With Homecoming merchandise in the spotlight, eight members of Northern Illinois University’s Fashion Industries Organization put their fashion merchandising skills to the test, creating a display at Huskie Books and Gear designed to appeal to alumni and visiting families.
The collaboration gave students a chance to apply classroom lessons in visual merchandising, work as a team and connect with a campus business. Tessa Davis, FIO’s secretary and treasurer, helped bring the partnership to life.
“I definitely gained some really good retail merchandising and teamwork experience during this collaboration,” Davis said. “It was a really cool experience to work with students that all had different approaches to fashion and visual display.”
The students drew upon lessons from fashion merchandising classes to shape the display around a specific audience. With Homecoming and a football game bringing families, alumni and former staff to campus, the group selected merchandise they thought would catch shoppers’ attention and fit the occasion.
“I was able to take the skills I’m currently learning in Professor Lorenz’s Introduction to the Fashion Industry course on the importance of aiming a display at a specific target audience and demographic,” Davis said.
MaryAnn Lorenz, clinical assistant professor of fashion merchandising and FIO faculty advisor, said opportunities like the bookstore collaboration help students move beyond classroom instruction and develop skills they can use in the fashion industry.
“Opportunities like this are incredibly valuable because they allow students to take the knowledge and skills they are learning in the classroom and apply them in a real-world retail environment,” Lorenz said.
Lorenz also praised the students’ initiative and creativity, adding that the experience helps students build professional skills while strengthening connections between NIU students and the campus community.
For Valerie Hodge, campus store manager at Huskie Books and Gear, the project was a meaningful way to connect the bookstore with students while giving them practical experience in retail merchandising.
“The students came in and were able to put some of the skills they are learning to use in a real-life retail setting,” Hodge said.
The display also featured the organization’s name and Instagram page to raise awareness of fashion and marketing opportunities at NIU. Hodge said the bookstore hopes to continue the partnership, with the next collaboration scheduled for Dec. 1.
Davis said the project offered valuable experience in planning, communicating with a business partner and working alongside fellow organization members. She was grateful to Hodge and the bookstore for making the collaboration possible.
Learn more about fashion merchandising at NIU.
