The Retailing and Consumer Science Program recently hosted the annual Movers and Shakers event on April 9, providing students with unique opportunities for face-to-face interaction with several of Houston’s highest performing retailers. A highlight included the keynote speaker, Scott McClelland, President of H-E-B. H-E-B operates 350 stores in Texas and Mexico and the 9th largest grocery chain in the United States.
The spring recruiting event and retail forum began with a gathering of 150 successful UH Retailing and Consumer Science students interviewing for executive retail training positions and internships with Houston's premier retailers including Academy, BB1 Classic, Dillard’s, HEB, Kroger, Macy's. Stage Stores, Target, and Walmart.
McClelland’s presentation, "Why Retailing is Exciting," captivated an audience of retailing and consumer science students and invited guests. Houston has become truly international city where the most successful retail marketers pay close attention to the fastest growing segments of the population and extend their appeal beyond the perceived "average American." "We now sell more sushi than bananas in several of our stores," McClelland said. "There are a lot of different places and choices for consumers and it’s necessary for the supermarket industry to understand each niche and evolve and transform our strategies, and tailor our inventory to increase increase profitability," he added.
Afternoon sessions featured the "Challenges of Managing Large and Small Stores" with Don Golding, Store Manager of the Galleria Dillard’s and Tara Peters, alumnus and Store Manager of Sur la Table at River Oaks. Erin Busch and Caitlin Cortez shared the Houston's own Elaine Turner's success story "Elaine Turner: Design Process from A to Z". UH Retailing and Consumer Science students left the event negotiating multiple offers for exciting new retail careers.