Student success, reports from NRF experience
East Carolina University was represented again this year at the National Retail Federation’s annual event in New York City. Students from the Department of Interior Design and Merchandising were among the thousands of participants who received invaluable opportunities to connect with industry leaders and secure internships and job offers.
The National Retail Federation is the world’s largest Retail Trade Association in the world. Scholarship support from HHP, IDMR, advisory board members, and faculty enabled ECU students to attend the event.
From left, Ellyn Hart, Lucy Maack, Kylie Kresho and Mallory Mansfield representing ECU in New York City.
ECU’s participating students were: Kylie Kresho, James (Exum) Taylor, Jenna Waddell, Brianna Oakley, Gretchen Sargent, Ellyn Hart, Lucy Maack, Mallory Mansfield, Claire Nicholson, Madison Peters, Madelyn Shuey, Olivia Wyland, Kristin Wiley, Kenly Eads and Rachel Matthews. Dr. Amanda Muhammad, IDMR department chair, accompanied the students to New York City. Dr. Marina Alexander serves as the faculty adviser for the National Retail Federation Student Association. Kresho, president, and Eads, vice president of NRFSA, collaborated with students and faculty to organize the trip to NYC.
Kresho accepted a merchandising intern role with Belk. Students also interviewed with or talked to recruiters representing Burlington, Crate & Barrel, Nordstrom and Nordstrom for its retail leadership development program.
Here are direct student responses about their experience:
Ellyn Hart: “Attending the NRF Student Program was an unforgettable experience! What I enjoyed most was the incredible opportunity to connect with some of the most influential leaders in the retail industry. It was inspiring to meet and learn from individuals who are shaping the future of retail. One of the highlights for me was talking to a product designer from Crate and Barrel. Their insights into the creative process and product development truly resonated with me as design and innovation with AI are a passion of mine. Another amazing moment was seeing the CEO of Studs. I’ve admired their work for so long and being able to quickly say hi and express my admiration for the brand was a dream come true. She’s such a visionary and I was in awe of her brilliance and what she’s achieved sense coming up with the concept.
This event allows thousands of students to connect with industry leaders and interviewers.
Additionally, our mentor day was a standout experience. I had the chance to engage with professionals from companies like Burberry, American Express, Uniqlo, and Dicks sporting goods. Hearing their stories, advice, and unique perspectives on the industry was incredibly insightful. These interactions have given me a broader understanding of the retail industry and inspired me to think more out of the box with my career path.”
James (Exum) Taylor is the NRF Rising Star from ECU. He attended a virtual meeting, and he got a chance to listen to Tommy Hilfiger. When he attended the NRF student program, he was able to briefly chat with Javier Quinones, CEO/CSO of Ikea USA.
“The highlight of my trip was the mentor session when I got to talk to employees of Burberry and Uniqlo face to face. Being able to sit next to people with jobs I could only dream of was very inspiring to me and I’m extremely happy that I had the opportunity to do so.”
Lucy Maack: “I think that my favorite part of the trip is getting to express my interests to the companies at the career fair and talk to the recruiters about how they got to the position that they are in. I also love being able to see some of the speakers around and introduce myself to them while thanking them for their speech. Overall, the experience is super beneficial for students trying to break into the retail industry and meet the executives of our favorite companies.”
Claire Nicholson: “I was able to learn about being authentic in the workplace and the importance of always being curious and asking questions. Both of these experiences were very valuable and helped me in my interview process with the company!”
Brianna Oakley: “I enjoyed being able to hear from business leaders, as well as hearing their advice on their successes. I was able to interact with the CEO of Uniqlo at the career fair. I benefited from attending this conference because it allowed me to network with others. This not only includes speakers and presenters, but students across the country as well. I went to the career fair and had the opportunity to speak with some of my favorite brands (Zara, Victoria Secret, Nordstrom, etc.).”
Kristin Wiley: “My experience at the NRF Student Program was amazing. I especially valued the chance to network with retail executives and gain firsthand knowledge from prominent figures in the industry. One of the highlights was going to keynote talks with CEOs of well-known businesses, where they discussed leadership and the direction of retail. Additionally, I had the opportunity to interact with prominent people I follow on social media, getting guidance and motivation for my work. The program gave participants a deeper understanding of the retail industry and useful connections.”