ABOUT MY INTERNSHIP
GOALS
When I first started my internship at Figleaf Boutique, my initial goals involved learning aspects of visual merchandising, PR related activities, and using social media to bring customers into the store. My advisor, Lynne, and I decided I should focus on the following goals:
Engage in Figleaf Boutique promotions through public relations and event planning.
Work with owner, staff, models and Kappa Kappa Gamma members to manage the merchandise selection, model fittings and other logistics for Figleaf Boutique for the Kappa Kappa Gamma fashion show in September.
Work with owner, staff, and organizations to organize and manage private shopping events and promotions with OSU groups, Greek life organizations &/or local community during the Fall semester.
Create weekly in-store visual merchandising displays & compelling photography for social media content.
Work with owner and team leader to learn how to change in store visual merchandising displays weekly according to Figleaf standards.
Work with owner and team leader to learn how to successfully receive new merchandise into the POS system, tag, and display on the floor in a way that makes the most impact!
Work with owner to learn how to create compelling photography of each visual merchandising display, to possibly be used in company social media postings.
Assist in determining new merchandise needed for customers in Columbus store.
Work directly with customers in the store to better understand customer’s merchandise needs, & trending purchases to report to owner/buyer weekly via the Merchandise-Needed chart.
Provide occasional feedback to owner/buyer, upon request, regarding merchandise style selection, based on the above criteria.
SUMMARY
My experience interning at Figleaf Boutique was extremely valuable as I began my career path. At the beginning of this internship, I had several ideas for how I could achieve as much as possible within one semester. After discussing these ideas with my boss, Lynne, she encouraged me to lower my expectations and brainstorm more realistic goals. I have since realized that being the owner of a small business like Figleaf is a job that comes with a lot of work. Although I was able to develop my skills within visual merchandising, styling, merchandise photography, and sales, I would need much more time to experience what it would really be like to run my own boutique. At the end of this experience, I realized how much I would really enjoy owning my own store in the future. I would be able to buy merchandise for my specific target customer, manage my employees as I see fit, and be as creative as I want with visual displays. To me, this career would allow me to experience several careers within the fashion industry - merchandising, buying, forecasting, and more. I am so thankful for my opportunity to intern at Figleaf Boutique because I discovered a new goal of mine - to open up my own women’s apparel and accessories boutique. Although I may discover a new passion or dream in the future, I feel as though this internship truly taught me so much and encouraged me to keep working hard and developing my strengths.