Fall '03 Edition
University Bookstore looking to improve
Linsey Maughan
Daily Egyptian
 Provided photo~Daily EgyptianRobert P. Jansen, an alumnus of SIU, has been hired as the new manager of the University Bookstore. |
The University Bookstore hopes to make this process a little easier on everyone.
SIUC alumnus Robert P. Jansen has been hired as the new manager of the University Bookstore and is eagerly getting changes underway.
Jansen said one of his main goals for the bookstore is to make it more student oriented.
"The biggest change students will notice is aisle changes," Jansen said.
He received his bachelor's degree in philosophy in 1981 and then a master's degree in business administration in 1987.
Jansen has worked in the textbook business for the past five years, managing the bookstore at Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg. In his first two years with SIUC, sales increased 40 percent, and yearly net revenues more than doubled.
"It's definitely a bigger arena that I'm playing in," Jansen said of his new job at the University Bookstore.
He said both jobs require the same skills and principles, but at the University Bookstore he is busier and has more people working under him.
Jansen also has six years experience as manager/owner of a food service establishment, medical and financial sales and six years as a department manager/buyer for an area bookstore.
Since joining the University Bookstore, Jansen has been reorganizing stockrooms and textbook shelves, reducing the number of shelves from eight to six, which created wider aisles for the customers.
"I'm hoping it will seem more roomy, more organized; easier in and out," Jansen said.
Jansen also wants to increase communication and understanding between the bookstore and faculty in hopes that faculty members will make book adoption decisions sooner each semester.
"Having timely book adoptions would be the biggest factor in saving students money," Jansen said, "I don't think the faculty realize that."
Jansen also said that 83 percent of students prefer used textbooks, and he hopes to increase used textbook sales.
"I really want to save them money and provide as many used books as possible," Jansen said.
He said he hopes to become more responsive to customer needs and make the book-buying experience less aggravating for them.
"I just really want to make this bookstore the bookstore students think about when they think about buying books," Jansen said. "I want to make this the best bookstore they can possibly shop in."
Linsey Maughan can be reached at: lmaughan@dailyegyptian.com
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Last update: Monday, December 8, 2003 at 7:18:42 PM
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