AUXILIARY SERVICES DIVISION UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA BOOKSTORE

Transcription

1 AUXILIARY SERVICES DIVISION UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA BOOKSTORE The University Bookstore began operating under contract with Follett Higher Education Group on December 1, 2003 and continues to do business under the provisions of that contract. Summary of Major Accomplishments The University of Georgia Bookstore had a very successful year in Fiscal Year The Bookstore continued to enjoy enormous sales success, with an overall increase of 13.1%. In addition, and more importantly, the Bookstore broadened the mix of available products and services, continued to find ways to be integrated with campus events and campus life, and reached out to faculty and staff more than ever with information, promotions and events. Sales continued to increase significantly for the UGA Bookstore in FY Below are departmental sales compared to the previous year: FY 2007 FY 2006 Variance Used Textbooks $1,904,608 $2,014,688 ($110,080) -6.5% New Textbooks $4,434,200 $3,421,566 $1,012, % Tradebooks/Computer $1,639,706 $1,388,743 $250, % Supplies $440,750 $413,726 $27, % Clothing $2,754,013 $2,482,558 $271, % Gifts $1,080,301 $849,188 $231, % Miscellaneous $423,178 $446,338 ($23,160) -5.2% Total Store Sales $12,649,464 $11,000,260 $1,649, % One area of concern in departmental sales is the decrease in used textbook sales. This is the first time in four years that the Bookstore did not increase used textbook sales, which is the preferred condition for most students. In general, several factors contributed to this decline, including textbook bundling, an increase in the use of custom textbooks unique to the University of Georgia and edition changes. In FY 2007 the Bookstore distributed two issues of The Acumen, a faculty newsletter that explains the faculty s role in textbook pricing and the availability of used textbooks. In addition, the Bookstore continues to reach out to faculty and student groups in order to broaden campus understanding of textbook pricing and the positive benefits of the Bookstore s used textbook and buyback program. Beginning in August 2006, the Bookstore began offering students the option of direct link purchasing of textbooks when registering for classes on the OASIS system. This option is named booknow and has been recognized by the Georgia Governor s Office as one of the acknowledged successes in the state s customer service initiative. The program has been well received by the student population and continues to grow in use and popularity. This program allows students to link to class assignment choices in the Bookstore D-59

2 inventory and automatically order textbook requirements at the point of class registration. Students can choose to have the books shipped to a home address or picked up in the store. The booknow system has been a convenient and well-utilized addition to the Bookstore s services. The Bookstore continues to enhance booknow, and in FY 2008 will begin using booklater, which will notify students of changes in course textbook requirements or late additions to the book list. The Bookstore continued to find ways to become integrated with all facets of campus life. For example, in conjunction with the UGA Alumni Association, the Bookstore hosted the Third Annual Faculty and Staff Author event in September At this event, books published or written by faculty or staff were displayed and featured in-store, and the campus community was invited to meet with the authors. In addition, the Bookstore donated merchandise and shopping bags to more than 50 campus organizations in FY The general books department hosted or attended a variety of literary events across campus. Major conferences and/or events attended included an event celebrating the presidency of President Jimmy Carter; the Georgia Children s Book Awards; and the Qualitative Interest Group (QUIG) conference. Author events attended or hosted included Laura Flanders (Air America personality); Vince Dooley (former UGA football coach); Elaine Brown (2007 Mary Frances Early lecture); Jon Meacham (editor of Newsweek); and Wilma Mankiller (author, Cherokee chief and social activist). The Bookstore also hosted three graduation celebrations, sold men s and women s basketball tickets, sponsored the Miss UGA Pageant and participated in a variety of other events. The Bookstore also continued to play an important part in new student orientation, speaking directly with parents and students about bookstore services. Each incoming student received a free tee shirt with the logo of each unit of Auxiliary Services. In FY 2007, the UGA Bookstore began selling Apple computers and computer products. The agreement between Apple and the UGA Bookstore allows faculty, staff and students to purchase Apple products at an academic discount. The Bookstore expanded the software and peripherals section to accommodate this addition of Apple products. Computer software continued to be offered to students at discounts up to 85%. The UGA Bookstore continued to monitor levels of customer service through the use of customer surveys and a secret shopper program. All FY 2007 secret shopper reports exceeded the Follett Higher Education Group s goal of 88% (the Bookstore averaged 91%), and customer service surveys indicated an overall approval rating of more than 98%. The UGA Bookstore began fulfilling online orders for the Georgia Center for Continuing Education in June The distance learning program continues to grow, and the Bookstore is committed to providing these students the same level of customer service offered to on-campus students. To accommodate this new business, the Bookstore created a separate Web site for distance learning. D-60

3 Finally, the UGA Bookstore continued to offer $12,000 in bookstore scholarships. This program is coordinated with the Financial Aid Department, which selects the recipients. In FY 2007, the Bookstore began issuing gift cards which allowed students to use the awarded money throughout the academic year. In past years, many students felt obligated to use the financial aid on books only and left some money unused. The use of gift cards allows students to use their award year-round on needed supplies and reference materials. This is especially beneficial to students taking art courses and other supply heavy subjects. Summary of FY 2008 Goals One unfinished goal from FY 2007 which the Bookstore would like to complete is the creation of a bookstore focus group. This group would meet periodically to discuss issues related to Bookstore operations. The group would be ideally comprised of faculty, staff and students. The UGA Bookstore and Apple will begin offering in-store computer classes that will highlight the possible classroom and personal uses of Apple products. The Bookstore will continue to promote the benefits of the booknow system to current and incoming students. The UGA Bookstore would like to reverse the decline in used textbook sales by working directly and proactively with faculty and publishers. It is the Bookstore s goal to educate faculty about their role in the price, availability and classroom use of textbooks. The Bookstore s goal is to increase the number of titles which are reused from term to term and thereby lower the total cost of course materials through increased buyback and the availability of used copies. The UGA Bookstore will continue to explore ways to become more integrated with campus life. Through book signings, donations, sponsorships and service offerings, it is the Bookstore s intent to be an important and active partner with the entire University of Georgia community. D-61

4 UNIVERSITY BOOKSTORE FINANCIAL SUMMARY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2007 YEAR TO DATE PERCENT OF REVENUE Revenue (1) $ 775, % Cost of Sales - 0.0% Gross Profit 775, % Operating Expenses: Personal Services (2) 0.0% Direct Expenses (2) 240, % Indirect Expenses (2) 2, % Total Operating Expenses 242, % Net Operating Income 532, % Transfers: Depreciation 92, % Debt Service - 0.0% Other Transfers - 0.0% Total Transfers 92, % Net Income $ 440, % (1) Includes a distribution of interest income. (2) Includes a distribution of administrative expense. D-62

5 Susan Dembinski Tradebook Victoria Vandecay Computer Store Addie Watkins Tradebook Coordinator Computer Store Clerks Tradebook Clerks UGA BOOKSTORE ORGANIZATION CHART Jeremy Johnson Store Director Chuck Upton GM Robert Bailey Assistant Director Brian Johnson GM Coordinator Lenora Mullinex GM Coordinator John O Loughlin Customer Service Cindy Norton Office Supervisor Mail Order, Clothing, Gifts Supplies Amanda Norton Charnelle Davenport Lead Cashiers Mildred Beck Senior Accounting Clerk Cashiers Glendale Johnson Accounting Clerk Cash Control Accounting Clerks Rajiv Patel Receiving Debi Shaw Receiving Coordinator Receiving Clerks Robert Newsome Senior Textbook Kristopher Langley Textbook Noelle Lambert Nicole Brown Textbook Coordinators Textbook Clerks D-63