This inspirational video about “Johnny the Bagger” has appeared in a lot of places, but I first saw it over on NRF’s BIG Blog, as part of the NRFtech conference coverage. I bet I’ve watched it 10 times now. Yes, it is an inspirational story about great service and creating customer loyalty. But, it is [...]

After interviewing Jerry O’Brien, we decided to get the student’s perspective on Kohl’s Department Stores Center for Retailing Excellence at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s spring break trip to China. We talked to Sarah Ackerman, president of the Student Retail Association and asked her to share her experience on international retailing in Hong Kong and Shanghai. UW-Madison has [...]

It’s an exciting time at the Kohl’s Department Stores Center for Retailing Excellence at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Thirty students just returned from spending spring break in Hong Kong and Shanghai, completing a one credit course on international retailing.  We asked Jerry O’Brien, the center’s director and Sarah Ackerman, president of the Student Retail Association to tell us [...]

DECA, a student organization with programs in Buying & Merchandising, Fashion Merchandising, Retail Marketing, Retail Merchandising, and more, is a great partner of NRF Foundation — and retail. Last fall, I had the opportunity to speak on a panel about how the organization prepares students for the workforce. With over 185,000 high school members, DECA [...]

When Drexel University signed on as an NRFF College Partner, I wanted to learn more about how the Design and Merchandising program prepared students for the real world.  They referred me to Abby Kessler and Katie Loftus, co-owners of SMAK Parlour in Philadelphia.  After speaking with them, I became so impressed that these two best [...]