The University of Minnesota’s National Retail Federation Student Association (NRFSA) works with students of all majors who are passionate about the retail industry.
The club hosts various events where students can network and connect with professionals within the industry to develop their career skills.
Jacquelyn Dufner, a third-year student and the club’s president, said NRFSA aims to engage students with the retail scene, especially in Minneapolis. In the past they have worked with several retailers including Best Buy and Target.
The club also connects students with businesses and boutiques as well as entrepreneurial designers, Dufner added.
In the past semester, the club hosted several events such as DIY gameday gear, an alumni panel and a variety of guest speakers.
“One of the executives that came in to talk to us was from New York City, and she is a VP at Macy’s,” Dufner said. “It was just great to have such diversity on our panels this year to provide students with such great insights, knowledge and tips.”
Brooke Jackson, a third-year student and the club’s vice president, said being a club member has been a great way to meet people and network with professionals. Though she said it can be quite scary to talk to professionals, being a part of the club helped her ease those fears.
“It can seem so daunting with things like Linkedin and Handshake, but we really want to be a resource and advocate for all of those students who are struggling and don’t know how to take these next steps,” Dufner said.
One skill Jackson said she developed since being a part of the club is her confidence. Club activities have forced her to get out of her comfort zone and gain skills she will use in the business world.
Every January, club members have the opportunity to attend the National Retail Federation Student Program Conference in New York, Dufner said.
“You are in a room with about 1,500 other extremely passionate retail students, and we just get to listen to some of the most amazing professionals in the industry right now,” Dufner said. “Two years ago, we got to listen to Steve Madden about his journey.”
Jackson said when she went to the conference in 2023, she was able to participate in a roundtable event where she talked to different retail professionals. It was both helpful and inspirational for her.
The conference also discussed artificial intelligence in the retail industry, which plays a huge role in determining how consumers shop, Dufner said. She was able to take the knowledge she learned and spread it to club members.
“It was just great to see such passionate people involved in the industry giving you their story about how it changed their life,” Dufner said.
The conference is fully funded by the University, according to Dufner.
The club also participates in corporate company tours, Dufner said. Last year, the club visited Merchology, a company that creates and distributes products for other companies to put their logos on.
The tours are a great way for members to see the behind the scenes of what a day in this field would look like, Jackson said. It can help members figure out what they want to pursue or not.
Dufner said the club is what brought her passion for retail merchandising to life.
“It made me love what I am studying, and it makes me so excited to pursue a career in this,” Dufner said. “I am applying to these crazy internships I never thought I would be able to get and moving to these next stages.”
Jackson said being a part of the club has allowed her to be a part of something bigger at the University and make connections that she is grateful for.
“I feel like I would not be who I am today without NRFSA,” Jackson said. “It has brought me so much confidence.”
