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Membership Application Form
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Member Benefits
Mission
Connect2One is the largest and most
comprehensive buying/service group in the college bookstore industry.
The company was originally founded as a buying cooperative in 1988. Connect2One,
a division of Nebraska Book Company, is dedicated to the goal of helping both
institutional and private stores stay independent and compete in today’s
marketplace. With more than 700 member stores nationwide, Connect2One
is a proven success in providing viable Partnerships with long term benefits
for all stakeholders.
Membership Benefits
- Aggregated buying power to purchase products at substantial savings
- Enhanced bottom line financial results
- Programs to help serve the student population and campus community as a viable alternative to lease operator strategies
- Multiple vendors in most product categories. Each Member Store makes the final decision as to which products and programs are appropriate for them
- Exposure to hot trends and other market channels through Program Directors' activities
- Advocacy programs to strengthen the position of independent "brick
and mortar" college stores
- Technology solutions for POS, website development and e-commerce
through our parent company Nebraska Book Company and Campus Hub
Program Categories
- General Merchandise and Supplies: Apparel, Backpacks, Souvenirs, Graduation Items, School Supplies, Art Supplies, Health Sciences, Consumer Electronics, Technology Products, Gifts, Greeting Cards, Cosmetics
- Textbooks, Trade Books, Magazine Retail Display Allowance
- Store Operations including Shopping Bags, Gift Boxes, Credit Card Rpocessing, POS Supplies, Freight Discounts, Store Design, Mail Order Catalogs, Website Development, Marketing Services (most Store Operations programs are expandable to the entire campus to help enhance your store image)
Participation
- Annual Savings and Rebate Report of your Connect2One program purchases helps you determine the value and effectiveness of your participation
- Connect2One members typically achieve an annual return of 12 to 25 times their membership fees
- Average savings across all program categories is 8% with a range of 1% to 25%
- Earn additional margin points with Connect2One vendors or use price reductions to create promotional opportunities in your store
Risk-Free Guarantee
We are so convinced that you'll save with Connect2One that we guarantee your savings will exceed your membership fee. If not, we'll refund the difference!
NBC Advantage Dollars
Nebraska Book Company Advantage customers earn rebates (over and above commissions) which when converted to NBC Dollars can be used for Connect2One membership fees.
Activities
- Broadcast fax and email offerings with valuable promotions and new offerings from our Vendor Partners
- Co-Location of annual activities with CAMEX trade show
- Annual Program details delivered to buyers one month prior to CAMEX
- Members-only education sessions with an emphasis on how to use C2O programs
- Idea Exchange Session
- “Best Buys” and “Picks” highlighted throughout the trade show floor
- Special identification of Connect2One Members and Vendor Partners
- Show Specials exclusively for C2O members
- Social Events
- Regional meetings facilitated by C2O Membership Directors bring small groups of member stores together to discuss common issues
Communications
- Annual Program Catalogs featuring complete details of C2O Programs
- Vendor and Category Index
- Commodity Comparison Charts
- Co-op Advertising Summaries
- Summary of Minimum Order and Freight Minimum Policies
- Code of Conduct, factory disclosure, country of origin information
- Licensing policies
- Information Request Form allows buyers to contact C2O to request vendor catalogs and sales rep contacts
- Monthly Newsletter The Connection
- Advisory and User Group Input plus member surveys
- Quick reaction to industry issues and trends
Invest in Your Buying Staff
- Imagine...
...having someone on staff constantly searching for new products, new vendors and new opportunities to increase your store traffic and build the bottom line
...having someone who is in your corner to negotiate pricing, minimums, marketing and problem resolution based on the buying clout of many stores
...having someone on staff with the time to competitive shop commodity products with many industry vendors and report the findings in a consistent and uniform annual catalog
...having someone on staff who follows national trends and other retail channels to report to you on what’s hot and what’s not
- That’s the Connect2One Advantage! Your buyers become more effective and efficient with the resources and tools provided with your Connect2One Membership.
Industry Expertise: The C2O Staff
- Full-time, experienced, professional college store industry Program Directors
- Institutional Store Advocacy/Campus Administrator relations expertise
- Regional Membership Directors and the Nebraska Book Company Sales Representatives supply personal service to our membership
- C2O staff members are frequent guest speakers at bookstore events throughout the country, including CAMEX, Innovate, CCRA, state and regional meetings, and NACS events
- Attend national industry shows such as NACAS, NACUBO, ACAP, ACUI, SHOPA, ECRM-EPPS, regional gift marts, NAMTA, to find new products to benefit our membership
- Provide marketing and product development advice to help vendors develop better programs for the bookstore channel
- Staff includes a NACS Foundation Board Member as well as state and regional association committee leaders
Contact Us Today
Connect2One
4350 Glendale-Milford Rd, Suite 240
Cincinnati, OH 45242
Phone: 800-563-9034
Fax: 800-600-9034
info@connect2one.com
Download
Membership Application Form (in PDF format)
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