What is your best experience at the Big Show?

Elizabeth: “I enjoyed the networking lunch. I feel that FIT is a very involved chapter and I am happy to be a part of it.”

Alicia: “I liked NRFSA meeting with other colleges and hearing what they have done throughout the year.”

What are you most looking forward to?

Elizabeth: “I can’t wait to see Bill Clinton speak as well as to network and walk through the Expo Hall.”

Alicia: “I am also looking forward to walking around the Expo Hall. I am excited to see the new technologies.”

Did you get anything out of attending the Big Show?

Elizabeth: “I would love to get an internship that can lead into a future job opportunity by attending the show, especially since I just graduated.”

Alicia: “I was most looking forward to learning about the new technologies and the information sessions that can only be learned or seen at the Big Show.”

 Fashion Institute of Technology students and faculty members gather at their booth in the Javits Convention Center at Retail’s BIG Show

In addition to meeting other students, from other colleges across the U.S., I was excited to meet Jessica Wilson, a senior recruiter for Walmart Stores. After meeting her at the NRFSA Retail Talent Networking Lunch, I was honored to have the opportunity to ask her a few questions about her career.

What was your first paying job? Any retail store experience?

“My first job was at a grocery store in Oklahoma.”

Why do you like working in retail?

“I enjoy retail due to it is a fast paced environment.”

What is the best career advice you would give to a student?

“I would say, don’t be strict to your career path. Change is always good; you never know what new doors can open into a career.”

Great advice. I enjoyed speaking with Jessica and I hope to see reacquaint with her at next year’s BIG Show!

Tell us your story — and win big!

Three ways NRFSA members should start getting involved right now:

1. Join the NRF Student Association LinkedIn Group.

Create a profile, share your areas of expertise and experience, and connect with other talented students who are also interested in retailing as a career. The LinkedIn Group is also open to NRF Foundation’s Employer Partners and NRFSA sponsors, making this an unique networking opportunity for all participants.

2. Make plans to attend the NRFSA student events, held in conjunction with NRF’s BIG Show in January.

Only members of NRFSA are eligible for the discounted student rate. The tentative agenda includes the second annual Retail Talent Networking Luncheon, a panel discussion on internships, and the NRFSA business meeting.

3. Sign up for Retail Careers Facebook and Twitter updates.

By following Retail Careers on Facebook and Twitter, you’ll have access to the latest news and announcements about which retailers are hiring, interviews with retailers who know what it takes to succeed in the industry, and other career advice resources.

At the launch of the association, the following fifteen colleges committed to offering members of their campus retail associations the opportunity to join NRFSA. (Read the press release for more information.)

• FIDM/The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
• The Fashion Institute of Technology
• Florida State University Center for Retail Merchandising and Product Development
• Georgia Southern University Center for Retail Studies
• Fashion School at Kent State University
• LIM College
• Longwood University
• Ohio University
• Retail Management Institute at Santa Clara University
• The University of Florida David F. Miller Center for Retailing Education and Research
• University of Arizona Terry J. Lundgren Center for Retailing
• University of Arkansas Center for Retailing Excellence
• University of North Texas School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management
• University of Tennessee
• University of Wisconsin-Madison The Kohl’s Center for Retailing Excellence

Interested in joining but your college isn’t listed? Colleges and universities offering a degree program with a focus in retailing, marketing, fashion, product development, finance, supply chain management, real estate or related fields should consider becoming a College Partner of NRF Foundation and taking advantage of the opportunity to join NRFSA.

You’ve had lots of exposure to the retail industry. You have more than 20 years of experience as a brand, product and sales marketing executive, and several of the companies you’ve worked for have been in the Apparel and Fashion industry. What characteristics do you think are most important for a successful career in retail?

Passion: It can carry you a long way and is infectious.
Integrity: Let your actions speak louder than your words.
Outward focus: Complete dedication to the customer.
Have a strong work ethic or go home.

You worked at Fusion Specialties for more than six years and then you were promoted to Brand President. What is an important skill you’ve learned and used on your climb up the career ladder?

Hire people who are smarter and better than you. Then trust them and remove the obstacles to their success… it works every time.

On your LinkedIn profile, you mention that, “Over the past 20-plus years, I have been fortunate to have worked for four companies that have provided me with the challenge of creating something out of nothing. Providing vision and leadership for these ground-breaking opportunities has been my greatest source of enjoyment and the foundation for my various successes.” Where does your entrepreneurial spirit stem from?

I’m not really an entrepreneur, but more of what you may call an “intrapreneur.” The difference is that an entrepreneur pioneers their own company. An “intrapreneur” works within an existing company and pioneers new ways to make it better or take it to the next level. The big difference: Ownership. What they have in common: Vision, willingness to accept risk and a strong independent streak.

What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received? Or, what has been a source of inspiration?

The best career advice? Be passionate about what you do. Shut up and listen — just to the right thing. The source of inspiration? Each day I wake up and remind myself that there are 100-plus families and a trusting list of customers that rely on what I do today. That is both sobering and inspiring.

When at Hartmarx Corporation, you established the apparel industry’s first educational institution dedicated to the advancement of retail associates. Can you share a little about what you learned in this role? Were there particular areas that associates needed the most training? What more can public institutions (high schools, workforce training programs, colleges) do to prepare jobseekers for work in the industry?

The program was called HSM University. For 30 weeks per year, we held classes for up to 35 retailers from around the country. We had classes in retail selling, professional fitting, tailoring and visual merchandising. We even were accredited by Eastern Illinois University.

As Director of that program, I was privileged to meet a tremendous amount of retailers with diverse levels of experience and skill. My greatest takeaway from that position, besides mastering public speaking skills, was that you have something to learn from everyone you meet. Over my five-year tenure in that program, it never ceased to amaze me how each class was unique and brought its own blend of experience from which, once shared, we all grew.

Today, all retailers can still benefit from a return to some of the most basic retail selling skills, customer service and clientele building principles. Social media, marketing, promotions, even great store design all have their rightful place. But nothing can replace the great value of the sales associate on the floor. A familiar recognition of a name or face, a kind smile, knowledgeable advice and a sincere thank you are priceless in a world cluttered with apathy and lack of discipline. The personal touch cannot be manufactured or projected. Rather, it can only be lived out every day, one-on-one, one transaction, one customer at a time.

Today, public institutions need to collaborate with retailers and industry organizations to expand internships and real-world training opportunities. No one should be able to graduate high school without having first experienced both working with the public and handling money (both personal finances and being trusted by an employer). This holds true at the college level as well.

Unrelated to retail training and careers: Fusion’s mannequins were the inspiration behind Old Navy’s “SuperModelquins” campaign. Other than the movie “Mannequin,” I’m not sure mannequins have ever been so prominently featured. You must have been ecstatic. Can you share how this idea came to be?

The SuperModelquin campaign was a collaboration between Old Navy and their agency of record at the time, Crispin Porter + Bogusky. The campaign would feature mannequins who were living the lives of supermodels. It would be a 360-degree campaign including TV, radio, social media, print, outdoor advertising and of course, in-store display.

We were approached by Old Navy just before Thanksgiving and asked to produce the mannequins for the stores. We then collaborated with CP+B and an L.A.-based Hollywood special effects house, Legacy, to coordinate the execution of the heads. The brand and the agency created the design of characters; Legacy developed the heads; and Fusion re-sized the prototypes to the actual bodies and created the molds. There were 13 characters in all. All this happened between Thanksgiving and January 20th.

Then we did something no other mannequin-maker could do. We produced 13,000 mannequins in 65 days and delivered them in a highly synchronized manner tightly timed with the launch of the rest of the campaign and unveiled to the public on the same day.

Honestly, it may have been one of our finest hours and a genuine example of fantastic partnership between a brand and their suppliers.

Interested in reading more about Peter Huston’s life lessons, the cyclical nature of mannequin popularity, and what retail trends he would like to see go away? Read the full STORES interview. 

These “Favorite” e-retailers have a variety of positions available from Software Developer to Marketing Manager. Take a look at the top ten ranked “Favorite 50”s career webpages below to view a sample of their current job openings.

1. Amazon.com
2. Walmart.com
3. eBay.com
4. BestBuy.com
5. JCPenney.com
6. Kohls.com
7. Target.com
8. Macys.com
9. Sears.com
10. Google.com

Social media communications and marketing is still a relatively new career area. How did you get into this field?

I worked for Comcast for eight years in PR and I felt like I’d been waiting for a less formal, shorter form of communication like this my entire career. I never enjoyed putting news into a press release format so new ways to connect with the public and reporters was exciting.

I realized the true power of using social media channels in 2008 when we had an outage at Comcast. I saw people talking about the outage on Twitter immediately when it happened. I walked over to our engineer’s office to get briefed on what was happening then started sharing updates on Twitter about the progress of restoring service. The customer response was fantastic. The outage only lasted about 10 minutes but I could tell I struck a chord by helping customers with real-time updates.

What skills and expertise do you think are needed to succeed in this area?

I believe an excitement to share (even if it’s just parts of your life), curiosity and interest in others, a generous spirit, a willingness to help others and a passion for technology, because new sites and social media startup companies are popping up all the time. If you’re not passionate about the intersection of technology and communication, it will be difficult to keep up.

Describe what a typical day is like for you.

My day consists of team meetings, meetings internally about company priorities and campaigns, checking social media sites throughout the day, sometimes helping with social media updates and video or photo content. I often attend community events in the evening.

What suggestions do you have for job seekers on how they should (or shouldn’t) use social networking sites when looking for a job?

A few tips: Stay away from sharing anything you wouldn’t want public. Check your privacy settings regularly so you’re aware of what you’re sharing. Don’t worry too much about it, but have a filter in the back of your mind that what you share online may be somebody’s first impression of you.

Find people who work at companies you’d want to work for… and follow them on Twitter. Find ways to connect with them online and show an interest in them and their business. Also, find social media people and social media sites that share jobs. There are quite a few people online who like to post jobs and help people find jobs. Some Twitter accounts are dedicated at just posting jobs. With a little bit of research, you’ll find some great sites.

Find networking events where you can meet the people who may be hiring in real life. They’re usually industry associates. For social media, it might be Social Media Club or the Public Relations Society of America. There are many different groups, and meeting people in-person can help you get the job.

Any chance you have retail experience prior to working for Nordstrom? Tell us what that experience was like. Or, share what you like about working for a retail company?

The Seattle Mariners have retail locations and when I was younger I did help in the retail stores from time to time. My favorite part of working for a retail company is connecting with the community and finding new ways to use technology as a service tool. It’s fun to see people excited about fashion and the industry. I know firsthand that when you feel good, it’s easier to be confident. It’s wonderful to have a small part in helping with that.

Want to know what is next on Shauna’s reading list? Her favorite Twitter feed? And last retail purchase? Read the full STORES interview. You can also find out what Shauna is up to by following her on Twitter.

I read that you have more than 16 years of experience in the health and wellness industry. NRF Foundation promotes retail as an exciting career destination. We like to think of the retail industry as a place where your passion can be your work. Can you share something about pursuing of passions? Has it made your career more rewarding and helped in your success?

Passion to me is fire-in-the-belly type of stuff. There is nothing that can come close to a person’s drive to do exactly what they want to in life. I made a choice early in life to design my life, not simply live. Living while doing what I love has made my whole life more rewarding because I have had and continue to have a passion to win — and for me, that means putting people [through leadership] in a position to win in their lives. Success follows for me when I follow that principle.

Can you tell us about your decision to go into the field of Operations, and share some of the important skills and traits that are needed to succeed in this area?

Operations was a natural fit for me … being close to value drivers of a brand, the people who serve the customers, has always been a core desire of mine. Great people and great systems drive operational excellence. Growing people requires patience and leadership, both of which I’ll spend a lifetime sharpening.

Massage Envy has been in business since 2002; any chance you know a success story of someone who started out in an entry-level position and is now working in a higher-level management position?

Yes, hundreds and hundreds of our wonderful franchise partners. They all started out answering phones, carefully scheduling the right time and therapist for their member or guest, selecting the right people for their enterprises to name just a few, and today … they are the CEOs of their own businesses. That’s how empowering a great franchise system can be!

Massage Envy has more than 650 locations and is primarily franchisee-owned. One would think that owning a franchise requires a great deal of business acumen as well as entrepreneurship spirit. What are some of the benefits (and risks) in running this type of business?

The clear benefit beyond the business strategy of franchising, in the right system, is a value creation model for the owner of that business, the franchise partner. Following proven systems isn’t for everyone, so it requires a thinker, a doer at times, but even more than that, a real leader to coach and inspire the assets in their business that wear shoes, their people, to follow the profit system.

Staying very focused on the few core drivers of success takes real attention, and some have it, but many don’t. That’s why we spend so much time selecting the right fits — skill and cultural — for our system.

What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?

To be indispensable and to add real value. This came directly from the two best coaches in my life – my Mom and Dad.

Want to know what is on Dave’s current reading list, his favorite vacation city, and which companies he thinks do a good job connecting with customers? Read the full STORES interview.

What types of job openings do these “Hot Retailers” have available? The answer is varied and vast: everything from store associates and managers to IT analysts and fulfillment planners.  Check out the top ten ranked “Hot Retailers” career web pages to view their current job openings.

1. Ascena Retail Group (formerly Dress Barn)
2. Amazon.com
3. Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets
4. hhgregg
5. Tops Friendly Markets
6. Bodega Latina
7. Apple Stores/iTunes
8. Netflix
9. H&M
10. Overstock.com

Tell us a little about your background — how you got where you are today. Any retail experience there?

Banks: I started out in brand management with Procter & Gamble on Folgers coffee. My retail career began with Hudson’s Department stores in Detroit in merchandising and store management. I then moved to Robinson’s in Florida, where I made the switch to marketing and advertising.

After eight years in department stores, I broadened my experience with several retail accounts as an ad agency executive with Doner Advertising in Detroit and Fahlgren Advertising in Tampa. However, my major career position, and where I was able to make my mark in retail marketing, was with Eckerd Drugs, where I spent 15 years as head of marketing and set the standard for retail branding.

Since then, I’ve held senior marketing positions at Circuit City and PetSmart before starting my own branding, consulting and presentations business. In the process, I worked with several talented marketers; our work has been recognized with several trade awards, and this culminated when I was honored with election to the Retail Advertising Hall of Fame in 1990.

Winters: Before I started my consulting business more than 20 years ago, I worked on the floor as a salesperson at Ohrbach’s Department Store in New Jersey, first during the summers when I was in college and then full-time. Some years later, I reconnected with the retail industry, conducting seminars for retail sales associates to help them understand the personalities and thinking styles of their customers.

The stores and retail businesses I’ve worked with include Saks Fifth Avenue, Lutron Electronics, HP, Home Shopping Network, Revlon and Pitney Bowes. While many retailers focus on specific, targeted marketing, my clients came to understand that “getting into the head” of their customers — i.e. their buying styles — was a powerful way to increase sales and maintain long-term relationships with their customers.

NRF Foundation promotes retail as an exciting career destination. We think of the retail industry as a place where your passion can be your work. Can you share something about pursuing passions?

Banks: Dr. Len Berry, founder of the Center for Retail Studies at Texas A&M, said “unless you have a passion for the retail business, you’re not likely to succeed.” I believe that the history of failure by “free agent” executives, especially CEOs, is the result of trying to play the game by the numbers without ever having spent time on the floor, talking with customers and sales associates to get a real feel for the business.

Retail executives must have the instincts to anticipate and respond to what customers really want. This is a challenging, fast-paced business, and you have to have a passion to make things happen if your store is going to be successful.

Winters: I subscribe to the philosophy that when you do what you love, the money will follow. I believe that the only way for people to achieve true success — material as well as personal — is to participate in work that brings not only financial success, but that also fulfills their personal values.

In an article, you mention that “branding needs to tell a story: the reason for the product or service to exist, and what differentiates it from similar brands.” We’re thinking that this concept could be applied to branding a career — what do you think? How could someone start branding himself or herself professionally?

Banks: They could start by reading our new book, BrainBranding, Activate the Brain…Stimulate Your Brand! In it, Robyn and I detail the steps that you need to take to distinguish yourself and your brand from the competition — by building a relationship with your peers and customers.

The brand is truly the DNA of what your product or service is all about, and its reason for being. Once you determine what makes you tick and what differentiates you, then you can build a brand that lasts. These principles are strongly applicable to individuals who want to stand out and accelerate their careers by establishing what they want to be famous for.

Winters: The branding process begins with clearly defining who you are, what your brand is and who will benefit from it. You want your brand to be somewhat of a household name, in your own field. For example, you may want to be the “Kleenex” of social media companies, not just another tissue manufacturer. People often remark to me that they remember my company name, Stand Up, Stand Out, because it reminds them of what their brand should do.

As authors of “BrainBranding,” you obviously recognize the importance — and sophistication — of branding and marketing in the retail environment. For those looking to a career in retail marketing and branding, what advice can you share about how to get a start, or how to advance?

Banks: Get out onto the floor! I left packaged goods marketing to work in the retailing world. I knew nothing about buying dresses or managing fashion departments, but I did know that most senior executives started their careers in fashion merchandising, and they spent quality time in the stores. So I jumped in, asked questions, and got a feel for the business – which led me to the passion that’s necessary. Once you know why customers shop your stores, you can then create a great brand, rather than just seeking the next big promotional event.

Winters: As the owner of a brain, you have four ways that you take in information, process what you see and hear, and view the world. Those four ways create a unique buying profile for you, and predispose you to make purchases at particular stores. The criteria will vary, from price to store layout, from customer-friendly sales people to innovative products and services.

When you choose to work in a retail environment that matches your own buying style, you will have a good head start on success, because you’ll be comfortable in a retail environment that’s a good match for you. Over time, you can develop the expertise to understand all buying styles, and to match the needs of any type of customer.

To learn more about Banks and Winters, hear which companies they think do a good job branding, and tips they share with retailers, read the full NRF STORES interview.

That’s why NRF Foundation couldn’t be more proud that Mr. Tindell is out, front and center, delivering the message that “retail is the best profession out there.” In a recent letter to retail company executives, Mr. Tindell encourages employers to partner with NRF Foundation to help position retail as a tremendous career opportunity, for students and other jobseekers. Here’s an excerpt from his letter:

Dear Colleague:

I know you share my conviction that retail…yes, RETAIL, is without a doubt,
the best profession out there. It’s the most exciting, the most creative… products,
merchandising, marketing, logistics, technology, vendor partnerships and of course
the people.

I personally can’t think of another way I’d rather be spending my career than nurturing
a retail business and building mutually-beneficial relationships with everyone who we
come into contact with.

There is absolutely no reason that the best and brightest students coming out of school
shouldn’t consider retail as their career. So I’m writing to you today, to join me and The
Container Store along with many other world-class retailers in making sure that MANY,
MANY, MANY MORE of the best and brightest students coming out of school CHOOSE
RETAIL FOR THEIR CAREER by becoming a Retail Careers Employer Partner of the
NRF Foundation. It’s up to people like me and you to partner with the NRF Foundation
in positioning a career in retail as one filled with tremendous opportunity, innovation
and excitement.

[Read the full letter from Kip Tindell.]

We hope this message resonates with retail companies and encourages them to join our efforts to help attract the best and brightest talent to our industry.

About the Retail: an Inside Look video blog series: At NRF’s 2010 and 2011 BIG Shows, NRF Foundation videotaped five-minute interviews with various attendees who work in all different facets of retail, from Directors of Sales to Vice President of Human Resources.  These interviewees discussed their climb up the retail career ladder and gave us insight into some of their favorite aspects of the industry.

You graduated from MIT with a double major in computer science and electrical engineering. Where did your interest in retailing come from? What led you to the world of online retail?

Yes, I did study engineering but not for the obvious reason most people would study it … I never wanted to be an engineer, I wanted to learn how to think critically and solve the most complex problems.

During my time at Goldman Sachs (my first job after MIT), I was in a group where I was one of the few women; as a result I was staffed on two types of deals refinancing tampon companies (literally worked on Tampax and Playtex) and the sale and financing of Neiman Marcus Group. When I worked on the NM deal and several other retail/luxury/fashion type of deals, I realized how inefficient the market was. This inspired me to create a new model. I love solving problems and the potential of making the world more flat through retail is very exciting to me.

Inspiration — and the idea of “being inspired” — seems to have influenced you throughout your career. How do you get inspired? What about the retail industry inspires you?

Inspiration or that “A-HA” [moment] comes from above…or I would refer to it as the universe. I live my live tapping into the global energy and potential we all have. Perhaps I am a bit “new age” but I think that inspiration is what leads to creation and if we don’t create… we don’t truly live.

Retail to me is not about “shopping,” but it’s the transfer of someone’s inspiration manifested into an object or experience that they want to share with others. My job is to simply tell that story and make the distribution more broad, reaching everyone in the world. It is a passion. I love being inspired every day by so many talented amazing people who are transferring their creations to make their customers inspired and live beautifully.

You have founded or co-founded a number of companies. How did you become such an entrepreneur?

I thrive in a world that’s open and where anything’s possible. I realized that being an entrepreneur is the best way to make that happen. I’ve always been an entrepreneur. I don’t like to “hop on the train” or go where is safe. Life is short. I love doing things that I can control, create and watch my efforts thrive and make a difference.

I read wellness has always been an important part of your life, and you are a competitive dancer. How do you balance work and life and other interests?

Life is life… in fact my work, AHAlife.com, is my passion. I get to meet talented inspired people creating amazing things across lifestyles, and help them make it happen and gain awareness and distribution. I don’t really separate “work” from “life”… it’s just all life to me.

What advice would you share with young people looking to get a start, or get ahead in retail?

My advice is simple. First discover your passion… if retail is your passion, you’re on your way. Most people don’t know what they are passionate about. Once you have that, just take any opportunity to open that up for you. Don’t be rigid — the best “job” I got was an unpaid job. Go for it and take every opportunity to magnify your passion.

Retail industry is intimidating with lots of people with tons of experience and old models. Embrace this… innovation is where really success happens. When you are intimidated, that means you’re onto something really fun and disruptive.

What is your dream job?

LOL….I believe in living the dream. But as I gain more experience, I would love to do more in philanthropy but more importantly, activate people to all contribute — not out of guilt, but out of passion.

Read more about the creation of AHAlife.com, Shauna’s background, and what’s next for her in the full NRF STORES interview.

We’re thrilled to expand on this interview because (a) we are in a bit of awe about his background, (b) we just love the story about him getting his “big break” after a visual merchandiser didn’t come to work during an epic snowstorm, and (c) we’re inspired by the number of retailers who’ve influenced his career.

What was your early work history and what were the lasting takeaways?

I had a paper route from about the third grade and that taught me about customer service and human nature — both positive and negative — and how the customer is always right. Simple lessons like always having enough change for the customer whose excuse was always that they “didn’t have change, so come back next week.”

How did you become interested in architecture and design?

I am quite sure when I became interested in architecture and design, I neither knew, nor understood, the words “design” or “architecture.” From early memories, I can remember constructing massive schemes from blocks, dirt, bricks or whatever material was at hand, and enjoying the transformation.

I read that you were a student at the University of Cincinnati when you participated in a cooperative education program that placed you at Federated Department Stores. Was this your first exposure to retail?

Yes, I participated in the co-op program, which today we would frame as internships. The program was quite innovative before, and remains innovative, with friends and students at the time co-oping for people such as Buckminster Fuller, Isamu Noguchi, or in my case, Federated Department Stores. Having had earlier co-op experience with traditional architects, the pace, combination of psychology, marketing and design, and the willingness to try, test, change and move on was quite appealing to an impatient 20-year-old.

My prior exposure to retail was as a clerk in a mall shop. I had the proverbial “big break” after the visual merchandiser didn’t come to work during a big snowstorm, and they enlisted me to pull the store’s show windows pre-Thanksgiving for the new Christmas installation to go in (those were the good old days when Christmas actually started a month, not months before the holiday). I was asked to create a temporary window display, and the owner not only approved it, but this led to a great opportunity to design three more of the company’s stores throughout my college years. This essentially gave me the opportunity to experiment and learn firsthand, concurrent with my more academic education.

NRF Foundation, the education and research arm of NRF, promotes retail as an exciting career destination. We think of the retail industry as a place where your passion can be your work. Can you share something about your pursuit of passions?

I agree that retail very much can be about passion, entrepreneurship and innovation. It is also an environment where failure is not always deemed as wrong. I am reminded of a quote from the creative head at the Anthropologie Group, who indicated that their mission is to “fail faster,” to be able to get to the right answer sooner, rather than stay in the middle safe ground and never fail.

I think the biggest challenge today is in finding retail companies that will make the investment in training, mentoring, and growing talent. The distinction between winners (Crate & Barrel, Urban Outfitters, Apple) and losers today is the difference in these companies’ ability to mentor and grow talent vs. other retail companies that may not be as successful, and who have not invested in this process.

What other advice can you share with young people looking to get a start, or get ahead in retail?

I would say it is probably to find ways to get both experience in the practical and education in the theoretical. I am thinking of the new reality show, “Undercover Boss,” where CEOs work at the jobs of their employees, which results in tremendous learning, empathy and perspective. There is no ivy tour route to retail, short of doing it, experiencing it and remaining a student every day in looking at things from a fresh perspective.

Who has been your biggest career influencer?

Earlier in my career I had a chance to work with a gentleman by the name of Charlie Hinson, who was key in the development and growth for concepts within the Limited Group, Abercrombie, Victoria Secret, Limited, Limited Express. I think the lesson was about listening and understanding; that you will learn much more with your eyes and ears than you will with your mouth. He had all of the authority, position and title to be the decision maker, but only exercised that power and right after he had a full understanding. Charlie conducted business with a quiet dignity, something that made a strong impression on me.

Want to know more about Mr. Nisch? His travel strategies? The latest and greatest places for shopping? A retail trend he sees on the horizon? Read the full NRF STORES interview.

It is no wonder that we wanted to continue the interview with the man, who runs a company that includes iconic shoe brands Keds, Stride Rite, Saucony and Sperry Top-Sider. Read on to find out more about his first retail job, his thoughts on pursuing passions and engaging customers.

Matthew Rubel, Chairman, CEO and President of Collective Brands, is active in industry and civic organizations, including the Jay H. Baker Retailing Initiative at The Wharton School.

Your resume includes a number of blue-chip retailers and brands — J.Crew, Cole Haan, Revlon and Tommy Hilfiger. What about your very first retail job? When did you first fall in love with retail?

My first retail job was at a very young age at my parents’ clothing store in South Florida. When they finally let me on to the selling floor, I knew I loved retail. It was all about the customers and making them happy. I knew immediately.

We [NRF Foundation] talk about retail being an industry where your passion — whether it be books, the outdoors, technology or shoes — can be your work. Can you talk about pursuing passions?

People are passionate about brands. And when you are the brand builder, creating great brands, it’s really fulfilling. We are working with such iconic brands where you can engage customers in great items to bring more vitality and fun in people’s lives.

What do you see as the biggest benefit of working in retail?

The direct connection with customers and seeing them enjoy your products.

What’s the biggest challenge?

Retail is truly dynamic and ever-changing — no one day is ever the same.

What do you look for when you hire?

People who know how to listen, want to win and know how to think.

In a previous interview when asked, “What would you say to anyone considering a career in retail,” you said, “Stay focused on the customer. They hold the key to any retailer or brand success. Be ready for dynamic action, pace and change. It’s a great place to be creative, work with teams and build. It’s also great because if you make a mistake you can mark it down, learn from it and move on.” What other advice could you share for young people looking to get a start, or get ahead, in retail?

It’s important that you do what you love. Work should be fun. If you love customers and exciting them with great product and a fun, engaging shopping experience, then retail is right for you.

Want to know more about Mr. Rubel? What’s his must-have technology, next on his reading list, or the role of social media in his company and their plans for international growth? Read the full STORES interview.

On Valentine’s Day, when everyone was feeling the love, we reached out to our Retail Careers Facebook and Twitter followers and asked them to tell us why they loved retail, and specifically, why they loved working in retail. Here’s what they had to say.

ALWAYS CHANGING

Retail is never perfect — there’s always a way to do something better, and that’s what I love most!

I love retail because I’m never bored. Things are always busy, even when there are no customers!

I enjoy the variables which constantly change in the retail equation. Yesteryear it was S&H Green Stamps, today it’s electronic loyalty programs. Customers used to clip coupons, and now they can use digital coupons smartphone applications. But one thing which has always remained the same is that a satisfied customer makes our paychecks possible!

PLEASING CUSTOMERS

I have been in retail sales for over 20 years and I can’t get enough of it! I am one of those lucky people who really loves what I do… I love making my customers feel that I am there for them, to listen to their needs, and strive to help in anyway I can. You can’t always help everyone that walks into your selling world be it whatever you do, but to leave a lasting impression that wins their business is what 100% Customer Satisfaction is all about!

I heart working in retail because I feel like I have a career in making people’s day everyday.

I believe to be truly happy you have to love what you do, & I do! My formula: RETAIL+ME=100% Customer Service!

I love retail b/c everything always changes. How do you convince the customer to buy what you are selling? It is so much fun trying to figure it out.

That’s hard, because there are so many things I like about my job. I’d have to say I love my job because it’s challenging, in a good way, and it’s rewarding because I get to help people do what they want to do. It’s different every day. It provides me with the opportunity to be creative and to try new things, meet new people, work on projects, and to continually stretch myself in doing things I’m not always comfortable doing. So my job still remains challenging. Being able to help people—the—helping them find work that they really will enjoy as much as I enjoy my job and career.

FAST-PACED, TEAM ENVIRONMENT, & PASSION FOR FASHION

There’s nothing like the daily hustle and bustle.

Being on a team to help get the job done and helping the community through volunteerism and donations.

I loved working in retail because I like clothes.

Let’s continue the conversation. We want to hear from you. Tell us what you love about retail by making a comment below!

Want more love? Read last year’s I Love Retail blog post.

We continue the interview with “Smitty,” as he shares more about his life-changing (retail) job, why he thinks it is important to gain experience in as many areas as possible, and that it “all comes down to pleasing the customer.”

Smitty’s Founder Clyde B. “Smitty” Smith who got his start in retail as a grocery clerk before opening his own store.
At 92, he remains a retail icon and innovator in the supermarket industry for his fresh thinking.

Tell us about that first life-changing retail job.

Keith Rushing gave me a job at his grocery store in 1936 in Ames, Iowa, and I stayed with him for six years. He gave me an opportunity to work in each department. This basic experience was very important. Mr. Rushing helped me get into my first store in Roland, Iowa, in the fall of 1946 by guaranteeing my note at the local bank.

What happened next?

Beginning in 1954, we took a step up from our 3,200-sq.-ft. store to our first large store of 14,000 sq. ft. We tried to build each consecutive store bigger and better to impress the customer and give them the products and services they were looking for. I grew my company from one store to six before I moved our company to Phoenix and opened our first store there in 1961. It was 56,000 sq. ft. — twice the size of any supermarket in Phoenix. [The stores were acquired by Fred Meyer in 1999.]

You write that your life changed when you first stepped onto a sales floor. How did you move from the sales floor to the owner of a company of superstores?

I was so blessed, honored and so well-pleased that the owner of the first store I worked in was Mr. Rushing. He gave me opportunities to learn the grocery business, every department — from groceries, to meats and produce. To get experience in all areas is very necessary to achieve success in one’s business venture. Then as your business grows and you have good consistent profit and loss statements, share the profits with your management team. You search for other opportunities to grow your company – this encourages your management team to reach out, work hard, show leadership qualities and compete for the positions they are best qualified to operate. This helps them build a career for their future.

You’ve mentioned that although today’s retail environment seems complicated, it all comes back to the fundamentals, and with proper application, anyone with ambition and desire can be a success. Can you share more about this? What are some characteristics that you think are important for success in retail? What advice do you have for young people looking to get ahead in the industry?

Once again it’s in-depth experience, total commitment, ambition and desire that are the basis for future success. You must also include selection of the best employees, followed by training and then putting employees into responsible positions so that they can prove their ability and talent. But it all comes down to pleasing the customer; they’re always number one.

What do you see as the biggest benefit of working in retail?

In the supermarket food business I say people always need to eat. It is up to you and your staff to offer the consumer the very best place to shop. Again, it’s lead and don’t follow the competition.

In the book, “Pioneering the Superstore,” it outlines “Smitty’s Basics for Business.” How would you summarize  “Smitty’s Basics”?

Work hard; be fair; be truthful; and have honor and integrity. Provide excellent leadership; build a team of experts; train, train, train; give incentives; share the profits; and put the customer first.

The keys to success are: listening to customers, caring for employees and vendors and taking risks in marketing to make a vision a reality. Today’s retail environment seems complicated, but it all comes back to the basic fundamentals. With proper application, anyone with ambition and desire can be a success.

How would you like retailers to apply these lessons?

Apply them and watch the difference in sales and attitude of the employees and customers.

Want to know what is on Smitty’s wish list? His favorite place to visit? Read the full STORES interview with Clyde B. “Smitty” Smith.

A company called McFayden Solutions hosted this session and they showed an excellent video with shocking statistics about the influence of social media on the industry. The session was based around three specific questions that retailers should be asking themselves:

• What is it? (Ratings and Reviews, Forums and Communities, Blogging, Social Bookmarking, Group Buying)

• Why do I need it? Social commerce is a major element in the consumer cycle. “Fish where the fish are”

• How do I do it? Attract –> Convert –> Increase AOF/LTV = SALES!

I found this session to be fascinating and extremely relevant to the industry and what is currently taking place.

First thing on the agenda was a Student Networking Luncheon. Even at midnight, the excitement hadn’t subsided. I got to speak to industry recruiters from a ton of different companies who came just to talk to me and other students like myself.

One of my biggest mottos is to network until I die. Everyday is an opportunity to meet someone new and truthfully, you never know who you’re going to meet or where you’ll meet them, so be open-minded. Sure, I may not want to be a Visual Merchandiser or a Buyer, but I do believe in connections. I aspire to become a writer and any connection I can make with anyone could pave the path for my future. As many retailers are starting their own blogs or need copy-editors for catalogs and things of that nature, the retail industry is full of opportunities. Today was all about those networking opportunities and it was fantastic.

The luncheon was a speed-networking event in which retailers came to our tables for a set amount of time (much like speed-dating, or what I assume speed-dating is like, considering I’ve never gone speed-dating). Myself and the other five students at my table were greeted by so many friendly, energetic retail representatives I was all smiles when I left the event. Plus, the opportunities for internships were almost endless.

Here are some highlights:

• Industry professionals gave their time to come speak to students like myself and I came away with so much more information about not only internship and job opportunities, but also management. Collective Brands, the company that owns Payless, Keds, and Stride Rite (just to name a few), spoke about the ease of moving from one brand to another. There were a plethora of internship opportunities in just about every position in retail from Visual Merchandiser to Store Manager.
• The Container Store talked, jokingly, about the positives of being a little obsessive compulsive while working at The Container Store. They mentioned the one equals three motto that the company has. Essentially, it means that one amazing employee accounts for three great employees and that the company would rather give a higher salary to that one incredible employee who does an amazing job than settle for three employees. They appreciate the people who work for them and when hearing that type of energy and trust in your employees makes me feel like I’m networking with the right people.
• L’Oreal told us about their rotational internship program that exposes you to the multiple aspects of the company as well. It was so refreshing to hear that employees truly want the best for their interns. We have the old saying “We are the future” to explain why.

It was flattering to know that the NRF Foundation would put together an event such as this for us because they have faith in us, the future of retailing. The NRF has so much faith in us, that they even gave us the golden opportunity to help them in creating ideas for forming an exclusive student membership which will be named, National Retail Federation Student Association (NRFSA). Individual tables brainstormed on topics ranging from the expectations of an organization to the requirements for entry. And, my favorite part, is that we were automatically inaugurated! We’re the first in what will become an exciting chance for students to get their foot in the door and have real-world encounters with retailing.

So, in short, it was a lovely start to my visit at the NRF’s Big Show. The centenial birthday will be the greatest one in my history of attending (this is year two for me!). Taking a look at the schedule, there are many shows that seem to revolve around the transformation that retail has taken with the aid of mobile devices, so I look forward to seeing what retailers have to say about my techie generation.

Kip Tindell, CEO of The Container Store Kicks Off the First Annual Retail Talent Networking Luncheon

After the welcome message, the students were assigned a specific table with approximately seven to eight other college students. No time was wasted once everyone finished eating. The speed networking began right on time with the retailers starting at a designated table. Eight-minute intervals were given for each retailer to speak about their company and background before opening up the discussion for specific questions from the students.

Some companies that were present include: J. Crew, Macy’s, L’Oreal, The Container Store, Five Below, Sears Holdings Group, H&M, Toys “R” Us and Sleepy’s. By the end of the session, each table of students was able to hear from six different companies. Resumes were exchanged for business cards and everyone walked out of the conference room with more knowledge than when they came in. This speed-networking event was incredibly beneficial for both the students and the retailers.

Retailers Speed Network with Students from NRF Foundation’s Partner Colleges