With new announcements daily on the shut-down of non-essential businesses across the US, keeping in touch with your Vendor Partners is essential. Day-by-day, companies are adapting their practices and planning ahead for the ramifications of the unprecedented business challenges. These measures include obvious changes such as remote working and safety of the employees.

Whether your college store is operating under reduced hours, online sales only, closed to the public, or completely shut down, here are some ways your partners can be an added resource during the coming weeks. Please check the ICBA COVID-19 Updates Page or the ICBA Facebook page for significant announcements on resources being made available to you and your campus stakeholders.

1. Call on your course materials providers on how they can assist you with the massive shifts to online learning. This includes webinars for academics and acceleration of digital tools for learning.
2. Get in touch with your rental partner and buyback partner to see how they can help you accommodate the return of student course materials over the coming weeks.
3. Coordinate with campus stakeholders the impact on graduation ceremonies and how your vendors can support you through this evolving situation.
4. With reduced customer traffic, review what product categories will be essential to offer over the coming weeks. Focus on reducing inventory risks in non-essential categories.
5. Advise vendors if you will be able to accept deliveries in the coming weeks.
6. If you do not have access to all your vendor contact information, reach out to ICBA for assistance.  Paula and Anna can help you with that information.
7. Realize that product availability may be compromised once shoppers return to your campuses. As manufacturers are forced to reduce workforces due to quarantines and consumer slowdowns, gearing back up will likely present challenges for fall back-to-school deliveries in early summer. Check with your primary vendor partners on availability, as each situation will be unique.
8. Be proactive in contacting your vendors for issues related to extended dating, pack & hold terms, credit terms, payments, and return privileges.
9. Evaluate your planned promotions calendar and work with your partners to adjust deliveries accordingly. During the upcoming weeks, your social media, website, and email outreach should be focused on empathy over selling.
   • Make sure the information about your operating status is easy to find.
   • Make sure you are promoting products relevant to the needs of your customers through these stay-at-home measures.

Questions? Contact AnnaJohnson@ICBAinc.com.