New spring merchandise has arrived! Retail Merchandising and Management seniors Olivia Hammernik, Kelsey Grant, and Meagan Myers are excited for the opportunity to breathe new life into their store.
In their Retail Practicum I course last fall, Hammernik, Grant, and Myers worked with their classmates as staff behind the scenes at The Niche. Acting as buyers for the boutique, they attended MN Mart, NorthStar Fashion Exhibitors market, and MAGIC in Las Vegas, the retail industry’s most comprehensive marketplace.
“As buyers, we had the opportunity to talk with professional vendors and negotiate prices for merchandise we hoped to sell at The Niche,” Grant said.
Knowing they would be marketing to fellow students, The Niche staff needed to keep their prices affordable as they sought new merchandise for their store. But, recognizing vendors at the markets may not be able to negotiate on prices, the staff have other buying resources.
“Fashion-Go is a wholesale website,” Myers said. “Whatever we can’t buy at the market, we can buy at Fashion-Go and get it for the price we need. After researching prices and trend forecasting, we present to our practicum class what we want to sell. We decide as a team what to sell in our store.”
Now in their Retail Practicum II course, Hammernik, Grant, and Myers work in the storefront, helping The Niche customers. They are able to see firsthand the success of their decisions made the semester before and are empowered to continue making new decisions while managing their boutique.
“At the start of the semester, the store is like a clean canvas,” Myers said. “We have complete control of the layout.”
Hammernik noted how The Niche staff strives to create a warm and welcoming experience for their customers.
“We are always looking for ways to improve our layout by switching our visual merchandise,” Myers added, “We’ve had a really good semester so far. We’ve had to restock already.”
The Niche’s layout is well organized and visually inviting.
“We’re prone to detail anywhere you look,” Grant explained. “We like to cross-merchandise and create whole looks.”
The Niche also sells $1 coffee.
“You can stop in for a cup on your way to class,” Hammernik said. "We're located in 211 Heritage Hall, and we encourage you to Shop local, stylish, & smart. Shop The Niche."
For a full list of the new spring brands, visit The Niche.
