Below is the “RetailNet Consulting” Aspire2Retail Challenge Winning Team together at last!
Starting from left: Ashley Cline (Florida State Univeristy), Sarah Losse (University of Arizona),Samantha Weaver (University of Florida), Alex West (Univeristy of Michigan), and Kyle Bender (University of Wisconsin)
This fabulous weekend in New York City was extravagant! Along with meeting and networking with some of Retail’s famous executives, I acquired so much information from this weekend by attending presentations, panel sessions, and networking luncheons. The real reason I was here though in fact was to present our winning team’s solution to the Aspire2Retail challenge sponsored by American Express. Sunday morning the RetailNet Consulting Group (my team, minus Kyle Bender who was delayed because of weather and snow) presented our final 30 minute project in front of an audience which included the board members of the National Retail Federation.
Through the stressful times of the holiday season, we were challenged with using Web 2.0 and social networking tools to help our fictional multichannel department store website connect its brand with our customers. We implemented tools like customer reviews, customer loyalty programs, blog advertising, SecondLife and Facebook to raise awareness and increase its image. We also created marketing, merchandising, and technology solutions to accomplish our goals in the challenge.
Afterwards, we were awarded with engraved trophies along with a very exciting surprise scholarship award of $2,500 to each student from Scott Silverman, Executive Director from Shop.org. Later that day we attended a networking luncheon where we discussed trends in sustainability. We spoke with executives from Cisco systems and Ralph Lauren. It’s quite amazing to see the money that retailers are saving by becoming a more sustainable store! Later this weekend I was able to attend sessions about the Retail industry included: Martin Lindstrom and “Buyology: The Truth and Lies about Why We Buy” which included studies showing how the brain influences our decision making; also presentations dealing with creating new and innovative ways to gain better customer relationships and to better serve them in a tough economy. Speakers were very positive even in these tough times. They emphasized ways on improving training and searching for new talent to bring to companies. Instead of this being a negative time, this as an opportunity to learn from these hard times in the economy in which retailers can use this chance to become unique and different from others. This gives hope to many students like myself who are looking for jobs and interested in retail.
Sunday night we were also very fortunate to attend the opening night party at Gotham Hall. Everything was fabulous from the food and cocktails, to the band and the dancing, it was a motivating event to start off the Big show. People from all over the world attended and it was amazing hearing the different languages and yet, we all have something huge in common: Retail.
Overall it was an unforgettable weekend and I was extremely fortunate to meet the members of my team Sara Losse, Alex West, Samantha Weaver, and Kyle Bender. I strongly encourage anyone to participate in such an eye opening experience. Next year, if you are a student and are faced with an opportunity to join the Aspire2Retail Challenge 2010, sign up! If you have the teamwork, the passion, and creativity to pull together a great presentation, you will never forget the experience of a lifetime from a student perspective of the NRF’s BIG Show.
Some of the wonderful faculty members from Florida State University and Myself.
Opening act at the BIG show. Clearly some “Outside of the Box” thinking going on!
