UNC Charlotte Students Go To School on Retail

By George Anderson

A group of juniors and seniors at UNC Charlotte who plan to pursue careers in retail find fault with how their future employers are running their stores.

Students told The Charlotte Observer:

• Department stores should concentrate less on soccer moms and more on twenty-somethings. Students wonder if they will shop at stores after reaching 30 if they’ve shopped elsewhere in their twenties.


• Stores need unique product selections to differentiate themselves.


• Store layouts need to be more shopper-friendly with wider aisles, better lighting, etc.


• It’s important to develop pedestrian-friendly shopping areas.

Moderator’s Comment: What do you see as the greatest
strengths and weaknesses of American retailing?

Forgive our cynicism. As we see it, one of the greatest
strengths is the ability to identify problems and opportunities. The greatest
weakness is our pension for doing little to nothing about it.
[George
Anderson – Moderator]

• College
  students give retailers low marks – Charlotte Observer