Retailing

Retailing is the study of an industry that provides the delivery of goods and services to the marketplace for personal, family, or household consumption. Retailers are challenged to satisfy their consumers in a highly competitive marketplace, while yielding a profit. 

Students have an opportunity to study the diverse and constantly changing landscape of retail: electronic, category specialist, discount store, department store, specialty store, supercenter, catalog, etc. Because retailers are everywhere and are found in different sizes and types, the opportunities are great. Also, a strategic entrepreneur perspective is incorporated into the program design. Many of the successful retailers listed among Forbes 400 wealthiest people in the United States began as entrepreneurs. Large retailers provide executive training programs with potential for substantial advancement, and small-scale entrepreneurs can create their own retailing ventures, but the skills learned are transferable regardless of the direction and offer a broad range of career opportunities.

Because retailing exists in a market environment, the retailing curriculum includes twelve elective hours chosen from the C-N business program. Additionally, fifteen elective hours provide choices to enhance the student’s interests. For the student with a passion for fashion, a fashion merchandising focus is provided. Class experiences connect with the retail setting through field trips, guest speakers and networking opportunities with alumni and advisory board members. An internship experience of 150 hours in a retail setting is selected and completed by the student with faculty supervision. These sites have included various department stores, outlet stores, specialty stores, and a hospital. Some web sites to visit:

            www.careersinretailing.com
            www.stores.org
            www.fgi.org
            www.itaaonline.org
            www.chainstoreage.com
            www.discountstorenews.com
            www.drugstorenews.com
            www.homefurnishingsnews.com
            www.dailynewsrecord.com
            www.internetretailer.com
            www.visualstore.com
            www.wwd.com

Course listings with descriptions are located in the Carson-Newman catalogue.

Positions in Retailing

1. Advertising Manager
2. Buyer
3. Catalog Manager
4. Fashion Coordinator
5. Franchisor
6. Marketing Research Director
7. Sales Manager
8. Store Manager
9. Web Specialist

For more information or to visit the department, contact:
Linda McGoldrick
Leader of the Retailing Program
Family and Consumer Sciences Division
865-471-3541
lmcgoldrick@cn.edu.