For retailers, this day was filled with seminars. But for us students, we had a chance to meet and network with some of the leading retailers in the industry. One activity that was set up by the NRF Foundation was the Retail Talent Networking Lunch. This lunch gave studentsthe opportunity to talk one-on-one with recruiters and industry leaders.

“Ding,” the luncheon started with the ring of a bell. “You have 8 minutes to speak with each table then, switch.” This networking felt like competitive speed dating; you had limited time to tell recruiters your aspirations with fellow students / competition. Our table put into perspective that each of us had different visions for our future and had goals of our own. However, we all worked as a team to take advantage of this networking opportunity. Throughout the luncheon, we proceeded to meet 16 different retailers, such as Macy’s, Walmart, and Saks. This event was a wonderful experience where I met not just wonderful and knowledgeable retailers but future contacts.

Sandels Building, Florida State University’s Center for Retail Merchandising & Product Development

FSU’s Retail Center has a number of corporate partners such as Chico’s, Macy’s, Kohl’s and HSN.  What role do your partners play in the development of your students? What examples can you share that that demonstrate the value of these partnerships?

Our Center members play a very active role in our program. They speak in our classes on topics that are related to the course and share “real world” experiences with the students. They provide input for developing our curriculum so that our students are properly prepared to enter the workforce. Members give the students workshops and advice on resumes and interviewing techniques, as well as recruit our students for internships. Center members provide scholarships and speakers for our fall scholarship dinner as well as speakers and contacts for our annual spring Retail Summit.

Your center’s mission is to shape tomorrow’s retail leaders and advance retailing. Why do you think retail provides attractive career opportunities for young people today?

The students that choose our program here at FSU do so because they have already developed an interest in the retail industry. Once here, they soon discover they have made the right choice because of the exciting and abundant careers retail has to offer. What other industry will give them the opportunity to move up so quickly based on their performance and experience. This industry is so diverse and allows students to progress at a personal pace; there is no “glass ceiling” in retail!

You’ll have students graduating in May, what advice do you share with them as they apply and interview for jobs?

Throughout the students coursework we focus on “Executive Presence” working on proactive, professional and positive behavior so that they are properly prepared for their job search.  We make sure that our students understand the importance of a strong work ethic. Their first job may not be their dream job, but they can build on that experience. Two pieces of advice that we always pass on to our graduates is to “ABN” (Always be Networking) and never burn your bridges — the retail industry is surprisingly small!

There is a general misconception that retail is not a lifelong career.  What programs, classes or activities does FSU have in place that help dispel this myth, and communicate the multitude of diverse career paths available in the retail industry?

We begin at the sophomore level by acquainting our students with the many career opportunities to be had in the retail industry. Students become familiar with the numerous industry resources that are available and begin identifying and developing the skills that are necessary to succeed. Throughout their coursework they are exposed to the variety of careers to choose from in the retail industry and we encourage them to do summer internships to give them a chance to explore different types of professions. There has been a required internship in place for over 40 years and this gives the students an opportunity to research and find an internship in the retail arena that interests them and many lead to full time employment. During our annual Retail Summit, we invite our alumni back to give retail advice concerning their careers and successes and it gives the current students a chance to network and find out more about the careers of these young professionals. Right now we have four groups of students that are involved with the Florida Retail Federation Retail Masters Class in a team competition to determine the most effective, creative way to inform and excite a cross section of today’s university students about the enormous career opportunities in retail and we hope to make this an annual competition!

You recently held your Retail Summit and featured executives from JCPenney, Disney, Sports Authority and Cotton Incorporated.  Can you share some highlights of the event? What did the students learn from these retail professionals?

The Retail Summit is held in the spring and we have over 250 students attend. Our goal is to expose them to a variety of executives in an array of retail careers. One of the favorite speakers was from Disney who shared the product life cycle of Disney’s “Vinylmation” and then the students were given the actual product! The EVP from JCPenney shared her career path with the students and advised them to learn the business from the “ground up.” Sports Authority pointed out the power of the customer in this millennium; how you have to define and listen to your customer and how much social networking has affected the retail industry. Cotton Incorporated educated the students with their “dirt to shirt” concept and provided a grant that allowed the students to compete in recycling and reusing their cotton apparel. This is the second time that the students were able to participate in “speed networking” with the executives and FSU Alumni. One of the best pieces of advice an alumni shared was to always “dress and perform for the job you aspire to have.”

What else should retailers and others know about The Retail Center and your upcoming programs and plans?

HSN CEO Mindy Grossman at 17th Annual Scholarship Dinner

We will be holding our 17^th annual Scholarship Dinner in the fall. Last year Mindy Grossman, CEO and President of HSN, inspired our students with her “Eight Life Lessons.” This fall’s event will also include a special speaker and a ribbon cutting for our new labs and classrooms, featuring the Macy’s Merchandising Lab, The Office Depot Technology Lab and the yet-to-be-named Product Development Lab. We are always looking for new partners in the industry, and some of the benefits of joining the Retail Center include: providing input into a dynamic curriculum, creating an employer of choice strategy, and creating a visibility strategy for their companies.

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

“The constant change. You can’t stand still in retailing. You must always be innovating
and pushing the envelope. The competitive landscape is always changing. The customer
is always changing and evolving, and so must we. I like being challenged in this way. I
just love this business. It’s a privilege to come to work every day and do something I
absolutely love to do, even in this very difficult economic environment…”

Terry Lundgren, President, Chairman and CEO of Macy’s Inc.

Mr. Lundgren has been interviewed once again, and his insights are no less fascinating. On NRF’s BIG Blog, the CEO — of one of the most famous retailers in the world — discusses a range of topics from Macy’s annual parade, emerging holiday trends, and the company’s focus on localization. One particular part of the interview that struck us was Mr. Lundgren’s thoughts on how seasonal employees can turn a part-time holiday position into a full-time career. He goes on to share:

In September, Macy’s announced that it was hiring 65,000 seasonal employees during the holiday season. Some of these seasonal hires may hope that their temporary positions become permanent. As someone who spent part of his career as a store manager, what advice would you offer a seasonal employee on ways to stand out to management in the hopes of transitioning from part-time holiday help to full-time company superstar?

There will always be room at Macy’s for someone who is energetic, knowledgeable and focused on the customer. Selling skills are key. Many of the people who start with Macy’s as a seasonal store associate will end up with the company full-time. Some of them have risen through the ranks to be senior executives at Macy’s today. When I was just starting out in the company after college, I received some great advice from the manager who recruited me to the company. He said that to succeed, you need to “bloom where you are planted.” That advice has stayed with me to this day. It means that no matter what your job, do it to the very best of your ability. Really care. Go the extra mile. Show initiative and creativity to achieve your goals and go beyond them. If you really pour 100% of yourself into your job, people will notice. You will create your own opportunities for advancement.

Tell me something about yourself that most people don’t know.

When I started out in college, I planned to be a veterinarian. Then I learned what a veterinarian does for a living and what it was like to artificially inseminate a cow. So I switched to business. My first exposure to retailing was a high school job delivering clothing from a tailoring shop to local menswear stores in southern California. But I never really aspired to a career in retailing until I graduated college and interviewed with Bullock’s department store in southern California to be an executive trainee in the buying organization. At Bullock’s, I saw what an interesting, fast-paced business retailing was, and what good opportunities there were to advance my career without having to move from one company to another. I went from trainee to CEO of Bullocks Wilshire in 13 years and never stopped learning or loving my job.

To read the full interview with Terry Lundgren, visit the NRF BIG Blog.

Valentine’s Day is over.  You bought the flowers, the gifts and shared the romantic dinner. I can’t help but think about a different kind of love – a love for working in retail. What I love about this industry is that it provides a niche for everyone, whether it’s sales, marketing, buying, supply chain or logistics – anyone can find their passion, or love, working in retail.

Some of the industry’s best CEO’s have shared their stories about why they love the industry – the connection with the customers, the challenge of the industry, the theatrics and excitement it brings.  Now, we’d like to hear your story.

Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spencer Gifts, loves how retailing “from Day One got in his veins.” Kip Tindell, CEO of The Container Store, told us he always loved the excitement of retail. “The theater of it. The smile on the customer’s face when you’ve helped her find exactly the right solution for whatever she is working on that particular day.” Glen Senk, CEO of Urban Outfitters, said that retail allows him to be master of his own destiny. “I liked the fact that retailers have control over the products they carry, the selling environment and pricing. I also loved the theatrics of retail. There was a connection to the showmanship I have learned from my days with horses.” Terry Lundgren, CEO of Macy’s, just loves this business. “It’s a privilege to come to work every day and do something I absolutely love to do, even in this very difficult economic environment… I love the challenge because I know our strategy and our organization structure is right and we have the talent to win.” 

We’ll be collecting stories throughout the month of February. To share your story, post a comment below!

Part two features students who had internships at JC Penney, Macy’s, Target, Walgreens and Dillard’s. The below excerpts are taken from the university’s newsletter The Retail NaviGator. Read on to hear about why interns say that retail is “way more than just checking out customers” and “since I was doing what I love, it simply didn’t feel like work!”

Student: Breanne Greer

Interned at: JC Penney (an NRFF Partner Company)

What I Did: From the first day of my internship, I was told I was not going to be a glorified associate, but a member of the management team. I was paired with a Sales Manager who served as my mentor throughout my experience. I learned everything there is to know about running a department store for one of America’s most well-known retailers. I spent each week in a different department where I became knowledgeable about the different merchandise and lifestyles JC Penney captures with their private brands. I was also able to assist in the set execution for the back to school season and even merchandised the entire men’s athletic department.

What I Learned: I learned that retail is way more than just checking out customers…. At the end of my internship, I was given an assignment to complete a SWOT analysis on customer service, merchandise and store environment for JC Penney and four of its competitors. This assignment allowed me to apply what I learned to determine what sets JC Penney apart from its competition. After I concluded my findings, I made a presentation on them to the store management team and gained important feedback.

In Closing: After my ten short weeks, I knew retail is more than a [cash] register and that it was an industry for me. I am glad I chose JC Penney to get my career started in the retail industry. They provided me with opportunities I would not be able to gain elsewhere and taught me leadership skills that I know I can take with me into my future endeavors. Read the full recap…

Student: Ankit Bavishi

Interned at: Macy’s

What I Did: My training included shadowing almost every position available with Macy’s at the store level. I was very impressed with this because I was able to see how members of the Macy’s team inspire each other and how important such energy can be when serving our customers. Macy’s gives its associates many opportunities to grow in any way they choose. This is a part of the whole concept of “MyMacys,” which is a program recently introduced. I learned how quickly one can climb the corporate ladder in a number of career paths available within the company.

What I Learned: As an intern, I was given the opportunity to explore any detailed aspect about Macy’s; I chose to delve a bit deeper into the company’s private label brands. These brands are important to Macy’s because of the benefits they have for the consumer, as well as the company. My most cherished experience was being able to present my research about the private labels to a room full of executives, including the chief private brands officer (and a former CEO), as well as the regional vice president of Macy’s. I am excited even writing about this!

In Closing: Macy’s offers careers to progressive-thinking students across the nation. Macy’s provides the best in training and really prepares students for growing within the company. Even as an intern at the store level, I was able to learn the operations of a Macy’s store, but I was also given the training to continue to grow with the company. Read the full recap…

Student: Keri Waldron

Interned at: Target

What I Did: After completing my second internship with Target as an advanced executive intern… This summer, my project focused specifically on the training and development of team members… I worked side by side, day after day with associates, because I truly cared about their development. This approach helped in the development of our team. I am so thankful for the time I had with all the members!

What I Learned: The toughest challenge I faced was creating a new culture that emphasizes how important it is for team members to develop enough to be able to do the work of their team leaders. I approached the team with the assumption that being genuine would gain me more creditability and respect than “selling” them on a culture. This was tricky because many of the team members have worked for Target for many years, and in order for me to prove I was not just “the intern trying to be their boss,” I had to work hard to learn my responsibilities and help whenever they needed support.

In Closing: I enjoyed each and every day of my internship. Target provided me a supportive environment where I learned and applied excellent retail practices. Read the full recap…

Student: Michelle Russell

Interned at: Walgreens

What I Did: My Walgreens internship prepared me to run a business. Ten weeks in the role of “Business Management Intern” proved that I had the essential skills needed to function proficiently on the job. The store manager, along with a team of dedicated assistant managers, helped to mold me into a manager in hyper speed timing. I was able to see the gist of the store in a nutshell, learning from my own experiences, and from the guidance of my management team.

What I Learned: I also experienced out-of-store training by visiting other stores to understand how every manager runs their establishment differently based upon what was necessary. This demonstrated the Walgreens policy of recruiting its leaders based on those who display entrepreneurial ability. During my internship, I was privileged to travel with my store manager to Gainesville at the opening of a new store. All store managers within my district came to help get the new store ready for the grand opening. Their knowledge, skills and experiences were apparent in how they directed activity, set the shelves and worked together to create “the perfect store.” The visit was invaluable for me, working hand-in-hand at a store manager-only affair.

In Closing: The greatest part of the internship was the “District Manager’s Ride Along.” It was interesting to see alliances created with other institutions through business relationships. Our DM concluded the session with a nugget of advice: “Never pass up opportunities, be patient and always be ready for a greater responsibility.” Read the full recap…

Student: Jessica Smith

Interned at: Dillard’s

What I Did: My internship with Dillard’s was exciting. I was rotated throughout the store and experienced so much in what seems like a short time! [I] worked in the executive office… home department… with an area sales manager in shoes… in accessories… and ready to wear.

What I Learned: My experience in ready to wear was wonderful! We creatively developed some of the floor displays and brainstormed ways to feature new clothing, follow company policies and make it all inviting for the customer. I helped develop two window displays where I made a case of Antonio Melani merchandise in shades of brown and orange and a Nygard case in shades of black and white. This was so rewarding. I really enjoyed the merchandising aspect. It was fun to be a part of the corporate mentality to ensure that the stores maintain the atmosphere of excellence for our customers.

In Closing: When I was deciding upon an internship, I considered Dillard’s because I have an interest in fashion. I thought retail would be an interesting way to incorporate this interest into work and I was right. Since I was doing what I love, it simply didn’t feel like work! Read the full recap…

Still to come! We’ve got more internship experiences to share. In part three, we’ll hear from students who interned at: Mattress Firm, Tires Plus, Build-A-Bear and Sears.