Undergraduate Internship Guide

Madison McCalla

Title: Flagship Intern

Company: ABLE

I had the opportunity to be the Flagship Intern at ABLE in Nashville, Tennessee. ABLE is a women's clothing brand that focuses on sustainable products. They provide jobs for women locally and globally with their initiative to end poverty amongst women by providing them with a livable wage.

During my internship, I worked alongside the Flagship manager completing tasks such as comp shopping and event planning. My projects included research on how to improve aspects of the company through displays, their flagship website page, updating images and signage. I also managed the store's daily inventory, styled outfits, and shared ideas on how to showcase capsule pieces in the flagship. I had the opportunity to be a part of several company gatherings, such as the marketing meetings, online product performance review meetings, Fall assortment planning, and ABLE's flagship design meeting for their new flagship location.

This company's environment was friendly and welcoming. ABLE's employees were kind and willing to talk with me about their jobs and shadow on projects. I was given the opportunity to shadow ABLE's stylist during photo shoots for their new Fall line, and I helped prepare outfits for the model.

Abigale Williams

Title: Summer Intern

Company: Akron Rubber Ducks Team Store

I had the privilege of interning in Akron, Ohio for the Akron Rubber Ducks Team Store. I had a great experience learning about sales, retail, and merchandising. It was a challenge due to the worker shortage crisis, but I still learned so many meaningful lessons. I had the opportunity to shadow the store manager on her day-to-day duties. I helped customers find merchandise that would fit their needs. I also found myself getting a great amount of experience in visual merchandising. My supervisors trusted me to dress the mannequins and execute store displays. I even got the opportunity to run the social media page by taking pictures of merchandise, coming up with a caption to grab the customer's attention, and posting the pictures to their store page. I am very thankful for this experience and the skills it has given me to further my career.

Savannah Howerton

Title: Visual Merchandising Intern

Company: Ann Taylor

My internship was with Ann Taylor, an America group of specialty apparel retain chain stores for women. During my internship, I helped refresh and style the store's overall displays, redressing the mannequins with new products. I did everything that goes into the planning and putting together a functional and aesthetic sales floor. I also worked the retail side, assisting clientele. Additionally, I was part of team tasked with opening a new retail location in Charleston, South Caroline, which was an extremely rewarding and positive experience. Seeing and participating in all that goes into such an undertaking was a valuable and rewarding experience.

My overall experience of this internship was incredibly positive. I learned so much about the world of visual merchandising and gained so much from the opportunity. My boss did an excellent job of teaching me and the other interns.

Abby Caughman

Title: Intern

Company: ASHLEYlauren

At ASHLEYlauren, I was able to gain knowledge about the wholesale fashion industry. I worked in marketing, graphic design, merchandising, and at the warehouse. Every day was different and brought new challenges. The environment was super upbeat, and Ashley's team is extraordinary. They are truly professionals in the business, and it is apparent why their company has grown so much over the last couple of years. Ashley Lauren is so inspiring and I learned so much from her. She is determined to have the best customer service and she treats her employees with so much respect.

During the summer, I mainly worked in the warehouse packaging orders, checking inventory, and unboxing new arrivals. I also spent a lot of time on the computer working on the back end of the website, cropping photos, and creating marketing material. We were heavily involved in the planning of the August World of Prom Market Show and a lot of the summer was preparing for that. I am so grateful for this experience and how much it helped me grow as a young professional.

Emma Jones

Title: Sales and Marketing Intern

Company: B-Unlimited

I was a sales and marketing intern at B-Unlimited in Starkville, Mississippi. B-Unlimited is a company that specializes in custom collegiate apparel. The Starkville store sells Mississippi State, Starkville, and greek apparel and accessories.

During my internship, I had several responsibilities including sales, social media marketing, customer service, and merchandising. One of my favorite opportunities was the responsibility and control of a social media account. During my internship, I ran the B-Unlimited Greek Instagram/Facebook (@bunlimitedgreek).

Overall, my internship was a wonderful experience, I grew so much during it. I have more confidence in myself when it comes to responsibility and time management, which were two especially important skills needed during my time at B-Unlimited. I have grown so much in a professional perspective, and learned many things. This internship taught me the value of communication, time management, creativity, leadership, and effective social media marketing.

Alisha McDougal

Title: Sales Associate/ Management Trainee

Company: Bargain Hunt

During the summer of 2020, I was able to intern at Bargain Hunt and learn the skills needed to become an efficient manager. I found myself shadowing the leader of the store and absorbing the knowledge she has obtained in management for over a decade. I worked with 25 fellow employees and served about 2,000 customers. I also attended countless meetings, learned the proper way to file paperwork, and make the best sales. This internship challenged me to stay on my toes and learn everything needed to truly assist customers. Every day brought on a new task that I needed to experience in order to grow in the retail industry. It was a privilege to work with the store and team leaders. I have gained the skills and knowledge to further myself in my pursuit of a managerial career.

Mary Hollis Gee

Title: Visual Merchandising Intern

Company: Barnes and Noble

During my summer internship with Barnes & Noble at Mississippi State University, I have gained invaluable hands-on experience that is crucial for my future career. As a visual merchandising intern, I have been involved in a variety of tasks, from stocking and managing seasonal merchandise areas to customer service, changing merchandise displays, and organizing the stock room. I have also participated in planning merchandise placement for maximum sales effect, attending merchandising meetings, handling shipping and delivery, and demonstrating visual merchandising techniques to others. These experiences have equipped me with practical skills needed to excel in the retail industry. I have also had the opportunity to lead projects. These leadership experiences have honed my project management abilities and boosted my confidence in taking on new challenges. Working closely with experienced professionals and engaging in real-world tasks has deepened my understanding of inventory management and overall retail operations. This internship has been incredibly rewarding and educational, preparing me to navigate and contribute effectively to any retail business. The guidance and support from Elizabeth, a great leader and supervisor, have made a significant impact on my growth and motivation in this role. This internship is undoubtedly a significant stepping stone towards a successful career in retail.

Brittany Zapata

Title: Buyer Intern

Company: Bealls Inc.

This past summer I had the opportunity of being a buyer intern in the dresses department for Bealls Stores located in Bradenton, FL! Throughout the internship, I learned the roles and responsibilities of being a merchandise assistant, assistant buyer, and a senior level buyer. My daily activities consisted of excel training, communicating with vendors, entering purchase orders, using reporting cubes, and working on various projects.

During my internship, I was assigned a simple project; to come up with a name, concept, general assortment, and overall store presence for our new maternity line. While my buyer was at market, I came up with a concept board and presentation to show her. A few weeks later, I was presenting in front of our President Matt Beall! During my last week, the name "Me + My" made it through marketing and is becoming a new exclusive brand! I am so filled with excitement to know I made a difference during my internship here at Bealls. Don't be just the "intern", you never know what kind of impact you can make. Look out for Me & My Maternity in Bealls Stores this fall!

This has been the most rewarding experience! Throughout the 10 weeks I spent here, I was able to shadow the VP's of planning & allocations, product development, marketing, and more. Doing so allowed me to figure out exactly what I want to do in this industry, and that's being a buyer on a corporate level! I know that I will confidently carry everything I've learned wherever I go. From entering hundreds of PO's, introducing a new exclusive maternity line, and successfully completing an intern group project presented in front of the entire office. Thank you Bealls for bringing me out of my comfort zone, and most importantly, making me feel like I was a part of the team!

Maddie Ratledge

Title: Buying Intern

Company: Belk

In the summer of 2019, I interned with Belk at their corporate office in Charlotte, NC. During my ten weeks at the office, I worked as a buying intern in the Fashion Bedding office. My team was unique because the buyer was responsible for both private and national brands. Due to the nature of this office, I was able to meet with outside vendors and conceptualize ideas with the design team. The work environment at Belk is very collaborative, and it allowed me to meet so many people from various departments and management levels.

For my summer project, I had to gather market research for a new brand launching in Spring 2020, called Goodness & Grace. I went to different retailers and took pictures of bedding that was my vision for the brand's aesthetic. From there, I created a mood board and consumer profile for Goodness & Grace. This project allowed me to truly define the target customer based on their lifestyle, interests, and disposable income. At the end of the summer, I presented the project to my entire team and upper management in the home division. The Belk internship was such a great learning experience and really helped me get my foot in the door in the retail industry!

Mari Lampkin

Title: Merchandising Intern for Shoes YC, Private Brands, and Kid's Shoes

Company: Belk Inc.

I had the opportunity to work as a Merchandising Intern in the Shoes Young Contemporary, Private Brands, and Kid's Shoes departments at Belk Inc. Although I worked remotely for majority of my internship, I was able to visit the home office in Charlotte, North Carolina and learn a lot about the history and culture of Belk Inc. Throughout my internship, I learned about the buying process and the many moving parts of the nation's largest privately-owned mainline department store. I was able to gain experience on how to set up styles, place orders, check pricing, and submit sale components. These tasks were completed by applying my knowledge of the internal systems such as RMS, RPM, Workhorse, and APX.

Outside of my weekly tasks, I presented several major projects both individually and apart of a group. I presented with other interns after several weeks of researching to find social media influencers who would be great candidates for the Wonderly brand relaunch. I presented individually on new shoe brands Belk could potentially start partnering with and my takeaways from the Belk internship experience.

Overall, I loved every minute of my internship. I was able to network with and work alongside some amazing people. I learned a lot of valuable information that I will be able to apply in my future career. I also felt a part of a welcoming and supportive work community that saw me as much more than a summer intern but a member of their family.

Katie Smith

Title: Intern

Company: Bella Vita

Bella Vita is a family-owned company with two locations, Memphis and Nashville, TN. I interned at Bella Vita in Memphis, TN. Bella Vita sells home decor, jewelry, pajama sets, gifts, art, and more. At Bella Vita, I learned about the daily tasks and operations needed to run a business. My responsibilities varied each day and encompassed serving customers, gift wrapping, supporting the visual merchandiser, managing inventory, and restocking shelves. Every day was different than the day before.

My overall experience at Bella Vita was outstanding, and the number of things I have learned has been rewarding. The environment is fun, full of service and care, and welcoming to each customer who comes through the door. My favorite for me was the opportunity to collaborate with an incredible team of individuals, whose dedication to ensuring smooth operations and providing top-notch customer service was truly inspiring. Engaging in events such as the first anniversary celebration of our Nashville location was particularly enjoyable. Preparing for events like these is super fun with the Bella Vita team, and I am learning from them as I go.

Caroline Bowen

Title: Sales Associate

Company: Bella Vita

This summer, I had the pleasure of working at Bella Vita in Memphis, TN, which proved to be an immensely rewarding experience in a nurturing atmosphere. The positivity and helpfulness of my coworkers made it a truly exceptional learning environment. Their willingness to answer any questions I had, coupled with their unwavering support.

My primary role involved working at the cash wrap, where I assisted customers with purchases and provided gift wrapping services This position allowed me to deepen my product knowledge significantly and refine my customer service skills. Whether guiding a customer to find the perfect gift or addressing any concerns they may have, I embraced every opportunity to enhance their shopping experience. Visual merchandising and restocking displays are a massive part of this job. I would not trade my time at Bella Vita for anything!

Trinity Bancroft

Title: Design Intern

Company: Blue Delta Jean

Blue Delta Jean Company is a bespoke raw denim brand out of Tupelo, Mississippi. They have mastered the unique market of fully customizable jeans and created a global brand. Their jeans are designed to fit every 'body,' which includes professional athletes, actors, and even your next-door neighbor. As an intern at Blue Delta Jeans, I prepared all paperwork the design team needed to keep production flowing. This meant going through our production pipeline daily and printing order forms for each client, filling out their measurements with the appropriate tolerances per their design choices, and passing it along to one of the four designers they have on staff. This paperwork would follow each pair of jeans through the factory to ensure its size was always true.

When I was able to get ahead the paperwork, I learned how to use the Optitex pattern design software. Each client's pattern is created for them, so I saw a wide range of body types accommodated. In addition to the patternmaking, I was able to attend corporate gifting events around the country where Blue Delta partnered with organizations to make jeans for their clients. We would set up trade show style tables displaying all our customization options and measure those who wanted a pair that we would later ship to their home. Every aspect of this internship was insightful and enjoyable. I was able to get a close look at what kind of passion it takes to implement a new business model or product theory and create something so successful and respected. I made beautiful connections with each of the staff groups; everyone was eager for me to feel comfortable in my capabilities and learn the Blue Delta way.

I recommend this internship to design students who do not mind a good deal of clerical work and single-product patternmaking. I thoroughly appreciated the mindfulness and dedication to improving the lives of the employees by the management. I have the utmost respect for those I was able to work with closely.

Brennan Byrne

Title: Design Assistant/Patternmaker

Company: Blue Delta Jeans

At my internship at Blue Delta Jeans, I got the chance to see all facets of the blue jean production cycle. I managed converting the measurements from the clients into sewing measurements and even created patterns using their Optitex software. I also got the chance to oversee alterations and help with shipping. Blue Delta is a great and successful company in Northeast Mississippi and I am so happy that I got the opportunity to work for them.

Michelle Jean

Title: Design Assistant/Patternmaker

Company: Blue Delta Jeans

This past summer I was able to intern with Blue Delta Jean Co. in Tupelo, Mississippi. I worked as the Design Assistant and Patternmaker, where I learned the whole process that goes into making custom, bespoke jeans. I spent the summer learning how to convert each client's specific measurements into the proper tolerances and specifications to make their jean, and then used those measurements in the Optitex computer program in order to make their jean come to life! As I became more skilled in Optitex and making the patterns, I was able to venture into other areas of the company and learn how to handle alterations, work the intricacies of shipping, and how to properly measure clients being fitted for their custom pair of jeans. I am thankful for Blue Delta and how they allowed me to learn every skill and position within the company so that I can easily adapt and take over where needed.

After my internship, I was able to continue with Blue Delta as Patternmaker and Head of Alterations! I am continuing to become better and more skilled at making patterns with Optitex, and more recently making a pattern from scratch for a medical gown, as well as being head of customer service and making sure we are able to meet each client's needs. I have grown so much while at Blue Delta and am so thankful for the hands-on teaching and opportunities!

Anna Evan Bristow

Title: Design Intern

Company: Blue Delta Jeans

I was able to intern with Blue Delta Jean Co. in my hometown of Tupelo, Mississippi, during Summer 2020. I learned the whole process that goes into making custom, bespoke jeans. The company was not making as many jeans as they were used to do, because they decided to use their supplies to make masks and medical gowns! We made 50,000 or more masks a week. Blue Delta Jean Co. was also featured on LinkedIn's "Beyond the Call" list, which highlights the nation's top 20 companies who are going above the call of duty in the face of the pandemic. I was thankful to intern at a company that made me feel safe during Covid-19, but also made my community feel safe because of how much they gave back.

Gracie Hester

Title: Sales Intern

Company: Blue Delta Jeans

During the summer of 2021, I had the amazing opportunity to work as a sales intern for Blue Delta Jean Co. Blue Delta is a custom jean company with a factory in Tupelo, MS and a retail store in Oxford, MS. Blue Delta creates custom jeans for people all over the world. Some of their customers are Nicole Kidman, Riley Green, Morgan Freeman, and so many more! As a sales intern, I travel with the company to different places including, Tampa, FL, Lake Charles, LA, and Biloxi, MS. Blue Delta travels all over the fifty states to casinos, golf tournaments, and other special events. I tag along for these events to assist the company in any way they may need. Some of my tasks include assisting in measuring, helping customers choose their fit and fabric, and verifying order forms. I am so excited to have this opportunity and have enjoyed every second since I started!

Samantha Sala

Title: Summer Intern

Company: Boldly Blonde

In Summer 2020, I began my internship for Boldly Blonde, an online women's boutique based out of Columbus, Mississippi. I worked closely with the owner, Carson Taylor, who taught me many valuable, transferable skills that will be very beneficial when I open my store. Throughout my time with her, I learned a lot about what goes on behind the scenes when owning and operating an online business. There are several aspects of the business that many people may not be aware. For instance, I was taught how to manage and update inventory, how to update a website that is constantly changing, and so much more. Several tasks that were my responsibility over the summer included organizing the stock room, fulfilling, and shipping online orders, and assisting with photoshoots. One of the most valuable things would be understanding how to purchase products based on constantly changing trends. Because of Covid-19 cancelling our second and third apparel market of the year, I had to learn how to analyze future trends based on current growing styles. For example, once we were all told to begin quarantine, we knew that the sale of athleisure and lounge wear would increase. Another improvisation we had in place was live sale videos through Facebook and Instagram instead of having a pop-up shop once a month. Before my internship officially began, I was able to attend an apparel market in Atlanta, Georgia with my supervisor. It was a two-day trip that made me so excited for my future as a fashion major. On day one, we reviewed all of the different vendors from tops and dresses to rompers and denim. It took us around eight hours to successfully decide on the final picks for the summer apparel. Day two, we focused on shoes and jewelry. One thing I liked about the second day was that jewelry could be bought and taken home the same day whereas the apparel is purchased in bulk with a run of each size.

Jacqueline Humphrey

Title: Sales and Management Intern

Company: Buckle

I interned with the Buckle at the Wolfchase Mall in Memphis, TN. I worked as a sales and stylist while serving our customers. During this internship, I also participated in the management training program. Tasks included:

• Opening and closing the store
• Styling customers
• Training co-workers
• Assisting customers efficiently and positively

A specific task I did during my internship was having a "sponsorship" and creating growth. A sponsorship is a brand you pick to try to grow sales as much as possible, including wearing it, getting your teammates to wear it, and finding ways to show it to each customer you help. This was a good tactic because it teaches you how to focus growth on one product and change its ranking within the company. I have learned so much during this internship and have grown personally and professionally. I loved helping, seeing my teammates grow, and being a small part of the customer's lives.

Zaheim Bender

Title: Leader in Training

Company: Buckle

This summer, I had the opportunity to intern at Buckle in Tupelo, MS as a part of their Leader-In-Training internship program. During my time at Buckle, I was responsible for styling and assisting guests while they were in the store. In addition to this, the internship program consisted of a series of Zoom calls and a project that required interns to select a department to grow within their store while tracking its performance. Over the course of my internship, I became familiar with the large variety of products that we carried within the store. As my knowledge expanded, so did my ability to provide personalized assistance and styling recommendations.

As a passion project of mine, we hosted a back-to-school themed fashion show inside the mall. I was responsible for model casting, styling each model, and hosting the show. The show was a tremendous success, we all had so much fun, and it was great for business.

My overall experience at Buckle was amazing. I relished the chance to fulfill my childhood dream of styling individuals, while also forming lasting bonds with my teammates who made the entire journey immensely gratifying. I learned so much from this experience that I will take with me into any professional space that I enter in the future.

Alexa Ward

Title: Marketing Intern

Company: Bunnell Idea Group

I had a fantastic marketing experience interning for Bunnell Idea Group, a business consulting firm in Atlanta. As a marketing intern, I worked alongside peers to strategize social media and marketing efforts. I worked closely with Mo Bunnell, CEO and Founder, on social media ideation, content creation, assisting team projects, analyzing social media metrics, and copywriting and editing for the weekly newsletter. I assisted in the planning and executing of email campaigns, live webinars, social media, and marketing plans and sat in on talks with industry professionals and leaders of Fortune 500 companies. Some of our most reputable clients are Willis Towers Watson, Aetna, Sotheby's TransUnion, and Oliver Wyman.

My internship taught me so much about the marketing world. I created promotional flyers, email campaigns, and coordinated with clients on big projects. I learned programs like ConvertKit, Passle, Buffer, SalesForce, Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, SparkLoop, and RightMessage. My favorite part about my internship was going through Bunnell Idea Group's GrowBIG Training. This training offered personalized results on thinking methods based on the HBDI test. It taught me business psychology, lead generation methods, creating curiosity in the buying process, and dynamic meeting preparation. Also, I learned how to implement the entire GrowBIG system to develop sound business habits to ensure future career success. I had the opportunity to meet CEOs, New York Times Best-Selling authors, and other industry experts to build a networking base that will last a lifetime. I am so thankful for the opportunity to have interned at Bunnell Idea Group and cannot wait to see what my future in marketing and the fashion industry looks like!

Sarah Dulaney

Title: Merchandising and Marketing Intern

Company: By ALALA

I have had the amazing opportunity of interning at By ALALA in Charleston, South Carolina! It is a small storefront located in the heart of Charleston. A typical day as a By ALALA intern included designing visual merchandise displays for the store, creating content for social media, and assisting/styling customers. I loved getting these experiences to grow my merchandising and marketing skills. While being in the city, I met so many artistic and driven individuals. It pushed me out of my comfort zone to explore a different side of things. The owner is an Interior designer that fuses together fashion and interiors. She is such a creative individual, and I am so thankful I had the opportunity to work alongside her and the store. The store opened just a few short years ago, so I am excited to stay in touch and watch it continue to grow and thrive.

Madee Link

Title: Sales Representative Intern

Company: By Together

I had the pleasure of interning with By Together, based out of Los Angeles, California, as a Sales Representative Intern. By Together is a wholesale brand that specializes in timeless yet trend Boho Chic women’s apparel. During my internship, I worked market in Atlanta, Dallas, Vegas, and Chicago. My tasks included selling to buyers, booth setup and breakdown, inventory management, and monitoring trends. During the mart in Vegas, I also worked for their sister brand, AREN, which is an upscale and sustainable clothing brand made with high-quality materials. Interning with By Together helped me gain confidence in my skills and taught me the importance of communication with my co-workers. This role also helped me adjust to fast-paced working environments and understand market trends. I had an amazing experience and gained valuable knowledge about the wholesale industry from this opportunity

Dalyn Gordon

Title: Sales Associate / Visual Merchandising Intern

Company: CATO

I was an intern at Cato in Starkville, MS. My activities included assisting customers on the sales floor, opening new freight, placing inventory on the sales floor, and helping with store upkeep. Assisting customers required me to help them in the fitting rooms, order products online, putting items on hold or layaway, and help with Cato credit card applications. The store need daily upkeep which required me to organize the clothing tables and racks, shoe boxes, shoe shelves, jewelry, and accessories.

The best part of my internship was being able to go by real planograms and shop layouts for the store each week and month. I loved working hands-on with the mannequins and getting to redress them in new garments and different styles. This was a great opportunity for me to showcase my visual merchandising skills.

Jahliyah Jordan

Title: Sales Associate/Visual Merchandising Intern

Company: CATO

This summer, I interned at Cato in Starkville, Mississippi. Cato is a fashion retail company that carries high-quality fashion and accessories at affordable prices. My activities at Cato included showing my visual merchandising skills, placing new inventory on four-way fixtures, advertising signage, and assisting customers on the sales floor. Showing my visual merchandising skills included styling mannequin displays according to the planogram in current trend colors and outfits. I displayed advertising signage exhibited on the window walls according to the planogram. Assisting customers on the sales floor required me to help customers in fitting rooms, putting items on hold or layaway, and helping customers find specific pieces of clothing that they asked for on the sales floor.

My overall experience at Cato was great. The two things I enjoyed most about my internship were going by a monthly planogram and assisting customers on the sales floor. Styling the mannequins helped me expand my visual merchandising skills. I was able to give each mannequin their unique style and dress them in a way that caught the customer's eye. Assisting customers gave me more confidence with being able to communicate with others, and I am glad that I was able to leave each customer with a valuable experience when shopping at Cato.

Braelyn Clark

Title: Apparel Design Intern

Company: Celestino Couture

I had the opportunity to intern at Celestino Couture in Hudson, NY. As an apparel design intern, I assisted the designers in creating looks for their couture collections and selling them in the downstairs store, MadeX Hudson.

My daily tasks were varied—one day, I might focus on bikinis for the cruise collection, while the next, I could be working on a crochet top for MadeX Hudson. My primary responsibilities included crafting crochet garments, assisting in fittings, and ensuring adequate inventory levels for desired garments. Additionally, I handled tasks such as labeling pieces correctly.

Overall, my internship at Celestino Couture was a rewarding experience, despite some challenges. It provided me with opportunities to learn and expand my knowledge of design and the fashion industry. I appreciated the supportive environment that encouraged me to share my ideas and opinions. Given the chance, I would gladly intern with Celestino Couture again.

Braelyn Clark

Title: Design intern

Company: Celestino Couture/ MadeXHudson

Over the course of my internship, I have done many activities for this company. This year, unlike last year I saw what it was like to work in a retail shop and everything that went into running a retail store. In the store I was in charge of things like keeping the merchandise up to date, helping customers find what they are looking for, stocking new items, and many more activities that help the store run smoothly. In the atelier, I got to work on things like rug tufting and crocheting. I started my work in the factory by seaming a crochet sweater and then my next project was working on crochet sweaters. I worked on these sweaters last year, but this year we were working on a new design for the sweaters. I also learned how to make a rug using a tufting gun this year, this was one of the things I really wanted to learn this year. It took a bit of trial and error, but I eventually got the hang of it. I was then taken off that project to start another crochet project, a portrait which is something I have never done but was very excited for the challenge. In between there I was continuing to work in the store and working on crochet projects they had for me while there was downtime. Overall, I had a great experience at my internship. This is my second year at this company, and I have loved every minute of it. They make you feel welcome and right at home, so it is very easy to get into the swing of things and feel comfortable in this new environment. I was also able to communicate my interests and the things I wanted to learn while I was here and each time they listened, and I was able to learn the things that have interested me. This internship is great practice for what life could be like in the future, continuing to learn about fashion design. I feel like this internship has helped me develop new professional skills and was a great way to learn the behind the scenes of running and owning a retail shop and an atelier.

Elizabeth Strunk

Title: Sales Intern

Company: Chandeleur Outfitters

I had the opportunity to intern with Chandeleur Outfitters in Ocean Springs, MS. This small-town company is in the heart of the downtown. Specializing primarily in men's apparel, with a modest section for women and youth, Chandeleur Outfitters boasts a curated selection of renowned brands including Patagonia, The North Face, Aftco, Genteal, Southern Marsh, Southern Tide, True Grit, Duck Head, and more.

Collaborating closely with my supervisor, I undertook a diverse range of responsibilities aimed at enhancing the store's operations and customer experience. This included tasks such as managing the sales floor, orchestrating merchandise displays, conducting inventory checks, overseeing social media and advertising efforts, and participating in buying meetings. One notable project involved transitioning the Point of Sale (POS) system and spearheading the design and management of the e-commerce platform, seamlessly integrating it into the new POS system. Toward the end of my internship, I had the opportunity to travel to Dallas with my supervisor and attend the men's market show, which enhanced my knowledge of the buying aspect of retail.

Overall, my internship was a fantastic experience! I had the creative freedom to demonstrate my ideas and work alongside others to give the best possible outcome for all projects. Beyond the professional growth afforded by this experience, I also underwent personal development, emerging as a more confident and capable individual. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to intern with such an outstanding supervisor and company.

Amy Warren

Title: Boutique Owner Assistant

Company: Charisma

During my internship with Charisma, I did a range of daily tasks and activities. I shadowed the boutique owner and participated in everything she did, plus more. I went to the Dallas market, and I had the opportunity to make buying decisions for the current and fall inventory. I also did social media marketing for the company. I also worked on tasks necessary to run a business, like visual merchandising, online sales, inventing, and promotions (i.e., markdowns).

My time with Charisma was amazing! Ms. Brandin Brosh, the owner of Charisma, really took a step back and allowed me to do a lot of tasks and let the numbers (data) show whether I made good business decisions. Being able to dip my hands into so many parts of the fashion and retail industry really helped me understand what I am capable of, do and do not find appealing, and showed me my strengths. I could not have asked for a better or more well-rounded experience!

Abigail Nichols

Title: Some Foundations Design Intern

Company: Chicos FAS Inc.

My internship was at Chicos FAS Inc., under the brand Soma, with the Foundations design team. Foundations consist of bras, panties, shapewear, and swim. My main project was to create a Style Guide. A Style Guide is a document used by leadership, new employees, and stylists. I compiled silhouettes of each category as well as key differences that are crucial to understanding the construction of a bra. Along with silhouettes, I outlined the on-body standards set by the technical design team to ensure all products fit within a set range. Another important section of the style guide was lace placement. Soma utilizes lace to enhance their products.

I was able to practice my Illustrator skills by working with clipping masks and brushes to create the lace placement. I also used their product lifecycle management system to pull BOMs to create elastics, trims, and hardware library of actively running products. Having this information in one document can help inspire designers, allow merchants to understand product, and guide new employees. I also attended live model fittings for foundations and sleepwear. I loved seeing the different fitting process for apparel versus intimates. I attended all cross functional team meetings to plan, design, and assort new collections for each season. This allowed me to understand the design cycle from trends and concepts to the design process, through raw materials and sourcing, and ending with merchants.

Kristen Kocher

Title: Creative Marketing Intern

Company: Color Wow

I started as a creative marketing intern at Color Wow during the end of January 2020. As an intern my daily activities included editing e-blast and blog posts that would be uploaded to the webpage, I would assist in creating and assembling influencer pack-outs that would be shipped to different influencers, editors, and celebrities. Also, another one of my tasks was to help in reception; answering phones, sorting mail, and emails.

Some of my specific tasks were going to the warehouse and packing boxes to be shipped to influencers and customers. I was able to work on all the influencer pack-outs and assisting in the design and creative process. I was also able to watch, observer, and assist on some photo/video shoots with celebrity hairstylists like Chris Appleton.

Overall, I would say my internship at Color Wow was positive. I able to learn a lot that will help me in my professional career and overall industry knowledge. I was able to see a lot of aspects of the industry from product creation all the way to logistics and shipping. This internship allowed me to learn how important it is to network and build connections with coworkers.

Anna Russell

Title:

Company: Concentration: Fashion Merchandising

This summer, I had the opportunity to intern at Hsquared in Cleveland, Mississippi. Getting to intern here this summer has been such a great experience. It has given me a lot more knowledge about the fashion retail industry. As an intern at Hsquared, my activities ranged from assisting customers and ensuring they find exactly what they need and leave happy, to changing mannequins every two weeks, rearranging the store, cleaning the store before we open and when we close, sizing everything in the store every day, checking people out, and doing whatever else I was told to do. My specific task has just been to make sure every customer is happy and taken care of. I loved this task because the customers are my favorite part. I just get so happy when I help a customer find something and they leave happy with what they bought. This has given me the chance to get to know customers, get to pick stuff out for them, and helped me better my customer service. When I work at Hsquared I feel like myself, and it makes me know that I am in the right major and that I am right where I am supposed to be even if I do have to be at work early in the mornings! My boss, my manager and all the other girls I work with just make me so happy every day and make it easy to want to get up and go to work. Having a great atmosphere, boss, and coworkers really makes working fun. When I come home for Thanksgiving break and Christmas break, I will work at Hsquared. This summer I learned so much more about sales, customer service, sale strategies, maintaining a store, professionalism, and what all it takes to own your own business. Overall, I couldn’t have asked for a better place to intern. Working at Hsquared has helped me grow as a person and grow in the fashion retail industry. Hsquared is my happy place, and I am forever thankful that I got to work there this summer.

Alayna Todd

Title: Global Supply Chain Marketing Intern

Company: Cotton Incorporated

I worked for Cotton Incorporated as the Global Supply Chain Marketing Intern. My internship was virtual due to COVID-19. I was given one primary project for my 10 weeks as an intern. The project was to perform extensive research into Cotton Inc.'s top 50 accounts and the key messaging which is being featured at retail. In conducting this research, I endeavored to gain insight into brands' core initiatives. Giving Cotton Inc. this insight, I helped them to tailor their brand presentations to the specific concerns of the account in a well-crafted, targeted manner.

To obtain this intel, I developed an efficient Excel spreadsheet to house the gathered research data, and I collected a general overview of each account to capture a brief snapshot of each brand's sustainability goals and initiatives. Next, I conducted active, detailed research for each brand and documented key aspects of each brand's sustainability efforts and public image. Finally, I compiled my gathered data into a concise, efficient spreadsheet and presented it to my supervisor. Throughout the summer, I met with my supervisor every two weeks to discuss what I had found and determine focus areas for the coming weeks. I loved working with Cotton Incorporated because I was able to immerse myself in the world of fibers and textiles, which is my passion. My time as a virtual intern had its advantages and disadvantages, but overall, I developed my professional skills and increased my knowledge of textiles and the fashion industry, all of which will benefit me for years to come.

Shelby Buitt

Title: Merchandising / Marketing Intern

Company: D Squared Clothing

I had the opportunity to intern at DSquared Clothing in Jackson, MS. My roles during my internship included sales, inventory management, and visual merchandising. I enjoyed working in backstock by going through shipments and invoices and getting product ready to hit the floor. I also enjoyed having the time to get to learn the company's selling strategies, as well as getting to know the customers. I was able to have hands-on experience and expand my knowledge of the business with the help of my supervisor and coworkers. My internship has helped me grow my professional skills, networking skills, and effective communication skills. I love the team at DSquared in Jackson and will always be very thankful for them.

Destiny Cullum

Title: Sales Intern / Stylist

Company: David's Bridal

This summer I interned in Tupelo at David's Bridal. My tasks as a stylist included helping brides find their dream wedding dress and dresses for their bridesmaids. I also helped customers find dresses for special events ranging from prom, quinceañera, flower girl, and mother of the bride or groom. At the end of the day, I organized the bridal showroom and organized the dresses to make sure everything was ready for the next day.

My overall experience has been great. I loved being able to work with the brides. It was great to play a small part in a bride's special day. It was truly an experience I will never forget. I valued getting sales experience in the wedding industry and look forward to continuing my career after graduation.

Iman Lawson

Title: Alteration's Specialist

Company: David's Bridal

I worked at David's Bridal as an alteration specialist alongside the alteration's manager. Many of the brides getting alterations on their dress had never gone through the process of getting a garment altered. This led myself and the manager to walk the bride through the process and let her know what to expect. David's Bridal prides themselves on offering a high level of customer service which we ensured each bride received.

In this position, I altered dresses, jumpsuits, and other garments. I also set up appointments and steamed the dresses before returning them to the owner. Overall, my experience with David's Bridal was very enjoyable. I applied several things that I have learned in school on the job. One thing is applied and mastered on the job was a hidden stitch hem and top stitching.

Caroline Parker

Title: Buying Intern

Company: Dillard's Buying Office

This past summer, I interned at Dillard's buying office for 10 weeks in St. Petersburg, FL. I was a member of the women's buying team for the "everyday" category. This category had a total of 6 brands, which were Wildfox, NIA, Every, Splendid, and Cloth & Stone.

My weekly tasks included Monday group selling and visual reports, monthly doll sheets for each brand, creating order shells, and utilizing markdown spreadsheets for old merchandise. Also, we created look books and directives to give to all stores to ensure the product was visually pleasing to customers. Overall, this was an incredible experience and I would highly recommend this internship to anyone interested in buying.

Abby Klutts

Title: Corporate Buying Intern

Company: Dillard's Headquarters

I had the opportunity to intern at Dillard's Headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas, which completes a lifelong dream of mine. I was a corporate executive buying intern for women's bridge collections. This category contains nine brands: J. McLaughlin, Jude Connally, IC Collection, Nic + Zoe, Ming Wang, Marella, MaxMara Brands, Caroline Rose, and Boss.

I participated weekly in all vendors' pre-line, final line, and business meetings. I also worked on Monday group selling and visual reports, monthly line sheets for each brand, creating order shells, and participating in our new everyone is an influencer program. My experience at Dillard's was unique because I communicated directly with Alexandra Dillard, VP of general merchandise manager, and other executives in the company. I had the best experience interning at Dillard's, and I have accepted a full-time position as an assistant buyer.

Gabriela Patino

Title: Executive Corporate Intern

Company: Dillard's Headquarters

This summer, I had the privilege to intern for Dillard's Headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas. During this 8-week program, I had the opportunity to rotate through various departments housed within the headquarters, including Men's Design, Men's Buying, Home Design, Home Buying, Handbag Buying, Sales/Replenishment, and J.A.W.S. (Jewelry, Accessories, Watches, Handbags) buying. Studying Design and Product Development in school, my favorite department was Men's Design. Dillard's Headquarters houses the design team for their private label Men's brands.

During my time in the Men's Design department, I had the chance to work closely with a designer who guided me through every step of the process, from creating tech flats and tech packs to managing Bills of Materials (B.O.M.'s), conducting Dress Form Fittings, Live Model Fittings, and participating in TOP reviews. It was a fantastic experience to use the knowledge I have been learning in classes in a real-life setting. With a passion for design, it was a tremendous experience to see what I study and learn to go from being an idea to a creation a customer can buy and wear.

Beyond gaining practical experience in my chosen field, the Dillard's internship provided numerous opportunities for personal and professional growth. I was able to develop a deep understanding of the company culture through engaging in various activities and events, including tours of Dillard's distribution centers and stores across multiple states, networking dinners, and visits to the cosmetic center in Dallas. My time at Dillard's allowed me to see how a fashion retail corporation is run and thrives. I was blessed to meet so many people who genuinely wanted to see me succeed and thrive. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to grow and learn with this company.

Summer Hill

Title: Styling Intern

Company: Disrupshion Magazine

This past summer I had the opportunity to intern for Disrupshion Magazine. I had the title of styling intern for the company. I worked closely with the Editor-in-Chief to create mood boards and style photoshoots for the magazine, Instagram, and the website. I was also responsible for creating the outfit of the day posts as content for the magazine's website. The internship was virtual, which was a learning experience for me. Overall, I really loved working for Disrupshion and learning all about working for a magazine.

Brianna Campbell

Title: Intern

Company: Dixie Gypsy

I interned at a small boutique, Dixie Gypsy, in Philadelphia, MS. There are two locations, the other is in Kosciusko, MS. I held a variety of job titles while interning at Dixie Gypsy. I modeled as well as took the photos for various social media platforms. For social media, I would dress the mannequins and style flat-lays. My jobs throughout the day involved restocking inventory, tagging items, and pricing merchandise. I also assisted in straightening the shelves and organizing the clothing. My favorite part of interning was helping customers and ensuring they leave the store satisfied. During the holidays, I made gift bags and gift-wrapped customer's purchases. The boutique also had Facebook live sales where I would review the analytics and determine strengths and weaknesses. Overall, I greatly enjoyed my internship, my boss, and the other employees at Dixie Gypsy. I would recommend this internship to people who want to stay in Mississippi, but still learn a lot about managing a store. The owner, Brittany, taught me so much about owning a retail store and all the different tasks it takes to be successful. This was an inspiring and intellectual learning experience, and I am very grateful for the opportunity.

Miriam Cochran

Title: Intern

Company: Elle James Bridal

My internship with Elle James Bridal was indeed a dream come true. Elle James is a bridal boutique in Ridgeland, MS, specializing in designer wedding dresses and bridal accessories. The team welcomed me with open arms as I entered a part of the fashion world with which I had yet to experience. I had an advantage in interning with a small team because my presence and skills were valued. I connected with the staff and built a tremendous bridal industry network. During my internship, I observed and assisted the staff with front-of-house customer service, inventory, steaming, and running styling appointments. Other daily activities included mastering the bridal scheduling system, greeting customers, and styling accessories for brides. I continued to learn something new each day to shape myself into a seasoned bridal stylist. I had a fantastic experience during my internship. Elle James's company culture and values align entirely with my own. It was great to feel truly at home while I was working this summer.

Zoe Parker

Title: Intern / Stylist

Company: Envy Boutique

I interned at a small, locally owned boutique in Huntsville, AL, Envy Boutique. I did a lot of different activities during my time interning, including modeling for social media photos, content creation, dressing mannequins, creating flat lays, restocking inventory, and tagging merchandise. I was able to work closely with the owner and manager and shadow everything they did to manage the boutique. I also helped customers find their perfect outfit in store, straightened racks, and cleaned at opening and closing time. I got to learn about buying merchandise, understanding customer preferences, identifying local demand for store items, and preparing for market visits. My overall experience interning with the company was great, and I loved being able to work for a locally owned company in the heart of my hometown. Even though I only worked here for the summer, I got to know a lot of the regular customers and build relationships. I got to learn so much about managing a store and different tasks to be successful in the industry, and I will always be grateful for the opportunity this summer.

Meagan Nusz

Title: Consultant for Leadership and Development Programs

Company: Estee Lauder

This summer, 2019, I had the most incredible experience working for the Estee Lauder Companies in Pennsylvania and London. I was brought on as a consultant to their prestigious leadership programs and worked closely with some of the companies very best! I assisted in the planning and execution of the entire event, hosted VIP guests, sat in on business talks from world renowned professors and caught a glimpse of what is to come for the Estee Lauder companies in the future.

My internship was nothing short of the whole package. I learned quickly the "Estee Way" and live vicariously through the motto of no detail is too small! I had the opportunity to manage a team of students to make sure every aspect of the program was perfect. I assisted with travel details and spent many hours on excel making sure the system was seamless. Arranging product was one of my favorite parts to learn! Again...no detail is too small. I also sat through business classes with Harvard professors and prepared myself for future career goals with Corporate Athlete. While we were working the program, we got to partake in the incredible experiences that will excel my skill sets. I shook hands and networked with some of the most elite people in the business and was able to build relationships that will last a lifetime.

Claire Allen

Title: Merchandising Intern

Company: Fanatics

This summer I had the opportunity to intern for Fanatics, Inc. in Jacksonville, Florida. Fanatics is an E-Commerce-based retail company and global leader in licensed sports merchandise. Throughout my role as a Merchandising Intern, I worked directly with buyers for the in-venue retail teams that Fanatics runs. Teams include the Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Falcons, the San Francisco Giants, and others. I had a firsthand look at everything a buyer does for a huge company like Fanatics. Opportunities included helping make buying decisions, attending vendor meetings and line reviews, and working in the databases Fanatics uses.

My overall experience with Fanatics as been nothing less than amazing. The company culture and the entire internship committee has been so great. Everyone in the merchandising department welcomed me with open arms and has taught me so much. I have also gotten so close with the other nine interns, who are from all over the country. I am truly so thankful for this experience, and I know I will take everything I have learned with me throughout my career after college.

Latham Nance

Title: Intern

Company: Finch & Kelly Gentlemen's Clothiers

Throughout my eight-week internship, I had the opportunity to participate in a wide array of activities covering various facets of retail business operations. In the first half of the internship, I focused on inventory management, customer service, merchandising, graphic design, shipping, and business development. I actively participated in stock reordering, meticulously monitored inventory levels, and collaborated closely with suppliers. A considerable amount of time was dedicated to crafting graphics for an auction and organizing window displays, which allowed me to utilize my creativity while promoting specific merchandise. Customer service duties ranged from resolving inquiries to shipping orders, a crucial part of the order fulfillment process. I also generated a client lead list, introducing me to the nuances of business outreach and relationship-building efforts.

Transitioning into the latter half of the internship, I embraced additional responsibilities, including labeling and stocking new merchandise, further graphic design projects, onboarding new staff members, and interacting with suppliers. Taking charge of store operations provided me with a comprehensive overview of day-to-day activities. The meticulous task of applying labels to new merchandise and stocking them honed my attention to detail, while graphic design projects offered opportunities to contribute further to promotional campaigns. The onboarding process for a new employee gave me a glimpse into managerial duties, and participating in a call with suppliers expanded my understanding of supplier relationship management.

Reflecting on the entire internship journey, from week one to week eight, I am struck by the incredible diversity and profound educational value it offered. I was exposed to and actively participated in various aspects of running a retail business. From backend inventory management and supplier communications to frontend customer service and personnel management, the myriad of activities, and specific tasks I undertook provided me with a well-rounded understanding of the industry. Although the workload was substantial, the skills and knowledge I gained from this hands-on experience were invaluable, making the internship a rewarding journey that offered practical insights into the fast-paced retail business world.

Albreona Brown

Title: Intern

Company: Flow by Tara Davis

My Flow by Tara Davis was a virtual internship focusing on technical design. During my internship I created technical flats for an 8-ensemble bridal collection. I created 19 technical flats and drawings for the Fall 2019 collection. I also experimented with creating different textile designs designated for Flow by Tara Davis Fall 2019 Collection.

Tamari Popiashvili

Title: Marketing Intern

Company: Geolit Group Incorporated

I had an opportunity to intern at Geolit group incorporated in Chicago. I took part in many different activities such as sorting old collections in excel and adding prices. I worked a lot in excel using class knowledge and gaining new skills. I also went to the photoshoots where I talked with photographers and stylists. I was also able to communicate with clients through email and helped other employee with daily tasks. Throughout internship assisted other workers with marketing ideas, also filmed videos for the brand's Instagram stories. I participated in many of the day-to-day activities within the company, such as social media, marketing, buying, customer service, and inventory. I enjoyed working in many of the departments however, my focus was marketing and inventory where I had to grow the firm's popularity and reach.

Jordan Moore

Title: Intern

Company: Greek Wear

Over the summer I had the opportunity to be a part of a ten-week internship; where I participated in various activities that has helped me grow in the industry. One of the main responsibilities I had was managing inventory, ensuring that the store is well kept and stocked properly. This involved task such as organizing storage spaces and updating our inventory list to match what was needed at the time. Learning how to anticipate our customers’ needs and securing the right items that we know will sell at the conferences we attend. Such task offered a hands-on learning experience of supply chain management and inventory system efficiency. As the program continued, I was given the opportunity to attend these conferences I would only help prepare for. Attending trade shows and conferences were crucial parts of my internship specifically for networking with other professionals in the industry or similar businesses. It was first-hand experience in learning about upcoming trends and sourcing for new products with the company. Also being a vendor for D9 organizations has given me another significant lesson, about the importance of effective communication and pricing for negotiation. Overall, my internship at Greek Wear has equip me with many skill sets, preparing me for various roles in the new future.

Ja'Mon Peters

Title: Buying and Merchandising Intern

Company: Hibbett Sports Inc.

I had the amazing opportunity to intern at the corporate office of Hibbett Sports Inc. Hibbett Sports Inc. is one of the fastest-growing retailers specializing in athletic, athleisure, and high-end urban apparel and footwear, reaching 1000 stores in 2018; and being rewarded by Forbes for the "Best in Class omnichannel experience in 2020."

I participated in various vendors and brands pre-line, final line, and trade meetings where I had the chance to hand-select footwear and garments that will be marketed in 2022. Daily tasks included buying spring 2022 sandals like Teva, Chaco, and seasonal footwear like Ugg. Also included were running Business Intelligence reports that tracked daily sales, inventory reports, and various other information that was beneficial for the well-being of the company's strategic plans.

During the internship, I was tasked to complete a summer project with two other interns. The task included streamlining and refining the communication and information between the marketing and merchandising departments. With my background in marketing, I was assigned to streamline the communication gap between the two departments. This included making Microsoft Office SharePoint sites that would be beneficial for parties to work in tandem with one centralized location. Regarding the work, I interviewed many positions to gather their take on certain procedures that could be feasibly altered as well as providing suggestions that they could take back to their workday. Each week, we collectively met with our mentors formally to discuss the progress and possible routes that we could take in our project and assignments.

Overall, my experience with Hibbett Sports Inc. was nothing short of an amazing experience and thank them for allowing me the opportunity to intern and showcase the knowledge that I learned at Mississippi State University. I gained many connections which turned into friendships, and I have cherished every instance of interaction with those amazing individuals as I gained a considerable amount of knowledge that I'm sure I will use in my future professional endeavors.

Kristy Jones

Title: Design / Visual Marketing Intern

Company: House of Quédella

I interned at House of Quédella as a Design Intern in Westpoint, MS. House of Quédella specializes in high-fashion couture and ready-to-wear custom garments. I had a great experience and gained a lot of knowledge throughout my internship. While interning, I was able to observe firsthand the day-to-day of being an employee for a design company. I assisted in videography and scouting for the company's upcoming fashion shows. I was also responsible for organizing the collections.

In addition to learning new skills, I was able to put into practice skills learned in classes, such as setting up mannequins for video shoots. Overall, I gained insight on the inner workings of a company and how communication plays a key role in success.

Michael Turner

Title: Inventory Intern

Company: HSquared Boutique

I was given the opportunity to work as an inventory intern at HSquared Boutique in Cleveland, Mississippi. HSquared Boutique is a women’s clothing store that offers everyday clothing, athletic wear, formal wear, shoes, jewelry, eyewear, makeup, homeware, and so much more. HSquared Boutique also carries their own brand called Social House. On a daily basis I handled receiving shipments, unpacking all of the shipments, checking and confirming invoices by providing descriptions of the merchandise as well as the quantities of sizes. I also prepared merchandise for the sales floor by creating SKU codes, tagging all of the merchandise and removing company tags, and steaming the clothing. When needed I performed other duties such as wrapping presents, reorganizing the inventory space, making sales, and providing product knowledge. I truly enjoyed my time working at HSquared Boutique and having the opportunity to form great connections with my coworkers and learn more about the fashion retail industry. My supervisors did an amazing job of teaching me how to perform each task correctly and effectively. One of my goals was to learn more about what all goes into operating and running your own business, and working as the inventory intern truly helped me to see a side of retail I did not know a lot about. I am very grateful to have been granted this internship so I can further my knowledge on the fashion industry and hopefully apply this knowledge to a future career.

Michelle Jean

Title: Design Intern

Company: Isoude

The summer of 2018, I moved to Boston for the summer to intern with the couture company Isoude. I'm glad I was able to move so far for this internship because it helped me really dive into the internship and dedicate my time to learning. During this internship I was able to help with the design side as well as the business and production side. On the design side. I helped with photo shoots for the upcoming line, compiling swatch books, and using Illustrator and InDesign to make flats of our garments. The photo shoot helped me learn how to quickly style and plan outfits and to work quickly but efficiently. Using Illustrator and InDesign, I was able to perfect the skills I was taught in school and put them to practice creating flats and swatch book pages. On the business and production side, I helped organize trunk shows, worked directly with our production houses, and ordered supplies. With the trunk show, I was able to help showcase our garments and work with clients. I worked with our production houses by ordering them supplies, being in contact with them about expectations and deadlines, and traveling back and forth to pick up the finished garments. Overall, the internship was very rewarding and educational, and I was able to work in areas that I never thought I would.

Ana Garcia

Title: Fashion Assistant

Company: Jaxsea

As a summer intern for Jaxsea, a resort wear company based in Maui, Hawaii, I assisted the creative director with design, e-commerce, and marketing tasks. My job was to assist with all things marketing, including the website and photoshoots. I also created shells for the garment. Overall, it was a great experience learning from a small company and seeing its success as the company grows.

Halle Foust

Title: Sales / Marketing Intern

Company: Jennifer Rush Showroom

I had the incredible opportunity to intern with Jennifer Rush Showroom at the Dallas Market Center. As the Sales and Marketing Intern, I was given many hands-on opportunities to work one-on-one with buyers. My primary role as an intern was in social media marketing along with working in sales. My projects included running several of the showroom's social media accounts, creating appealing visual color stories to catch a buyer's attention, and showing lines to buyers during market week.

My overall goal for this internship was to update the Jennifer Rush social media pages to make them more relevant and interactive. I learned that people are more likely to engage with a social media account if they are interacted with first. I established Jennifer's new social media strategy and presented it to her team. This strategy will now be in place long after I am gone. I loved this internship because I was never treated as "just the intern." I was treated with equal respect and responsibilities of a full-time employee. Jennifer Rush gave me full creative freedom as far as a marketing strategy and social media. By the end of my internship, I was working by myself with buyers from big-name stores. This internship has taught me effective communication, professional networking skills, as well as sales and marketing skills that I will carry with me throughout my time in this industry.

Kaylee Dulaney

Title: Summer Sales Intern

Company: Jennifer Rush Showroom

I had the amazing opportunity to work in the Dallas Market Center this summer for the Jennifer Rush Showroom. The Jennifer Rush Showroom is a wholesale kids clothing company located in Dallas, Texas. Over the course of my internship, I gained knowledge in social media, sales, marketing, manufacturing, and the wholesale industry.

My day-to-day for this internship looked different every day. The wholesale industry is extremely fast paced, and constantly changing, but a typical day in the showroom for me started off with making phone calls to schedule market appointments for buyers. Then depending on the day, sometimes I would create email blasts and social media posts for each brand that we represent, or I would unbox new lines for upcoming seasons. One of my favorite times in the showroom is market week when all the buyers come and we get to show them the lines that we represent, then they make orders for the items they choose. I developed relationships with buyers during market week because sometimes you spend hours with them, and they might even ask you to help pick out outfits for their business!

By the end of my internship, I had the opportunity to continue my time with Jennifer Rush Kids by working market weeks in my hometown on the weekend. Overall, I could not have asked for a better internship opportunity this summer. The amazing relationships I made and the experience I gained are far more than what I could have ever asked for.

Ellie Riddle

Title: Design Intern

Company: Johnathan Kayne LLC.

I had the amazing opportunity to intern for designer Johnathan Kayne, in Nashville, Tennessee. Over the course of my internship, I worked in many aspects of the company including design, production, and marketing. I assisted with different tasks, my favorite being custom designs. My final assignment was to design and construct a dress for showcase at Atlanta Market. My experience over the summer was amazing. The environment at Johnathan Kayne was a welcoming family working together as a team for success.

Wynn Howell

Title: Overseas Intern

Company: Kijani Farm

For my internship, I traveled to southern Kenya to work with Kijani Farm. Kijani Farm is a gospel-centered community development ministry that seeks to inspire hope and create opportunity in the local Maasai community. During these two months at Kijani Farm, I am helping with a wide range of areas of ministry: university student program, women’s Bible studies, job creation, and more. On Thursday afternoons, I lead the local university students in a time of connection, encouragement, and devotion. Another weekly event that I help lead and participate in is the women’s Bible studies on Tuesday mornings. These women walk anywhere from an hour to multiple hours to be a part. While in Kenya, I have designed a future storefront on Kijani Farm’s property where visitors can purchase Kijani Farm merchandise and local handcrafted goods. One unexpected yet rewarding opportunity has been helping a hearing-impaired student learn Kenyan Sign Language. In the mornings before chai, a university student and I teach the student to read and write. My experience at Kijani Farm has been very positive and encouraging. At the beginning of the internship, my supervisors encouraged me to be curious, ask questions, and build relationships with the people in the community. Throughout the internship, my curiosity for the Maasai and Kenyan culture has helped me learn more and build deeper relationships with the people around me. For that, I am grateful.

Alexa England

Title: Bridal Consultant Intern

Company: Kleinfeld Bridal

The summer of 2019, I learned so much during my 3 months at Kleinfeld Bridal. I worked with 22 different consultants, selected over 2,500 gowns to style brides, assisted with over 200 appointments, and handled contracts and paperwork. My greatest challenge was when filming for Say Yes to the Dress America.

I met Annabelle Armstrong, Hayley Paige, Lazaro, Edgardo Bonilla, Pnina Tornai, workers of Essence of Australia, Sareh Nouri, Signore, and Tony Ward. I also worked in the sample studio and accessories learning what to look for when picking an accessory or veil for a bride.

Jordyn Comeaux

Title: Assistant Merchant Intern

Company: Kohl's

I was an Assistant Merchant Intern at Kohl's Corporate Headquarters in Menomonee Falls, WI. The Assistant Merchant Intern is in the buying office of a specific department, working directly with the buyer on purchases from private and national brands. I worked in the bedding department, which helped me learn more about retail in general rather than just apparel. Within my role, I ran daily reports for my supervisor and team to complete purchases. In addition, I attended classes 2-3 times a week to learn different systems and programs specific to Kohl's and participated in development classes. I also gave multiple presentations to upper management throughout the internship. I attended vendor meetings, line reviews, and meetings with cross-functional teams within the company. Overall, my internship was a great experience within the corporate world. I learned so many things that will help me within the industry in the future. Kohl's gave me many opportunities to show myself and my learning and provided me with as many resources as needed.

Grace Goodloe

Title: Sales/ Visual Merchandising intern

Company: LaDida Gifts

I was a sales and visual merchandising intern at LaDida Gifts in Canton, Mississippi. LaDida is a small retail store that also specializes in custom apparel. LaDida sells things from wedding registry to everyday apparel and gifts. During my internship, I had several responsibilities including sales, inventory, window and in store displays, customer service, and merchandising. One of my favorite opportunities was the opportunity to work at and shop at Atlanta Market. Overall, my internship was a wonderful experience, I grew so much during it. I have more confidence in myself when it comes to voicing my ideas and opinions. Every day brought on a new task that I needed to experience in order to grow in the retail industry. This internship taught me the value of communication, time management, creativity, and leadership.

Emily Michael

Title: Intern

Company: Latitudes by Griffin & Egger

In Summer 2020 I interned with Latitudes by Griffin & Egger in Jackson, MS. My primary role was in social media marketing and creative strategy and I worked in sales, inventory management, and had a large span of opportunities to shadow, with hands-on learning, which propelled me to grow professionally. My overall internship goal was to develop the strategy and function of social media for the business and the owner, Amy Griffin Schrock. Schrock provided me considerable freedom to develop goals for her summer merchandise and put into practice what I was learning through my coursework in Fashion Design & Merchandising and Marketing at Mississippi State University. I used branding techniques to create a consistent and distinctive online presence across all platforms. Through interactions with customers, I realized people are more likely to engage or purchase items when they can clearly see how an item meets their needs and wants. Illustrating examples and providing ideas for customers really seemed to spark interests and further involvement. That gave me the support to go beyond just presenting items and products on social media to showing customers how items can fit and be useful in their life/lifestyle. I created several mini collections and campaigns that generated more response and drew people in. Having this opportunity truly allowed me to grow in knowledge and confidence to put into practice what I am learning in my fashion merchandising major and marketing minor. I am beyond thankful for this opportunity and experience.

Lakendra Montgomery

Title: Social Media Intern

Company: Leilani Weddings

I had the opportunity to be a social media intern at Leilani Weddings through their virtual internship program. They are a wedding and event planning business in Los Angeles, California. During my internship, I managed the company's social media pages, and I had the opportunity to write blogs and create graphics. I also assisted in planning a music festival. My social media duties included making reels, TikTok content, Pinterest pins, and liking and commenting on social media posts. One of my main responsibilities was posting Instagram stories. I received a calendar with the types of stories I needed to create for the week, and then I created interactive stories where viewers could choose the aesthetic they wanted for their own wedding, this or that, or different question stickers. I also completed several vendor-related duties, such as contacting makeup artists, hotels, car rental agencies, and cake decorators. I gained knowledge on how to effectively manage a business and gain new perspectives on becoming a fantastic wedding planner.

My favorite part of being a social media intern was the freedom I had to use my creativity and look for new ways Leilani Weddings could expand its social media presence. Another wonderful experience I loved was making videos of the wedding couple's special day. I appreciated learning from my superiors, who were passionate about the wedding business and like to inspire other women. Working for this company helped me develop my social media expertise and entrepreneurial spirit. I am happy I had the chance to work as an intern at Leilani Weddings; it is something I will never forget.

Maria Alvarez

Title: Stylist / Sales Associate Summer Intern

Company: LTD Fashions

This summer I had the opportunity of working with LTD Fashions, a small local boutique, in Saraland, AL. LTD Fashions is a family-based boutique that offers clothing, shoes, and accessories for women. I was hired as a stylist and had the pleasure of working with my coworkers in helping consumers find the right garments. I oversaw the register, unpacking in the stock room, promoting new garments on social media, and modeling. I enjoyed this internship because not only did I get to enhance my communication and customer service skills, but I also got the chance to learn more about how to successfully run a small boutique.

Throughout my internship, I learned how LTD makes their buying decisions as well as creates relationships with their vendors. I also had the opportunity of assisting with their weekly live shows and modeling their garments. One of the best activities I had the chance to be a part of was the Christmas in July Boutique Bash. At the event, I was able to model the garments and interact more with our customers. Overall, the experience of working with LTD Fashions this summer has helped me gain new business skills and confidence in the fashion industry.

Bayli Manning

Title: Sales Associate

Company: Lucca

This summer, I interned at Lucca, a company specializing in designer brands such as Vix, Amanda Uprichard, Harvest Jewels, A.M.O., Veronica Beard, and L’Agence. My activities included working Harvest Jewels trunk shows and Love Shack Fancy pop-ups, handling inventory, engaging with customers, organizing events, maintaining the store, and managing social media content. Specific tasks involved conducting inventory counts, assisting customers with product selections, setting up displays, creating engaging social media posts, and ensuring the stores cleanliness and organization. Throughout this internship, I gained valuable insights into inventory management, sales strategies, event planning, and social media marketing. This experience significantly improved my communication skills, deepened my understanding of professional and ethical responsibility, and highlighted the importance of continuous learning in the fashion industry.

Emma Gore

Title: Intern

Company: Luste of Midday

This past summer, I interned at a small business, Lustre of Midday, in Cummings GA. The internship was remote-based due to the online nature of the store. My daily activities consisted of rebranding, advertising, marketing, and customer service. I began my internship with getting to know the brand and the meaning behind the vision of the products. Following that, I began to rebrand the company on the website and clean up photos, copies, and errors. Once everything on the website was in order, I then created multiple shoppable social media accounts like Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Etsy, to promote the company. I also had the opportunity to contact potential collaborators to help virtually stage our products for customers to envision what it would look like in their home.

During the last few weeks of my internship, the company decided to expand the marketing and advertising efforts to include emails. I was able to create emails to send to subscribers. This internship has been such a rewarding experience for me. I have been able to grow my knowledge in this industry and pinpoint how I would want to further my career in fashion merchandising.

Hannah Oliver

Title: Fashion Marketing Intern

Company: Mac Duggal

As a Mac Duggal Fashion Marketing intern, I moved to Chicago for the summer to learn so much about internet marketing, couture evening wear, fashion shows, and website development. By the end of my internship, I wrote 7 blogs and enhanced 71 blogs on the "Mac Blog" while using Search Engine Optimization copywriting techniques and HTML coding. I processed order invoices for large department stores like Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus using N41 Enterprise Resource Planning software and Lingo software. I improved the website by adding "color dots," dress descriptions, and image alt tags to enhance user experience. I also assisted with the photoshoot and video shoots for the Spring Summer 2020 collection. My favorite part of the internship was assisting with the Mac Gala Annual Fashion Show for exclusive retailers that sell Mac Duggal gowns.

From steaming beautiful dresses to coding webpages, my time as a Mac Duggal intern was incredible. I grew in my faith, learned valuable personal and professional skills, met some wonderful people, and learned so much about myself. I loved every second of being fully immersed in the fashion industry, and I know the skills that I learned during my internship at Mac Duggal will help me throughout my future endeavors. Thank you, Mac Duggal!

Emma Rose Ragland

Title: Luxury Retail Store (sales associate)

Company: Maison Weiss

Interning at Maison Weiss this summer has been an enriching experience that has allowed me to immerse myself in the world of luxury retail. My activities have ranged from assisting customers with their purchases, ensuring they find exactly what they're looking for, to managing inventory and keeping the store organized and visually appealing. One of my specific tasks has been designing the exterior of the store, focusing on elements such as signage and window displays. This has given me the opportunity to apply my design skills and creativity to attract more customers and enhance the overall shopping experience. I feel my best self when I am at Maison Weiss, especially when I walk through those doors bright and early. I seriously am the happiest version of myself working here and so thankful that Ken called me one day and asked if I’d come work for him. It was one of the best days of my life, and all my credit goes to Jesus Christ! Hopefully, I will continue working at Maison Weiss in the future. I have learned valuable lessons in customer service, sales strategies, and maintaining professionalism in a competitive environment. Overall, my internship at Maison Weiss has been a significant perfect learning journey, providing me with practical skills and insights into the luxury retail industry!

Caroline Walker

Title: Intern

Company: Margaret Ellen Bridal

I had the amazing opportunity to work as an intern at Margaret Ellen Bridal in Rosemary Beach, Florida. I shadowed the owner, Maggie, and two other consultants in over 100 bridal appointments. At Margaret Ellen Bridal, the appointments are private, so there is only one bride in store at a time. This allowed us to ensure the bride felt extra special and catered to. After meeting the bride and making her feel welcome, we gained a sense of what they were looking for, and we pulled dresses we thought she would love. I got to know many brides and made many connections. Aside from helping run appointments, I ran their social media accounts. I spent many days filming content to post throughout the week. I was able to grow their social media engagement on TikTok over 700% and their Instagram by 228%.

I got to see firsthand how Maggie runs her business and the challenging work that goes into it. She taught me so many valuable lessons about the bridal industry and starting a company from the ground up. This internship absolutely prepared me for the next step in my professional career.

Sydney Conrad

Title: European Region Product Analysis Intern

Company: Mary Kay

During Summer 2020, I had the amazing opportunity to intern in Dallas, Texas with Mary Kay! As the European Region Product Analysis Intern, I researched trends, arranged data, and helped creatively put together a new fragrance launch for Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus. My projects included creating price maps, competitive researching, and consumer insight researching. Even though my internship was remote, I met with dozens of executives and managers in the Creative, Brand Development, Marketing, and Procurement departments which allowed me to gain further insight into the cross functionality of a business. I also attended multiple creative meetings and marketing workshops to help better produce and forecast the upcoming launch. By the end of my internship, I created an overall presentation about what I learned this summer as well as external research for how Mary Kay could grow in the fragrance department through expanding ancillaries and continuing to provide immersive fragrance experiences. I presented the overall project and findings to the Vice President of Marketing and to the Mary Kay Russian team. This internship has taught me effective communication, professional networking skills, and forecasting skills that I will take with me through the rest of my professional career.

Tamari Popiashvili

Title: PR Intern

Company: Matériel Tbilisi

I had an opportunity to intern with Matériel Tbilisi, a designer fashion brand based in Tbilisi, Georgia. I worked as a public relations and marketing intern. Every day I checked the PR emails and communicated with many influential companies and people. I sent out orders for BLACKPINK, Måneskin, Zara Larsson, and more.

I helped with discount sections and updated the database in Excel. A few weeks into my internship I assisted designers with upcoming collections. I modeled sample pieces for them to assess and alter before being mass produced. I assisted with the season's professional photoshoot, which was an opportunity to expand my network.

My internship at Matériel made me realize high-end fashion is where I want to continue my career after graduation. After communicating with people who work in the fashion industry, I was able to develop my skills and find what interests me the most in this field. I am very grateful for this opportunity and the experience.

Kaitlyn Bell

Title: Assistant Manager

Company: Maurices

My summer 2021 internship was with Maurices, a women's clothing store, at their Dyersburg, TN store location. My role for the summer was to be the assistant store manager. During my internship, I was able to step into a management role and see how to efficiently run a retail store. I got to oversee both the sales floor and the behind-the-scenes type work. The back of house mostly consisted of fulfilling orders, planning fashion and styling events, and running social media accounts. I was also able to job-shadow and interview the store leader and see what her day-to-day looked like. I helped train associates on selling techniques and behaviors. This training helped our store become the highest grossing sales store for the entire month of June.

On a day-to-day basis, I would keep track of reports and goals for the store, complete markups, markdowns, and sign sale changes. I would style walls, tables, and mannequins and move product in order to maximize sales and profit. My favorite part of my internship was being able to help so many different people from many different walks of life find exactly what they were looking for whether that be a completely new wardrobe or the perfect outfit for big moments in their lives. I loved being able to be a small part of their big days and help them feel as beautiful and confident as possible in those moments. It was a wonderful opportunity, and I am so thankful for all the things that I learned, the experiences I had, and the friendships that I will take with me!

Anna Marie Mielke

Title: Fashion Intern

Company: MayHouse Collection LLC

I was blessed with the phenomenal opportunity to be a Fashion Intern at MayHouse Collection LLC, in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. MayHouse is a clothing and lifestyle store that focuses on living well, dressing well, and giving well. They treat all employees and customers like family to create a fun and safe shopping environment. MayHouse offers sections in the store for women & men’s fashion, jewelry, beauty, home & gift, floral, and children. My responsibilities there were very diverse each day; composed of serving customers, running social media accounts, gift wrapping, managing inventory, running reports, and being a part of buying meetings. Throughout my time at MayHouse Collection, I was specifically tasked to run the social media and start up their e-Commerce site. MayHouse has been gracious enough to offer me a remote position to continue my work as I finish my last semester of schooling. Working in this position has provided me an opportunity to grow my network, product knowledge, and customer service skills. While working, I was given the option the wear and model the clothes and jewelry we sold. I was able to grow not only sales by being a life-size mannequin for customers, but my confidence as well. My customer service and visual merchandise skills were used daily as I processed orders, completed sales transactions and created merchandise displays. Working at MayHouse Collection has been a great experience in the retail world. This summer helped me understand what kind of career I would like to pursue after I graduate.

Kirsten Porch

Title: Sales Associate

Company: Memphis Redbirds

I had an amazing opportunity to intern for the Memphis Redbirds. The Memphis Redbirds is the Triple-A baseball team for the St. Louis Cardinals. I love sports, so getting to work in retail for a sport team was an awesome experience. I never thought about a merchandising job for a sports team, yet it helped me realize that I want to find a job in sports as a merchandiser.

During my internship, I designed new t-shirts to sell in the team store. This was a fun experience, and I really enjoyed it. This internship showed me a different side of retail and that there are endless opportunities in the retail industry. I learned so many new things and performed new tasks that I could not have experience at a local boutique, and I am grateful for the experience.

Claire Billingsley

Title: Intern

Company: Mercantile

I had a fantastic opportunity to intern for Mercantile in Seaside, Florida. My days at Mercantile included:

• Shadowing my boss, Bryan
• Helping on the sales floor
• Working with BTS.
• Merchandising the store

Lydia McMillan

Title: Independent Contractor

Company: Mossy Oak

I had the pleasure of interning at Mossy Oak in West Point, Mississippi, as an independent contractor under the apparel designer/product developer and manager of retail operations. A typical day at Mossy Oak would include receiving and analyzing sample garments, fabrics, and lab dips and working on designs for different projects. I had the opportunity to learn more about the product development process and factory communication. A big part of what I did was working on technical packs and the specifications for samples received so that we could promptly give comments and feedback to the factories. Mossy Oak has allowed me to learn more about their brand while working in a family-like environment. I am thankful for the fantastic opportunity to work at Mossy Oak.

Katelyn Foster

Title: Independent Contractor

Company: Mossy Oak

I interned with Mossy Oak, a national outdoor lifestyle brand, in West Point, Mississippi. I worked as an independent contractor under the apparel designer and merchandising analyst. I learned the process of designing garments, communicating with factories, and quality checking products.

I spent my time working on confidential projects and checking specifications for pre-production and top of production samples. Mossy Oak receives samples daily, so giving the factories quick and beneficial feedback is necessary. I am thankful for Mossy Oak and the skills they have taught me. This internship was an amazing opportunity to have during my college career.

Madilyn Parker

Title: Sales Associate and Marketing Intern

Company: My Best Friend Jenna

As a Sales Associate and Marketing Intern at My Best Friend Jenna based in Jackson, Tennessee, I learned about bridal and formal wear. During my internship, I assisted the Miss Tennessee Volunteer pageant by helping with dress alterations and used my skills to enhance the company's social media presence. I also processed invoices, improved social media, styled bridal appointments, and gained a better understanding of the formal wear aspect of Fashion Design and Merchandising. The largest process I learned this summer was the undertaking buying to altering dresses called for, which I found to be the most satisfying process.

As an associate, I helped alter wedding and formal gowns, set up appointments, steam dresses, and use the skills I learned throughout my years in the Fashion Design and Merchandise program. By the end of this internship, I was able to help brides find their dream gowns. This was an extremely rewarding experience and helped me find the job path I want to pursue when I graduate.

Maggie Farmer

Title: Intern

Company: NARDOS Design

I had an amazing opportunity to intern with NARDOS Design in Dallas, TX, during Summer 2020. Over the summer, I have learned and gained more knowledge than I could ever had imagined. NARDOS Design is a company that sells bridal, couture gowns, ready to wear and made to order custom couture. Through my experiences this summer at NARDOS Design, I was able to take what I was learning in the classroom and apply it to real life. I had the opportunity to work in their store front and also in production. I witnessed the entire custom couture process with the designer and owner Nardos Imam. The custom couture process starts with the design, then the ideas are taken across the street to their atelier where a muslin is created. The muslin is then fitted and used as a pattern for the fabric of choice to create the garment. Seeing every single step from the first initial design to the final end garment is an amazing experience I will never forget and will carry with me the rest of my career.

Sydney Fava

Title: Design Intern

Company: Nicole Paloma Hand-Sewn Designs

During the 2021 winter session, I had the amazing opportunity to intern for Nicole Paloma. Located on 30A, in Watersound Beach, FL, Nicole Paloma creates one-of-a-kind hand-sewn designs. The company specializes in womenswear but recently opened a menswear store, which is located below the studio where everything is handmade. I was able to see the entire design process under one roof, from design conception to placing the garments directly in the customers' hands. My responsibilities while being a design intern included cutting fabric, sewing both menswear and womenswear garments, managing inventory, and working in the store. Since Nicole strives to use every square inch of fabric to reduce waste, we also hand-cut and sewed the retail bags. While making garments in the studio and running them down to the storefront to be sold immediately, I learned how to balance maintaining a sense of urgency and staying accurate. This was a lesson I was able to carry over to my last semester of graduate school, which tremendously helped me manage my time in the studio.

Irelan Burke

Title: Sales Associate in the Women's Activewear/Lingerie Department

Company: Nordstrom

My job at Nordstrom was a 7 to 8 hour day, arriving between 9:30 and 12:00. Overall tasks as a sales associate included:

• Sorting and organizing merchandise
• Checking out customers
• Assisting customers throughout the buying process
• Retagging or tagging new merchandise

I trained the first week before working the sales floor. This allowed me to learn about Nordstrom and how to best serve my customers through the buying process. I became confident over the term of my internship, assisting customers with their purchases. I have learned patience in this role as it can sometimes be difficult dealing with customers. A rewarding part of the job has been connecting and building relationships with my coworkers. I am thankful for this experience at Nordstrom and immensely enjoyed it.

Grace Mixon

Title: Retail Management Intern

Company: Nordstrom

Out of 2,000 applicants, I was one of six interns selected to spend the summer at Nordstrom at Park Meadows in Lone Tree, Colorado. As the retail management intern for the men's sportswear department, I was able to sell merchandise on the sales floor and learn and perform managerial duties. During my time there, I was fortunate to work during their biggest sale of the year, their annual anniversary sale. I created and executed presentations for anniversary rallies, set up anniversary tents for different departments, performed rack-ups, and experienced the excitement and craziness of it all by selling during the sale.

While being in men's sportswear, I was able to experience other areas and departments throughout the company. For example, one day we worked in fulfillment and service experience fulfilling orders and processing returns. Another day we worked at the Nordstrom Rack down the street to experience the difference between the two stores.

The store manager, Angel Yanes, instilled in us that his goal was for us to gain experience in all aspects of Nordstrom and gain the industry knowledge we need, so we would end up working at Nordstrom fulltime. Overall, I could not imagine receiving a better internship opportunity. I have been able to take what I have learned in the classroom and apply it to real situations in the industry. The company treats you just as well as its customers and aspires to see you grow and advance in the company and in life. For me, this internship is just the beginning!

Gabrianna Leake

Title: Retail Management Intern

Company: Nordstrom

I had the pleasure of interning for Nordstrom in Atlanta, Georgia. As the retail management intern in the women's shoe department, I gained experience selling merchandise, floor watching, and learning critical managerial roles. I also shadowed supervisors in various departments, gaining insights into fulfillment, operational, and loss prevention roles. I also got the chance to experience my first Nordstrom anniversary sale. Throughout my internship, I helped prepare for the sale. I participated in and attended store rally events to prepare for the sale. My overall experience from this internship was very beneficial and positive. I gained so much knowledge and leadership skills. I encourage anyone interested in management or willing to grow their leadership skills to apply. Not only will you gain so much knowledge, but you also will leave with many lifelong connections.

Makayla Wright

Title: Management Intern

Company: Nordstrom

I had the pleasure of interning for Nordstrom in Nashville, Tennessee. My job title was retail management intern in women’s ready-to-wear. This department has a variety of luxury brands ranging from Chanel to Michael Kors. Within this internship, I gained experience in selling, visual merchandising, financial knowledge, coaching, and networking skills. During my process I was able to shadow managers in both Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack this gave me an insight into how fulfillment, asset protection, and store revenue. Learning these skills creates a great foundation for a successful manager and store. Throughout my internship, I participated in events such as the Chanel launch, anniversary sales, product knowledge meetings, and luxury truck shows. This allowed me to network with brand representatives and people who work in corporate such as the president of Nordstrom and Jamie Nordstrom himself. All in all, my overall experience was nothing shy of amazing. I learned many different managerial skills, as well as who I am and what I would like to accomplish, that will allow me to be successful in my career with Nordstrom.

SueAnna Tarrant

Title: Trademark & Licensing Intern

Company: Office of General Counsel Mississippi State University

The Office of General Counsel at Mississippi State University oversees all things licensing. They are the people who approve and disapprove anything and everything with MSU logos or wording on it. They also deal with trademark management. They protect these trademarks from unauthorized use and manage the registration of new trademarks. They also work hand and hand with vendors by authorizing and managing relationships with those who produce products featuring MSU name and logos. During my time here I assisted with day-to-day task in the Trademark Licensing Department. This consisted of preparing conference room for meetings, running errands, and tagging artwork. Overall, I learned a lot about licensing and the legal side of it during my internship. It was overall and amazing experience, and I am very thankful for the time I spent there.

Davie Townes

Title: Merchandising Intern

Company: OutsideIN Works

OutsideIN Works is a company that produces and sells travel gear in all different shapes and sizes. The fabric is bought dead-stock from a supplier in Tupelo, Mississippi, so when a pattern is gone, it’s gone. Each product is designed and produced in the singular storefront, so there was always a lot happening in the store. I was given many different tasks during this internship, some of which I had never done before. These include taking product photos and uploading them to the company website, re-doing the store windows and interior displays, creating and posting content to social media, and I even got to sew a little from time to time.I really enjoyed getting to know Mrs. LeEllen and all the employees as I was just a summer inter, but I plan on using everything I’ve learned to better understand how to run a business in the ever-changing fashion industry

Lydia Rajaoberison

Title: Merchandising Intern, Men's Ready-to-Wear & Made to Measure

Company: Prada USA Corp.

I had the opportunity to work for Prada USA Corp. in New York as a merchandising intern for Men's Ready-to-Wear and Made-to-Measure. I would perform a weekly report updating sales data and analyzing best-seller items vs. focus products of the week. I submitted Special Orders and Requests from VIC as well as, log spare parts requests. During product launches, my team and I would assist the visual merchandising team setting up at Bergdorf Goodman and the Broadway store, which also gave me the opportunity to network outside of the office. In addition, I oversaw trend reporting, product distributions, and competitors' analysis which required competitive shopping and attending competitor brand events. I had the opportunity to participate and experience the buying process. I also proposed and created artlists for national and cross continental product transfers. In between these activities, I would work on several projects including Prada on Ice and Chalet popups, Glow, Linea Rossa FW21 launch, Re-nylon, and other distribution for upcoming events and popups. Over the course of this internship, I have developed skills in buying, effective communication, teamwork, Excel and technology, networking, visual merchandising, and trend forecasting. I am very thankful for this opportunity and for the people that I met along the way.

Katie Holingsworth

Title: Sales Associate

Company: Private Collection

I had the opportunity to intern with Private Collection in Madison, MS. I worked as a sales associate each day and helped the manager with scheduling and delegating tasks to employees. I had the opportunity to learn how a successful business should run and operate. I was challenged to work with unsatisfied customers, handling returns, and exchanges. My overall experience of working at Private Collection was amazing. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to learn and expand my knowledge of becoming a successful entrepreneur.

Isabel Temple

Title: Marketing Sales Intern

Company: Pure Barre

During my last semester of college, I had the opportunity to intern with the Pure Barre franchise in Starkville, MS. As an intern, I had the privilege of working in marketing and sales which allowed me to gain knowledge and confidence to bring into my future career. Through my learning experiences as a marketing sales intern, I built connections with clients, found confidence within myself, and was educated on how marketing plays such a big role in the industry. As an intern at Pure Barre, I was able to deal with customers' wants and needs as well as build connections to later take with me into my future. Pure Barre has not only taught me about professionalism, but it has given me the confidence I never knew I needed while being my best self.

Nicole Grendi

Title: Intern

Company: RaceTrac

I've had the privilege of Interning at RaceTrac headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia as the Alcohol Category Intern! I was able to participate in a very structured internship program with 13 other interns in various departments. Each week we attended a panel of speakers within the company to give interns a better understanding of departments. Every Friday was "Fun Friday" where all the interns did fun team-building activities such as bowling, the Escape room, a Brave's game, Volunteer events, and so much more.

As the Alcohol intern, I was tasked with many projects through out those 10 weeks. I had a few tasks that I completed on a weekly basis including sending out cost exceptions to control overbilling, construction reports, discontinued wine, and constellation brand opening. Some of the main projects that I worked on throughout the summer was investigating a better credit process system, ordering new ice barrels, sending out surveys to stores, and sending out survey to wholesalers. I also oversaw sending out vendor forms, pricing surveys, and setting up retails and margin totals for the products. I also spent a portion of my time working on my intern group project with four other interns. We were tasked to further investigate on the efficiency of travel centers as we expand within this store type.

Mollie Malouf

Title: Summer Intern

Company: Reed's Department Store

I had the wonderful opportunity to intern at Reed's Department Store in Starkville, MS. Reed's was founded in 1905 in Tupelo, MS, and it has since grown into three successful stores with two sister stores. I participated in many of the day-to-day activities within the store, such as social media, marketing, buying, customer service, visual merchandising, and inventory. I enjoyed working in many of the departments however, my focus was visual merchandising, displays, and growing Reed's social media presence.

Throughout my internship, I had the opportunity to design and revamp Reed's window display for the summer, which is shown in the photo above. I also managed their Instagram page and I was responsible for taking photos for Reed's weekly advertisements in Starkville's local newspaper. I worked closely with their manager and MSU graduate, Bo Summerford. He entrusted me with several projects and allowed me to utilize my creativity in each project. My internship at Reed's exceeded my expectations, and I am beyond grateful for this amazing experience.

Ansley Clark

Title: Intern for Assistant Creative Director

Company: Retrofete

I had the opportunity to Intern at Retrofete in New York. Retrofete blurs the line between night and day by creating a life-of-the-party aesthetic within each design. My daily tasks were diverse, ranging from attending meetings and running errands to assisting in photoshoots and organizing tasks under the guidance of the creative designer. One of the highlights of my internship was actively participating in FIT meetings and even modeling for them, offering me firsthand experience in the design process. Creating trend reports was a big part of my daily activities; keeping up with the most current trends is essential in this industry.

As my internship progressed, I had the privilege of contributing to the design process for the upcoming fashion show, marking Retrofete's debut on the runway in 2023. Witnessing the brand's growth firsthand and developing a close relationship with the owner has been truly remarkable. I was honored to be invited back to New York to participate in the inaugural fashion show, a testament to the meaningful connections I forged during my time at Retrofete. Interning for Retrofete has been so rewarding and such a fantastic experience. The knowledge and connections I made here will help me successfully reach my goals.

Claire Borel

Title: Assistant Buyer Intern

Company: Ross Dress for Less (NYBO)

During my internship, I was actively involved in a variety of tasks that enhanced my analytical and communication skills. My daily activities included running item sales reports, corresponding with vendors, analyzing trend sheets to forecast upcoming seasons, and running the ladders to ensure optimal product placement. Additionally, I optimized Excel for reporting, which streamlined our data analysis processes. Attending vendor meetings across New York, including Long Island, Brooklyn, and the Empire State Building, provided me with invaluable exposure to the industry and strengthened my professional network. Ross truly valued me and my opinions, creating an environment where I felt comfortable asking questions and eager to learn. The dedication of my DMM, GMM, and even EVP, who took the time to meet and know me personally, demonstrated the supportive and energizing company culture. Their commitment to my growth made a significant impact, and I always felt encouraged and valued. This enriching experience made leaving the company difficult, as I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and the opportunities it provided.

Madee Link

Title: Intern

Company: Rudy Lou / Rowdy Lou

For eight weeks, I had the opportunity to Intern with two sister companies in Nashville, TN. Rudy Lou and Rowdy Lou are owned by Sarah Jameson. Rudy Lou is a custom bridal company that has been operating in Nashville for over five years. As an intern, I sat in on bridal appointments to help with alterations and took notes to track what each bride would like for their custom bridal piece. Rowdy Lou is a streetwear line that also includes bachelorette merchandise. Every day was different and brought new challenges. I kept track of the website's inventory and created content for social media. However, I also packaged orders and had weekly meetings with the company's marketing director. My overall experience for this internship was incredibly positive. I learned about running a business and gained so much knowledge from this opportunity. My boss, Sarah, did a fantastic job leading me through this internship and ensured I walked away with new experiences in the fashion industry.

Taiylor Cobb

Title: Sample/digital operations intern

Company: Saks

As a sample intern, I had the opportunity to work at the Saks Corporate Office in Manhattan. I worked alongside the Division 1 team specializing in Women's Designer RTW. Tasks included receiving garment samples from vendors bought for Saks.com, photographing the samples on a model or as a still image. After a photoshoot, the garments are returned to the vendors. Photos then go through the editing team to color correct and edit for the web site. I also worked alongside our Feature Tracker Supervisor. I assisted in tracking garments utilized in shooting editorial campaigns, social media platforms, and in emails. Those divisions consisted of women's, men's, kid's, home, beauty, accessories and more. This role gave me the opportunity to gain insight on the marketing campaigns and decks that are based upon trendy brands, fashions, and lifestyles. The experience of working two different roles simultaneously allowed me to better understand the importance of everyone's task in sample management. Lastly, I was able to network and connect with many of the interns at Saks, as well and those in managerial roles. I attended weekly meetings with the early career and development team that showcased departments such as: planning, buying, finance, marketing, and more. Overall, my internship experience at Saks was incredible! I was able to be myself and learn a great deal not just about sample management, but the overall e-commerce corporate office.

Olivia Moore

Title: Collegiate Merchandising Intern

Company: Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort

I had the pleasure of working for Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, in Miramar Beach, FL. I worked in three different stores, Island Clothiers, Coconut Kidz, and Sandestin Clothing Company, at The Village of Baytowne Wharf. During this internship, I worked mostly on the sales side, but I also partnered with the marketing department.

I assisted with visual merchandising and store standards, completing daily tasks and processing shipments. My time on the sales floor gave me the chance to enhance my networking skills and meet several homeowners and tourist from all over. I had the chance to be a part of several walkthroughs with the Vice President of Development, assist the buyer, and work in the warehouse with the Warehouse Coordinator. I loved working for the marketing department. I was able to assist them with styling different themed photoshoots for each of our three stores.

I am so honored that I got to be a part of the Sandestin team. This summer has taught me so much and has helped me decide exactly what career path I want to pursue after graduation. I truly recommend this place to anyone looking for an internship.

Summer Henry

Title: Summer Retail Sales Intern

Company: Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort

I had the opportunity to work at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Miramar Beach, Florida. I worked at three different stores. The stores are located at The Village of Baytowne Wharf. The stores are Island Clothiers, Coconut Kidz, and Sandestin Clothing Company. During this internship, I worked on the merchandising and sales side of the retail business.

Throughout the summer, I would either open or close the store. Daily tasks were processing new shipments, completing sales transactions, and remerchandising the stores. While working at Sandestin, I enhanced my professional skills as well as my professional connections.

I enjoyed my time with Sandestin and learned many skills as well as key insights into retail operations. This summer helped me to see what career options I would like to pursue.

Sela White

Title: Retail Fashion Summer Intern

Company: Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort

I had the opportunity to work for Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Miramar Beach, Florida. I was a Retail Fashion Summer Intern. During my internship, I rotated between working in three different stores in Sandestin. The three stores included a men's and women's apparel store called Island Clothiers, a children's store called Coconut Kidz, and the Sandestin Clothing Company. While working at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, I gained hands-on experience and knowledge about what it's like to work in the retail industry.

As Summer Intern, my tasks included opening or closing the store, working the register, restocking the store, and processing new shipments. I am thankful I had the opportunity to work with such extraordinary employees and managers who were kind, welcoming, and invested in my success. I am grateful for this experience and all the memories I made while working here that I will cherish forever.

Aubrey Buford

Title: Merchandising Intern

Company: Sandestin Golf and Beach Resorts

I had the wonderful opportunity as a merchandising intern at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resorts of Mirimar, Flordia. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resorts is a privately owned company that takes their mission of focusing on the joy of quality family time and fun on the Emerald Coast to heart. Their retail stores are in Baytown Wharf. Their store Barefoot Princess, catered toward women of all ages, carries brands such as Vineyard Vines, Faherty, Southern Tide, ShowMeYourMuMu, Salt Water Luxe, Chaser, Trina Turk, and Lily Pulitzer. The Coconut Kidz retail shop carries the same brands as Barefoot Princess, but in children's sizes ranging from newborn to kids 12-14. The last retail location is Sandestin Clothing Company, which features the resort's iconic brand, as the only retail spot that sports merchandise that says Sandestin.

While being an intern at Sandestin, I participated in various tasks, including serving as a retail associate for Coconut Kidz and Sandestin Clothing Company, restocking new merchandise, rearranging and planning visual merchandising, opening/closing activities, processing merchandise into the computer systems, assisting in styling customers upon request, learning about marketing and social media efforts, and shadowing the retail buyer for all three store locations. I have grown in numerous ways while being in Sandestin from meeting people from all diverse backgrounds to becoming more knowledgeable about what it takes to be buyer. I am so thankful for the firsthand experiences and hope to continue these skills in my future wherever I go.

Sloan McClatchy

Title: Summer Retail Sales Intern

Company: Sandestin Investments

I had the opportunity to work with Sandestin in Miramar Beach, FL as a part of their retail sales team! I gained incredible experience and knowledge about the retail industry working here this summer. I got to rotate around three different stores on the resort. These stores included a men's and women's apparel store, a children's store, and a Sandestin company store. I got to work a lot with visual merchandising, buying, social media, customer experience, and sales. The people I got to work with were amazing and were always there to help and answer any questions.

On a typical day, I would either open or close the store. I got to interact with every customer which was awesome because people came from all over the country to vacation here. I also performed many other daily tasks like remerchandising parts of the store, processing new shipments, and doing many points of sale transactions. I have had the best experience working with Sandestin's retail this summer. I have learned a lot and met many amazing people that I will cherish for a lifetime.

Brynnan Breland

Title: Collegiate Merchandising Intern

Company: Sandestin Investments

I had the pleasure of working at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, owned by Sandestin Investments, in Miramar Beach, Florida. I was a part of their retail sales team. I rotated among three different stores on the Baytowne Wharf. The stores I worked at were Barefoot Princess/ Island Clothiers, Coconut Kidz, and Sandestin Clothing Company. I worked in retail sales, but I also assisted with visual merchandising, social media marketing, and customer service.

My typical day started with opening a store and prepping for the day. During the day, while assisting customers and making sales, I processed shipments and networked. I met people from all over the world as well as local residents of Sandestin. I also had the opportunity to assist our retail buyer in working the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic, an annual fishing tournament hosted by the resort. This opportunity allowed me to meet even more people and experience how huge events such as this are coordinated. Overall, the amazing staff and my coworkers made this experience unforgettable, and I learned so much while interning for Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.

Kathryn McDaniel

Title: Summer Fashion Intern

Company: Sandestin Investments

I interned for Sandestin Investments as part of their retail sales team. The company and resort are in Miramar Beach, Florida. I worked at The Village of Baytowne Wharf, a shopping and tourist attraction area. I rotated amongst Island Clothiers/Barefoot Princess, Coconut Kidz, and Sandestin Clothing Company. While stationed at these stores, I gained knowledge on every aspect of retail I hoped for.

I enjoyed the opportunity to rotate between stores because it made each day different and interesting. I also appreciated the fact I got to sell adult clothing, kids clothing, and Sandestin's merchandise to gain experience with diverse types of products. I exercised my skills in selling techniques, visual merchandising, customer service, social media marketing, and buying. I was incredibly lucky to have great supervisors and coworkers that made jumping into an unfamiliar environment and workspace easy and enjoyable.

I worked with multiple interns, and we were able to adjust and learn from each, which was extremely helpful. On the average workday, I worked the opening or closing shift. During an opening shift, I worked alone. During a closing shift, I typically worked with a manager or another intern.

Some tasks I completed while working were processing shipping, working on visual merchandising displays, aiding customers with any requests, tracking sales at certain time intervals, daily housekeeping, and register transactions. What I enjoyed the most about this internship was the diversity of the people I got to meet. Customers came from all over to visit the resort, and I loved getting to talk to different people each day. I learned numerous new skills and feel that I grew as an employee and a person. The experience was extremely enjoyable, and I have cherished the time I got to spend in a new place with my coworkers and customers.

Cam Hatten

Title: Fashion Public Relations Intern

Company: Savannah Engel Public Relations

I interned at Savannah Engel Public Relations in New York City. I participated in a variety of different activities as an intern. During my time at Savannah Engel Public Relations, I learned how to do press reports, daily monitoring reports, check inventory/loos in and out of the system. I assisted in styling for events, packed PR boxes for celebrities and influencers, and ran errands. I met so many great and well-connected people. I did not expect to intern at a fashion consulting agency when I was searching for my internship, but I am so grateful to have experience this opportunity. My supervisors turned every mistake into a teaching moment. They had so much knowledge to share about the fashion industry as it relates to public relations. I had the best experience interning for Savannah Engel, and I would do it all over again.

Abby Caughman

Title: Summer intern

Company: Seaside Associated Stores

I had the most incredible summer of 2020 working as an intern for the Seaside Company in Florida. I obtained experience in so many different aspects of the retail industry. I gained knowledge in marketing, retail, buying, visual merchandising, e-commerce, and warehousing. From day one, all my supervisors and fellow employees were so kind and welcoming. They were always ready to help me learn and give advice. When working in the stores, I was mainly walking the floor or working the t-shirt bars. I helped with inventory daily and restocking the shelves. I really enjoyed working in the warehouse and getting an idea of what goes on behind the scenes. I was able to work in the warehouse fulfilling online sales orders, receiving new items, and working with buyers. Overall, my experience with the Seaside Company was one I will never forget. I am so grateful for the opportunity to live on the beach and learn more about the retail industry. I met many amazing people and made memories I will keep forever!

Destiny Ryhan

Title: Merchandising Intern

Company: Shelby Jewel

I interned at a small boutique, Shelby Jewel in Memphis, TN. Shelby Jewel started as an online exclusive retailer before opening a pop-up location in Germantown. After the initial pop-up, Shelby Jewel opened a permanent location in Memphis, TN.

As a merchandising intern, I oversaw the store's inventory, which consisted of correctly pairing the invoices with the sales orders. I was responsible for quality assurance of the new arrivals to ensure there were no rips or stains. I also assisted the photoshoot coordinator by contacting models, scouting locations, styling, and keeping track of all the inventory during photoshoots.

I was given the opportunity to attend Market Week in Atlanta during my internship. This opened a whole new world of fashion merchandising for me because I was able to observe vendor communications. My boss entrusted me with the decision of selecting a few new pieces for the fall assortment. Overall, the internship was very insightful and allowed me to learn and develop new skills.

Mary Rice

Title: Sherrill & Brothers Intern

Company: Sherrill & Brothers

I had the opportunity to work in New York with the Sherrill & Brothers team on several projects throughout my internship. My first two weeks consisted of organizing connections with magazines under Conde Nast and Hearst, delivering gifts to accessory editors at magazines, such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and O, The Oprah magazine. I reached out to influencers about collaborating with us, created tech packs, and organized the excel spreadsheets for inventory. I researched London heritage stores for the head designer, Marcia Sherrill, to visit in upcoming months. I created a document with a summarized history of each store, their location, and availability to meet with Sherrill to discuss our products. I also coordinated the sample belts to Monica Yus at Brooks Brothers. I was able to participate in setting up and selling of products at the New York Spring 2023 Men's tradeshow, where I met several menswear designers and learned about the digital printing process on men's button ups. There, I discussed with designers the approach to maintaining a traditional woven look in men's suits created in knits. One of my last projects was working on set of a photo shoot. I found locations to conduct the shoot, assisted in picking the model, and recorded for the Sherrill & Brothers social media accounts.

My overall experience was an insightful and incredible learning experience that bettered my understanding of this industry. Christian and Diane, my supervisors, were outstanding leaders. I am grateful that I gained such wonderful connections in the industry. The projects given to me were challenging and prepared me for the pace of the industry. Interning at Sherrill & Brothers was a wonderful experience, and I am so thankful I spent a summer learning all I can with them.

Laura "Liza" Nettles

Title: Online Store Manager

Company: Sissy's Contemporary Clothing

During the summer of 2020, I was able to intern with Sissy's Contemporary Clothing in McComb, Mississippi. The company has been successful for twenty years and counting. I worked in several departments including buying, merchandising, and inventory. I loved working with every department! I worked closely with the owner, Sissy Whittington, about how we could put her knowledge about fashion and great business skills, with my skills learned from MSU to create a website and a social media presence.

The social media accounts grew quickly with over one thousand followers in just the first month. The website became very beneficial during the Covid-19 shutdown. After four weeks into my internship, I was offered a full-time position as online store manager. Some of my tasks include processing/packaging online orders, upload products to the website, create social media posts, and responsibility for the store's website.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to be an intern at Sissy's Contemporary Clothing. The experience was absolutely incredible. I was able to put my skills learned at MSU to use, meet wonderful people, and learn knowledge that I will always cherish from a fabulous, well established business owner.

Sara Murphy

Title: Intern

Company: Sorority by RO

This summer, I had the absolute pleasure of working at Sorority by RO in Brandon, Mississippi. My day-to-day duties involved production and fulfilling orders for our wide range of clients. Most orders that we received were on a large scale of 100-300 per item and needed to be fulfilled and delivered on a timely basis. It was a privilege to work with Ramona and learn how to run a business efficiently and effectively.

Most of our clients are in college towns and are ordering mass quantities for their large Greek organizations and need their orders fulfilled by a certain date. This taught me how timelines are crucial for this line of work. Throughout the internship, I learned how to meet deadlines and make fast turnarounds.

Ashlynn Breland

Title: Merchandising/Management Intern

Company: Southern Sass

My summer 2020 internship with Southern Sass, a women's clothing boutique in my hometown of Ellisville, MS, is an experience for which I am forever grateful! I worked closely with the owner and a fellow employee to establish ecommerce opportunities for the boutique, considering the coronavirus pandemic restricted storefront operations. My daily tasks included merchandising the sales floor, styling photoshoots to post on social media and the website, managing email and text message campaigns, and creating graphics for announcements of sales and new arrivals. I also regularly participated in making buying decisions, creating purchase orders and receipts, and inventory management. My overall internship experience was wonderful despite the pandemic, thanks to my incredible co-worker and generous boss. I was truly blessed to intern so close to home during such an unknown and challenging time. I am so thankful for the opportunity to intern with Southern Sass, and I will utilize all I have learned in both in my personal life and future professional endeavors.

Katey Kemp

Title: Apparel Design Intern

Company: Steve Madden

I was honored to serve as an apparel design intern at Steve Madden in New York City. I specifically worked with the Betsey Johnson apparel design team. As an intern, I was able to assist the head designer with designing the Spring & Summer 2023 collections. My day-to-day activities looked different each day.

From using Illustrator to help sketch with the head designer to organizing the showroom to attending buyer and production meetings, each day was different. I was also able to assist in fittings with the design team. I even assisted and shadowed fellow coworkers in other divisions which allowed me to make other connections. One day I shadowed the account executive at the Spring '23 photoshoot.

This internship challenged me to learn and allowed me to grow my skills in not only design but also in other aspects of the company. Overall, this internship allowed me to see behind-the-scenes in the fashion industry from start to finish.

Minerva Alonso

Title: Fashion Design Intern

Company: Suzanne Perron St. Paul

I had the opportunity to intern with Suzanne Perron St. Paul, a New Orleans based Couture designer, during Summer 2020. Suzanne Perron designs custom gowns for brides, debutantes, and Mardi Gras Queens. Each gown is designed and constructed individually for each client. Throughout the internship, I learned many couture techniques as well as the process behind making bridal gowns. The gowns are built from the inside out beginning with a boned foundation and crinoline. My daily activities consisted mainly of making different types of crinoline for the gown foundation, sewing muslins, and tracing and adjusting pattern pieces. I also had the opportunity to work with various luxury fabrics which extended my knowledge of textiles. From sewing crinolines to cutting luxury satin fabrics my time as an intern was amazing. I am so thankful for everything Suzanne taught me and cannot wait to apply that knowledge in my future projects.

Merritt Baker

Title: Merchandising/Marketing Intern

Company: Sweet Dreams Children's Boutique

I had the opportunity to intern with Sweet Dreams Children's Boutique in Madison, Mississippi. I gained a tremendous amount of knowledge from this opportunity in the areas of customer service, inventory control, social media marketing, and visual merchandising.

As a sales associate I was able to help customers with in-store and online purchases, set up gift registries, and special orders. Helping customers select that "first" outfit for a newborn was a wonderful experience.

I assisted with setting up displays in the store front window for seasonal and sale merchandise, as well as other displays throughout the store. Receiving inventory and restocking the shelves was a way I learned children's brands. I also worked with the store's social media marketing team by taking pictures for the Instagram stories and posts. I had the opportunity to update the store's website adding new pictures and store information.

Christy Boutwell has owned Sweet Dreams for more than 20 years. Sweet Dreams has quite a customer base not just in the state of Mississippi but also surrounding states. I am extremely grateful to have been able to intern with such a successful small business owner.

Sadie Ogletree

Title: Stores Executive Intern

Company: Target

I had the absolute pleasure of working at Target as one of their Stores Executive Interns. I spent around two weeks in each department throughout my store and shadowed the leaders in the areas. I learned about different leadership styles and effective communication in the workplace, and I had constructive conversations with team members and leaders alike. I learned how to effectively run a multimillion-dollar store day-to-day and had a wonderful time doing all of it. I also developed effective merchandising techniques, phenomenal guest service practices, team management skills, and much more.

Target emphasizes the importance of the guest's experience, and they also make sure their employees are taken care of. I was no exception to this standard. The employees at Target were welcoming and happy to share their years of knowledge and experience with me, and we all learned a lot from each other. This internship was the perfect opportunity to put my knowledge from my merchandising classes to use, and it allowed me to learn about working and leading a team of driven individuals. The experience I had at my Target internship was truly unbeatable, and I cannot say enough good words about it!

Anna Smith

Title: Stores Executive Intern

Company: Target

At Target, I interned as an Executive Team Lead in Service and Engagement. This role helped me strengthen my communication skills, and it helped me develop as a leader. I learned how to delegate and strategize with my team correctly and how to navigate difficult situations that arose. My responsibilities encompassed a wide array of tasks, including floor merchandising, overseeing scheduling and hiring processes, and driving sales through meticulous attention to business metrics. I learned all aspects of how to run a retail business properly.

Maintaining constant communication with fellow interns and supervisors was crucial in pushing my development further. Every day brought something different; overall, it was a good experience. Target proved to be an exceptional company to intern for, offering numerous growth opportunities both personally and within the organization.

Clare Beckham

Title: Stores Executive Intern

Company: Target Corporation

For ten weeks this summer, I worked as a Stores Executive Intern at Target, gaining real-life experience leading in a retail management position under the guidance of five successful store executives. Even though my area of focus was style, beauty, and specialty sales, I shadowed my executives in realistic managerial scenarios from interview processes, to terminations, to efficiency setbacks, and so much more.

One goal of the internship was help me grow as a leader, and I believe that the internship was helped me accomplish that. I spent a sizable part of my ten weeks leading and working to motivate my team, all while gaining an intimate understanding of how the retail industry operates, from stock, to sale, to salary, and of course, keeping the customer happy.

Alden Chapple

Title: Executive Team Leader Intern

Company: Target Corporation

I had the opportunity to be an Executive Team Leader Intern at Target in Memphis, TN, during Summer 2020. This internship entails shadowing the different Executive Team Leaders of each department of Target and learning how to be a successful leader in a Target store. The four departments are General Merchandise, Specialty Sales, Service and Engagement, and Human Resources. Each department has Executive Team Leaders that run or "own" that department. This variety in leadership allowed me to observe workload, management styles, scheduling, instruction, store opening and closing procedures, zone and set merchandise, and customer engagement to ensure a positive shopping experience. As part of this shadowing, I had the opportunity to lead a closing shift, interview, scheduling and balancing workloads, lead the sales floor as the Lead ETL for the day, engage with team members, update in store marketing for new Visual Merchandising Guides from corporate, and really reflect on my own leadership skills from a Target perspective. I have grown and learned so much about myself from a professional and leadership perspective and am so thankful for my time here at T2474. I truly am going to miss this team so much and I am so thankful to have had this opportunity.

Morgan Cook

Title: Executive Team Lead Intern

Company: Target Corporation

I had the opportunity to work as an Executive Team Lead (ETL) Intern at Target in Memphis, TN. This internship allowed me to shadow the four Executive Team Leads and Store Director at store T1030. I was able to gain hands-on experience on how to lead and manage a team of employees while driving sales and engaging with guests. As I was with the ETL's and Store Director, I was able to learn how each of them lead their team and worked together for the business as a unit. I had the opportunity to assist in leading opening and closing shifts, leading the front of the store, advertisement/sales walk, ensuring that all visual merchandising guides were set correctly, scheduling, and lead truck receiving. I learned that it is important for every team in the store to work together with the same goal to ensure the guests are happy.

Overall, my internship experience has been more than I could have hoped for. I was able to learn what my leadership style is and how Target operates at a fast level in every aspect. Being in the store allowed me to put what I have been taught at Mississippi State into action and see the real time results. I am so thankful for this opportunity and all that I have learned at Target.

Taylor Anne Trusty

Title: Assistant Stylist

Company: The Bridal Path

I spent the summer of 2020 interning as an assistant stylist at The Bridal Path in Jackson, Mississippi. As the first ever intern for The Bridal Path I spent the summer learning the retail bridal market from all aspects. I spent my workdays assisting with appointments, unpacking, and preparing new inventory for the sales floor, and helping to remodel the sales floor with new furniture and displays. When not working on the sales floor, I updated The Bridal Path Pinterest Board, and designed and posted various bridesmaids mood boards for the company's Instagram page. I updated their Bridal Live database so the stylists will have updated information pertaining to the designers that the store carries. I also established an information sheet with various contacts and information so that the stylists can quickly answer questions over the phone. During the month of July, I assisted in the planning and implementation of the annual professional photo shoot. My internship with The Bridal Path helped me realize that working in the bridal industry is where I want to begin my career after my graduation from Mississippi State University. The Jarvis family made me feel like a part of The Bridal Path family from day one and for that, I am very thankful.

Taylor Boyt

Title: Bridal Stylist Intern

Company: The Bridal Path

I spent the summer of 2024 as The Bridal Path bridal stylist intern in Madison, MS. Over my two and a half months of work, I have grown and gained so much confidence, knowledge and experience in the retail industry. I was given the opportunity to experience and assist all aspects of the store and the services they offer. The Bridal path specializes in bridal styling, mother of the bride/groom, grandmother of the bride/groom, bridesmaids, and in house alterations appointments. The work environment was so positive, uplifting and truly felt like a family. This store if filled with so much joy from the employees and clients. It has been a dream to work for the owner, Audrey McCarty, a MSU Fashion Merchandising graduate herself. The Bridal Path has been such a wonderful experience that I will treasure forever. I’d recommend this place to anyone interested in the Bridal Industry

Greysenne Lentz

Title: Management Intern

Company: The Buckle

My role at the buckle internship was to grow the women's apparel department since the store has very heavy male traffic. I was tasked with the job of finding ways to increase sales in women's shirts. As sales increased, the store received more product for the women's department, which allowed our customer base to grow.

I participated in visuals, styling customers, management decisions, department tracking, opening/closing duties, weekly meetings, brand education, and product seminars.

My overall experience has far surpassed what I expected. Buckle has taught me so many things in this short amount of time. I would recommend this internship to anyone who is looking for an internship that is going to push you. Everyday at work I got to do something new and exciting. I am always happy to go in and see what the day holds for me. It is a fast-paced and passion-driven environment that can teach you many things about yourself.

Karli Reed

Title: Digital Marketing Intern

Company: The Front Door Design Studio

This semester, I had an internship that was very much outside of my comfort zone, but it became an experience I wouldn't trade for anything. I'm a fashion, design and merchandising major, but I spent the semester working as a digital marketing intern for The Front Door Design Studio, a small architecture firm in Baton Rouge. Since I was working remotely, my main task was to manage their social media accounts, build a client portal for their website, and take notes during client meetings. It was all incredibly informative, but the website and meetings especially allowed me to develop a whole new skill set while observing meaningful client relationships firsthand. The Front Door Design Studio is also a small company, which meant that not only was I was able to build relationships with the clients but also with the employees, all of whom had something valuable to teach me. There was a bit of a learning curve overall, but it was really incredible to see people in action who channel their creativity in a different way than I do.

Brynnan Breland

Title: Summer Intern

Company: The Idea Shop

In summer 2021, I interned at The Idea Shop at MSU in Starkville, MS. My primary role was running and managing the retail floor. This required that I, not only helped run the business, but also coordinate window display and arranging/rearranging the sales floor. My favorite part of my internship was helping customers find what they need. Also, I enjoyed designing with the 3D printers in the store. I loved being able to stay in Starkville for my internship. This gave me the opportunity to show my family and friends the work I was doing. I was able to treat the store as my own on many occasions, which taught me a lot of different skills, including building my confidence as a salesperson. I loved this internship and the people I worked with and met during the last couple months. I hope to continue to work with them in the future!

Alyssa Klein

Title: Wholesale Intern

Company: The Klein Group

This summer I had the opportunity to intern as a sales representative for The Klein Group. The Klein Group is full-service children's' wear wholesale company in Dallas, Texas. Over the course of my internship, I was able to gain knowledge in sales, social media marketing, the wholesale industry, B2B systems, and manufacturing.

The wholesale industry is constantly changing, so my day-to-day tasks were always evolving. A few daily tasks included: finding new stores to come to Dallas markets, creating graphics for email blasts, creating social media content (mostly Tik Toks), finding new ways to expand and grow our business, and tending to our customers daily to make sure their needs are met. One of my favorite projects was working with one of our manufacturers to help design the spring 2022 line. We compiled various body styles, colors, and fabrics that are trending for the upcoming spring season. This was one of my favorite projects because I got to build a relationship with one of our manufacturers, and I got to show off my creative side!

Overall, I loved my internship with The Klein Group, and I am so thankful for the amazing people I've gotten to work with, and the experience I've gained!

Stori Endt

Title: Wholesale Intern

Company: The Klein Group

I had the opportunity to intern at The Klein Group at the Dallas Market Center in Dallas, Texas. The Klein Group has been a wholesale children's and tween clothing company for over 30 years. My day-to-day responsibilities consisted of several informative and challenging tasks. I considered myself a "task rabbit" and would help my coworkers with whatever they had for me that day. These tasks ranged from making cold calls to customers, scheduling market appointments, and sitting in on meetings with major department stores like Dillard's. I enjoyed helping the DL1961 Brand Manager with anything and everything DL1961-related. I helped her process orders, took customer orders, communicated directly with headquarters about customers and their information, and so much more. Being her trusted assistant and watching how she managed business with such a large and credited company was so informative and, indeed, was my favorite part of my internship. I also had the opportunity to work in two markets in Dallas, which was a fantastic experience. Getting to see first-hand how the market works and all the different channels that products go through was something that I appreciated and valued. Being immersed in the wholesale world was an experience that was nothing short of amazing. I would not have understood how vital the middleman is in the fashion industry if it hadn't been for this internship. I am so grateful to The Klein Group for the valuable lessons they taught me and for making me feel like a part of such a fun and hardworking family.

Anna Donnelly

Title: Merchandising Intern

Company: The Nash Collection

My internship was at The Nash Collection, a lifestyle brand founded in 2016, that embodies owner Laci Bonner's love for Nashville. The experience was very interesting and really helped me gain more knowledge in the merchandising field. Over the course of the summer, I completed many different tasks. I mainly worked on the store's overall displays and product placement. I was tasked with changing table and window displays for various holidays throughout the summer. I also focused on bestselling merchandise, finding ways to increase visibility and appeal to customers.

Another major part of my job was inventory. I worked closely with the inventory manager to keep shelves stocked with bestsellers. I also learned about product ordering and ways to optimize customer satisfaction and revenue simultaneously. I spent time learning details about the retail business gaining experience operating point of sales and returns and becoming familiar with store closing procedures. Overall, The Nash was a great first internship. Everyone was so friendly and willing to answer any questions that I had.

Ashley Highfill

Title: Marketing Intern

Company: The Rogue

During my time at The Rogue, I was in charge of various tasks. Some included taking photos for social media, working with customers, dressing mannequins, and arranging merchandise in the store. When taking photos for social media I would mostly take flat-lay photos however, I did take individual pictures of each item to post on an Instagram or Facebook story. Once posted, I managed the social media accounts and had to answer any questions customers would have about items. The manager also entrusted me to dress the mannequins for window displays and the other ones around the store. As we got new arrivals, I arranged certain merchandise around the store to freshen things up. I really enjoyed my time at The Rogue, it taught me much more than I thought I could learn in such a short period of time. I definitely would recommend this internship to other students, especially if they are interested in owning their own store.

Taylor Anne Trusty

Title: Magic Kingdom Park Greeter

Company: The Walt Disney Company

This spring, 2019, I spent six months at Disney's Magic Kingdom Park in Orlando, Florida. I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of just five percent accepted to participate in the Disney College Program, and it was absolutely indescribable.

I worked primarily as a Park Greeter, which meant it was my responsibility to put the best possible first impression forward for the thousands of visitors we saw each day. The role entailed greeting and assisting guests upon arrival and departure, including scanning tickets at welcome points, maintaining information centers and kiosks, and helping direct anyone needing assistance. Occasionally, I also worked Parade Audience Control, which, aside from having a front-row view of the parades at the Magic Kingdom, meant helping to ensure the safety of the guests and performers. This job included setting up and taking down barriers, prior to and after the daily parade in the Magic Kingdom. The responsibilities also included making sure that guests were sitting or standing in the appropriate locations and helping manage crowd control prior to and after the parade.

The Disney College Program experience helped me to gain confidence in myself, customer relationship skills, and learn how a Fortune 500 company runs. Without the Disney College Program, I would never have had the opportunity to live 700 miles from home or to find lifelong friendships like the ones I made there. The experience of the Disney College Program is like no other, and I will be forever grateful for the opportunity I received.

Emmy Wells

Title: Intern

Company: Tribe Kelley

I had the absolute pleasure of interning at Tribe Kelley Surf Post in Grayton Beach, Florida. The owners of Tribe Kelley are Bryan and Brittney Kelley. Brittney is the company's designer and makes each piece unique to the brand and in the USA. Bryan Kelley is a musician, known as the "Beach Cowboy" or the "Florida half" of Florida Georgia line. The couple started the company in 2018 and have continued to start new projects and adventures to grow the company.

As the Surf Post intern, I assisted in all aspects of running the store. One of my tasks was to help manage the sales floor. This included opening and closing the store, restocking items, maintaining relationships with customers, as well as merchandising the floor to increase daily sales. A task I enjoyed the most was working on the store's social media pages. I assisted in planning content that represents the store's brand and helped in the execution of content as well. The store doubles as a store and outdoor space for events. Owner Bryan Kelley performed five shows in the backyard, which I assisted in planning.

Overall, this internship has been one of the greatest internships of my life. I am thankful for my mentors within the company that have helped me grow into a better woman and worker. I was nervous to move out of Nashville for the summer, but I believe spending the summer far from home gave me more space to learn and grow. This internship gave me relationships that I will maintain and turn to within my future career. Tribe Kelley is such an exceptional company, and I am very thankful for the opportunities it gave me.

Sarah Pack

Title: Sales and Marketing Intern

Company: Uncommon Fashion

In Summer 2020 I interned with Latitudes by Griffin & Egger in Jackson, MS. My primary role was in social media marketing and creative strategy and I worked in sales, inventory management, and had a large span of opportunities to shadow, with hands-on learning, which propelled me to grow professionally. My overall internship goal was to develop the strategy and function of social media for the business and the owner, Amy Griffin Schrock. Schrock provided me considerable freedom to develop goals for her summer merchandise and put into practice what I was learning through my coursework in Fashion Design & Merchandising and Marketing at Mississippi State University. I used branding techniques to create a consistent and distinctive online presence across all platforms. Through interactions with customers, I realized people are more likely to engage or purchase items when they can clearly see how an item meets their needs and wants. Illustrating examples and providing ideas for customers really seemed to spark interests and further involvement. That gave me the support to go beyond just presenting items and products on social media to showing customers how items can fit and be useful in their life/lifestyle. I created several mini collections and campaigns that generated more response and drew people in. Having this opportunity truly allowed me to grow in knowledge and confidence to put into practice what I am learning in my fashion merchandising major and marketing minor. I am beyond thankful for this opportunity and experience.

Chloe Ingram

Title: Sales and Marketing Intern

Company: UnCommon Fashion

I had the opportunity to be a sales and marketing intern at UnCommon Fashion in Atlanta, GA. UnCommon Fashion is a women's contemporary fashion showroom headquartered in Atlanta, GA with another showroom in Dallas, TX. The showroom carries seventeen brands in the Southeast territory and fifteen in the Southwest territory.

During this internship, I was tasked with several responsibilities including sales, marketing, trend research, cold calls, prospecting, and merchandising. One of my favorite opportunities during my internship was traveling to Dallas, TX for June Market exceeding my sales goal by $15,000.

By the end of the internship, I was given the opportunity to continue my time with UnCommon Fashion as a Junior Account Manager working specifically on trend and market research. I have grown and learned so much about the fashion industry, as well as myself in a professional perspective. This internship taught me the value of good team communication, leadership, networking skills, and effective sales strategies.

Sydney Sparger

Title: Merchandising Summer Intern

Company: Uncommon James

At my merchandising internship at the Uncommon James flagship store in Nashville, I was offered an immersive experience into the world of fashion retail. Uncommon James was founded in Nashville and sells a variety of lifestyle products, apparel, and fashion jewelry. Interns are given hands-on opportunities to assist with various aspects of store operations, from inventory management to visual merchandising. They might be involved in creating attractive displays, arranging merchandise to highlight new collections, and ensuring that the store's aesthetic aligns with the brand's image. This role provides a comprehensive understanding of how merchandising decisions impact customer experience and sales performance, all within the vibrant and dynamic environment of a high-profile fashion retailer. My internship also provided exposure to the broader fashion industry, including networking opportunities with industry professionals and involvement in store events or marketing initiatives.

Tamara Racine Beauchamp

Title: Marketing Intern

Company: V3Stent

This past summer I interned at V3Stent in Montreal, Canada. The company offers the latest Artificial Intelligence technologies. Stent targets the right people at the right moment with the right message. Stent is more than a social selling platform, it's where data-driven intelligence meets human business intuition. I had various tasks including marketing, developing strategies, participating in meetings, collaborating with operators to find new strategies to target customers, and working on web pages for the products. I really enjoyed working as a group and finding ways to target and influence future customers. I worked closely with my supervisor, Sarah Miloges, about how we could combine her knowledge about marketing and business with my skills learned from MSU to improve the website and have a stronger influence.The website developed quickly and became very beneficial over the course of my internship. Four weeks into my internship, I was already more confident and felt included in the company. It really helped me understand what marketing jobs would look like and what a working atmosphere looks like. I am so thankful for the opportunity to be an intern at V3Stent. The experience was incredible. I was able to put my skills learned at MSU to use, meet wonderful people, and gain knowledge while working for such an amazing company.

Gabrielle Martinez

Title: Technical Design Intern

Company: Vineyard Vines

Last summer, I was privileged enough to go to Connecticut and work as a technical design intern for Vineyard Vines. Everyone in the company was so warm and welcoming, and as a member of the technical design team, I was able to work closely with both the design and the production departments to bring original fashion designs to life. Without a doubt, the best part of the internship was being able to actually do the work. I was given two projects through the course of the summer, one where I would work with the other interns to present new ideas to the entirety of Vineyard Vines, and the other where I was able to craft my own design for review and experience the entire product lifecycle. The technical design team really encouraged me to take on more responsibility and to take ownership in my work, which is an invaluable opportunity for a young professional in the industry. It gave me the confidence and assurance that I could do it, and when my original design was accepted for an upcoming line, I saw that I was right!

Zoey Ainsworth

Title: Sales Associate / Social Media Intern

Company: West of Fifty-Five

I had the privilege of interning with West of Fifty-Five in Flowood, Mississippi. West of Fifty-Five is a locally owned retail boutique known for its high-quality clothing/jewelry, loyal customers, and affordable prices. My roles during my internship included sales, inventory management, visual merchandising, and social media management. Daily tasks included:

• Reviewing shipments and invoices
• Getting inventory ready for the floor
• Redoing walls, racks, tables, and mannequins according to the planogram in current trend colors