Bookstore gets new look, plans for future

Physical renovations to the UCCS Bookstore are nearly complete but a behind-the-scenes operations overhaul may be even more dramatic than the new storefront.

By end of April, Jason Votruba, manager, UCCS Bookstore, expects the physical remodel to be complete. He’s excited about new paint colors that will coordinate with other first floor University Center renovations and a complete visual makeover directed by the same professionals who developed Clyde’s.

“It’s important to keep retail spaces fresh,” Votruba said. “Frankly, we were looking a little worn and the space was not as functional as it could be. The new space will improve efficiency, particularly during peak sales times, provide additional display space, and more ‘grab and go’ type things such as snacks and sodas.”

Plans are underway for a grand re-opening May 2-5 to show off the space. The event will feature giveaways, contests and product sampling. Bookstore staff will also introduce faculty to new text adoption software  and students to a comparison pricing feature.

“The bookstore of today is not the bookstore of tomorrow,” Votruba said. “It can’t be.”

Votruba is utilizing the “Bookstore of 2015” model adopted by the National Association of College Stores and detailed key elements of his plan.

• Textbook prices. Vortuba hopes to have 80 percent of book titles at the campus bookstore priced within $5 of the average prices of online retail giants such as Amazon or Half.com. A new store policy will put QR codes on bookshelves so students can easily compare prices. Book orders placed on the bookstore’s website will show the UCCS Bookstore price alongside those of online competitors.
  “We will have complete transparency in the pricing of textbooks,” Votruba said. “That’s the only way we can overcome the perception that we are overpriced.”
• Textbook rentals. Vortuba hopes to have 300 to 400 titles available for rent by Jan. 2013. There are now only four available.
• Faculty Resource Center. A new software program will assist faculty in finding texts for their respective disciplines and offer suggestions for texts based on reviews by faculty at other universities as well as availability and costs of those texts.
  “Faculty will have the ability to really explore the best options for texts through an easy-to-use system that doesn’t even require a password,” Votruba said.
• Retail products. The bookstore is retooling its offerings of UCCS and Mountain Lion apparel items to better reflect official colors and affinity for UCCS sports teams.
• Services. A postal and shipping counter is planned where faculty, staff and students can ship personal items and buy stamps without leaving campus.

“We can’t make these changes by ourselves,” Votruba said of the bookstore staff. “We must have an excellent relationship with faculty and staff to achieve the goal of viable bookstore that the campus is proud of. Everything is tied together.”