Our first feature is Lindsay Godbout, a junior at University of Arizona. Watch out Terry Lundgren, Miss Godbout has her sights set on becoming a CEO of a major retailer.

Why do you want to work in retail? What has you most excited about this industry?

I am excited for my future career in retail, because retailers function at the epicenter of our U.S. consumer-driven economy. Retailers operate at the intersection of consumer demand and manufacturer supply, providing comprehensive insight into today’s business challenges. A career in retail offers a window into multiple business disciplines including marketing, supply-chain management, buying, business management, and a host of other activities. Finally, I find the retail industry thrilling as it is face-paced, energetic and ever-changing.

Can you share what retail experience you have so far?

I have been a Sales Associate at White House Black Market for nearly two years. My experience at WHBM has been invaluable as it has taught me sales, customer service, and the basics of store economics and management.

What are you most looking forward to at NRF’s BIG Show, and your visit to New York City?

The agenda for this year’s NRF’s BIG Show is amazing. I look forward to all of the information sessions particularly the ones involving new trends and digital retailing. I know the opportunity to listen to leading retail CEOs and other senior professionals will be both informative and rewarding. I also look forward to meeting new people and networking with other retail professionals.

What’s your dream retail job?

My eventual dream retail job is to be the CEO of a major national retailer. Obviously, that is an “eventual” dream, and I am hopeful to start my retail career in buying and planning or sourcing. I know this industry offers many opportunities as well as many challenges and I look forward to the hard work and dedication a successful career will demand.

Please share something else about your background, your experience, your achievements that we wouldn’t know.

I grew up on the East Coast in the Washington, D.C. area and was fortunate to move to Arizona to attend the University of Arizona. The U of A offers a premier Retailing and Consumer Sciences Major and houses the amazing Terry J. Lundgren Center for Retailing. I am currently a junior and serve as the Vice Chair of the Student Advisory Board for the Center. I am also a founding member of the U of A’s NRFSA group and the Arizona Sales and Marketing Club. I am a proud member of the Arizona Ambassadors Honorary and the U of A’s Honors College. I chose the University of Arizona because of its stellar retail program and I am extremely grateful for the knowledge and experience it has provided me.

Look for more “Future Faces of Retail” features in the coming weeks.

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.

We reached out to David about sharing his internship experience when we discovered that he made his connection with Five Below at our first annual student networking luncheon. We’re confident that his exposure to the “real world” of retail – and his persistence – will continue to benefit him greatly in this industry.

Tell us about your summer internship experience. How did you decide where to apply? What made you choose Five Below?

I had applied to many different retailers for internships my first semester Junior year. While it was still early, I had not heard much from companies. My major [at University of Arizona] takes a trip to the NRF convention in New York City every year, and I decided it would be a great learning experience as well a great networking tool. Our first day at the convention there was a student networking event with retailers all over the country and students from many different schools. Sitting at the table listening to all the different companies, I started to hear the same thing until the representative from Five Below showed up at my table. Kelly Ann, who was there on behalf of Five Below, was so excited about the company and about us as students having an opportunity to intern with them. Right then and there I decided I wanted to intern for them. I spoke with Kelly Ann after the event, but soon after I returned to school we fell out of touch. I called the office and did not get through. Then I remembered that Five Below was on Twitter. After a number of “tweeting” exchanges and two interviews, I got a buying internship in the apparel, fashion accessories and jewelry departments at Five Below. Five Below is one of the fastest growing retailers in the country and because of this I got to experience more and given more responsibility than I could have ever imagined, and it was great. Internships are meant to be a learning experience and I learned an exceptional amount this past summer at Five Below.

Internships are competitive. How did you make yourself stand out?

With all internships, you have to make yourself stand out in a good way and — for Five Below — I think I made myself stand out with my persistence and passion. After calling the office and not getting through, I did not give up. After getting “tweeted” back but not the answer I wanted, I did not give up. I showed them that not only do I love retail but I would love to intern for their company. I also stood out because I already had a solid understanding of retail because of attending the Terry J. Lundgren Center at the University of Arizona.

You worked as an assistant buyer and were given a lot of responsibility as an intern. How do you think you were successful? What were some valuable lessons you learned?  

I think I was successful in coming as an intern and not only doing assistant buyer work but doing it well. The retail industry is not an easy place especially for young professionals. I was intimidated at first but I just kept plugging away and soon it became the norm. Some of the lessons I learned was that while there are a lot of perks working in the retail industry, there are also a lot of things that are not fun. While being very tedious, they are just as important as the fun things.

What has you most excited for working in retail?

The component that has me most excited about starting to work in the retail industry is just the constant innovation. Companies are always adapting and reinventing themselves to cater to the customer. It is truly astonishing. There is never going to be a day that is the same and that’s what makes it hard but also so much fun.

What’s your dream job?

I have always loved Nike and their ability to combine technology and fashion/trends into sports apparel and footwear. I would love to work there at some point in my career so I can just get a feel for what it is like. Down the line in my career I want to have an executive position such as a General Merchandise Manager for a sporting goods/apparel store.

What advice would you give to other students looking for internships?

The best advice I can give other students would be to first explore all different options such as store management and corporate internships. Once you have an idea of which direction you would like to go in, do some research for the companies that interest you and see if their mission statement sticks out to you. The hardest thing about any internship or job in my opinion is getting used to the culture because every place is different. If you find a corporate or store culture that fits you, you are setting yourself up to succeed.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I am so thankful that I went to the NRF BIG Show convention not only because of the student networking event, but I was exposed to the retail industry on a national level and it was truly amazing.

We’re thrilled to introduce the following students, who you’ll be hearing from over the next few days.

Nekiya Covington
Florida State University
Graduation Year: 2011
Major/Degree: Retail Merchandising and Product Development
Twitter Account: @nec72288

Why are you attending NRF’s BIG Show?
As a participant in the NRF’s 2011 Aspire2Retail Intercollegiate Retail Challenge, I was provided the opportunity to attend the BIG Show this year. I am excited about attending the NRF’s educational sessions, exploring the expo’s floor, and being able to attend the largest retail conference in the world. I am honored to be one of few students to represent my university here at the convention.

What are you most looking forward to?
I am most looking forward to exploring the EXPO Hall. I have never been to a retail expo before, so I am ecstatic about seeing the new technologies and innovations that will be presented on the expo floor.

What’s your dream retail job?
My dream is to become the CEO of my own chain of children’s wear boutiques.

Jena Glick
LIM College
Graduation Year: 2013
Major/Degree: Fashion Marketing
Twitter Account: @jenaleslieg

Why are you attending NRF’s BIG Show?
To learn, to network, to be up-to-date in the retail news, and to educate others who couldn’t attend by blogging.

What are you most looking forward to?
Hearing what everyone has to say about the generation of techies. The big focus seems to be about mobile devices and their use in the retailing industry.

What’s your dream retail job?
Run a retail blog. I’m working on it, I currently write for Racked NY, a blog about retail and fashion in the New York City area.

Tatsiana Yafremava
Fashion Institute of Technology
Graduation Year: 2010
Major/Degree: Fashion Merchandising Management
Twitter Account: @Tatsiana_Y

Why are you attending NRF’s BIG Show?
It is an honor to represent my school, FIT, at the Big Show and raise awareness about its outstanding academic program and instructors. I also look forward to attending NRF’s educational session about the innovations and the current trends in the retail industry.

What are you most looking forward to?
As a recent graduate pursuing a career in fashion, I definitely look forward to networking opportunities. Attending the Big Show is a also a great chance to learn about the future of retail directly from some of the most prominent industry leaders.

What’s your dream retail job?
My dream is to become a Buyer for a specialty retail company.

Maria Roberts
Fashion Institute of Technology
Graduation Year: May 2010
Major/Degree: Fashion Merchandising Management (FMM)
Twitter Account: @mariarobertsFIT

Why are you attending NRF’s BIG Show?
I am always looking for extra curricular activities to better myself. Attending the NRF conference is a great opportunity to listen to those that have earned the right to be listened to and I believe that is the best way to learn.

What are you most looking forward to?
I am looking forward to hearing from some of the greatest individuals in the industry so that I can be up to date with the changes that are occurring, as well as networking with as many retailers as possible.

What’s your dream retail job?
I aspire to work with a recognized company that has an admirable history that I can learn from, as well as a positive potential future that I can contribute to so that I can make a measurable difference within the company to create a win-win-win for the customer, company, and myself.

Maddi Weinstein
University of Arizona
Graduation Year: 2012
Major/Degree: Retail and Consumer Sciences
Twitter Account: @maddiweinstein

Why are you attending NRF’s BIG Show?
I am attending NRF’s BIG Show as a representative of the University of Arizona’s Retail and Consumer Sciences program, as well as a member of the Student Advisory Board for the Terry J. Lundgren Center for Retailing. I am here to not only network and listen to guest speakers, but to learn from the best of the best in the Retail industry.

What are you most looking forward to?
I am looking forward to gaining insight to the industry as a whole from the people whose actions affect it daily, as well as being able to learn something new from each person I have the opportunity to speak with and get to know.

What’s your dream retail job?
My dream retail job is becoming a Buyer for a national, retail department store.

Adena Stein
University of Arizona
Graduation Year: 2011
Major/Degree: Retailing and Consumer Sciences
Twitter Account: @adenastein

Why are you attending NRF’s BIG Show?
I am attending NRF’s BIG Show as a Student Advisory Board Ambassador or the Terry J. Lundgren Center for Retailing and NRF Collegiate Blogger. I am here to broaden my professional network and represent the Retailing program for the University of Arizona.

What are you most looking forward to?
I am looking forward to meeting all of the people who paved the road I am taking toward my career. I am eager to watch, listen, and learn, while also networking and broadening my horizons.

What’s your dream retail job?
My dream retail job would be in Marketing and Event Coordination for retailers in American and European metropolitan venues.

As Director of the Terry J. Lundgren Center for Retailing at the University of Arizona, you collaborate with 30 industry corporate partners to expand resources available to faculty and students to support education, outreach and research. How have these partners contributed to the development of your students? Can you share an example?

The partners in the Lundgren Center are essential to our success. We strive to build a bridge from the classroom to industry and we do this by involving our partners. In this past year we have hosted executives in the classroom, sponsored professional development workshops, coordinated field trips and study tours. The Lundgren Center provides an entry point for our partners to reach out to students, build relationships and hopefully successfully recruit tomorrow’s retail stars.

PetSmart is an excellent example of a partner who contributes a great deal through the Lundgren Center, and in return reaps numerous benefits. We offer a career development class we call the “Career Wise Cats” where students develop a resume, perfect their interviewing skills and identify a career path that interests them. Petsmart executives regularly present in class and offer interviewing tips and career guidance. The students in the class are also eligible to interview for Petsmart summer internships, academic scholarships or part time peer-to-peer mentoring positions.  Both PetSmart and the Lundgren Center consider the program a great success – students develop their professional skills and PetSmart identifies talent for internships and training programs.

Your center is named after Macy’s President & CEO. What roles does Mr. Lundgren play in the center? How has he helped retail careers?

Mr. Lundgren is a 1975 graduate of the University of Arizona and as an alumnus of this great university he is a role model for our students and resource for faculty. He has been invaluable in helping us shape our vision for the Lundgren Center for Retailing. He visits campus once a year and provides our students with a strong perspective on what it takes to lead a successful organization like Macy’s. He supports our belief that centers like the Lundgren Center for Retailing are critical in highlighting opportunity and building interest among students in retailing careers.

Tell us why internships are important and how they shape a student’s professional development and career.

Our academic program encourages all Retailing and Consumer Sciences students to complete an internship between the junior and senior year. We structure the internship so students can earn up to nine units of academic credit with a 10 – 12 week internship. The experience is an important balance to the classroom. We know that students hoping for placement in an executive development program with a retailer when they graduate must demonstrate some level of real world knowledge about the industry. The internship provides this exposure and builds knowledge of the company. Students who graduate with our academic major and a structured internship are in high demand by the retailing industry. Many already have a job offer waiting for them when they graduate.

Do you have any stellar graduates making a name in retailing you’d like to mention?

We are very proud of the accomplishments of our graduates. We have many working today for department, discount and specialty retailers in buying, planning, visual merchandising, marketing and human resources. Many have also chosen to work in manufacturing as sales managers. It is rewarding to see where how the careers of our alums unfold, many stay in the industry while some have returned to get law degrees, MBA’s or PhD’s.

What does the Lundgren Center offer retailers and related employers that is different from other schools? Tell us about the program’s collaboration with the Eller College of Management and why that is significant.

The University of Arizona has an enrollment of 38,000 students and an excellent Career Center that serves the needs of several hundred employers who recruit on our campus. What is often difficult for recruiters is finding the connection with the right student groups, clubs or classrooms in order to meet candidates. The Lundgren Center offers the opportunity for partnership and a place to connect with outstanding students and faculty. Every partner in the Lundgren Center has a student ambassador to assist with recruiting. Our faculty invite retailers into class and we sponsor an award winning SIFE Team. The Lundgren Center represents all retailers and promotes retailing careers to all students at the University of Arizona.

The McClelland Park Building, a 72,000 square foot new building, is the home for John and Doris School of Family and Consumer Sciences and your center. Talk more about this building, the classes you offer and how it benefits efforts to recruit more students to retail programs.

Our building has brought excellent visibility on campus to the retailing program. In our bright, light-filled building students can enroll in over 14 courses that focus on all elements of the retailing industry such as retail strategy, brand management, marketing strategy, global retailing and consumer behavior. With this new visibility has come significant growth in our retailing program – over 500 students are now majoring in Retailing and Consumer Sciences. To manage this growth and improve the overall quality of our graduates there are rigorous academic and GPA requirements. Our students must complete accounting, statistics, business math, economics and research methods courses before they can declare themselves retailing majors. In this way we are assured that incoming students have the strong quantitative skills our companies are seeking.

There are some star retailers headlining the Global Retailing Conference this year – executives from Macy’s, The Home Depot, Walmart, Kohl’s, JCPenney and fashion designer Rachel Roy to name a few. What or who are you looking forward to the most? What do your students gain from attending the conference?

Our conference this year is at the new Dove Mountain Ritz Carlton and offers a very strong lineup – an unbeatable combination. Personally I am looking forward to learning more about the innovative strategies in place among all the successful companies represented. I can’t say there is one speaker I am looking forward to over another, I usually get at least one good piece of information from every speaker. We make a point of opening the conference to our retailing students, and they turn out in high numbers. The students get exposure to some of the brightest minds in the industry today and they are offered an unparalleled networking opportunity.

What else should retailers know about the Terry J. Lundgren Center and your programs and plans?

I am always looking for partners who share our enthusiasm and commitment to the development of tomorrow’s retail stars. If you would like more information about partnering opportunities please contact me at mburke@ag.arizona.edu. You can also find the Center on Facebook and Twitter.

University of Arizona’s Lundgren Center for Retailing is one of NRF Foundation’s College Partners. Melinda Burke also serves on NRF Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Name: Stephanie Olinski

College/University: University of Arizona

Graduation Year: 2012

Degree: B.S. in Retail and Consumer Sciences, General Business Minor

Why did you attend NRF’s BIG Show?

I attended the NRF Big Show to expand my knowledge of the industry I am passionate about. I thought it would be a fantastic chance to network and meet some of the most powerful people in retail. Plus, it was in New York. How could I not go?

What was your favorite Super Session and why?

My favorite Super Session was the New Luxury Paradigm with Tory Burch. It was great to hear the affects of social media today as a blogger and Twitter-er myself.

What was the most exciting thing you saw or learned?

The most exciting thing was the whole BIG show itself. I especially like the Design studio since my career interests are in visual merchandising and fashion marketing.

What other fun things did you do while in New York City?

I met up with a friend that had recently moved there and explored the magnificent 5^th Ave. I literally could have spent hours in all those stores just staring at everything. I also went shopping at Uniqlo after hearing so much about it.

What’s your dream retail job?

My dream retail job would be being CEO of a fashion and design magazine while living in New York.

Check out other student profiles from Dartmouth, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Michigan.

This was my first day EVER in New York City. I came with the University of Arizona’s NYC Study Tour and according to my itinerary, this was the only day I had to explore. We had a jam packed week ahead of us filled with super sessions, networking opportunities, and sponsored dinners.  Of course, I hadnn’t had any sleep the day before my flight (because I was so excited!), and didn’t sleep on the plane. Let’s just say coffee became my best friend again.

Under my motto of “sleep when you die” I thought it was the best decision to drop my bags at my hotel and explore the city as much as possible. That I did. I saw Times Square (very touristy), slightly overrated, but something I needed to check off my list. Then explored a little of Chelsea, experienced the Subway, caught a taxi (on my own!) and passed out knowing that the week of a lifetime was about to begin once I woke up.

Day 2

The first day of the convention was slightly overwhelming, especially being a measly college student in the world of REAL retailers. I attended the Power of Retail Design session which was very interesting because it is an area of study I want to go into after college. It was interesting to hear about the subjects we learned about at school being discussed as real ideas and projects to be implemented into stores. For instance, they spoke about brand imaging, and how to reach the international market.

I also attended David Wolf’s give his presentation on “A New Fashion Perspective.” Can I just say that he is amazing?! I completely agreed with his ideas about rethinking trends. It was so unbelievably refreshing to hear someone speak out against new trends and fashion shows unlike the teen bloggers today that pretentiously gawk over every new fashion line they see. Finally, someone who has credibility to speak about fashion!!  Wolf predicted fashion will have a new emphasis in fabric manipulations, pastel colors, rustic fabrics, and flower prints. It will be interesting to see what happens to fashion in the coming years. So pretty much, I loved his presentation.

Day 3

The U of A Study Tour and I pretty much got to walk to Expo floor and see all the booths. It was a great opportunity to network and get to know retailers and presenting companies. It was interesting, though, because people either thought we were high-schoolers, or other retailers. Obviously, they didn’t read our badges. Some people would approach us and be like “oh the University of Arizona…” and some would mention they didn’t realize that college students attended the convention.  Despite some puzzled looks we got, I still thought it was a great experience for us to meet people who could potentially hire us one day. By the way, I loved the Design Studio. If I come again next year, I will spend all my time there instead.

Day 4

LOVED!! the supper session “The New Luxury Paradigm” with designer Tory Burch and CEO of Saks Steve Sadove. They spoke about surviving the recession and adapting to the new environment to remain successful. It was reassuring to hear that retailer’s have a plan B for their company. This then brings potential to us college students to find a job out of college. Likewise, the feeling of satisfaction spreads to the consumers who get to see their favorite stores still open while the economy takes a turn. I found it funny that there are probably so many consumers who don’t even realize the behind-the-scenes of retail companies, and there I was exposed to it all. The luncheon we attended was phenomenal to be a part of. I was surrounded by some of the most powerful people in the retail world! And I got to meet Terry J. Lundgren…the namesake of our retail school!  Very many 20 year olds can tell people that they did what we did.

Day 5

The saddest day of the trip…we left for Tucson. Flying home made me realize the life changing opportunity I was a part of. It was totally worth missing the first day of school for, totally worth not sleeping all week for and totally worth all the money I worked hard for to attend. I was so incredibly grateful for the opportunities I was given through this trip and the NRF convention itself. The sessions and networking made me realize that I made a great decision to become a Retail and Consumer Sciences major.

Stephanie is a student at the University of Arizona, one of the Foundation’s college partners.

Being in New York City is reason enough to write this, but as an added bonus (or should I say main reason for coming) I am attending the NRF Big Show. As a college student, this is a glimpse into the world I hope to be fully submerged into within the next couple years.  

I attended a super session called “The Power of Retail Design” by Joseph Bona and John Wilkins. “Take the product out of the store, and you should still be able to tell what the store represents.” This is a quote that took me by surprise; the design of retail embodies everything from the clothes itself, to the walls and flooring acting as a backdrop to sell the clothing. It’s about creating an atmosphere overall, that creates a good shopping experience. At Ben Sherman stores, they take an anti-retail design approach. The store is plastered with British flags anywhere from the floors to the walls. In one room there is wooden table and thick leather studded chairs, with a chandelier hanging above. Supposedly this pays tribute to when Ben Sherman himself, swung from a chandelier at a party. In this scenario, the clothes are the backdrop, while the focus is on creating a sense of loyalty and leisure. It’s almost like an odd version of your own house, except your house filled with fashionable clothing, who wouldn’t want that?  

I love New York City, I love being at this convention and I love working and being student within the retail industry.  All three of these reasons confirm I am on the right track, unlike many other unsure college students.

Maybe one day, you will be seeing me at the NRF Big Show, not as a student, but representing a company and coming to find the latest and greatest within retail. See you there!

Kalie is a junior at the University of Arizona, one of the Foundation’s college partners.

This week, “Talking With…” features Terry Lundgren, who started his career as a trainee with Bullock’s department stores in 1975, and is now the President and CEO of Macy’s, one of the best known retailers in the world.

Below is a section of the interview that I wanted to share with NRF Foundation’s Retail Careers Community, as it highlights how Mr. Lundgren got his start in retail, why he thinks it is important to listen to young associates, and what he loves about the industry. You can read the full interview on the Shop.org blog.

When you received the Gold Medal Award at NRF’s Annual Convention several years ago, you talked about the importance of cultivating young professionals within the Macy’s organization and said you meet with a select group of young talent on a regular basis. What have you learned from those meetings and have you made any changes because of them?

I learn a lot each time I meet with a group of associates who are early in their careers with Macy’s. I work hard to devote at least 30 minutes a week to them, and it is among the most rewarding things I do. These individuals are brimming with good ideas and insights we can apply to our business, and we do take action on them. For example, the development and rollout of the BCBGeneration product for young career women, as well as the Rachel Rachel Roy launch, were directly related to a meeting of my “Breakfast Club.” The group told me we had a gap in our assortment for this younger working customer, which included our own trainees and assistant buyers, and we moved very quickly to fill it.

You’ve spent more than 30 years in retail. What do you like most about this industry?

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. We get our performance review every day at the cash register. I love the challenge because I know our strategy and our organization structure is right and we have the talent to win.

Tell me something that’s especially vivid from your first days at the company.

I was recruited to Bullock’s in Los Angeles as I was graduating college at the University of Arizona. I had several other job offers, but what struck me about Bullock’s was the unbelievably talented people I met in the interview process and potentially would be working with and for. That’s what attracted me to retailing and what has kept me in this industry.

Retailing thrives on smart, aggressive, fast-moving people who know how to spot and capitalize on opportunity. You are responsible for your own P&L statement early in your career as a buyer or a store manager. I am very proud of the fact that Macy’s, Inc. is known for having the very best training programs, which in turn has attracted the best people in retailing.

Read the full interview on the Shop.org blog.