Trinity’s bookstore, now The Trinity University Store, operates as a merchandise and school supply hub, reimagining the in-store shopping experience. With Barnes & Nobles phased out as Trinity’s supplier, the bookstore adopted a online-focused approach.
For years, students have walked into the campus bookstore, picked up their textbooks and headed to class. Textbook services are now completely online. The newly rebranded university store now focuses on providing school supplies, university merchandise and a more student-centered retail experience.
When you go on the university bookstore website, students can put all their courses in the search bar and a list of all the required — or optional — books will pop up with e-book, rental or brand new options to purchase. Bartonico said that the digital bookshelf allows students the options of an e-book or a physical book as well as searching for the best price.
Michelle Bartonico, senior strategist and project manager of the finance department, was part of the transition process. Undergoing this redesign, Tony Elizondo took on the role as the new store manager and had the goal of making the store more student-friendly and accessible. The introduction of eCampus and University Gear Shop brings a hybrid model of the store that combines online ordering and in-store support.
“The great thing about having it be hybrid and not having a bookstore where you go just browse, is that most students ended up shopping for the best price anyway,” Bartonico said.
The change from a physical book supplier to an online supplier means the store system was reorganized. Elizondo said he was very hands-on in the process of redesigning the store. With more than 13 years of experience in retail, he took the old store model and turned it into what Trinity is using today.
“I want the store to feel homey, that people can just walk by, come in, just shop, say hi. It’s just remembering those students that need things that way to make sure I’m here for them,” Elizondo said. “That’s always been my goal with any company I’ve ever been in.”
