History
In 1923, the College Bookstore Association was founded by a group of 24 college store managers who recognized the value of sharing information and experiences with their peers and presenting a unified front on industry issues.
Annual dues were set at $2 and Fred Tracht, manager of the University of Chicago Book Store, was elected the first president. Tracht is credited with first floating the idea of organizing the bookstores with the National Association of Book Publishers two years earlier. He served three terms as president and was instrumental in helping the new association grow and strengthen during its earliest years.
Association members were committed to advancing the reputation and stature of the college store industry within the higher education community. They met annually and communicated regularly about their shared interests and concerns.
Regional associations began to form by the late 1920s and in 1930, the Association, renamed the National Association of College Bookstores, was granted income tax exemption before being renamed the National Association of College Stores (NACS) in 1932. By 1942, NACS membership had grown to 129. Then, in 1945, an associate membership category was established for publishers, manufacturers and other vendors serving college stores, further boosting the Association’s size and clout.
Originally headquartered in New York City and later Chicago, NACS relocated to Oberlin, Ohio, in 1949. Today, NACS counts thousands of college stores, numerous state and regional organizations, and more than 1,000 associate firms among its loyal members.
NACS continues to support and respond to the needs of its members by:
- Pursuing and creating innovative and proactive opportunities on their behalf, from the commercial wholesaler NACSCORP, to PartnerShip, a provider of discounted freight services.
- Promoting professional development through a variety of educational and training programs for college store personnel.
- Securing money-saving benefits for members, including significant discounts on freight costs and small package shipping, credit card clearance, copier and fax equipment, and health insurance.
- Fostering productive relationships and keeping members abreast of industry developments through professional publications and annual meetings and conferences at which members can meet and exchange ideas with other store managers, buyers, and vendor representatives.
- Serving as the advocate of college stores in the higher education and retailing industries.