RETAILING SUMMIT 2013 SPEAKERS INCLUDE

Graham Atkinson Chief Marketing and Chief Experience Officer

Walgreen Co.

Karen Katz President & CEO

The Neiman Marcus Group, Inc.

Jason Kidd SVP, South Division

Sam’s Club

Maxine Clark Chief Executive Bear

Build-A-Bear Workshop

CENTER FOR RETAILING STUDIES

Cheryl Holland Bridges, DirectorThe end of the spring 2013 semester brings the biggest reward of being part of the Center for Retailing Studies at Texas A&M University. We say fond farewell to Aggies involved in Mays Business School’s retailing program as they begin their careers in the industry, many with your companies.

I was thrilled this semester that nearly 30 percent of the students in the retail merchandising class I teach were either beginning full time retailing careers or internships this summer. Others will do so next year. Many of these talented students, business majors, also have earned their Certificate in Retailing which compliments their degree. The retailing program, which is comprised of upper level course work, team projects infused with primary and secondary research, guest lectures by executives from the industry, and leadership opportunities best prepares Aggies for successful careers in our industry.

As Texas A&M University students take on leadership roles in many of your companies, we call on them to continue their involvement with CRS by helping us refine, re-assess, and enhance all we do to prepare the next generation to become executives in retailing. The newly formed Former Student Advisory Councils of Dallas and Houston, Texas are made up of Aggies in the industry who graduated six years ago or less. They tell us what best prepared them for their careers, and what the opportunities are for even deeper preparation and learning. With these fresh insights gained from the former students, we will continue to build the best retailing education program in the country.

We believe that retailing education is never ending as we are all constant learners. October 10 and 11 is an opportunity for current top retailing students, faculty, and you, the leaders of the industry, to come together for the 2013 Retailing Summit in Dallas, Texas. Join us as we all gain new knowledge about the industry. You’ll see the agenda for the conference in this newsletter and I am sure you will agree it is shaping up to be one of the best programs ever. We look forward to seeing you there and thank you for all you do for retailing education, research and service.

From the Center for Retailing Studies

Education. Research. Service.

Retailing News

REGISTER NOW | Oct. 10-11, 2013 | ReINVENTION | Westin Galleria Dallas

RETAILING SUMMITEarly Bird savings $100 off through June 14

Spring 2013

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Rodney Faldyn ‘88 , CEO & President of Academy Sports + Outdoors, with wife Karen after receiving the 2013 Zale Visionary Merchant Award

By Kelli Levey

Rodney Faldyn, Academy Sports + Outdoors CEO, says the company’s goal is to be a nationally recognized, regionally relevant and locally merchandised sports, outdoor and lifestyle store. “The market for sporting goods and outdoor gear changes every 100 miles, and we stay on top of that.” With sales projected to exceed $4 billion in 2014 and 21,000 store associates, the company seems to be on the right track.

Faldyn described during his lecture at Mays Business School how his years at Texas A&M University, where he received an accounting degree, prepared him for his career in more ways than one. His juggled a rigorous academic schedule with a job as an assistant manager at a retail store. “I don’t think I could do my role as a manager now if I had not put in that time.”

He says he also learned from the failure of the company he worked for back then – Furrow Building Materials. “So many companies lose touch with the changing consumer landscape and they don’t make adjustments they need to, so they get left behind,” he says, naming other businesses such as Linens ’n Things and Circuit City.

Before his promotion to CEO of Academy, Faldyn was president and chief financial officer of the company. Prior to Academy, he worked at N.F. Smith & Associates, a privately-held international electronics distributor. He spent eight years at Enron Corp. in several capacities, including vice president in international finance, chief accounting officer for a publicly-held subsidiary and vice president in accounting. Prior to that, he spent eight years at Deloitte & Touche LLP, working in the energy, wholesale trade and construction sectors.

The annual M.B. Zale Visionary Merchant Lecture Series hosted by the Center for Retailing Studies (CRS) highlights the role of innovative merchandising in the success of retail businesses. M.B. Zale was a legendary retailer, visionary merchant and esteemed philanthropist. Past recipients of the Zale award represented companies ranging from Walmart to Crate and Barrel to Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Faldyn’s lecture concluded an invitation-only conference for retail executives, the Center for Retailing Studies’ annual Retail Sponsor Forum. Speakers for the one-day event included Mays faculty members and industry experts who addressed topics such as showrooming, supply chain security, shelf-space allocation and motivating employees for top performance.

Center director Cheryl Holland Bridges said the CRS at Mays has helped prepare thousands of Aggies for careers in retailing. As she introduced Faldyn, she added, “You all are going to have your interest piqued in retailing. If so, come see us at the center on the second floor.”

Mays Dean Jerry Strawser said Faldyn differed from many speakers in that he is involved in an area of retail that directly impacts the students’ lives. The company that started as an Army surplus store now has 159 stores in 13 states, and is still expanding.

“Our culture is very similar to the culture at Texas A&M: friendly, energetic, the highest integrity, respectful and based on family values,” Faldyn says. “We strive to bring active families what they need to stay active.”

Faldyn and his wife live in Houston with four 16-year-olds – two sets of twins they each brought to their marriage.

Academy Sports + Outdoors CEO & President named 2013 Zale Visionary Merchant

Jan 8 Fashion Scholarship Fund Awards

Dinner, New York City

Jan 12-15 NRF Big Show and Student Programs,

New York City

Jan 30 Speaker: Bill Curtis, jcpenney

Jan 30 Retailing Career Fair

Jan 31 Speaker: Joe Stallard, Sewell Automotive

Feb 5 Speaker: Greg Douglas, H-E-B

Feb 5 Student Retailing Association store

tour, The Home Depot

Feb 6 Speaker: Giles Bowman, The Home epot

Feb 7 Speaker: Stage Stores team

Feb 8 Speaker: Rich White, H-E-B

Feb 11 Speaker: Ric Anderson, Anderson Brand

Feb 19 H-E-B Day at Texas A&M

Feb 26 Speaker: Dave Mebane, Spoons

Mar 1 Speaker: Nikki Dispensa, Kohl’s

Mar 5 Speaker: Academy Sports + Outdoors team

Mar 5 Student Retailing Association store

tour, Academy Sports + Outdoors

Mar 8-13 New York City Market Tour

Mar 19 S peaker: Vicki Spencer, Zale Corp.

Mar 27 Speaker: Courtney McCargill, Buckle

Apr 2 CRS Corporate Sponsor Forum

Apr 2 Student Retailing Association store

tour, OfficeMax

Apr 4 Speaker: Evonne Brazell, Macy’s

Apr 4 Zale Visionary Merchant Lecture honoring

Academy Sports + Outdoors CEO Rodney Faldyn

Apr 9 S peaker: Dave Mannon, Altria

Apr 10 Fashion Career Day in Dallas

Apr 10 Speaker: Vicky Flenniken, Macy’s

Apr 16 Student Retailing Association store

tour, Kohl’s

Apr 19 Teens in Retailing service project

May 2 Marketing Department & CRS Awards Ceremony

May 18 Former Student Advisory Group – Dallas Chapter

May 18 CRS Corporate Advisory Board Meeting, Dallas

May 24 Former Student Advisory Group – Houston Chapter

SPRING 2013 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

We were busy!

By Hailey Jenson, Zale Leadership Scholar

Mays Business School retail students master the analysis of retailing in classes. However, many are drawn to retailing because they love fashion. To fill a hole in discussing texitles and Pantone colors (they took Retailing Research and Financial Strategy instead), five trend-savvy fashionstas invested their time and money to participate in Dallas Career Day.

Hosted by Fasion Group Internation, the program is the longest running fashion career event of its kind. It attracted over 1,200 college students for seminars on visual merchandising, wholesale, fashion illustration, and creative design. JCPenney was the title sponsor, with scholarships provided by Texas Cotton Producers, Elements boutique, City Sewing Machine, and Neiman Marcus.

The day concluded with merchandising and design compeitions, with cash awards, a runway show and the presentation of over $30,000 in scholarships.

Charlene White, Senior Human Resource Manager of Gap Inc., hosted my favorite seminar on Retail Management. She emphasized how fast paced retailing really is and the enormous potential for career growth. Since I want to pursue a career in buying, this day was a great learning experience!

Hailey Jenson and Katie Klein at the Dallas Career Day hosted by Fashion Group International

Retailing Career Fair September 11

Register at crstamu.org

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Tom Wolfe, an American author and journalist, said it best when he claimed that, “One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years.” The trip this past Spring Break was the first time I have ever been able to experience New York City, and I must say Mr. Wolfe could not be more correct. From the corporate meetings, to shopping in SoHo, to seeing a Broadway show, or to just walking around the city, I knew instantly that I could see myself returning to this great city.

During our trip, we attended two days of meetings with some of America’s best-known companies. Jerry Telson, Manager of the Walgreen’s at the Times Square location, gave us a tour of the three-story drug store while walking us through a little company history, and explaining the celebrity events, security measures, and merchandising strategies they implement at this particular location. For me, the most memorable part of his speech was a story about connecting with customers. While working as a sales associate, he decided to find out what greeting produced the best response from visitors. He learned that saying, “Hi, how are you?” made people, especially the highly international, tourist customer base, feel uncomfortable because that greeting implies that you know the person you are addressing. However, a simple “Welcome to Walgreens” put smiles on customer faces and established comfortable setting. The tour concluded with a rare viewing of the New Year’s Eve crystal ball, which is housed atop the store.

Next, we met at the Ross Buying Office. An assistant buyer and location planner discussed what each of these entry-level positions do. I particularly enjoyed hearing the buyer speak passionately about meeting their customers’ needs. With the buying office only blocks from vendors, Ross buyers regularly meet personally to view samples and negotiate deals. Ross will order products to put in stores immediately, rather than planning assortments six months in advance like most retailers.

Although I enjoyed all of our meetings, our second day of tours at Bergdorf Goodman and Gilt Groupe was definitely my favorite! It was amazing to experience Bergdorf’s luxurious glamor. The 104 year-old store has kept up with technology and provides all employees iPhones; this reflects that the company’s business is really centered on relationships with customers. Without much weekday store traffic, employees regularly send merchandise pictures and updates on new arrivals to clients via their iPhones. Bergdorf sees iPhone use as a competitive advantage.

At Gilt Groupe, I discovered my dream job. The truly faster-than-fast-paced dynamics, modern open-office environment and youthful culture are amazing. Gilt manages all business aspects, from product photography, sales, and online listings in-house in order. The Park Avenue office location lived up to its luxury brand status.

By the end of the meetings, I was ready to explore the city. I enjoyed seeing Roger & Hammerstein’s Cinderella on Broadway, and shopping flea markets and SoHo boutiques. However, my most memorable experience was being asked to participate in a VH1 taping to be aired on national television the next morning. I gave them a big smile and shared my inner Aggie with a loud WHOOP! That may have been a trip highlight, but the entire New York City experience is something that I will never forget!

NEW YORK CITY Market Tour

Every Spring Break, the Zale Scholars and top retail students travel to New York City and participate in a variety of activities that emphasize both personal and professional developments of the members.

By Kailie Flores student participant and Zale Scholar

Dr. Xen Koufteros is an expert on supply chain security.

He is an Associate Professor of Information & Operations Management.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & SHARING: CRS SPONSOR FORUM

ShowroomingDr. Subodah Kumar urges retailers to avoid “the knee jerk reaction of price matching” when it comes to showrooming. His research concludes that price matching is not a long-term success strategy for brick-and-mortar retailers facing off against on-line sites. Instead, stores should focus on relationship building with guests and view showrooming as an opportunity for sales. Even though 24 percent of shoppers admit to showrooming – a number expected to surge with more smartphone use and increased WiFi access –there is still no real replacement for a quality in-store experience.

Kumar’s talk was part of CRS’s annual Sponsor Forum, an exclusive executive education event that showcases retailing research at Mays Business School for its corporate partners. Center Director Cheryl Bridges says, “We want companies to know that not only can they find great student talent at Texas A&M, but world-class faculty engaged in relevant industry research.”

Addressing the heavily HR focused audience, Murray Barrick, director of the Center for Human Resource Management, discussed his research on employee motivation. He concludes employers should focus on job enhancements that give employees ownership and control over their workplace. This investment pays off in terms of retailing engaged employees who are intrinsically motivated and more knowledgeable.

“Ways to Design Enriched Work Environments

1. Clarify Accomplishments - let people know when they succeed. 2. Allow Ownership - Let workers complete “whole” projects, start to finish 3. Allow freedom to make independent decisions, choose work methods,& schedule 4. Increase the variety of tasks done

Retailers have some of the most extraordinary supply chain systems in the world. Since the recession, companies have invested more in these systems to be even more efficient and money saving. However, more should be done to protect product supply and consumer safety says Xen Koufteros Associate Professor of INFO. He advises companies to invest in preventative measures to protect supply chain security. “If you allow a security breach, everyone goes down; brands and companies fail.” Experts predict the next terrorist attacks will happen through supply chain. Koufteros shocked audience members with a video of Chinese food forgery through the manufacturing of chemical filled fake eggs. Surprises continued when colleague Neil Geismar discussed his research on shelf space optimization and noted that beer and diapers share cross product elasticities - perhaps because both share rectangular packaging which is visually appealing to customers or he joked, because new babies make you want a beer. The day’s program concluded with a networking dinner at Madden’s Casual Gourmet in Downtown Bryan. Participants all share a common value in investing in retailing education at Texas A&M; plus, it’s good to meet and network with each other.

Dr. Neil Geismar is an Associate Professor of Information & Operations Management.

Motivating

Safe Systems & Better Shelves

It’s not enough to have a great idea. You must be able to sell and communicate it to enjoy business success. Stanley Marcus understood that better than anyone. His values in effective written, oral and visual communication live on through the semester-long case competition that bears his name. Each year, students in the Retail Merchandising class are challenged to wear the multiple hats of entrepreneurs, brand developers, and above all compelling communicators as they create the business plan for retail’s hot new store concept.

This project leverages a defining characteristic of Texas A&M’s retail education: it is housed within Mays Business School. All students are business majors and retailing focused. Gary Shockey, Store Manager for Sam’s Club in College Station, and marketing faculty members judged the “store of the future” projects for strength of financial plan, pricing strategy, originality of concept, depth of assortment, and marketability. Like any entrepreneur seeking start-up capital, much of their project depended on effective ability to sell their ideas. Not only did it have to be a great concept, but students had to persuasively communicate the intricacies of their store and products.

Winning student Ryan Stepp said, “The project offers an overview of launching a retail business. With Riding Habit, my team and I filled a niche for stylish, career apparel within the affordable luxury category. It easily transitions from office to charity fundraiser.”

Neiman Marcus presented the winning team with gift cards, and awarded individual top communication prizes to Allie Miller and Christina Tharp.

6

Launching tomorrow’s hot new store concept:Stanley Marcus case competition

With serious scholarship dollars, a free trip to NYC, and major bragging rights at stake, 12 Aggies embarked on a semester-long case study project in fall Fall 2012. Mentored by Dr. Sandi Lampo, they participated in the YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund case competition. This is the third year Texas A&M University has competed in this national level competition, and their third win.

Students were challenged to create a new private label line for a flash retailer such as Gilt Groupe, Ideeli, Rue La La Fashion, Haute Look, Prive or Ivory Trunk targeting the tween market. Utilizing both primary and secondary research, students created a Merchandise Assortment Plan, a Pricing Strategy, a Six- Month Sales Plan, a Brand Launch Strategy, Marketing Strategy and a Sustainability Plan for their private label line to be launched Spring 2014. They developed all aspects of their private- label brand, from name development to specific inventory levels needed throughout the season.

This case study required students to identify a void in the tween market, create a new line to fulfill customer demand, develop a plan to implement, and show the feasibility of this new line in the actual marketplace. With the tween market growing in both influence and spending power, the possibilities were wide, although tapered by the reality of catering to customers who cannot drive, hold jobs, or get into PG-13 movies.

Four winners were selected from Texas A&M University’s five submissions: Victoria Galindo, Lauren Ray, Sarah Amelunke, and Macey Cangelose. Each won $5,000 scholarships; as a junior, Macey Cangelose, a junior, has the opportunity to compete again next year for $25,000.

Each student thoughtfully explored the wants and needs to their customer. Victoria Galindo designed a tween line of bras that addressed an awkward stage in a young adolescent’s life. Lauren Ray created customizable school uniforms that blended personalized fashion expression within strict dress codes.

Dr. Sandi Lampo devoted hours of personal and academic time to coach these students for exemplary performance. She gladly exclaimed, “I am so excited to have winners again in this prestigious national fashion competition! In just three years, our students have won $65,000 in scholarships and multiple internship opportunities in NYC! . This is an amazing opportunity for our students. It opens doors to careers in NYC’s highly competitive fashion world. Our winning students represented Texas A&M with honor, professionalism and integrity. They excelled in both their independent written case studies and their personal interactions with retailing executives in New York City. I could not be more proud, and I know they have exciting careers in the fashion industry ahead of them!”

$65,000 in scholarships…you bet your flash sale site; 2013 Fashion Scholarship Fund

By Kelli Levey

Retailing Research: Social media spurs higher $$$

Visit crstamu.org to learn more about retailing research

at Texas A&M

$65,000 in scholarships…you bet your flash sale site; 2013 Fashion Scholarship Fund

More fans on a company’s Facebook page can help generate more income, indicates a research study conducted by four professors, including two from Mays.

The study shows social media participation helps strengthen the bond between the customer and the firm, generating 5.6 percent more revenue and about 5 percent more in-person visits than among non-participating customers.

The researchers were Rishika Rishika and Ramkumar Janakiraman, both marketing professors at Mays; Ashish Kumar from Aalto University; and Ram Bezawada from the University at Buffalo, N.Y. This study has been published in a special issue of the journal Information Systems Research titled “Social Media and Business Transformation.”

Companies have long questioned the return on investment of resources needed to operate social media sites. Previously, there was no individual-level data connecting customers’ participation in a firm-hosted social media site and their actual purchase behaviors. This study gives business managers a better understanding of the return on their investment in social media. In particular, the study uses novel behavioral data and helps understand the link between social media participation and the number of customer purchases.

Building online communities, personalizing messages and encouraging contributions from online members enhances the customer experience. It also increases the frequency of customer shopping visits and promotes sales overall, the research indicated. The keys to success include maintaining a user-friendly site, sending regular updates about events, personalizing key messages to customers, and encouraging customer-firm interaction through these messages.

“Anyone can open a Facebook page and post, but good firms do something with that interaction – they capitalize on that engagement,” explains Janakiraman. Jason’s Deli, for instance, follows up on customer complaints posted on its social media sites, and large firms boast about the number of fans they have. “We argue social media is good for the business because it helps the customers. They have easy access to information, it pops up on their screens. And reviews come in from other fans in the community.”

By fostering an online relationship between the customer and the firm, customers can be segmented based on purchase history and their prior interactions with the firm. Market segmentation is essential, since not all customers respond to social media equally.

Rishika Rishika and Ramkumar Janakiraman explain how companies capitazlize on customer

engagement through social media.

Director of Community Relations Kelley Schadt, scholarship recipient Haley Sullivan, VP of Visual Merchandising Peggy Doughty and Ann Thornton.

To invest in talented future leadership and honor a longtime colleague, The Container Store awarded the second annual Mona Williams – Making a Difference in Retail Scholarship on May 2nd. Haley Sullivan received the $1,500 award in recognition of her success and future potential as a retail buyer.

This summer, Haley is begins her second retailing internship with Ross Buying Office in New York City. In 2012, she interned as a field merchandiser with Tommy Hilfiger, ensuring that the brand was well represented in Macy’s stores. The Container Store honors the late Mona Williams by establishing this endowment for students of the Center for Retailing Studies. “Words can’t describe the tribute that Mona deserves as a result of her contributions and wake. She was an incredible friend and colleague,” says Chief Merchandising Officer, Sharon Tindell.

A Tribute to Making a Difference

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Four Aggies breathed youthful energy into the National Retail Federation’s 102-year-old-conference by participating in a first-ever student/CEO panel. Retail’s Big Show is NRF’s annual convention and EXPO. It attracts more than 27,000 participants, including 200 students from 35 of the nation’s top universities.

Senior leaders in retailing, such as NRF President & CEO Matt Shay and Macy’s Chairman Terry Lundgren recognized the students in conference opening remarks as “the future talent of the retail industry.” Their message was clear: career opportunities in retailing are endless.

This idea carried over into the first panel of recent graduates who are already making their mark on the industry. Moderated by Macy’s VP of Talent Acquisition Anne Voller, four NRF Student Association alumni discussed what it’s like to make their first steps in the real world. After replacing the caps and gowns with professional business attire, each panelist suggested one key fundamental – to remember that every day is an interview, and networking symposiums like this one are an invaluable launching pads to a career in retailing.

Covering their day-to-day responsibilities to their transition into full- time retail careers, the panelists, from Victoria’s Secret, Kohl’s, Macy’s and Belk, shared tidbits of both optimism and caution.

This counsel was followed by thoughts from some of the brightest and tenured CEOs in the business. HSN’s Mindy Grossman, Rent the Runway’s Jennifer Hyman, BJ’s Wholesale Club Laura Sen, and Tractor Supply Co.’s Jim Wright honed in on three key elements in the industry. Culture, communication and the appreciation of innovation are elements driving retail that won’t disappear anytime soon, they said. Sen reinforced the importance of communication skills at all levels in one’s career. “Communication is the key to everything. It establishes you as a person and your relationships with your peers. Thoughtful use of communication is key to success.”Recapping her transition to HSNi six years ago, Grossman revisited the comments from those who wondered why she joined HSN. She felt that the next wave of retail revolved around the direct-to-customer experience

that HSN could offer. It was through the concept of what Grossman called “intra-preneurialism” – establishing a culture of open creativity that fosters avenues for internal growth – that has helped HSNi find much success with their associates at all levels.In closing remarks, Wright stressed the importance of life-long learning and setting goals for establishing traits that would differentiate each student from others looking to start their careers.

While the Center for Retailing Studies has a presence at this important annual EXPO, this was the first time it sponsored students to participate. Kelli Hollinger, Associate Director and Lecturer, also attended and said, “This was such a high-impact learning experience for these students. They established personal connections with CEOs from major retailers, learned from world and business leaders through the keynote sessions, and positively represented Texas A&M University to this international audience. They did nothing short of a superb job.”

Kylee Young, Victoria Galindo and Shelby Edmoundson at the NRF Big Show in NYC.

Senior Business Honors major and Zale Scholar Lauren Ray (right) won a $5,000 scholarship through the NRF Foundation, plus a travel stipend to attend the Big Show.

NRF BIG SHOW & STUDENT PROGRAMS Coming full Circle: Future Retail Talent and Industry CEOS sound

By Tony Fontana, NRF Foundation (blog.nrf.com/2013); edits & comments by Kelli Hollinger

AGGIES in the BIG APPLEThis year, more Aggies than ever are moving to New York City. Congratulations to:

Lauren Ray, intern, Kenneth Cole Sarah Amelunke, intern, Li & Fung Macey Cangelose, intern, Gilt Groupe Haley Sullivan, intern, Ross Buying Office Lauren, Macey, and Sarah were introduced to their fashion-forward NYC internships through participation in the YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund national competition. Haley returns to the city after interning during Summer 2012 with Tommy Hilfiger.

Major Fall Events

Retailing Career Fair September 11 Texas A&M campus

Register at: crstamu.org

Retailing Summit October 10-11 Westin Galleria Dallas

Register at: retailingsummit.org

Center for Retailing Studies Mays Business School

4112 TAMU | College Station,TX 77843

979-845-0325 | crstamu.org retailingsummit.org

New Center

CRS Staff

Cheryl Holland Bridges Director and Executive Professor

Kelli Hollinger Associate Director and Lecturer

Dr. Venky Shankar Research Director

PARTNERS We are thrilled to welcome three new partner companies and sponsors this spring semester: Datascan,

Kalypso and National Sporting Goods Association. Each will have a presence at key programs, such as the Retailing Career Fair, Sponsor Forum and Retailing Summit. We hope you enjoy learning more about these strong organizations.

Datascan offers retailers a full range of Self-Scan inventory solutions through a simple, comprehensive on-demand rental model, Solution-as-a-Service. With over 40 years of industry experience Datascan builds lasting relationships with clients one inventory at a time.

Kalypso is a management consulting firm exclusively focused on innovation, product development and product lifecycle management (PLM). It serves eight unique industry sectors, including food & drug retailing, general merchandise, apparel footwear & accessories retailing, automotive retailing, direct marketing and food services. Across these sectors, the firm focuses on innovation for all three types of merchandise; formulated innovation for food & drug sectors, engineered innovation for hardlines sectors and crafted innovation for fashion and softlines.

Kalypso White Paper: The Liberation of Design in Retail Markets

In retail, the responsibility, authority and capability to design apparel, footwear and accessories has begun a rapid shift from a relatively small number of revered design gods and goddesses to the broader masses. To compete, retailers can use the liberation of design as an opportunity to innovate and improve their merchandise and product development processes, and to ensure they are bringing the best design ideas to market. Download this white paper today

The National Sporting Goods Association has served as the leading voice for the sporting goods industry since 1929. The association develops industry research and publications, while also providing discounted services and hosting the annual NSGA Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit. All of these services are aimed at helping NSGA members be more profitable and to advocate on their behalf.

NSGA members include Academy Sports + Outdoors, New Balance, Sports Authority, Dick’s Sporting Goods and many more.

For more information about membership or NSGA’s products and services, please visit www.nsga.org.

CENTER FOR RETAILING STUDIES