By Thomas Norton/reporter
Employees and students said the reconstruction of the NE and SE bookstores have made it easier for students to find books and avoid clutter.
NE and SE campuses have both renovated their original bookstores down to the studs and will celebrate their grand openings this week. NE Campus will celebrate its grand opening 10 a.m.-noon Oct. 12. SE Campus will celebrate 10 a.m.-noon Oct. 13.
“The bookstore is more welcoming to people as they come in,” said Anna Caesar, NE textbook coordinator. “We also have music and flat-screen televisions playing while people are shopping. I find it more inviting for our customers.”
The cash register lanes at NE are placed at the front of the store so cashiers can now greet customers. They no longer have their backs turned to the entrance.
Now that there is a better way of entering the store, surveillance cameras and employees can see everyone who has walked in, NE bookstore employee Jennifer Finn said.
“I like the way the store has been redone,” NE student Toya Norton said. “I feel that the bookstore doesn’t look like a bookstore, which is a good thing. I’m very impressed with the way they have updated the bookstore. Everything seems brand new and easy to find when a customer is shopping.”
Since the reconstruction of the NE bookstore, fewer books and other school materials have been stolen, Caesar said. There is no longer an office at the front of the store.
Offices are located in the back of the store, allowing a better view of shoppers who may need assistance as they look for books, she said.
This change not only benefits the customers but also the employees and loss prevention, she said.
“Now that the shelves are organized and placed better in the store, employees can make sure nobody is stealing anything,” Finn said.
The enlargement and organization has increased the number of books on the shelves, eliminating space in the stockroom to allow the inventory of books to increase, she said.
Jody Weber, SE bookstore assistant manager, said its bookstore is more spread out now that four offices were removed. She said it’s much easier for students to find the books they need.
Caesar said the NE bookstore once had a staircase in the center, but it was moved out, which also helps the employees and surveillance cameras better monitor the store.
“This is like walking into a Barnes & Noble now,” she said.
Because of the placement of books and materials and the aisle alignments, Caesar said there seems to be less clutter.
“The great thing about all of books being placed in the back of store is that we have two managers on the floor to help people find the books they need,” she said. “I really love how we have done a better job on everything, especially on customer service.”
