2014 Sorrelli Collegiate Challenge
The Center for Retailing Solutions (CRS) is pleased to announce the
The Annual Collegiate Challenge competition, sponsored by a Pennsylvania
company. The Sorrelli Collegiate Challenge is designed to solve a problem
for Sorrelli that entails developing a plan that will help expand their
retail business. Sorrelli is a family-owned jewelry design company
founded in 1983 and based in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. Sorrelli jewelry is
handcrafted from genuine semi-precious stones and high-quality Austrian
crystals. This is a great class assignment for marketing, retailing,
entrepreneurship or small business management courses.
The top team will get $1,000 and a ‘traveling’ trophy that
will be housed at the winner’s school. The second-place team will be
awarded $500. Last year Kutztown University won the traveling
trophy.
The competition will span Fall 2013 and Spring 2014.
Teams are eligible to submit their entries in the Fall (2013) or Spring (2014).
Deadline for the paper submission is March 14, 2014. The
competition will take place Thursday, April 3, 2014 at Kutztown University,
Kutztown, PA. Each school or branch may submit up to 3 teams. Last year
some of the colleges ran a local competition and then sent their top teams to
the final competition. The competition will be judged on the
written plan, and the presentation of the paper.
If you have any questions, please contact Denise T. Ogden ,
Ph.D., from the Center for Retailing Solutions and Penn State (dto2@psu.edu). Click here to download the rules for the competition.
2013 Target Collegiate Challenge
We are very excited to sponsor the second Collegiate Challenge, co-sponsored by the Center for Retailing Solutions. This team-based competition is tasked to solve a real business opportunity.The Target Collegiate Challenge is designed to solve a problem for Target Stores that deals with reducing shortages in electronics and entertainment. The top team will get $1,000 and a ‘traveling’ trophy that will be housed at the winner’s school. The second team will be awarded $125/person. Everyone participating will get a certificate.
The competition will span Fall 2012 and Spring 2013. Teams are eligible to submit their entries in the Fall or Spring. Deadline for the paper submission is March 15. The competition will take place April 2, 2013 at Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA. Each school or branch may submit up to 3 teams. Last year some of the colleges ran a local competition and then sent their top teams to the final competition. This is a great class or club (e.g. SIFE, Business Clubs) project! The competition will be judged on the written plan, and the presentation of the paper.
The details of the Challenge are available through this link. We think presenting students with real business problems and having them develop solutions to those problems will help them bridge the gap between academics and the business world.
Amy Lauricella Jennifer Segraves
(716) 636-2468 (610) 250-5280
Amy.Lauricella@target.com Jennifer.Segraves@target.com
2012 Walmart Collegiate Challenge
You’ve heard of the Apprentice television series. We’re taking that concept and applying it to a collegiate competition in retailing!
When you enter the Walmart Collegiate Challenge you gain both practical and theoretical experience in the development of a comprehensive integrated retail management (IRM) plan for a major corporate client. This challenge allows you the ability to bring your lifelong learning skills, your personal ethics, morals and values to a competition that will help to build a great base for your personal career in business.
The focus of this plan will be on developing an initiative that will improve customer satisfaction. A good customer experience will ensure a future shopping trip and continued revenue flow for any business. The Walmart Challenge will surface ideas and creative solutions that will directly impact local stores. These plans may impact the entire retail category that is serviced by the Center for Retailing Solutions at Kutztown University through collaborative solution sharing. Successful ideas will have the following core standards; they would be RELEVANT, SUSTAINABLE, REPLICABLE and SCALABLE. Improvements must be sensitive to cost and an acceptable Return on Investment (ROI) must be respected.
Download the complete Walmart Challenge Packet
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 24, 2012
Contact: Dr. James R. Ogden
The Center for Retailing Solutions
Kutztown University
docogden@verizon.net
4/24/2012 Walmart Collegiate Challenge Winners Announced
Kutztown, PA – April 24 - You’ve heard of the Apprentice television series. The Management of the Southeastern PA Walmart Region took the concept and applied it to a collegiate competition in retailing. The competition involved area college students. The challenge was for the teams to create a plan that focused on sales, profits, and overall, customer experience, and was judged based on the written plan, a store visit, and the presentation of the plan. Students prepared the project during the fall and/or spring semesters and presented their plans at the competition held at Kutztown University on April 18. The competition was co-sponsored by The Center for Retail Solutions (CRS), a non-profit organization whose mission is to bring together retail academicians, students and practitioners.
“The next generation of business leaders and retail leaders… are in this room,” exclaimed James R. (Doc) Ogden, President of CRS, noting the talent and determination of the participants. The judges of the competition were Tim Smyer, Walmart Market Manager, Jack Gottlieb, President and CEO of Total Solutions Group, Ashish Patel, Walmart Market HR Manager. According to Smyer, “We think presenting students with real business problems and having them develop solutions to those problems will help them bridge the gap between academics and the business world.”
Each winning team received a plaque. The grand prize winner was the Nittany Group from Penn State Lehigh Valley, who received a ‘traveling’ trophy to be housed at their campus until next year’s challenge. These winners also received a $250 Wal-Mart gift card and a personalized coaching and training session for the team from The Total Solutions, Group, Inc.
While the judges deliberated, Walmart representatives spoke to students about their presentations and about opportunities at Walmart. Presenters for this session were Gerrit Bandison, Walmart Regional HR Director, Steve Lauthers, and Britt Roberts-Faulk, both store managers.
The winning teams were as follows: 1st place and grand prize winners – Penn State – Lehigh Valley Scott Hansman Chelsey Kaiser Sandy De Leon Juland Kilpatrick
1st runner up – Kutztown University Nicole Hawxhurst Steve Aadsen Ashley Anderson Brett Kichline
2nd runner up - Penn State Lehigh Valley Rodney Santiago Ashley Meng
3rd runner up – Penn State Berks Eric R. Augustine Xin Yu Bi Scott Caldwell Chia Y. Wyu
Upon conclusion of the awards ceremony, it was announced that the Collegiate Challenge will run every year with a different sponsor.
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