Retailing giants to share know-how at FSU ‘Student Summit’ conference

Florida State University’s department of textiles and consumer sciences will welcome top fashion and retail industry executives March 13-16 during its annual Student Summit and
Fashion Forum Conference.

“With lectures and panels featuring insider perspectives on the future of retailing and fashion, our conference will educate merchandising and apparel design students on the career opportunities and ever-changing trends in their chosen fields,” said James McLaughlin, the coordinator of FSU’s merchandising internship program.

An array of events—from Tuesday evening through Friday afternoon—will be held at the University Center, Student Life Building, Student Services Building and Alumni Center, all located on the FSU campus. While evening receptions and Friday’s 3 p.m. “Fashionable Tea” are by invitation only, the balance of the conference is free and open to the public.

Retailing and fashion experts slated to participate include Richard A. McAllister, president and chief executive officer, Florida Retail Federation; David Wolfe, creative director, Doneger Creative Services; Julie Greiner, chief executive officer, Macy’s Florida; Jan Longo, divisional vice president, Private Brand Design for Beall’s; Janet Cook, president, TSP, and former president, Esteé Lauder; Devajit Mukherjee, senior vice president, Innovations, Sears Holdings Corporation; Geoffrey Ayoub, senior vice president of planning, Home Shopping Network; Professors Christopher Moore of Edinburgh University and Stephen Doyle of Glasgow Caledonian University (both in Scotland); and Natalie Doucet, president, Arts of Fashion, among many others.

Spearheading the conference is the FSU Center for Retail Merchandising and Product Development, created in 2005. Part of FSU’s College of Human Sciences and its textiles and consumer sciences department—which boasts one of the nation’s largest retail merchandising programs with programs also in textiles and apparel design—the center promotes a strong partnership between the academic and retailing communities while helping to prepare future industry leaders.

For a complete schedule of events during the March 13-16 Student Summit and Fashion Forum Conference, and for more information on the FSU Center for Retail Merchandising and Product Development, visit the Web site at
www.chs.fsu.edu/tcs/rmpd/.