News Archives: New Bookstore Planned for GPRC
Wednesday, March 27th, 2013
New Bookstore Planned for GPRC As of May 1st, the GPRC Bookstore will become a partnership enterprise with Follett of Canada, joining 27 other colleges and universities in the move to meet the rapidly changing market which is the post-secondary student of today.
Both the physical space and the retail process will be dramatically enhanced to meet the needs of students. Market conditions have changed. Traditional bookstores struggle with the increasing cost of course material, and the dramatic increase in online competition.
Services such as Textbookrenter.ca and Amazon.ca mean that it is impossible to effectively manage textbook inventories. Publishers are going direct to students with services such as digital delivery of course material.
Based on current trends and industry studies, the tipping point for transition to Digital Textbooks may be as soon as 38 months away. In the new model at GPRC, textbooks supplies will be outsourced - online - and our students will have better access to books than ever before. Instructors will no longer have to estimate required quantities - and GPRC will no longer have to absorb the losses of unsold books.
Services for students will be greatly enhanced by this change. Students will have better access to books, and book purchases will be cheaper, and faster. Students arriving on campus in September 2013 can have their book order waiting for them in their residence room if they wish. Students can get their textbooks ahead of time and begin reading before classes begin.
The online service provides students with numerous options: rent your textbooks; buy used textbooks; buy one chapter of a textbook. This is an environmentally-friendly approach which reduces waste, and reduces costs for both student and the College. The changeover will include the satellite bookstore location on Fairview Campus.
Follett is the world’s largest academic bookstore management company, with a web-based business model driven by customer service. The Follett's innovative on-campus retail environment will provide an appealing store designed by the Follett team of architects and designers. The signature Follett look includes features such as a "Faculty Authors" section, and profiled books and multi-media sections. Merchandise displays are geared to the purchasing habits of a student demographic.
Follett of Canada has a record of 97% retention of current staff in the 26 college and university bookstores which they now manage. Current bookstore staff are interviewed by Follett, and those qualified are hired at current rate of pay with credit for years of service.
"This is a very important move for our College," says Don Gnatiuk, President and CEO. "In recent years, our students have been expecting more and more of our processes and services to be available online. Follett offers a level of service we are currently unable to provide."