The National Retail Federation (NRF) is an excellent partner with Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies Department because we have both been around for over a century and share the goal of providing students with unique experiences and opportunities in the apparel industry. NRF also helps to give the industry a voice and provides industry employees with more opportunity for growth by creating a network for learning and inspiration among retail professionals and newcomers alike.
Each year, NRF hosts a student program that connects retail students with industry professionals, job opportunities, and each other as the future of retail. This year, the NRF Student Program was held in New York City from January 9 – 12, 2020. Over 1,000 students from over 100 schools attended the event along with 25 or more hiring retail companies offering roughly 140 different job opportunities. CARS students Mariah Taylor-Judd, Haley Milligan and Barent Getzoff attended the retail event this year. Haley Milligan is CARS NRF Student Abmassador, helping spread the word about the benefits of NRF to her fellow students. Mariah Taylor-Judd was the Rising Star Recipient, an award based off of faculty nomination for receipt of a $1,000 travel stipend to attend the NRF Student Program in New York. Barent Getzoff was one of the 25 semi-finalists for the Next Generation Scholarship, a competition in which students have to present a case study for the chance at receiving a $25,000 scholarship.
Throughout the weekend, students had the opportunity to listen to a number of high-profile speakers from the industry including Elizabeth Heibertshausen from Kohl’s, Alicianne Rand from Rent the Runway, Christian Sopoco from Nordstrom, Daniel Lubetzsky, founder of KIND, and many more. Students had the opportunity to connect with these professionals through breakout sessions and fun activities like ice skating in Rockefeller Center and wellness events. The NRF Student Program hosts a Career Fair each year with big brands such as Amazon, Belk, Sephora and Macy’s looking for new hires. The Career Fair was held on Saturday, for attending Juniors and Seniors, and on-site interviews were held on Sunday.
NRF provides students with opportunities that they wouldn’t get elsewhere. CARS is a proud member of NRF that will continue to send students back for more opportunity, more experience and more fun year after year.
Interested in NRF? Contact CARS NRF Student Ambassador, Haley Milligan, for the inside scoop.
Mariah Taylor-Judd (left) and Haley Milligan (right) at NRF Student Program
Mariah Taylor-Judd (left) and Haley Milligan (right) at Kohl’s Cold Hands, Warm Hearts Skating Event in Rockefeller Center.
Conference room for talk with J.K Symancyk, the CEO of Petsmart.
