UF students explore Big Apple during spring break

March 24, 2009

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Rather than soaking up the sun on a Florida beach, 15 University of Florida students spent their spring break in the Big Apple for the UF David C. Miller Center for Retailing Education and Research’s New York City Retail Tour.

During the five-day tour from March 9 to 13, students visited more than 30 retail locations and met with a variety of retail-industry executives, including several UF alumni. The tour included visits to notable retail establishments, such as Bloomingdales, Juicy Couture, Macy’s Herald Square, Saks Fifth Avenue and Toys “R” Us.

“New York is where fashion trends are established,” said Betsy Trobaugh, tour director and JCPenney director at the UF center. “This is why we prefer New York City.”

This year’s tour marks the third time Trobaugh has taken students to New York during spring break. Her favorite aspect of the tour is showing students a part of the retail industry that they have never seen – the behind-the-scenes buying and planning activities. In fact, some students attending past tours decided to pursue a retail career even though they had never considered a career in the industry.

Although Heather Petrie, a member of the 2009 tour, did not decide to drop her pharmacy major to pursue a retail degree, she said she enjoyed her first visit to the big city.

“I think the best thing about New York City is that it never stops,” Petrie said. “They say the city never sleeps — and I believe that.”

Petrie was most impressed by the Jones New York store. While visiting the store, students met with Aru Kulkarni, president of sales and marketing, and Ted Kim, designer for Anne Klein. Kim showed the students a video of one of his recent exclusive fashion shows and explained his use of diverse textures in his fall clothing line, she said.

During the evenings, students dined at restaurants in Little Italy, shopped in Soho and saw the Broadway play, “Chicago.”

One morning in Manhattan, three students attempted to appear on the “Today” show. “We got close to shaking Matt Lauer’s hand,” Petrie said. “I’m pretty sure we got on camera.”

Debra Malbin, UF alumna, met with students on the first day of the tour to discuss her New York-based business, Debra Malbin Associates. The executive search firm specializes in the fashion industry.

Malbin majored in marketing, then pursued a career in retail buying. UF provided her with a superb education, she said.

“School prepares you to a point,” Malbin said. “Actual training on the job is where one really learns. School gives you the backbone, the thought process and the encouragement.”

All UF students are eligible to attend the retail tours. For more information on future tours, visit the David C. Miller Center for Retailing Education and Research Web site at http://www.cba.ufl.edu/mkt/retailcenter.