NACS Foundation Board of Director. Jackie is a graduate of Mount Union College, Alliance, Ohio.

Recently, Jackie agreed to have the Wilson Bookstore be part of a NACS Foundation initiative to demonstrate how easy it can be to implement Store of 2015 recommendations. The project involved collaboration between the NACS Foundation, Big Red Rooster, bookstore staff and students. With only $1,000 to spend, the college students followed the College Store of 2015 research findings to give the bookstore a make-over.

See what Jackie has to say about the project:
www.nacsfoundation.org/news/torchlight/fall10middleton.aspx

Opportunity knocks...and RINGS! It's that time a year again for the NACS Foundation Annual Phonathon. The Phonathon is the Foundation's biggest fundraising event of the year and opens the door for Association members to support the industry's only charitable resource and gain exposure. On September 28-29, college store buyers will reach out to companies for support of two very important programs; the Bring A Buyer to CAMEX grant program and the NACS Foundation Online Auction.

The Bring a Buyer to CAMEX grant program is an integral component to college store buyers' professional development. Partner companies supporting this program directly impact the NACS Foundation's ability to assist buyers' attendance at CAMEX. The more buyers we get to CAMEX means more buyers will be visiting your booth! Grant levels begin at $550. View the benefits and access the online registration by visiting the Foundation Bring A Buyer Partner page.

The Online Auction is a great resource for college store buyers. The in-kind products and services donated by companies gives buyers the opportunity to try out new products, get popular items at a discounted price in some instances, and receive free shipping. In exchange for donations, companies receive increased exposure of their products and future sale leads. To learn more and participate, visit the Foundation Online Auction Partner page.

Most importantly, the Foundation wants associate members to know their financial support has a positive impact on the collegiate retailing industry. Contributions to NACS Foundation help ensure the availability of education and research to move us toward the future... and we reward donor's needs for visibility, recognition, and "presence" during CAMEX.

If you have questions about the Phonathon, or to support the programs, contact Jessica James at (800) 622-7498, ext. 2234 or via e-mail jjames@nacs.org.

Publicity about the new Collegiate Retailer of the Year (CROY) Award has hit the major publications in the college market as well as higher education channels. All of the people involved in the planning and implementation of this program are excited about the response thus far, and we look forward to receiving even more nominations before the November 12 deadline. I'm sure there are many NACS members wondering why and how this program was developed. Bear with me for a bit of history.

In April 2008, the Foundation Board met with a diverse group of industry leaders and young professionals to strategically look at the future of the Foundation and to help determine what would have the greatest impact on the industry. Armed with information from this group, the Foundation Board created the Big Idea Task Force to determine the Foundation's next strategic priority to "Research, define and promulgate the college store of 2015."

www.nacsfoundation.org/news/torchlight/fall10CROYAward.aspx

What is the best way to find out how college students make purchasing decisions? ASK THEM! Every year, OnCampus Research conducts a vital research study to gain insight on college student consumers and authenticate proven trends. Funded by the NACS Foundation, Student Watch continues to provide the college store industry with a better understanding of its core customer.

Student Watch 2010, sponsored by Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, zeroed in on college student's perceptions and decision-making towards course material and textbook purchases. Now on sale, NACS members can purchase their own copy of the report and review the findings from over 16,000 college student responses. Report highlights include students' preferences of digital or print course materials, frequency of comparison shopping, likelihood students would take advantage of rental programs, the estimated amount spent on course material in a year, and other important factors that effect course material purchasing decisions.

Need more information before purchasing the report? Be sure to access the archived Student Watch webcast, Your Students' Textbook Buying Habits Revealed. Part of the NACS Research in Action series, this webcast provides viewers inside information on key findings from the 2010 report and examples how college stores are using the findings to improve their store profits and traffic flow.

To learn more and purchase the Student Watch 2010 report, click here.

You've seen the presentation, checked out the web site and even watched the webisodes on the College Store of 2015 recommendations...so...have you taken action? Have any changes been made in your college store? Have staff and student workers been encouraged to participate and get excited about 2015?

In partnership with leading retail expert Retail Forward, a Kantar retail company, the NACS Foundation's goal was to develop tools and resources to help college stores transition from today to tomorrow—enabling them to become dynamic campus retailers serving their campus communities in new and innovative ways.

"Defining the College Store of 2015" provides solid business model success factors—Capabilities, Customers, and Communications—and accompanying Retail Requirements (Curriculum, Connections, Services, Frequency), that will affect both the physical environment and operations to create a lifestyle experience that is unique to each campus.

We asked Debbie Harvie, Director of the UBC Bookstore and Foundation past president, to share what she has done to get her staff and student workers up to speed on 2015 recommendations.

www.nacsfoundation.org/news/torchlight/fall102015.aspx

The NACS Foundation would like to thank the many donors who contributed to the Foundation's success in 2009/10. Each donor helps the Foundation advance the college store industry through key education and research.
To see our donors, click here.