Campus Store Central

Digital Platform for Campus Stores Announcement

2010-01-29T15:58:00.001-07:00

Campus Stores Canada Announcement (January 29, 2010)

To All CSC Members:

In September 2009, an announcement was released regarding a digital platform being developed for Canadian and American campus stores. You can read about the announcement from CCRA and NACS Media Solutions at http://tinyurl.com/ygy25x8.

Since this announcement the CSC has been actively working with the CCRA to make this digital platform available to its members. We are delighted to announce that an agreement has been reached and the first phase is now available to all CSC members. This phase will allow your store to provide free access to copyrighted Digital Study Versions of public domain books in ePub format free-of-charge. This will be a key first step in your efforts to retain market share with your students by being the source for free content. The digital platform can be accessed free of charge. As a result, there are no warranties, expressed or implied, and no technical support is being provided (and it is expected that none will be needed for the implementation of this phase).

Individual stores can sign up at:http://www.campusebookstore.com/Booksellers/Default.aspx

Or, stores can place this link on their site: http://www.campusebookstore.com

This announcement will be posted on CSC’s blog as well, and members can post questions using the Comment feature.

CSC Digital Committee
Paul Wilde (Chair), Mike Zybala, Darrell Kane, and Scott Henderson

Top Ten Books of Past Decade

2010-01-06T07:51:00.004-07:00

Sure, the height of January Rush is in the air, and as campus booksellers we're franctically trying to stay on top of the needs of students returning to class after a holiday break. It's a fun, yet stressful time of year where we have too little space, too much stress over shipments of late-adopted and published out of stock books and more competition from more angles than ever in our history.

What better time, then, to escape into the land of "reading for the pleasure of it" with a look at an eclectic selection of the "Top 10 Books" of the past decade?

Appearing on The Mark News (A Canadian "News & Perspectives Daily" column) is my personal selection of my favourite books from the past ten years along with a 9 minute audio interview on the future of reading.

C'mon campus booksellers, pipe in on the comment section -- what would be YOUR top picks?

eBook Piracy interview

2009-12-23T12:42:00.006-07:00

On November 30, The Spark on CBC Radio 1 interviewed Gabriella Coleman, an associate professor at New York University. She believes that online book piracy will shake up the traditional book business and what smart publishers can do to combat it. Click here for the full interview.

Also, there is an article on the UniversityAffairs.ca website entitled "Electronic Textbooks: Set to take over?" and CSC's own Mark Lefebvre in quoted in it.

Book Suggestions For Holiday Gifts

2009-12-14T08:47:00.001-07:00

Last week the folks from the McMaster Daily News came into Titles Bookstore with a camera and asked what book I'd recommend for holiday gift giving. I went with one fiction title and one non-fiction title both of which I believe would appeal to a broad spectrum of readers.

See video below, which not only includes my two selections, but great selections from McMaster University's Lorraine York, Professor of English and Cultural Studies and Associate University Librarian Vivian Lewis.

I selected these books for the following reason.

Lawrence Hill's THE BOOK OF NEGROES (Illustrated Edition)

This phenomenal story about one woman's life experience living through the slave trade is beautifully written and one that sticks with the reader long after reading. This is a great selection for a number of reasons. First, just on its own, it's a fantastic novel. Second, if you know someone who has already read the novel, this makes a great gift because the illustrated edition adds a whole new way for the reader to enjoy the novel. Because it includes much of the artwork that inspired Hill when he was researching for the writing of the novel, the additional layer of historical references are perfect. This new presentation of the novel would also be appealing for the history buff.

Mitch Joel's SIX PIXELS OF SEPARATION

Everyone is connected. Everyone is talking about new media and social networking. But there are a lot of people out there who don't understand what it's all about nor how it can be used for the greater good. Joel introduces the worlds of social networking (such things as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, blogs and podcasting) in easy to understand layperson's terms then runs through various examples of how this interconnectedness can help benefit a person, brand or business. Though written with a business reader's perspective in mind, Joel's approach is one that can easily be appreciated by someone simply wanting to understand more about the digital world. And the cool thing is that once you finish reading it, you can continue to enjoy learning more from Joel's blog or podcast in which he continues to advance knowledge and resources in these areas.

What two books would YOU suggest make great gifts this holiday season?

CSC Advisory: Debit/Credit card voluntary code code of conduct

2009-11-24T08:11:00.006-07:00

On November 19, the Minister of Finance announced a proposed voluntary code of conduct governing debit and credit cards. It’s now open for public consultations. More information, including the press release and background information, is below. The focus of the agreement includes:

Ensuring that merchants are fully aware of the costs associated with accepting credit and debit card payments.

Providing merchants with increased pricing flexibility to encourage consumers to choose the lowest-cost payment option.

Allowing merchants to freely choose which payment options they will accept.

As you probably are aware, changes in the debit/credit card industry have created a situation where merchants pay a variety of different fees on the cards, and often the only time that they actually find out is when they get the bill in the mail. Criticism of this from retail groups has helped gestate this.

CSC will be making a submission in this public consultation process. Members will be advised when the document is available on the CSC site.

Government press release is here:

http://www.fin.gc.ca/n08/09-109-eng.asp

Backgrounder is here:

http://www.fin.gc.ca/n08/data/09-109_1-eng.asp

Brief globe story is here:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/new-conduct-code-for-credit-debit/article1369712/

The EU and Digital Book Copyright

2009-10-21T12:13:00.006-06:00

Below is a link to an article on EurActiv.com that states the EU

"... will deal with the copyright aspects of digital publishing in the context of a new strategy on intellectual property rights in 2010."

click here to see the full article

Campus Chills

2009-10-21T04:34:00.009-06:00

As if bookselling on campus isn't chilling enough in these times of dramatic change where everybody is wondering about the state of publishing, the viability of the printed textbook and emerging digital technologies . . .

But this time, the chills are fiction -- imaginitive tales born from the dark corners of campuses across Canada.

The time, it's a general interest book designed exclusively by campus bookstores and launching at four of them.

Campus Chills, premiering October 22, 2009 (just in time for Halloween) is an anthology of thirteen original tales of terror set on Canadian campuses and written by authors from across the country. The bookstores at University of Alberta, McMaster Univeristy and University of Waterloo joined forces to solicit fiction from some of the finest Canadian speculative fiction writers and have produced the trade paperback book on their Espresso Book Machines.

Including fiction by Kelley Armstrong, Julie E. Czerneda, Kimberly Foottit, James Alan Gardner, Sephera Giron, Michael Kelly, Nancy Kilpatrick, Susie Moloney, Douglas Smith, Brit Trogen, Edo van Belkom, Steve Vernon and Carol Weekes, this original anthology is edited by Mark Leslie and introduced by Robert J. Sawyer.

The book is being launched at four campus stores on the same day.

On October 22, 2009, author Steve Vernon will appear at a lunchtime reading and book signing at Dalhousie University bookstore in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Then, mid afternoon in Edmonton, Alberta, Susie Moloney and Brit Trogen will appear at the University of Alberta bookstore for a reading, signing and Halloween-themed event. Beginning at 7PM in Hamilton, Ontario, Titles Bookstore McMaster University will host Kelley Armstrong, Kimberly Foottit, Sephera Giron, Michael Kelly and Edo van Belkom for a reading and signing combined with free guided ghost walks of the McMaster campus. And at 9 PM in Waterloo, Ontario, Waterloo Alumni authors Julie E. Czerneda, James Alan Gardner and Douglas Smith will meet registrants at the bookstore then lead them to a special secret location to haunt them with readings of their work.

11 of the 13 contributors will be at four locations in three provinces for this exclusive launch, which is something that has never been done before. What has also never been done before is the collaborative effort between 3 campus bookstores to produce a professionally authored general interest/trade book.

You can't get this book at WalMart, or Costco or Amazon.

If you want to get this book in time for Halloween, you need to get to your local campus bookstore to get one. The book is currently available at five campus bookstores -- the ones mentioned above as well as the Algonquin College bookstore in Ottawa (and the list continues to grow -- check out the following website for updates and links on where to buy it -- Where to buy Campus Chills)

Campus bookstores who are interested in carrying the book can order it from University of Alberta, McMaster or Waterloo bookstores. Check out the Campus Chills website for more information.

For a peek, check out the video book trailer . . .

CourseSmart Application for iPhone

2009-08-10T13:41:00.004-06:00

CourseSmart, has just released its first iPhone application, allowing students to download etextbooks to their iPhone.

An important note, though, is that while the CourseSmart etextbook version is typically cheaper than the hard copy textbook, the "e" version expires after 180 days.

On the plus side, there's something wonderful about the instant nature of acquiring the etextbook in this manner.

But on the flip side, there's something unsettling about the almost "instant" nature of losing the etextbook purchased in this manner.

To ensure students get the most residual value (ie, ability to hold onto for later use, or re-sell) for their textbooks, it would be wise to remind them of the existence of the expiration date so that they can make an informed decision when deciding which textbook version to buy.

Bookstore Blogging

2009-08-03T05:11:00.004-06:00

Are you thinking about starting up a blog for your store (or perhaps improving an existing one that you have let go "stale"?)

Check out video interview with Dustin at McNally Jackson in NY talking about their The Common Reader blog. Three simple questions -- three simple answers.

(Direct link to YouTube video)

The POV that this interview and blog takes is that of a general interest bookstore. Thus, it's a useful tool for those campus stores with a general/trade book section.

But you might also consider how you might adapt the same principles here into your campus store blog to incorporate textbooks, giftware, computer accessories, etc. IE, "Staff picks" work in most product categories, not just general books.

The Book VS Kindle

2009-08-01T06:05:00.002-06:00

If your campus store offers USED TEXTBOOKS to help save students money on the continually rising cost of textbooks, you'll likely get a huge kick out of the following video.

Yes, the video is a bit longer than it needs to be to make the point, but it does make an interesting point.

While ebooks have a huge advantage in being able to allow you to carry a huge volume of books in a single portable device (either a dedicated reader or your smart phone of choice), the residual value and the consumer's ability to loan, re-sell or give-away the hard copy "dead tree" version of the book still has some distinct advantages.

Liquid Textbooks: Coursepacks in a Web 2.0 Digital World?

2009-06-11T11:59:00.003-06:00

Symtext is a start-up company based in Toronto that is promoting Liquid Textbooks.

This is how they describe Liquid Textbooks to academics (excerpt from their site):

By comparison, Symtext enables you to teach better courses by assembling best of breed digital content from multiple publishers into dynamic, continuously evolving "Liquid Textbooks", thus ensuring the highest possible quality content for students. Unlike traditional materials, Liquid Textbooks include not only traditional content like chapters, cases and articles, but podcasts, videos, presentations - curated Flickr feeds - data files, and many other types of digital files. (We'll clear the rights and do the work to make sure your students gain access to your Liquid Textbook through your School's Learning Management System.)

Web 2.0 approaches to digital content, such as this effort, may eclipse the focus on static digital textbooks (i.e. digital versions of hardcopy textbooks) sooner rather than later.

Digital initiatives, whether applications or hardware, are emerging and evolving at a increasingly quicker pace. Where it is going to end up, nobody knows at this point. But we can't wait until the dust settles. Campus stores need to quicken efforts to adapt to the digital future, and a changing role within that future.

E-reader devices: The fun is just starting

2009-06-10T11:59:00.004-06:00

This is an excellent update on what is happening with e-readers.

E-reader devices: The fun is just starting Between the Lines ZDNet.com

In particular, this was interesting:

The key element player in the market—and driving down the price will be China.
Consider the textbook tipping point:
The textbook tipping point won’t come
from Harvard, MIT,or even Stanford: We think it will come from developing
nations like China and India, whose universities will use technology
to leapfrog ahead of Western counterparts. China especially is already a
fast-growing market for eReaders like Jinke Electronics’ HanLin eBook,
which sells for US$299 and includes 600 free books. We expect the textbook
eReader market to start this year with modest sales of content
through the Kindle DX, with greater adoption starting in 2011 and reaching
more sizable numbers by 2013.

University of Saskatchewan Bookstore begins renovations

2009-06-05T08:29:00.006-06:00

This is the first post of a series that will follow the renovations to the Bookstore at the University of Saskatchewan. As you can see in the above picture, these shelves have been emptied and will soon be moved out. The area shown here will be gutted and redesigned into a more modern and efficient retail space.

Renovations will take place now through till mid December. The plan is to renovate our main cash out area, some offices and retail space for clothing, art supplies and stationery from now till mid August. Work will then be put on hold till the end of September when we renovate the book selling floor and the rest of the offices. The Bookstore will remain open during the renovations.

Kindle DX poses profitability challenge to publishers

2009-05-14T12:25:00.005-06:00

An article in Information Week Canada discusses how the Kindle DX could cause profitability problems for textbook publishers. Its interesting how these discussions parallel similar discussions about the music industry when the iPod was introduced. This article also touches on the "green" aspect of ebook reader devices. We have focused a lot of time talking about the competing business cases of digital vs. traditional publishing, but some universities may be looking at how not publishing paper textbooks will help the environment.

E-textbooks vs. Kindle DX: What will college kids pick?

2009-05-13T16:07:00.007-06:00

A recent article in Crave, a blog from cnet magazine, discusses the benefits of laptops and netbooks over the Kindle DX. I think this adds credence to my statement in an earlier blog that Apple may be developing a device that is both a tablet PC (a laptop that recognizes handwriting and has a keyboard) and ebook reader. By and large, laptop use among university students has grown organically. There have been some high profile universities, such as The University of North Carolina, that have been successful in requiring their students to buy laptops; but, by and large, students have realized on their own the gains in productivity they could gain from having a laptop. I'm not saying that the Amazon Kindle DX will fail because some schools tell their students they need to use them, I'm saying that students will use the device that best suits their purpose.

How the iPod changed everything!

2009-05-13T08:29:00.004-06:00

Globeandmail.com is becoming a very good source for information about the digital world. When you go to globeandmail.com, you'll notice a Technology tab towards the top of the page. There is a very interesting video documentary titled The Decade the Music Died. It is interesting because it features Sam the Record Man discussing what the downloading of music has done to his retail business. I think the two main lessons to be learned from this video are: (1) Don't stick your head in the sand and pretend the changes toward digital aren't happening; and, (2) Publishers will not necessarily partner with bookstores on digital books. Remember what's happened to Sam the Record Man!

Expresso Book Machine at Waterloo

2009-05-12T11:38:00.002-06:00

The University of Waterloo is getting an Expresso Book Machine to join McMaster and University of Alberta (the first in a campus store).

Read about it at:
http://www.exchangemagazine.com/morningpost/2009/week19/Thursday/050714.htm

Other Campus Store Blogs Worth Following

2009-05-12T11:24:00.004-06:00

We have included two other blogs in our Campus Links section of Campus Store Central (see below bottom right).

Mark Nelson's blog will be useful for those wanting to stay up-to-date on digital developments. Paula Haerr's blog will interest GM buyers.

If you have another blog specifically of interest to campus stores, please add a comment to this post.

Free On-Line Training Videos for Retailers

2009-05-12T11:08:00.003-06:00

The Gift and Home Channel has an extensive range of free on-line videos covering a comprehensive list of retail topics. Topics are often covered over a number of videos so viewers can cover a topic in one setting or, more likely, over a number of viewings. Also included in their training collection are retail training videos from the Canadian Gift and Tableware Association.

http://www.giftandhomechannel.com/content/all-video

Students Skeptical Kindle DX Can Replace Paper Chase

2009-05-12T08:27:00.007-06:00

This article appeared in wired.com and talks about why some students think the new Kindle DX will not replace paper textbooks. Personally, I agree with the student who said students already have a laptop and don't want to be carrying another device. There are rumors Apple will introduce a device much like a tablet PC in which the user can write notes by hand or with a keyboard with the added feature of being an ebook reader. This kind of device would be very popular with students because it can be used to do everything a laptop does, plus be an ebook reader. Apple also has a very strong distribution model with iTunes. It should be very interesting as Apple and Amazon fight each other for market share.

University of Saskatchewan Opens New On-Line Bookstore

2009-05-08T08:44:00.007-06:00

The University of Saskatchewan Bookstore has opened a new online bookstore.

This online store differs from a lot of other university online stores because not only can students search for and purchase textbooks, customers will also be able to search by author and title. The aim is to sell more textbooks, but also more general and reference books.

Future versions of this online store will include clothing and giftware and the ability for students to authenticate using a username and password and have all their textbooks displayed.

This online store also gives the UofS Bookstore the ability to sell digital books, since most digital books will be sold over the internet.

Amazon to Launch Kindle for Textbooks

2009-05-06T08:12:00.004-06:00

The Wall Street Journal has reported in an article that Amazon plans today to introduce a new larger screen Kindle ebook reader aimed at students. The article goes on to say that Amazon has worked out agreements with several textbook publishers as well as six universities that will participate in a Kindle pilot beginning this fall.

Critter Cleaners

2009-04-17T13:17:00.004-06:00

We discovered these fun little animal desktop cleaners made by Elecom on the AudioCubes website recently and instantly new they'd be a big hit with the youth market. The nylon dusters are great for getting between the keys on your keyboard, while the wool dusters are safe for your screen. There are also padded cloth erasers which work as a general purpose cleaning tool.

Piggy Banks for Cool Kids

2009-04-13T13:23:00.003-06:00

Somewhere between the mid 70s and the late 90s, piggy banks somehow managed to transform themselves from cutesy objects for kids to cool collectibles for young adults. We're not quite sure who is responsible for said transformation (was it famed Canadian Karim Rasid? Designer-Darling Jonathan Adler?), but we're not complaining. Not Neutral, a multi-discipline design firm based in Los Angeles, has created some very affordable piglets worth dropping your coinage into.

Cheaper Parking for Eco Friendly Cars

2009-04-12T09:57:00.005-06:00

This was blogged about on the SpringWise website - a site that talks mostly about new and inventive business ideas for entrepreneurial minds - and we instantly thought about what a great initiative it would make for colleges and universities. Reward students with eco-vehicles with 1/2 price parking. See the clipped image above for the full idea (just click on the image to view larger so you can read the text). In Los Angeles, we have also seen parking lots where eco-vehicles get the premium spots, (those that would be closest to the faculty buildings), typically next to the handicap spaces. University of Manitoba students would give their right arms for that!!

Six Projects to Change Publishing for the Better

2009-04-09T06:58:00.005-06:00

Here is Michael Tamblyn's presentation of 6 Things That Could Change Publishing for the Better, which was presented at the BookNet Canada Tech Forum 2009 in Toronto on March 12, 2009. Michael is the CEO of BookNet Canada.

Yes, there are things unique to campus stores that might not apply, but there is a lot of cross-over information usefulo campus booksellers in this presentation.

Knock Knock newbies

2009-04-07T14:17:00.005-06:00

Knock Knock is one of those companies that really, truly gets consumers. Their humor-filled note pads, checklists, and door hangers let you channel both your inner obsessive-compulsive over-organized self AND your sarcastic pessimistic self at the same time. Since most students fall into one or both of those categories, it's understandable why Knock Knock products keep growing in popularity. Above are some of the brand's new releases we're pretty crazy for...

Three by Three

2009-04-03T10:52:00.003-06:00

Three by Three in Seattle used to be known for their vast array of super-mini "Mighty Magnets" with uncanny magnetic power. It seems like overnight they've expanded their collection of offerings to include a number of other great items perfect for students. Our favorites include the magnetic boards and strips with REAL wood finish, the magnetic hooks (with signature uncanny staying power - see their site for the photo of one holding a cast iron frying pan!) and super cute ShapeUp bookmarks (sorry, no magnets here).

A Good Type of Bundling

2009-04-02T13:24:00.003-06:00

In this instance, bundling of e-books refers to getting a variety of formats so it does not matter what reader device is being used:

http://toc.oreilly.com/2009/03/pragmatic-programmers-now-doin.html

An Argument for Open Publishing

2009-04-02T13:07:00.003-06:00

An interesting video interview with a leading proponent of open publishing....

http://vimeo.com/3341489 from http://vimeo.com/user1295106 on Vimeo.

Awaiting an I-Pod for Books?

2009-04-02T12:27:00.004-06:00

Another interesting read...

http://www.futureofthebook.org/blog/archives/2009/03/will_the_real_ipod_for_reading.html

Digital Future is Confusing and Inspirational

2009-04-02T11:46:00.007-06:00

This is a very interesting commentary on the impact of the Google settlement on digital publishing:

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6636986.html

"How these rights will be secured and exploited by Google or someone else should keep the lawyers and the visionaries busy for some time. In fact, Rosenblatt says that it will probably take as long as two years just to get the BRR up and running to service the initial business models, let alone the aspirational ones. Rosenblatt and Kreisa say the future business model will require publishers to restructure their content in ways most of them don’t do at present. How do you secure and define the rights to set up a custom-publishing service that combines content from different publishers? What about textbooks with a multiplicityof content—photos, text, art and charts? Dealing with multiple publishers can be difficult enough, but what about out-of-print titles whose rights have reverted to the author—will aggregators need to negotiate with every single author? “It will be very complex,” says Rosenblatt."

Lunches & Laptops

2009-03-31T12:43:00.003-06:00

We've been big fans of Built NY ever since they launched with one simple (but clever) thermal lunch bag. Fast forward to 6 years later and they now have a whole range of quirky yet brilliant lunch bags, bottle totes, laptop cases, and sleeves at very affordable prices. What's not to love??

FreeAgent by Seagate

2009-03-28T13:05:00.002-06:00

The FreeAgent hard drive by SeaGate seamlessly merges style and function. With its own docking station (to connect, simply pop it on the dock) and a wide range of colors and capacities (250GB, 320 GB, and 500GB versions) this is the only external drive you may ever need. It even automatically backs up all files and has a password encryption, but is unfortunately only compatible with windows.

AA Gym Bags

2009-03-25T11:03:00.004-06:00

Sure, we admit that most students use backpacks for pretty much everything. Bag #2 on the typical student's must-have list is typically the carry-all gym bag, and luckily American Apparel offers them in all sizes and amazing fashion-forward colors. So plain they practically beg for a university logo or personalized graphic, they should be a staple offering.

Quirky items from Decor Craft Inc

2009-03-22T13:38:00.003-06:00

Decor Craft Inc is one of those companies that makes loads of cute & humorous products to use around the home or office. We have scoped their product offerings from A - Z, here are some of our favorites for students (see photos above):

PAPER paperclips. How smart is that? Made of pressed paper, they are 100% recyclable. Saves you having to remove the staples and metal paperclips from any paperwork before tossing it in the recycling.

Boulder Blocks. A great mind escape in between assignments...

EarBuds with Humor. Now that earbuds are being decorated to look like everything from jewelry to toys, these ones seem like the perfect middle ground.

Truly REMARKABLE

2009-03-19T14:57:00.002-06:00

British eco brand Remarkable has come out with some great pieces for students with a conscience. They make everything from non-toxic markers to recycled notepads and rulers, but our favorites are the stationery and pencil cases made from recycled rubber.

Stylish Noteblocks by Snow & Graham

2009-03-15T09:17:00.003-06:00

Snow & Graham is a stationery company from Chicago that really understands how to entice consumers. Like the "Location! Location! Location!" cry of the real estate world, the cry of stationery companies everywhere should be "Prints! Prints! Prints!" The creative minds at S&G have some of the most beautiful prints we've seen on paper products in a long time - so fresh, so contemporary - they are perfect for what the company describes as "modern communiqué".

We particularly adore their Noteblocks, in both large and mini sizes. How better to dress up your desk?

Handbag hooks are cool again

2009-03-10T18:44:00.003-06:00

Unless you spent a significant amount of time with your grandmother growing up (a fashionable grandmother at that), you probably won't know what handbag hooks are. They seemed to disappear around the same time as sweater sets and Brylcreem.
That's why we were very surprised when one of our junior staffers enthusiastically returned from a lunch date last week with one in her hand.

Handbag hooks are cute little metal hooks that fashionably keep your handbag from sitting on a dirty floor when you're out to lunch, studying in a library, or working on a project in class. Simply hook the straps of your handbag on the lower hook portion, then rest the stylish little head on any table surface, and voila!

We think they're set for a comeback, and a number of websites think so too. Above are some examples from SilverHooks, an Ohio based website.

Feel free to also check out The Purse Hook, and My Bag Hanger (from the UK).

KOR ONE Hydration Vessel

2009-03-08T15:28:00.005-06:00

When presenting the Green Report seminar on the evolving green consumer and their purchasing motivations at the CSC show in February 08, I recall a few buyers concerned with which plastics to avoid when buying water bottles and coffee mugs. While mug manufacturers scramble to change their products to more chemical-free solutions, the folks at KOR have launched arguably the greenest and most beautiful water bottle on the market.

The KOR ONE Hydration Vessel is BPA free, dishwasher safe, and made in Mexico. It's also recyclable, although I'm not sure who would choose to recycle this beautiful bottle. The hinge cap that will never go missing also doubles as a carry handle, and the generous sized mouth makes drinking feel civilized! A favorite design feature among fans is the message space for your personal mantra on the inside roof of the cap - interchangeable to your hearts delight. Kor provides a few messages for you (built into the enviro-thoughtful packaging) which they call "stones", and even provide a blank stone for you to create your own message.

Retailing at $29.95, they are pricier than the typical water bottle, but so much better for the environment and your personal health. Kor is a proud member of 1% For the Planet and is looking for wholesalers...(side business anyone?)

Ferm Living Wallstickers

2009-03-03T20:23:00.003-07:00

As wallstickers continue to grow in popularity (many are removable peel & stick varieties - perfect for students), the designs get better and better. Ferm Living, a San Francisco brand well-known for fashion-forward throw pillows and wallpapers, has a clever & pretty collection of wallstickers at very reasonable prices. Above are some of our favorites....for those of you who may remember our seminar in 2008, we had three main trend categories which discussed basic & simplified graphics, nature inspired graphics, and fashion-baroque graphics. There's a bit of all three here...

Winnipeg's own Botanical Paperworks

2009-02-24T10:38:00.003-07:00

We've mentioned seed paper in the past, but when we stumbled across Botanical Paperworks out of Winnipeg, we knew we had found seed paper heaven. We're big fans of their cleanly-designed greeting cards - once planted, they certainly qualify as the gift that keeps on giving! We also love the Write & Grow journals!

Tattoo art for CSC from last year's forecast

2009-02-22T11:35:00.007-07:00

I just read Mark's post regarding Paula Herr's presentation (Connect2One) at the CSC show and noted that she called out Tattoo Prints on hoodies. For those of you who remember the CRU forecast from last year's presentation, we mentioned that we foresaw tattoo & grafitti prints gaining in importance for fall 08 and had even created an exclusive tattoo print for members of CSC to use at will (above).

Printed Binders from Semikolon

2009-02-22T11:17:00.004-07:00

We're big fans of the printed binders from Semikolon. While printed binders aren't necessarily new for them, we do appreciate how this particular group of binders demonstrates many of the color ways and patterns we spoke about as "coming trends" a few seasons back.

Semikolon's website is in dire need of updating, but the Montreal offices can be easily reached at 514 286 2880.

CSCEx 2009 Highlight - What's Hot

2009-02-19T20:13:00.005-07:00

Below are some screen shots from the presentation by Paula Haerr, Associate Executive Director of Connect2One at the recently held CSCEx 2009 in Toronto about What's Hot.

Of course, this is just a small selection of Paula's great presentation.

Ninja Star tacks

2009-02-17T16:04:00.004-07:00

For all you wannabe ninjas out there (yes, we know you exist in droves), the Ninja Star thumb tacks by uberly clever Canadian brand Chromly can safely substitute for the real deal. At $12 retail for a pack of only three, you'll have the coolest cork board in town.

Eco Writing Tools

2009-02-15T17:03:00.003-07:00

Ever meet a person who is obsessed with office supplies? We recently met TWO such individuals at a Vegas trade show who were only too happy to identify a few of their latest loves of writing utensils. While many were pricey (hello, Mont Blanc?), one suggestion did get us paying attention:

Earthzone (a Canadian company) makes pencils from 100% recycled newspaper...we've been assured by these pen-enthusiasts that the recycled content actually makes the product a better writing tool - easier to sharpen and offers a smoother "flow". The Earthzone website is under construction but you can send them an emailing info@earthzone.ca

Of course, the Earthzone pencils are quite similar to the eco Smencils we have spoken about in the past. They are also made from 100% recycled newspaper, but these of course come in fresh smelling scents that aim to make note-taking a tad more pleasurable. Yes, they are marketed to kids, but young adults are fans too.

All this talk about eco writing tools got us thinking - what else is out there? Et voila, just like that we stumbled upon a whole website devoted to Eco Friendly Pens. Based in California, TrailBlazer Promotions offers more than 50 styles of eco-pens - from recycled to bio-plastic to wood, and beyond. To view their website, click HERE.

Luggage Tags by Flight 001

2009-02-12T09:10:00.005-07:00

Let's face it, 85-90% of all luggage you see on a baggage carousel is black. That's why we're big fans of the stylish and quirky luggage tags by Flight 001. Ranging in price from $4 (sale) to $17, these adorable tags make it easy to pick your black pieces out of the masses!

University of Manitoba Valentine's Day Display

2009-02-11T08:08:00.006-07:00

Hello everyone and Happy Valentines Day from the University of Manitoba BookStore!
This is my first attempt at a blog post and I wanted to share the selection of items we have for Valentines Day, and our POP display.

Limited Edition Tees by Public Library offer great inspiration for campus bookstores

2009-02-08T14:38:00.004-07:00

We chose to show and discuss these tees NOT because they are limited edition. Not because they come from cult label Public Library. Nope, not even because they have cool graphics. We chose to show and discuss these tees because they are intended to raise awareness. Proceeds of the 3 styles of t-shirts go towards The Samburu Project, a not-for-profit organization that aids citizens in developing countries. Profits of these particular shirts go towards the water crisis in Kenya.

These t-shirts are a great example of something college & university bookstores could do to move product and engage the student consumers on campus. Why not hold a t-shirt design competition open to the students? For example: Ask students to submit suggestions for charity or eco organizations they wish to help (they are among one of the most eco-conscious age groups in the market). Select a winning charity. Then hold a graphic design competition open to all students. Select three winners and make short runs of their graphic designs on a few basic t-shirt styles and donate a portion of the profits to the charity chosen. Draw attention to the event by giving away a few t-shirts in-store with appearances made by the student designers. Tell the story of the design competition on hang-tags and in-store displays. Collaborate with the student newspaper or blogs.

Kate Grenier magnets

2009-02-03T23:20:00.003-07:00

Our staffers went crazy over these fridge magnets made from recycled bottle caps by artist Kate Grenier of Portland Oregon. The magnets are sold separately, but we have a crush on the themed packages of six.

GreenHouse earbuds

2009-02-01T18:30:00.003-07:00

A few months ago we showed some very "girl-friendly" earbuds the resembled jewelry by Elcom, and promised more masculine earbuds to follow. The new snake and spiderweb buds by GreenHouse in Japan are great for dudes who are a bit punk at heart.

Welcome to Toronto!

2009-01-30T11:56:00.003-07:00

Welcome to CSCEx '09. We hope you enjoy your stay in Toronto, find great products for your campuses, renew old friendships, and make new ones.

Convertible Laptop/Tote bag

2009-01-27T16:55:00.003-07:00

We love this new convertible laptop & tote bag from the designers at Chelsey Henry, a brand which specializes in laptops bags and hand totes, this is the first piece that merges the two needs. And at only $27.00 retail, we think it's a hot product.

New Laptop Stickers

2009-01-21T10:01:00.004-07:00

The list of companies offering laptop and ipod stickers seems to grow bigger by the week, but the variety of stickers by under-the-radar brand I Am Human has some of the downright COOLEST stickers we've seen so far. If the images (above) are any indication, quality seems great. Prices look great too, with retail $$ on their site ranging from $30 - $45 USD. Note: while the images above are only of Apple laptops, the brand makes stickers for PC's too.

Calendreco Perpetual Calendar

2009-01-16T14:57:00.005-07:00

The Calendreco Perpetual Calendar is one of those ingenious ideas that's so simple you're surprised no one has thought of it before. This ECO calendar (hence the name Calendr-eco) is composed of 1 board containing the numbers and 3 headers in which the days of the week are not placed in the typical Sunday-Monday-Tuesday order. The placement is such that you can use the board year in and year out. Made with responsibly-sourced pulps, carbon neutral and chlorine-free, this beats replacing your calendar every January. Even the inks are non-toxic and vegetable based and the boards are 100% recyclable, so should you ever choose to retire it, you can do so guilt-free.

The Versatile Tube Dress

2009-01-14T09:13:00.003-07:00

Tube dresses are one of those apparel items that float in and out of fashion, about once every decade - but two things always on trend with student shoppers are comfort and versatility. The tube dresses from American Apparel offer exactly that. Long enough to wear as a full length piece and simple enough to fold into a skirt with a roll-down waist, it becomes a great staple for college girls everywhere. It's comfortable enough to feel casual and long enough to be work-appropriate. Our junior staffers recommend layering two tube dresses in different colors and folding the base layer over the top of the outer layer to create a two tone ensemble.

A Must-Read For Campus Bookstore Staff

2009-01-12T08:14:00.007-07:00

Book Review

Title: Grown up Digital

Author: Don Tapscott

Publisher: McGraw-Hill

Published: October 2008

If you run or work in a campus bookstore, then you simply cannot waste another moment not reading this book.

Following up on his book Growing up Digital from well over a decade ago, Tapscott returns to study the new generation, dubbed the Net Generation by the author. Based upon a multi-million dollar four year private research study, Tapscott provides an in-depth look into the routines, habits and challenges of this young generation.

This is a fascinating, eye-opening look at the Net Generation, and serves to contradict many blatant assumptions being made about today's youth. Tapscott deftly handles the claims that today's young people are a bunch of spoiled brats with limited attention spans who have had everything handed to them and have no scrupples by analysing facts and statistics and applying information from surveys with over 11,000 youth.

Including detailed statistics and charts as well as quotes and examples from real youth all over the world, Tapscott demonstrates a generation that is not only remarkably bright and skilled at thinking, interacting and socializing in entirely new ways, but that they are active participants in a complex and challenging world, that they are fine analysts and are concerned about basic integrity.

This timely and well informed book is a must-read for anyone involved in campus retailing. I would stronger urge all managers, buyers and staff who aren't already part of the Net Generation to pick it up and give it a read.

Despite the hard data, charts and graphs, it is an approachable and fascinating book.

And because I cannot state this enough, I would highly recommend Grown up Digital for the insightful suggestions on how to properly connect with and understand the Net Generation without being imposing and causing them more frustration. I would particularly suggest that those who have a negative view of the younger generation and their "technology endowed habits" pick it up and start looking at these details in a whole new light.

Emergency Kits by Ms & Mrs

2009-01-09T14:26:00.003-07:00

While the She-mergency kit by Ms & Mrs has been around for a few years now, rising in popularity are the MiniMergency and Collage survival kits. Loaded with sample packs of all-important goodies like band-aids, double-side tape, stain remover, deodorant towelettes (MiniMergency) or ear plugs, sleep masks, needle & thread, privacy door sign (Collage Kit), these cute kits truly do save the day no matter what the catastrophe.

Eco Offerings from Alternative Apparel

2009-01-06T14:54:00.004-07:00

Alternative Apparel, quite similar to American Apparel, is a wholesaler of FABULOUS cotton casual basics for the college & university crowds. While they offer goods in conventional cotton, we must admit we are obsessing over their Earth range, which is all eco. Note the henleys, cropped pants, and cardigans (above) are extremlely similar to our product forecast (given at the CSC conference in February 08) for this same season.

Golla Laptop Bags

2008-12-18T10:49:00.004-07:00

Golla of Finland makes some of the most street-worthy laptop bags around and were among the first to buck the "basic-black bag" trend. We thought these new releases (pictured above) were particularly worth noting as they show that two trends we spoke of last year are still alive and kicking. A touch of neon (the piping on the black and grey bags) and stencil & flat pattern floral prints continue.

Emoticons for Everyone

2008-12-18T10:28:00.003-07:00

One of the defining things about today's youth culture is the obsessive-compulsive use of emoticons in texts and emails. That's why the upcoming emoticon keyboard called Bajca is sure to send more than a few neurons firing out of the atmosphere. Slated for release on Valentine's Day, 200 (although the Italian company behind Bajca tells me they do not yet have a distributor), the keyboard comes with interchangeable expressions and the ability to convert key caps into jewelry. Simply connect via USB to your computer, and voila. Emoticon your loved ones into oblivion.

The Greatest Laces

2008-12-12T18:49:00.007-07:00

We've talked about the cult of lace-lovers among youth culture before - remember those neon laces we mentioned last year? Berlin-based brand Solebox recently put neon laces to shame when they collaborated with Puma and unveiled a sneaker with laces that actually ILLUMINATE.

New York based Starks is a laces manufacturer that is always upping their game. The newest arrivals to their online shop are the screen-printed checker laces (shown above in a coil). We also love a few of their others, like Tiger Stripe Camo, Step Tech, Fade to Blue, and Plus (shown above).

Designer Headphones

2008-12-08T16:25:00.003-07:00

The big trend here - as I'm sure those of you who've followed our trend report in the past have noticed - is the increasing demand for unique looking personal gadgets. First came the laptop-and-ipod-stickers trend (which is now a huge industry) then came the earbuds-that-look-like-jewelry trend (still going strong). Next up are speakers that look like anything but, and new to the game are headphones with serious style.

All of the headphones shown above fall way outside of the typical student price range, but all are worth noting. The chocolate leather & stainless steel pair are from California watchmaker Nixon. The two printed pairs are part of an artists' series collaboration organized by WESC, and the wood-framed pair are a collaboration between Dutch artist Parra and The Perfect Unison company.

Watch for cheaper, student-friendly versions from competitive brands that aim to cash in on this new addition to the customization trend.

Rocky Mountain Soap Co

2008-12-05T16:59:00.004-07:00

The Rocky Mountain Soap Company isn't exactly a new Canadian brand, but their growing product line is certainly Fabulous (the capital F is warranted!). Not just about soap, they offer all natural ingredients in everything from the apricot lip butter (a chap stick of sorts which retails for $4.49) to the avocado face bar (retails at $4.99). Our favorite of favorites is the cold and flu body rub (retails for $7.99), featured above.

Flamingo Sport EarClick2 Earphones

2008-12-05T12:56:00.012-07:00

If you have ever been out running and wished there was an earphone that would not pop out, well your wish has been answered. Enter the Flamingo Sport EarClick2 Earphones.

The earphones comfortable sit securely in front of the ear canal. I bought a pair to try and and they are all I use now. They never fall out and since the speaker in not in your ear canal, you can hear ambient noise so you can be more aware as you are active:

Click below for a full review:
http://www.andpop.com/article/11688

They retail for $40 to $50 and are distributed in Canada by Winleader.

Luggage Tags from Pamela Barsky

2008-12-02T11:10:00.002-07:00

The humor of the tell-it-like-it-is luggage tags from Pamela Barsky are fun, bright, and a great way to spot your bag on the busiest of carousels.
The website lists a package of 6 for $12.00, but we see no reason why you couldn't sell them individually for $4 - $5 each.

Elecom Ear Drops

2008-11-26T11:18:00.003-07:00

As we have mentioned several times in the past, one of the on-going trends in technology is to not LOOK like technology. We fully support the idea - and so does Elecom - why wear a piece of black plastic in your ear when you can wear jewelry?

Ok so the jewelry part might be more of a female-driven trend, but there are fun ear buds for guys too...we will post on those in the coming weeks as well.

These particular Ear Drops by Elecom (featured above) retail for $49.

Just a book

2008-11-24T04:21:00.006-07:00

McMaster University Bookstore recently became the second location in Canada (and the second Campus Stores Canada member) to own an Espresso Book Machine from On Demand Books of New York.

There has been no end of media drop-ins and calls in the past few weeks; no end of a stream of customers interested in the amazing possibilities that exist when a local bookstore has the ability to produce a perfect bound trade paperback book right on the spot in a matter of minutes.

This is the first time in my career as an academic bookseller that I have seen students wonder at a printed book. Normally it's the latest iPod or other electronic handhell device that captures their imagintion. But this time it's an old-fashioned handheld device. A simple book.

Watching a book being produced is indeed a wonder, and not just for "book nerds" like me. Certainly, the process the EBM uses isn't the same as the one which is used to mass produce books. But it is certainly a fascination to observe. Anyone who attended the recent CSC 2008 in Edmonton and got a chance to see the University of Alberta Bookstore's EBM in action knows what I mean.

But having a technology like an EBM doesn't just create excitement for a long-existing product (the book), but it opens up all kinds of opportunities for publishers and bookstores to work together.

In the short time we've already had the machine, we were able to collaborate with a small Canadian publisher to get the rights to print copies of their book for an upcoming course. The lowered cost of printing the book ourselves combined with the royalty payment resulted in a lower cost to my store and thus allowed us to reduce the price to students by 30%.

Similarly, in cooperation with McGraw, the University of Alberta bookstore was able to drop the price of a "custom textbook" produced by McGraw for one of their courses by about $60.

This new publishing model, which saves publishers money and shipping costs, also saves the bookstore money and shipping and removes the often frustrating business model that includes returning books to publishers. That doesn't even take into account the reduced carbon footprint involved when you're not shipping books to and from the publisher's warehouse.

I'm certainly looking forward to watching this new opportunity within the publishing industry continue to grow.

Circular Scarf from American Apparel

2008-11-21T10:38:00.003-07:00

The circular scarf is one of those well established classics that disappears and resurfaces every ten years or so...it answers so many needs: fashion, function, and fabulous variety. Our team is crazy about them! This particular one (shown above) is from American Apparel.

Great organizers at International Arrivals

2008-11-19T11:29:00.003-07:00

Mundane office supplies are a thing of the past, and International Arrivals offers a great selection of fun and fashionable office organizing items. We especially love the new colorful paperclips! They have always stocked great folders too, this wood spiral folder (featured above) is one of their newest.

Mimobots still going strong

2008-11-14T09:11:00.004-07:00

Mimobot flash drives by Mimoco are one of those rare types of products that just get stronger and cooler. Practically at cult status, the new generation of Mimobots are designed by the who's-who of the street arts & graphics industries. And of course, with every cool product come the off-shoots - like clothing to dress up your drive.

Suzy Jack Stationary

2008-11-11T13:52:00.004-07:00

Making a splask on the stationary scene is a line called Susy Jack created by Manhattan artist Susan Connor. The line - which is made from 100% recycled paper - received great press at the National Stationary Show in the US this past summer. We love the graphics on the notebooks and ringlet jotters.

Eco Back Packs

2008-11-07T12:20:00.004-07:00

When it comes to back packs, those that are eco-friendly haven't always been price-friendly (Voltaic's solar powered ones are $200 - $500)...an unfortunate circumstance for students interested in sustainability. Osprey and Targus have recently launched some cheaper alternatives, featured above.

The Cypher back pack by Osprey (top photo) retails for $84 US and is made from PET and uses reground buckles.
Even more affordable are the EcoSmart backpacks from Targus (bottom photo) - retailing at $60 US, they are made from 100% recycled polyesters & plastics. Even the metal details are nickel-free.

Lug Lunch Cubes and Pack Bags

2008-11-04T13:36:00.005-07:00

Our junior staffers couldn't get enough of the Lunch Cubes and other padded carrying goods by Lug. Available in bright fun colors and variety of shapes and sizes, these are perfect for students (functional yet fashionable) and very easy on the pocketbook.

To contact Lug's Canadian office, click here.

Liquid Bookmark

2008-10-31T12:23:00.005-06:00

In the spirit of Halloween, we thought something a little "strange" was in order. So when we came across the Liquid Bookmark by Kyouei Co Ltd (Japan), we knew it fit the bill completely. Made out of silicone, not only is the bookmark truly strange, it's perhaps one of more functional bookmarks we've ever seen. It can fold over a specified group of pages, ensuring the page you wish to mark "sticks".
A great novelty gift item for the student with unique and alternative taste. At the moment, Kyouei products retail at only 3 locations in Canada (and one is an on-line site). To contact Kyouei directly, click here.

Note: if you want to see this image in better detail, click on the photo.

iphone & ipod covers & cases

2008-10-27T13:16:00.010-06:00

Incase (above) is an increasingly popular brand that specializes in making protective cases for gadgets like phones & mp3 players. They have just recently launched their "metal slider" covers for the iphone 3G. Their previous sliders (in colors) were a huge success, and they're betting that with all of the metallic trends on the market, these sliders in gunmetal, silver, gold, and bronze will continue to increase the cool factor of their brand.

istyles (below, based in the US and Singapore) also makes great stickers with matching downloadable wallpapers for a variety of different types of phones, as well as game & music players. Here are some of our favorites (and coincidentally, they are among the best sellers):

Notebooks from New Growth Design Studio

2008-10-24T11:29:00.003-06:00

For those of you who may remember my trend seminars, one of the big directions that continues to "trend" in graphics is that of flat pattern and sketchy nature prints. The flat pattern prints on these notebooks from the New Growth Design Studio in Colorado are a beautiful example of the flat pattern trend.

The notebooks retail closer to notebook prices you would find at Chapters ($18US) but I'm sure there are volume discounts at wholesale. For contact info, click here.

CyberClean goo - the unexpected desk accessory

2008-10-21T14:09:00.005-06:00

Ok so maybe you wouldn't keep it on your desk. And no, this slimy goo is not a re-release of the Ooze-in-a-Can from the days of Ghostbusters - but it does look strikingly similar.
CyberClean is actually good goo. This bio-degradable substance is made for the specific purpose of getting into those hard to reach spots between the keys on your keyboard. You know, the spots that fill up with random dust and the crums from last weeks' sandwich you at ate your desk. Who said cleaning couldn't be fun? We love it!

To view their worldwide distributor list, click here.

Peel & stick chalkboards from Wall Candy

2008-10-17T11:53:00.003-06:00

While the brand and website are geared towards little kids, the peel & stick (removable) chalkboards from Wall Candy are a fantastic idea for small offices and workspaces. For those who love decoration or a splash of something ornate, the Rococo styles are a great option. There are also the super-basic versions for those with more minimalist tastes.

Each chalkboard kit comes with chalk and range in price from $36-$68 US (retail). Wall Candy is based in New York.

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2008-10-06T21:39:00.006-06:00

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Pressure Free Book Buying

2008-10-06T21:26:00.004-06:00

Something that has begun occuring more often, and which happened quite regularly this past September Rush was upper year students standing in front of the skids of first year books and attempting to sell their used textbooks to first year students.

While there is an inherent issue with this (the act of someone standing in the middle of a retail space in which rent and utilities are paid and performing their own sales transaction), the fundamental reason why I found it offensive was because of the pressure it put on first year students to make a snap decision to purchase a book. With a perceived "good deal" dangling in front of them, many students felt pressured to have to decide NOW whether they would take advantage of the offer.

But the downfall is multi-varied:

First, was the edition of the textbook they were purchasing even a valid one (ie, the same edition that their instructor was using in class?)

Second, if the student changed their mind, would they be able to return their purchase within a reasonable time frame or even return it at all?

Third, was it actually a good price, particularly when compared with the options our store offers to students, which includes used books sales, which, in many cases are well below the industry average of 25% cheaper than new books (if we can get a really low cost supply of used books, we take advantage of that and pass the savings along to the students)

The bottom line, in my mind, comes down to this: students should be aware of ALL the choices they have when purchasing textbooks. Our role as booksellers should be providing them with as much information as we can to allow them to make the BEST, most INFORMED decision possible.

Students should feel NO pressure to purchase course materials, whether it is from myself or my staff OR from someone else who happens to be standing in my store.

Here is how I personally addressed the issue at our store when it occured this past September.

1) I let the students who were flogging their books know they had various options available to them. In our case, we have a BOOK BUYBACK program in which they can recoup up to 50% of the original selling price of their textbook. There is also an on-campus consignment bookstore operated by our Student Union group which I would let them know about. And third, our website offers students a free online classified allowing them to list, barter and sell their textbooks directly to other students.

With all these options available, there should be no need for them to stand in front of a pile of textbooks in my store and pressure another student to purchase from them.

2) If I witnessed a student putting any sort of pressure on first year students I immediately asked them to stop it as politely as possible. I explained the mandate that no student should feel pressured to purchase course materials. I also cautioned the student they were pressuring to not make a rash decision; reminding them of the option to return a book (new or used) to us by the return deadline.

3) If the aggressive seller persisted, I requested in no uncertain terms that they leave and reminded them that this activity was not acceptible.

Again, at the end of the day, our job as campus booksellers should be to ensure students are making informed decisions on purchasing their course materials. The students should NOT feel pressured. If we have done that, we've done our duty as academic booksellers and we hope that they make the decision to purchase their books from our store.

Because when they make THAT decision, it supports our ability to be around in the years to come to continue to serve student needs and support the academic mission of our respective campuses.