If left with no options, campuses may direct students online to purchase course materials/texts. Publishers have been working with faculty to have students purchase direct for years. It was only through manager's/CMM's focus on maintaining "relationships" with faculty and campus that we held on to that part of the business.
JRC has destroyed (or soon will) the personal side of the business. CM remote will not work. The loss of personalized campus knowledge and "caring" is going to have a negative effect.
Once texts are gone, why should the campuses stay with Follett? Merchandise is the money maker, and not difficult to do. They could operate that part of the business on their own.
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If they don’t use B & N or Follett, they can run the store themselves. Many large stores are very successful - Texas, Alabama, Illinois, etc. Look at the list of stores that are self managed on ICBA- it can be done very successfully. Maybe that’s the way it should be, rather than having a big company try to fit every store into the same mold.
Where else will campuses go? Barnes is forcing schools to go to their version of EA so many have switched to Follett in the last 6 months. I’m not sure campuses want to run this business themselves. Interesting times. I don’t know if anyone has leverage.
I hope so. I know my campus is starting to look elsewhere. Follett deserves what's coming to them. I think the company has two years until they go under.
Yea once they lose contracts come Fall there will be more cuts. Follett is done.