Welcome to the SoHE Retail Blog

Jennifer Smith

2011-12-02T20:45:00.000-06:00

I am currently a junior and I am from Mequon Wisconsin. I am involved in club tennis and am a member of Gamma Phi Beta here on campus. I enjoy shopping, traveling and hanging out with my friends. Each summer I enjoy teaching tennis at Milwaukee Country Club and spending weekends at the lake. I am really excited to be able to go on this trip and look forward to meeting new people and experiencing the Chinese culture!

Kyla Chapman

2011-11-29T20:24:00.000-06:00

Hi! My name is Kyla Chapman. I am a 5th year senior studying Retail here at UW Madison. I am from a small town in northwest Indiana. I am a student athlete competing on the women's cross country and women's track teams. My typical week of training includes running about 80 miles per week, lifting, and doing yoga- some might call me crazy, sometimes I would have to agree! My cross country season just wrapped up one week ago. I qualified for the NCAA National Championships and raced at the meet last Monday. Unfortunately I had a very "off" day, but the overall season was wonderful so I won't let one race spoil that for me!
In addition to being a student athlete, I am an executive member of the Student Athlete Advisory Council. I serve as the Executive Chairman of Community Service. One of my latest projects has been the planning of a Toys for Tots Drive at an upcoming Men's Hockey Game! We are really looking forward to it and expecting a great donation from the Hockey fans this year! I have also been lucky enough to earn the position of Community Service Co-Manager for the Student Retail Association. Can you tell I like community service?? :) At the next SRA meeting the club members will be making Holiday Cards for the local veterans hospital, and following that project we will be putting together goodie bags for homeless though the Porchlight Organization here in Madison. I like to keep myself busy by staying active in student organizations, however I also love my down-time. In my spare time I really enjoy reading, baking, crafting, and knitting ( I know, I sound like I'm 70 years old!). I promise that in the summer my activities are much more active- and they usually include water-skiing, boating, and triathlons.

I am looking forward to the travel abroad trip so much! I have already started a countdown: 102 days! I have never traveled outside of the country, and I feel so blessed to start my traveling abroad with the China Retail Study Abroad trip!

Lauren Wooll

2011-11-29T12:07:00.001-06:00

Hello! My name is Lauren Wooll and I am a senior retailing major at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I am very excited to be able to travel to China with everyone. I have always had a passion for retail and cannot wait to see the retail epicenter that is China. This is a unique opportunity to see how the retail process and industry functions in a different country. I have never been out of the country so I look forward to being able to travel with everyone. Thanks to Kohl's, the Kohl's Center for Retailing Excellence, and Li & Fung for making the opportunity possible and allowing us the opportunity for this once in a lifetime experience.

Rachel Brecher

2011-11-27T18:15:00.000-06:00

Hello everyone! I am a senior majoring in marketing in the Wisconsin School of Business. I am very interested in the retailing industry so I am beyond excited and grateful to be able to travel with you all to China! I cannot wait to learn more about the retailing processes while also learning about a culture so different than my own.

I want to thank everyone involved with the trip and I know it will be something we will always remember!

Caroline Wilson

2011-11-24T13:17:00.001-06:00

Hi there! My name is Caroline Wilson and I am a junior studying Textile and Apparel Design at UW-Madison. I'm excited to travel further than I ever have before to experience the fascinating culture that Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong have to offer. While I am extremely interested in the aspects of design that I will come across on our trip to China this spring, I'm really looking forward to learning more about the retail industry. It's important to be well-rounded and knowledgeable about every aspect of your field to be the best that you can be. As a design student, considering retail is important when creating anything from apparel to textiles. This trip to China will allow me to better understand the entirety of the design industry, and a more global perspective will make me a more successful designer.

I can't thank Kohl's, Li & Fung, or UW-Madison enough for this incredible opportunity. This journey will definitely be a highlight of my career as a student at UW-Madison and I can't wait to embark on it!

Katie McGovern

2011-11-23T22:46:00.000-06:00

Hi Everyone! My name is Katie McGovern and I am a junior majoring in Textile and Apparel Design with a certificate in Business at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I am overjoyed to have the opportunity to travel abroad and immerse myself in the Chinese culture. Through my work to achieve a certificate in Business, it has really opened my eyes to the versatility of the retail industry and I am excited to experience it first-hand internationally. With a background in apparel design, I am interested in learning more about the retail industry and how it interacts with the fashion industry. This journey will help to further my education in both the business and design fields. This experience will give me the opportunity to grow in many ways, giving me a new perspective of the world.

I would like to give a special thank you to Kohl's, Li and Fung, and the Kohl's Center for Retailing Excellence at UW-Madison for giving me this amazing opportunity and making this trip possible. I cannot wait to meet everyone and go on this once in a lifetime adventure.

Lizzie Wierdsma

2011-11-23T17:52:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone! My name is Lizzie Wierdsma and I'm a senior majoring in Retail at UW-Madison. I am beyond excited to have this amazing opportunity! I cannot wait to immerse myself within the Chinese culture and can't wait to meet everyone on the trip! I am looking forward to learning more about the supply chain and product development process as we travel the country. I have recently accepted a position as a Merchandise Analyst Trainee with Kohl's after I graduate, so this trip will be extremely beneficial in my future career with the company.

I want to thank Kohl's, Li & Fung, and the Kohl's Center for Retailing Excellence for this invaluable experience. I will make the most of every second I am there!

Gina Babiash

2011-11-23T15:27:00.001-06:00

Hey Everybody!

My name is Gina Babiash and I am a junior at UW-Madison studying retailing with a certificate in business. I’ve never been out of the country so I am very excited to be traveling to China for this once in a lifetime opportunity. I’m hoping this trip will help expand my knowledge of the retailing industry as well as the Chinese culture. I’m so excited to meet all of you and wanted to thank Kohl’s, Li & Fung, and Kohl’s Center for Retailing Excellence for this awesome opportunity!

Maggie LaMuro

2011-11-22T23:12:00.000-06:00

Hello! My name is Maggie LaMuro. I’m a senior majoring in Consumer Affairs at UW-Madison and I’m originally from Fort Atkinson, WI.

This past summer, I had the opportunity to work for Kohl’s as a Field Human Resources Intern. I was able to participate in the Store Management Internship for the first half of the summer and spend the second half learning about store-side Human Resources. As someone who had never worked in retail prior to this experience, I wasn’t aware of all the people and processes that come together to make a retail store successful. I especially enjoyed learning different management and leadership styles and witnessing those styles firsthand in a retail setting.

As someone who has never been out of the country, I look forward to seeing things from a different cultural perspective and expanding my knowledge of the retail industry. I am so excited to be going on this trip and I am extremely grateful to Kohl’s, Li & Fung, and the Kohl’s Center for Retailing Excellence for making it possible.

Kevin Vollmer

2011-11-22T14:35:00.000-06:00

Hey there!

My name is Kevin Vollmer. I am a sophomore Marketing major with a specialization in Supply Chain Management, originally from Sun Prairie, WI. I am a world-class intramural volleyball player who also enjoys cooking and relaxing with my friends.

I am honored to be selected to take part in this once-in-a-lifetime experience. I will be in Milwaukee this upcoming Summer as a Web Merchandise Presentation intern for Kohl's, so I am doubly grateful for all the opportunities they have given me. I will take full advantage of them, using this remarkable experience exploring a different culture as well as seeing the processes involved in global merchandise production and retailing. I cannot wait for this trip, because I know it will deeply benefit my academic development, career development, and self-development. Thank you Kohl's, Li and Fung, and the Kohl's Center for Retailing Excellence! I look forward to sharing this cross-continental journey with everyone.

JoDee Martin

2011-11-22T13:46:00.000-06:00

Hello!

My name is JoDee Martin and I am a senior at the University of Wisconsin - Stout. I am a double major in Retail Merchandising and Management and Business Administration. I have had the pleasure of completing two Store Management internships with Kohl's and have been offered a Merchandise Analyst Trainee position with the company when I graduate. I am anticipating using what I learn through this trip daily and gain understanding about the early process that many people do not get to see.

I am so honored to have been chosen for this opportunity! Studying abroad this past year in Europe, I learned the great importance of understanding global views and how business works on an international level. This experience will not only open my eyes to new perspectives, but will allow me to understand the Chinese culture. It has always been a goal of mine to travel to China and I am thrilled that I am able to partake in an educational opportunity while there. Learning manufacturing and sourcing techniques from Li & Fung will be an enriching and rewarding experience.

I am grateful to Kohl's for allowing me to participate in such a valuable opportunity. Kohl’s has demonstrated that they truly care about their employees, students, and the community. I would also like to thank Kohl's Center for Retailing Excellence and all of the staff and faculty that will be joining us on this journey. I am very excited to travel with others who share my passion. I know we will build great relationships and make many memories together.

Sydney Sua

2011-11-22T13:37:00.003-06:00

Hello everyone!

My name is Sydney Sua and I am a sophomore at UW-Madison majoring in Textile and Apparel Design with a certificate in Entrepreneurship. I am beyond excited to experience my first UW-Madison study abroad trip. The opportunity to explore and immerse myself in the Chinese retailing industry is one that will be incredibly beneficial for me both professionally and creatively. I would like to extend a big thanks to Kohl's, Li & Fung, and the Kohl's Center for Retailing Excellence for creating this opportunity. I am excited to meet everyone and begin this journey together.

Samantha Gehl

2011-11-22T04:15:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone! My name is Samantha Gehl and I am a junior Retailing major with a certificate in Business. I am currently studying abroad in London and have loved every minute of experiencing and immersing myself in a different culture, and I cannot wait to do the same in China. I am anxious to learn about the supply chain process of retailing, and apply what I've gained to my future career in retail. I am so grateful and excited for this opportunity, and would like to thank Kohl's, Li & Fung, and the Kohl's Center for Retailing Excellence for it. I cannot wait to meet all of you and embark on the experience of a lifetime!

Chase Ellman

2011-11-21T17:02:00.000-06:00

Hello everyone, my name is Chase Ellman and I am senior majoring in Marketing in the Wisconsin School of Business. I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to be a part of this journey to China in the Spring. I had planned to study abroad in Hong Kong but was unable to due to various circumstances. When I saw this trip, it sounded like the perfect chance to truly have a life-changing experience and learn more about how business operates in the Far East.

I look forward to meeting and getting to know everyone. A huge thanks to Kohl's and Li & Fung for granting me the opportunity and I am excited to get started next semester.

Meghan Hille

2011-11-20T15:22:00.000-06:00

Hi Everyone!

My name is Meghan Hille and I'm currently a senior at UW-Madison with a major in retailing. I'm beyond excited that I was chosen to participate in this experience. I recently switched my major to retailing and have really been loving learning about all the aspects of this industry ever since. Having the opportunity to travel to China to further my education and learn more about the proccesses of retailing is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I am extremely grateful for and really looking forward to!

Studying with Li & Fung in China is an invaluable experience that I will be able to take so much away from. I will be able to take the knowledge and the experiences I gain from this trip and apply it to my future career in retailing. I can't wait to learn about corporate manufacturing processes first hand while at the same time taking in all of the culture China has to offer.

I'm thrilled that I get to be a part of this once in lifetime opportunity and would like to say a big thanks to Kohl's and Li & Fung for making this possible for all of us! Look forward to meeting everyone in the spring!

Kelsey Puddington

2011-11-19T16:14:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone!

My name is Kelsey Puddington and I am a sophomore studying Retail with a certificate in entrepreneurship and textile science. I am very thankful to have been chosen as a participant on this trip. I am looking forward to experiencing retailing in China; a major component of retailing throughout the world. I have had the opportunity to travel to many places, but this will be my first time traveling to Asia and I can't wait to experience a different culture.

Maghan Kuehl

2011-11-19T13:29:00.000-06:00

Hi Everyone!

My name is Maghan Kuehl and I am a Senior studying Marketing and Management at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This past summer I had the opportunity to be a Store Management Intern at the Kohl's Department Store on the east side of Madison. It was my first experience working in retail and has sparked a strong interest in the retail industry. Prior to working with Kohl's, I failed to realize all the components that make up the retail industry as well as the limitless opportunities it provides. With this trip, I look forward to expanding my knowledge of the diverse aspects of retail and discover first hand how China plays a significant role in making our retail industry in the U.S. a success. Come June, I will be starting a full-time position with Kohl's as a Manager in Training, and I look forward to being a part of an amazing experience that will enhance my future career in retail.

I am enthused to be part of a once in a lifetime opportunity and would like to thank Kohl's, Li and Fung, and the Kohl's Center for Retailing Excellence at UW-Madison for making this opportunity possible. I look forward to meeting you all and making this an unforgettable experience.

Hannah Sugars

2011-11-18T22:41:00.000-06:00

Hi Everyone!

My name is Hannah Sugars and I am a senior studying Accounting & Spanish at UW-Madison. Although I study accounting, my current internship at a retail company has sparked my interest in the industry,. Ultimately, I would like to work in retail internationally and believe this program will take my experience to the next level. While studying abroad in Europe was an unbelievable experience, I am thrilled to explore the Chinese culture and business world. I am especially interested in learning about Kohl's supply chain process and costing associated with it.

It is a privilege to have the chance to learn first-hand about a country that has such a large impact on business in the U.S. I can't quite express my excitement to be a part of this generous opportunity Kohls and Li & Fung have provided to the rest of the program participants and me. I look forward to meeting you all!

Alex Schlueter

2011-11-17T22:35:00.001-06:00

Hello! My name is Alex Schlueter and I'm currently a junior studying Retailing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I am extremely honored and excited to be a part of this amazing trip to China . I haven't had a chance to take a semester to study abroad, nor have I ever left the country before, so I think this trip will really be a great opportunity to see a different side of the world and the retailing industry I am so interested in. I am hopeful this experience will further educate me about the manufacturing and sourcing processes that can often be forgotten when thinking about retail. This trip is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I am so thankful to Kohl's and Li & Fung for providing such a great resource to us as students. I'm anxious to get an inside look at the functioning of both of these wonderful companies and I look forward to meeting you all in the Spring!

Tiana Theiss

2011-11-17T21:05:00.003-06:00

Hello!
My name is Tiana Theiss and I am a Retail Merchandising and Management student at UW-Stout. My concentrations include Buying and Product Management as well as Fashion Marketing. I am also pursuing a minor in Business Administration. It is an honor having the opportunity to partake in such a culturally enriching experience. I am thrilled to be immersed into China's rich culture and learn about Kohl's and Li & Fung's international business relationship!

While studying abroad in Scotland, I came to understand the importance of keeping an open mind, being prepared, and staying flexible when presented with exhilarating opportunities such as this unique program. What I hope to learn from this experience is insight into the manufacturing, sourcing, and supply chain processes and how these are impacted from corporate office decisions on a daily basis. It is certainly a pleasure to be venturing overseas with such a diverse group of students from both UW-Stout and UW-Madison. I look forward to building great relationships and experiencing unforgettable memories altogether!

This truly is an incredible once in a lifetime opportunity that is indescribable. Thank you to Kohl's for funding this opportunity! And thank you to Li & Fung, Kohl's Center for Retailing Excellence, UW-Madison, and UW-Stout faculty for making this opportunity a reality!

Caelainn Donnellan

2011-11-17T19:50:00.000-06:00

Hello! My name is Caelainn Donnellan and I'm a junior in the Textile and Apparel Design major at UW-Madison. I'm thrilled to be given the opportunity to see such a unique country and culture! I've only been able to see design and architecture of a western perspective, so being able to observe the results of designing from a different perspective will be fascinating. I'm also excited to see how manufacturing and design relate in the retail process and how the clothing we wear progresses from an idea to reality. This trip is the opportunity of a lifetime for me and I can't wait to share my experiences with others! I know it will open up the world to me, both professionally and personally.

Brianna Schwinden

2011-11-17T19:23:00.000-06:00

Hello All,
My name is Brianna Schwinden and I'm currently a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where I'm majoring in marketing and management. My time spent at Madison has been fantastic and I will cherish my memories here forever, but one thing missing from my college experience is the opportunity to study abroad. This is why I am beyond thrilled at this opportunity to explore the other side of the world while learning about not only another culture but also things that will help me in my future marketing career!

I can't even begin to describe how thankful I am for this wonderful opportunity from Kohls and also Li & Fung. Thank you so much, I'm truly honored.

Looking forward to meeting everyone from Madison and Stout come spring!

Kora Plucinski

2011-11-17T16:36:00.000-06:00

Hey Everyone, My name is Kora Plucinski and I am so excited to be going on the China Retail Trip this spring. I am currently a Senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where I am a dual major in Marketing and Operations Technology Management with a Specialization in Supply Chain Management. I will graduate this upcoming May which is a bitter sweet feeling but I am looking forward to starting my professional career. On a personal note, I love being a student at Wisconsin and I have extreme badger pride. I enjoy attending and watching Wisconsin Badger sports, Packers, and Brewers. I also like running around the lakes in Madison and dining on State Street with friends.

I am really excited to go on the trip to learn about the supply chain side of retail and to experience a new business culture. I have never traveled outside of the country and cannot think of a better first time to do so. I appreciate the support of Kohl’s and I look forward to learning more about the company through the program and our adventures.

Katherine Lee

2011-11-17T12:17:00.000-06:00

Hello everyone! My name is Katherine Lee and I am a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. I am majoring in Retail Merchandising and Management with concentrations in fashion marketing and buying and product management. In addition, I have a minor in business and an emphasis on apparel design and development. During my years at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, I have been privileged to participate in the student exchange program, attending City University of New York-Queens College, studying abroad in Europe and now, China in the spring! My thanks to UW-Stout are innumerable. It is certainly an honor to be part of this university. I look forward to furthering my understanding of globalization, as I am exceptionally thrilled to learn about the manufacturing process at Li & Fung, as well as the rich Chinese history and customs. I am beyond honored, being given the opportunity to travel to China, to visit Li & Fung. It is truly an exceptional gift. I would like to give countless thanks to Kohl’s for giving me such a great opportunity. Moreover, I would like to thank UW-Madison for welcoming 5 UW-Stout students to be a part of this exquisite opportunity. To give thanks and be honored, in being accepted into such a program, is the least of my gratitude. John F. Kennedy once said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter the words, but to live by them.” Therefore, after the trip, I look forward to being a part of the Product Management team at Kohl’s corporate, as an incoming intern and applying what I learned on the trip, to excel in my forthcomings. I look forward to meeting all of you!

Kari Holte

2011-11-17T11:03:00.001-06:00

Hello! My name is Kari Holte and I am a junior majoring in Retail Merchandising and Management at UW-Stout. I am absolutely thrilled that Kohl’s has given me this generous opportunity to further my retail education!

Studying with Li & Fung in China will be an invaluable experience that I will be able to apply in an internship this coming summer. I am honored to be selected to learn about the early stages of manufacturing and about the rich culture in China firsthand, and I am even more excited to be able to apply this experience in my future!
This trip is sure to have a huge impact on my education and future career in retail while making memories that I will never forget. I am excited to meet all the Madison students I will be traveling with and could not be more enthused for our upcoming trip!

A big thanks, again, to Kohl’s!

Rebecca Radke

2011-11-16T20:36:00.001-06:00

Hey guys! My name is Rebecca Radke and I'm currently a junior majoring in Marketing and Real Estate and Urban Land Economics here at UW-Madison. The opportunity this trip has given me is absolutely surreal and I haven't quite grasped the fact that I'm actually going to be travelling to China - I can't wait! I couldn't thank Kohl's, the Kohl's Center for Retailing Excellence and Li & Fung enough for letting me get the chance to experience the retail view of a completely different culture for almost two weeks. I am truly excited to experience the different processes that go into making Kohl's and Li & Fung as successful as they are today. This trip will absolutely open my eyes and change my life!

I look forward to meeting all of you!

Emily Wentzel

2011-11-16T09:42:00.000-06:00

Hey Everyone! My name is Emily Wentzel, and I am a senior at UW-Madison double majoring in Risk Management and Insurance and Management and Human Resources. I never would have thought that such a great opportunity would come up while still a student, so I am honored that I have a chance to travel to China next spring. I'm not sure about the rest of the students, but I am excited (yet a bit nervous!) to experience a culture that is extremely different than my own.

I recently accepted a full-time position with Kohl's for after I graduate, so I think it will be a great chance to learn more about their retail process, especially the early steps that most people do not have the opportunity to see.

I am thankful to everyone involved in this program for providing us all with this unique and exciting opportunity!

Jenna Huseboe

2011-11-15T19:39:00.000-06:00

Hello! My name is Jenna Huseboe, and I am senior majoring in Retail Merchandising and Management at UW-Stout. What a privilege it is to join the students of UW-Madison for this once in a lifetime opportunity with Kohl's and Li & Fung in China! Last summer I had the opportunity to work for Kohl’s as a Merchant Business Intern in the buying office. Throughout the internship, Kohl’s continually demonstrated their support of students learning and development through classroom and hands-on experiences. The Business and Culture Trip to China also greatly supports that initiative!

I look forward to learning more about Chinese culture, and understanding the retail process through the beginning stages of manufacturing. I hope that my experience in China will be valuable to the team I join when I return as a Merchandise Analyst Trainee at Kohl’s next summer! I look forward to meeting you all!

Chelsi Zollner

2011-11-15T15:49:00.000-06:00

Hi Everyone!
I'm currently a junior in the Textile and Apparel Design program and also working to attain an Entrepreneurship certificate. I am beyond excited to venture to China and could not be more thankful towards Kohl's, Li & Fung, and Kohl's Center for Retailing Excellence for providing this once in a lifetime opportunity! I've been working retail for a few years now so I am very interested to learn more about what goes on behind the scenes, especially the corporate and manufacturing processes. I know this trip will influence me creatively and professionally as I finish my year left at UW and move into the career world. I can't wait to share this experience with everyone involved!

China trip attendees announced!

2011-11-09T11:18:00.000-06:00

It's that time of year again! As it's snowing outside for the first time this winter, we at the Kohl's Center for Retailing Excellence are THRILLED to announce that 25 students have been chosen to attend this year's study abroad trip to China! While we can't release the names just yet (we're on the edge of our seats waiting for the students to accept their position), you will soon be seeing their faces grace the blog, along with a little bit about themselves, just as in years' past.

So sit tight, stay warm, and you'll be meeting the students shortly!

March 19

2011-03-26T10:08:00.000-05:00

Our first full day in Hong Kong was filled with a great mixture of business and pleasure along with a touch of rainy weather. It began at the Li & Fung office, one of the companies that have so generously sponsored our trip. We were exposed to their business model and got great insight to their successful marketing strategies.

For example, some of the more striking aspects of the presentation was how the divisions in Li & Fung, specifically the Toys “R” Us franchise, take innovations in social media to fast-forward their marketing strategies. In Hong Kong, where smart phone penetration is over 70% (wow!) Toys “R” Us has incorporated elements of Facebook, Four Square and QR Codes to create a fantastic social media strategy which trumps many strategies US companies are doing now.

As a combination of business, retailing, and design students we were able to see how Li & Fung incorporates all of these areas of study to form a global brand which ignores boundaries and creates some of the most well known products in the world. And on a side note, thank you so much Li & Fung for the gifts you gave us during the presentation!

Following the presentation, we were let loose for our first free afternoon in the incredible city of Hong Kong. This city offers a plethora of opportunities to really get to know Hong Kong. We spent the day eating delicious food and made a stop to the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Of course there was shopping involved. Unfortunately, the prices here in Hong Kong were a bit more than the prices in mainland China, making a few of us regret not shopping more there! Overall we had a great experience and are excited to bring back our gifts to our families and friends.

Our tour guide in Beijing had mentioned to us that the Chinese find beauty in misty, foggy landscapes. Today solidified that idea perfectly. Examples of these landscapes were found throughout the art museum, but most strikingly, outside of the museum. The heavy fog and mist hovering above the high-rises and mountains along the water made us fall in love with the scenery as well. We’ll let the video and photos speak for themselves.

-Natalie, Jacqueline, Jillian and Pam

March 18th

2011-03-24T16:31:00.002-05:00

With our last few hours remaining in Shanghai the morning was free time and people were able to do as they pleased. Many people either decided to catch up on sleep, go to a “knock-off” market, or go to the Shanghai Museum.

Being that the Shanghai Museum was free and a number of people decide to take advantage of the free cultural experience. The museum contains around 120,000 pieces of cultural relics from China’s past dynasties – focusing more specifically on the Qing dynasty. The museum was established in 1952, and the current building opened in 1995 with a circular design meant to symbolize a round heaven and square earth. The museum was four levels with each wing of the floors contain various artifacts. While the highlights are the bronze ware, ceramics, calligraphy, and painting, it also has excellent displays of jade, furniture, coins, and Chinese seals. The exhibits that were particularly interesting were the calligraphy and the coins. The calligraphy items were definitely the most numerous collection of the museum, almost taking up an entire floor all to itself. Not only did you have calligraphy from different dynasties that showed the changes in particular styles and techniques but also to amount of art and designs that went with it. People also enjoyed the calligraphy rooms because all the display cases were motion activated. When you walked into the room it was completely dark. When you approached a display case the light would slowly turn on to reveal the calligraphy roll behind the glass. Thus, many of us took great fun in quickly walking by all the display cases and watching the entire room fill up with light. To the Chinese, calligraphy is more than mere form of communication; it is one of the highest art forms. The style of this cursive script was typically wild movements that combine delicate and forceful strokes to create Chinese characters. The coin room was equally awesome not only because it displayed many different coins from China’s past, but also all the different ancient coins from surrounding countries that traded with China or had tried to invade China. After a long time at the museum we returned to the hotel and gathered up the rest of our luggage and headed toward the airport. The lines at the airport moved very smoothly and we were able to get through with no luggage being overweight. The flight was easy and short with food service that consisted of fried rice with shrimp, orange juice, and red bean dessert. We were also served a bun/ piece of bread that many of us thought was just a plain old dinner roll. Only to discover that it had meat in it – first and only experience with a Chinese hot dog.

We arrived in Hong Kong and immediately there was a different feel to the city. Hong Kong has a much more Western feel than Shanghai and Beijing due to the long British influence. It was raining when we arrived and the climate overall felt much different. It was much warmer and also quite humid. During the bus ride to the hotel the first view of the skyline was incredible and the large electronic billboards lit up the city: picture Times Square but on an even more massive scale and with mountains in the background. Needless to say the view of the city is incredible and unbelievably massive.

Being that it was such a long excursion to Hong Kong many of us were exhausted and did not do much other than eat dinner and go to bed. A few of those who ventured away from the hotel saw people doing fan dancing on their way to the restaurant. This was really interesting and certainly not something you see regularly if ever in the United States. Overall it was a tiring day of traveling but packed with new experiences much like every other day of this trip.

March 22nd

2011-03-23T21:01:00.002-05:00

After nearly two weeks of life abroad, our last full day in China has concluded. It began with a long bus ride, broken only by a trip through customs as we crossed the border between the once British-ruled Hong Kong and mainland China. The two hours were spent in near silence as we all caught up on some sleep. Pictures of the Great Nap were too embarrassing to post here. Our friends on Facebook may be treated to the images however.

Our destination was the Clever Metals and Plastics Factory, a major producer of picture frames for Kohl’s Department Stores. The factory, while not heavily automated (labor intensive), was incredibly efficient. The approximate output per month was said to be three million pieces, made more impressive by the variety of the frames being produced--the flexible tools at the factory allowed for the use of aluminum, steel, zinc-alloy, and wood as raw materials for the frames. The finishing touches on the products were the most labor intensive. We personally observed the by-hand application of plastic jewels to some more flamboyant frames.

Following the tour, we ventured forth to our final group meal abroad. The East Sea Seafood Restaurant in Shenzhen was our venue, and the traditional food they served us was a good summary of our diets for the last two weeks. Of note, the final observation of the mysterious orange fish was made. Please whet your appetite with the pictures below...

After lunch, we headed to our final Li & Fung office visit in Shenzhen. The Li & Fung staff that presented to us worked on the Kohl’s team and presented on the Kohl’s Apparel Production Cycle. Li & Fung manages 28 private and exclusive brands for Kohl’s. We were surprised that Li & Fung has 671 people working with Kohl’s in 25 offices around the world. Li & Fung partners with Kohl’s for close contact with the vendors throughout the process to ensure quality products.

After going back through customs we had time for a quick dinner and then karaoke. Karaoke in Hong Kong is different from that of karaoke in the US. The main difference was that we got our own room, which was very nice. The room had couches, TVs on every wall, a drum set, and multiple microphones. This was a great group bonding experience and a way for everyone to let loss their last night on the trip.

It is hard to believe it is our last day and tomorrow we will be flying back to America. We feel fortunate to be apart of this trip, and have memories that will last a lifetime. Not only did we form memories with new friends, but we learned from hands-on experience that will be of assistance in future careers and endeavors. We would like to thank Li & Fung for being gracious hosts, Kohl’s for supporting the trip, the factories that allowed us to go behind the scenes, and the UW faculty who journeyed with us. Thanks for following our trip and we will see you all when we get back. Farewell China and Hong Kong!

- Jenny Wenzlaff, Avery Wine, & Ben Wood

March 20th: A Tour of Hong Kong

2011-03-22T08:44:00.000-05:00

Sunday is usually day of rest, but not for this group of UW students. We had our cameras out and ready for a busy day of sightseeing. The day started early with a “group gathering” at the hotel where Nancy enlightened us with the history of Hong Kong. For two hundred years Hong Kong was a British colony, which explained much of the Western influences present in the city. It worked in some way like a lease, and in 1997 that period of leasing ended. Now, Hong Kong is a special operating region and is in a fifty-year transitional period, as it works to become part of China once again. We also reviewed what we had seen and learned thus far on the trip and made suggestions for what might work well on future excursions to China.

Following the gathering, we boarded our coach and began our trek through the city of bridges and tunnels to the Big Buddha. There are five Big Buddha statues throughout China, providing a place of peace and tranquility for Buddhists and tourists alike. In order to get to this site, we took a twenty-five minute cable car ride up into the mountains where the Buddha and a holy temple resided. Through the overcast skies and fog, the views from the ride were incredible. As we dangled in the air, over both land and water, many of us secretly thought about what would happen if the cables were to give way. Perhaps we could have joined the few brave tourists who decided to do the five-hour plus hike through the mountains to the temple.

Once we were off the cable car, we proceeded to climb over two hundred stairs to the Big Buddha. The Buddha we visited was in the Southern part of the country and faced north towards the other four Buddhas. After greeting the Buddha, we descended down the stairs and entered the temple. There we were instantly attracted to the smells of burning incenses and fresh flowers and the sounds of chanting prayers. We then sat down for a lunch full of tofu, bean curd, and vegetables in the temple’s dining hall. After our meal, we quickly took a look inside the beautiful place of worship full of golden statues, exotic flowers, and colorful decorations.

Leaving Big Buddha behind, we then drove to the south side of Hong Kong Island. This side of the island was noticeably different from the northern side. The area holds many of the best beaches and is where many of the city’s wealthiest call home. We spent an hour or so shopping and eating at the infamous Stanley market, and even got to sneak a quick peak of the home of Jackie Chan. We all wished we had a little more time there, because it was an exhilarating area, with a more cultural feel than other parts of Hong Kong due to the lack of skyscrapers from our sights.

We then rushed through the city to the sea, in order to catch our ferry tour of the spectacular Hong Kong Harbor. We were all captivated by the city lights and were even further surprised by the laser light show that occurs promptly at 8:00pm each evening for fifteen minutes. The night sky was brilliantly lit, surely making it a tour that we will never forget.

After all of this, one may think that we would have called it a day, but we still did not have enough of what the intriguing city had to offer. We drove from the harbor to the central area of Hong Kong, in order to climb Victoria’s Peak and view the city from its highest point. We went all the way to the top and quickly discovered that a blanket of fog had covered any chance of a view. Hoping for a brief look at the skyline, we traveled back down to the halfway point and were again amazed by the evening lights of the city of Hong Kong.

Even though, this day couldn’t have been much busier, we immensely enjoyed all that we got to experience. It was a once and a lifetime opportunity, and we are all very grateful for the time we got to spend discovering all of what Hong Kong had to offer.

~ Kailey Smith, Michael Stallsmith, and Jairus Shaw

March 21: Manufacturing Monday

2011-03-21T11:37:00.003-05:00

Today was our first sunny day in Hong Kong! We started off the day with a presentation and tour of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. This university is known for its "three-legged stool" approach to design: a fusion of fashion technology, fashion design, and fashion business. A 4-D movie presentation highlighted some of the University's innovative work, using a technology which surpasses most of that seen at universities in the United States. Anne, the marketing officer, took us on a tour of the program's facilities, where we were able to see the studios and workshops for the University's second largest degree program. The Textile and Apparel Design student were quite impressed, and Jerry had a hard time pulling them away from the amazing showcases.

At the 4-D presentation

A show room at the HKPU

After a tasty lunch at the University, we were treated to a presentation by Meg Side, Product Manager, and Pero Lee, Design Manager of Simply Vera for Kohl's who operate out of the New York Design Office. They gave us an inside look into the product development process for Simply Vera's fall line. There was definitely an emphasis on being detail oriented, following up and communicating, concepts important to many careers. It was great to see an actual Tech Pack and gain an inside view into what it is like to design for such a recognized brand. Then we learned about amazing career and internship opportunities at Kohl's from Liz and Melissa as we made our way to the factories.

Walking to the CFL

Hearing about the design process made us eager to learn more about clothing production along the supply chain. The denim factory, Central Fabrics Limited, was especially interesting as it gave us insight into the early stages of clothing production- textile manufacturing. When we arrived at the factory we were greeted with earplugs and face masks. No photos were allowed inside the factory but we witnessed the weaving, dyeing and finishing processes that go into making this everyday wardrobe staple. Jeans are not actually made at the factory, but the 1,600 yards of denim made per day go to factories that produce jean products for Gap, American Eagle, Silver and the like. During the Q & A session we were provided with an interesting juice box assortment that included melon flavored soy milk and chrysanthemum tea.

Beautiful view of the harbor, on our way to the L + H Sweater factory.

On the way to the sweater factory we witnessed a beautiful view of the harbor. This factory was unlike the previous ones we have seen on this trip, as it was much smaller and produced knit-wear, such as sweaters, hats and scarves. The factory called Love Plus Hope manufactures their own brand of apparel as well as apparel and accessories for luxury retailers. Love Plus Hope is a manufacturing business focused on financial and social sustainability. This company provides job opportunities for people with manufacturing skills in an area where these jobs are few between. It was fascinating to see a factory that can maintain such a high level of standards while still reaching the bottom line.

At the L + H Sweater Factory

Li & Fung USA hosted a dinner for us at the Watermark Restaurant which provided amazing views and awesome food. It was a great way to end the day. Students were treated to several courses, and many had the opportunity to talk with Deborah Vinson, Senior Vice President, and gain more perspective on the workings of Li and Fung.

Some of the ladies at the Watermark

Ali Wangard, Anna Turner, & Julia Vasylenko

DAY 5 (3/17): Shanghai

2011-03-20T10:38:00.000-05:00

Today was another great day! There was a good balance of factory tours and free time to further explore Shanghai. The group met in the lobby of our beautiful hotel (shown below) at 8AM after a huge, gourmet buffet breakfast.

Here the boys wait for the bus to arrive, wide awake and ready for another day of touring.

We headed off for our 2 1/2 hour bus trip to the Jiangyin Shule Hometextile factory where we were greeted with a very warm welcome.

The tour started with a brief presentation by the "big boss" of the company who addressed us in Mandarin while his colleague interpreted.

After the presentation we were guided through the various production facilities. We were impressed to see how environmentally friendly the company’s methods are. We learned that they have received the Environmental Impact Appraisal Certificate from the city of Jiangyin. They also have environmental management system training where they stress the importance of energy and water conservation, recycling, and waste reduction.

It was also amazing to see how many steps there are in producing these home textiles. One of our guides was especially excited for our group to “feel the magical power” of the machines, which worked on an enormously large scale. From singeing to dyeing, printing to bleaching, sewing to quilting, the companies production process is expansive.

After the tour of the actual manufacturing equipment, we got to go inside to see some of the product offerings. One of the especially exciting products that we got to see was the official bedding used for all of the athletes in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

After the tour, we were escorted to the dining room where we ate with some of the company’s employees. We sat with Derek (pictured below) who aids in the factory’s partnership with Kohl’s. He hopes to visit the Kohl’s Menomonee Falls headquarters in December so we were sure to warn him about the brutal Wisconsin winter weather.

After lunch, we thanked the company, said farewell to our new friends, and jumped back on the bus for the journey back to the hotel.

The rest of the night was ours to enjoy. A group of us headed to the bar next door for a celebratory St. Patrick’s Day drink with our new pet panda Bruce (pictured below.)

After that, like all good retail students would, we ventured off for more shopping! One of the most memorable stops was at a local shoe store where we faced HUGE language barriers with the shop owners. There was a lot of pointing and hand gesturing used and the only English said by the owner was a comment on our “big American feet.”

Finally, we ended the night with pizza and a movie in the hotel (pictures below of the AMAZING accommodations!) to take a break from our Chinese cuisine. It was a fabulous and relaxing way to end our stay in Shanghai and we can’t wait to see what Hong Kong has to hold!

-Bethany Mielke & Anna Lautmann

Day 5- Jiangyin Shule Hometextile Co Ltd

2011-03-20T10:05:00.000-05:00

March 17^th

Today our only scheduled activity was a factory visit of Jiangyin Shule Hometextile Co Ltd. The factory manufactures sheet sets and quilted comforters for Walmart, Lifung & Dorma, BBB, IKEA, Kohl’s, Macy’s, and JCPenny. Our Chinese hosts had a warm welcome prepared for us at the factory.

All of the students and staff loved the interpretation of the Center’s name. Maggie’s English was very good, but the written materials reminded me of the language barrier we face in China. Chinese pronunciation and character system are very different from English. This makes it difficult to even learn key phrases or find locations marked by signs with Chinese characters.

I was asking Nancy, our professor, about the differences between English and Chinese. She explained that each Chinese character is a word or syllable and multiple characters can be combined to form different words. Also, the same word may have a different meaning depending on its context. This made sense to me because I learned in my professional communication class that China has a very high context culture in general. Also, characters must be memorized instead of learning the alphabet and using it to sound out words. This idea fits with the different teaching styles of the US and China. I have heard that learning in China is more focused on memorization from my Asian classmates at Madison. My experience is that the US is more about learning the concepts to apply and thinking through things yourself.

At the factory, the tour started with a short introduction from “Big Boss” and presentation from Maggie, a Chinese merchandiser on their Kohl’s account. She walked through the different design processes and machines. We also learned that the factory has an Environmental Impact Appraisal Certificate. The factory conserves energy, water, recycles paper, and reduces all waste to landfills. When we actually walked around the facilities, I was not familiar with the process and many of the machines just looked like very large roles spinning large fabric sheets. I wish I could post pictures, but our hosts asked us not to take pictures on the tour.

It was interesting to have design students on the trip because they were able to explain some of the machines and processes that they have learned about in class. I asked Kailey Smith, a textile design major on the trip, about how this visit related to her studies in Madison.

Did you recognize the processes we saw in the factory?

“I definitely recognized the process. It was very interesting to see it first hand after learning about it in class.”

Do you think this will help you with your major when you return to the US?

“It seems that now I will have more of a connection to the machines and processes as I have viewed the end result of the textile design process. I now know that there is a place for me in this industry in the future and I more clearly see how I will fit into it.“

After the tour, we had lunch in the company’s client dining room. Maggie was at my table and we asked her about life in China. She said that traditional Chinese meals really are family style like we have been eating in restaurants here. Every person in her family will have a small plate of rice and eat directly from shared main dishes in the middle of the table.

I enjoyed our trip to the home textile factory in Jiangyin. We learned about the textile manufacturing process, environmental initiatives, the language barrier, and about traditional Chinese meals.

Post written by Carly Miller

Shanghai

2011-03-18T17:15:00.003-05:00

It’s day two in Shanghai and we continue to be amazed at all of the unbelievable experiences each new day has brought us.

We got a later start today; which gave us the opportunity to recover from the 3am wake-up call yesterday morning while also giving us some time to explore around the hotel. This afternoon we toured Chutex, a garment manufacturing company that works hand in hand making clothing for large retailers such as Gap Inc, JC Penney, and Kohl’s. Chutex employs over 3,000 people and produces an average of 2.5 million pieces each month.

Mike, the owner of the company, began by giving us a detailed presentation about what occurs in the factory and then gave us through the entire facility. The work conditions in the factory were much different than we envisioned. The facility was extremely organized and clean and offered its employees a positive work environment. Mike explained that each employee works no more than an 8 hour shift and is given on site housing and food. Additionally, they are paid at least minimum wage and have the opportunity to earn more based on their level of productivity.

We saw each step of the manufacturing process, from fabric inspection to packaging. Along the way we saw big bolts of fabric being inspected, apparel patterns being printed and cut, clothing detailed and screen printed, sewing, and finally being packed to ship. The tour provided all of us, regardless of major, a unique and valuable learning experience.

During the evening hours we had free time to further explore some of Shanghai’s sites and downtown areas of interest. A group of students went to a famous shopping district and enjoyed browsing through the local markets, while other students relaxed and stayed closer to the hotel. The students who went shopping also had the opportunity to try some of Shanghai’s unique cuisine. As we continue on our journey, we’ve been finding its better not to ask what exactly we’re eating but rather just branch out and take advantage of the whole experience.

Until tonight, our days have been spent with tour guides, which made it incredibly easy to get around the city, but tonight we split into small groups and took cabs to the market and restaurants. Most of the groups made it to their destinations without any issues. One group however got into a cab with a driver who spoke absolutely no English and found themselves being dropped off in the middle of a street in the wrong location. After two cabs and a lot of pointing, they finally found their way to the restaurant. I think we’ll all be a little more understanding of the challenges brought on by language barriers after this trip!

-Melissa LaBorde, Taylor Kuypers, and Preston Knapp

Beijing, March 13

2011-03-18T17:13:00.004-05:00

Hello from Beijing, China!

Well, we have had a very busy and exciting day. We started off with an amazing breakfast buffet at our hotel and then traveled to the Great Wall. We were lead by our Beijing tour guide, Robin, and his stuffed panda bear, Bruce. The Great Wall was an unbelievable thing to see. The hike up was very intense with uneven, steep steps but it was very rewarding after we reached our destination. What an experience! The trip back down the steps was just as difficult as the steep journey was quite intimidating. It was definitely worth it, though, to be able to visit such an amazing attraction!

After the Great Wall, we traveled to downtown Beijing where we had lunch at the Courtyard Restaurant – It was delicious!

Next, Robin led us on a walking tour of Tinanmen Square and the Empire City. We are excited to be able to see the inside of the Forbidden City tomorrow. There is so much symbolism and history in each of the sites we have visited so far here in China and the Forbidden City will no doubt be similarily intreging.

After this, we were all able to put our bargaining skills to use as we experienced the Chinese Silk Market where we found great deals on purses, scarves, watches, and other souvenirs. This type of shopping took some of us a while to get used to - it was definitely a unique experience!

We finished our day with an elegant meal at Beijing’s number one duck restaurant, Da Dong. So far, we all seem to enjoy these group meals as they give us a great chance to get to know each other better as well as introduce us to some of China's traditional dishes.

So far we have had a great time experiencing the dynamic culture in Beijing!

-Erica Anderson and Carolyn Breuer

Day 3--Katelynn Johnson and Monica Klein

2011-03-16T09:54:00.004-05:00

Today was a very busy day! We started with a 3:30 am wake up call and left our beautiful hotel in Beijing with our cute boxed breakfasts in hand and were off to the largest airport in the world. We flew to Shanghai and were met by hotel staff perfectly dressed in pink tweed suits. We parted with our luggage and were whisked away to the Li & Fung Shanghai office.

Pamela Chen, the Executive Vice President gave us a presentation about Li & Fung’s history and an overview of the company. The perks of the company were amazing, including a workout facility with a yoga room and Ping-Pong game room. We then had a tour of the product development showrooms, including Habitat, a UK grocery store, and the furniture pieces for American companies like Starbucks and McDonalds. The showrooms were exquisite, each completely different from the other and truly showcasing the brand’s personality.

Following the tour we had a traditional Chinese lunch in one of the Li & Fung cafeterias. Then we met up with Jennifer, our new tour guide for a 7-hour tour of Shanghai. We began with a beautiful garden visit where we saw more greenery than we had seen in all of China so far. There were rivers and caves, coy ponds, and unique Asian trees and flowers, pure beauty.

The next stop was a gorgeous outdoor Chinese market. We went to a shop upstairs that was filled with beautiful fresh-water and salt-water pearls. One of the workers showed us exactly where pearls come from by taking an oyster out of the tank and cracking it open to find 20 beautiful fresh-water pearls inside. On the other side there was a tea house, where we all had the chance to participate in a traditional tea ceremony and test out some different teas. At this point of the day, we were all pretty tired, so luckily we found Starbucks next door.

After the pick-me-up, we were ready to see the third tallest building in the entire world, the Shanghai World Financial Center. The building is 101 stories high and has a hole in the middle near the top. It was very futuristic, along with most of Shanghai. It’s hard to find a building in the area that is more than 25 years old. Stepping into the first elevator, it felt like a scene right out of Willy Wonka. Lights were flashing and music was playing accompanied by a dramatic countdown. We had to get on a second elevator to get to the very top, where there were glass bottom lock out points and we could see the entire city, including our next stop, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower.

The building looks like a giant space needle with a red ball in the middle. We went to the top where the entire floor was made out of glass and it was not entirely closed in so we could feel the cool evening breeze. After the quick trip down the skyscraper we were headed to dinner.

We had another fabulous dinner, complete with 3 appetizers, 8 entrees, and dessert. With our full stomachs and tired eyes, we headed back to the hotel for a great night of sleep after our full day. We are absolutely loving Shanghai and cannot wait to see the knit factory tomorrow!

Day 2!

2011-03-16T09:53:00.002-05:00

Ni hao!

Day two from Beijing was a little chilly and reminded us of Wisconsin after a warm day one. But the Badgers braved the chill and had a wonderful second day in the Chinese capital city!

After another delicious breakfast at the hotel, we ventured to the Forbidden City to take advantage of the cultural history we had missed out on the day before. We found a number of things interesting - first, it is HUGE! We were amazed at the scale of the City and how intricate the detail was over every square inch. It was unlike anything we've ever seen. It also surprised us at the amount of areas that people are able to touch. A few areas were blocked off, but for the most part, we could go right up and touch 500-year-old-history.

While in the City, the American group felt like a piece of culture as well. It seemed like we couldn't stop for more than five minutes without people wanting to take pictures with us and of our group. Some were more amused with it than others, but after a while, we decided that being famous is NOT all it's cracked up to be.

After spending 3 hours in the Forbidden City, we were treated to a rickshaw tour of the oldest section of Beijing. It didn't seem old, though. We were surprised that it seemed nicer than a lot of the main streets we had traveled so far. There were a lot of bars and shops along the way, but it was interesting to experience a larger area at a slower speed. And while there was a lot of activity in this residential area, it wasn't all pristine, as it was obvious there wasn't a lot of wealth in the area.

We then got to experience yet another traditional Chinese meal. As college students we don't usually get to spend a lotof time eating, nor are we used to eating a lot at once, so these meals have been EXTREMELY welcome. We enjoy being able to sit with a large group and share stories while the food just keeps on coming. Today we had the pleasure of trying abalone, orange-fried shrimp, lemon chicken, tofu, eggplant dishes, orange fish, Chinese-style "pot roast" and much much more! (Of course, we're not entirely sure what the dishes are, but most are amazing!)

After lunch we got to experience the Summer Palace, a complex with a huge lake, lots of gardens, and more beautiful buildings. Turns out, one of the Emporer's had a tough time. Long story short - the Dowager Empress wanted the power of the throne, so she put the Emperor on house arrest for 10 years. It was a lot of history to take in, but it was really interesting to learn about a culture and period in history few of us knew anything about.

Besides all the culture at each of our sites, we were also able to learn about business in this area as well because of the prevelance of all the vendors who want our attention. From briefcases with "Rolex"'s to dishes with our faces painted on them (Logan was flattered but had to decline), we are amazed at the amount of people who want to sell us "stuff". Yet we admire their persistence. It doesn't matter if one person says "no" five times, each person in the group must decline before the haggler will leave. Each offers a "great price" but because we're American, it is assumed that we have a lot to spend, and are willing. It's smart of the vendors to ask where we're from - we assume that the initial price doubles when we tell them - and it's interesting to see the various strategies each vendor has developed.

That's all for now from Beijing! By the time you read this, we will have been at the bus at 4am for our flight to Shanghai (did you know a lot of sites are inaccessible from China, like any site connected to Google and Facebook?). Thanks, Angie, for posting for us.

And HUGE thanks to Shirley and Jasmine from Li & Fung for planning all our time abroad. It has been amazing so far, and we can't wait to continue! Also, thanks to Robin (our tourguide) and Bruce (our favorite Panda), and of course Kohl's and Li & Fung for making it all possible!

Zaijian!

Sunday, March 13, 2011 Beijing: Arrival, Great Wall, Tiananen Square, & the Silk Market

2011-03-14T10:04:00.000-05:00

It is hard to believe that this is only the first day in Beijing! First, the Great Wall, then an extravagant lunch, followed by Tiananmen Square, the Silk Market, and finally another ornate dinner!… I can hardly believe all that we have accomplished in such a short time.

After finishing an amazing breakfast at the hotel, the group began “day one” in Beijing at the Great Wall. Going into the experience, I suppose that I did not know exactly what to expect… I have friends that have visited the Great Wall, but it is honestly a much different experience to climb it yourself! No one really tells you how steep the wall can get… (Let’s just say, I definitely accomplished my morning workout) I found the climb invigorating and yet, still a little terrifying (as one slip of your foot could lead to you plummeting straight down an endless flight of stairs).

Something else I observed, were the steps on the Great Wall. If you ever get the chance to visit, you will quickly notice that the steps are very uneven (making the climb a little more challenging)! If you look even closer, you can see that many of the steps are worn down in the areas where people most often step (I can imagine this is because of years of use). This is something that I found to be interesting and a little unexpected (it helped me to visualize and comprehend the vast amounts of visitors that it has hosted).

In honesty, our visit to the Great Wall was my favorite part of “day one.” Our experiences today, however, have been so amazing! Lunch was wonderful, Tiananmen Square was monumental, and lets just say- I had a successful day of shopping at the silk market! To end the day, dinner was amazing. Needless to say, the group was exhausted after the days many activities, yet everyone was still excited to explore a new cuisine!

I am extremely excited for tomorrow’s activities (forbidden city, etc). With such a grand start to our visit in China, I can only imagine what else is in store!

-Leah DiPalma

Flights and Hotels

2011-03-04T15:36:00.002-06:00

The following is the information for each of our flights and hotels during the China trip:

March 11	6:45 am NO LATER Board bus for O’Hare in front of the Memorial Union
March 11	United Airlines Flt UA0896 Conf # SCZQ6A Eticket: 7873710870 Depart Chi 12:46 PM Arrive Beijing 4:25 pm
March 12	Arrive Beijing 4:25 Pm	Penisula Hotel Beijing I Goldfish Lane, Wangfujing Beijing 100006, PRD http://www.peninsula.com/Beijing/en/default.aspx Telephone: (86-10) 8516 2888
March 15	China Eastern Airlines Conf# FQOEBW Ticket 781 5116104009 Depart Beijing 7:00 am Arrive Shanghai 9:10 am	Langham Xintiandi 99 Mandang Road, Xintiadi, Shanghai 200021 http://xintiandi.langhamhotels.com/ Telephone: +86 (21) 2330 2288
March 18	China Eastern Airlines Conf# NFDF51 Ticket 781-5116104009 Depart Shanghi : 4:00 pm Arrive Hong Kong: 6:30 PM	Harbour Plaza Metropolis 7 Metropolis Drive, Hunghom, Kowloon, Hong Kong www.harbour-plaza.com/hpme Telephone (852)9160 6888
March 23	United Airlines Flt UA0896 Depart Hong Kong 11:25 am Arrive Chicago 12:40 pm
March 23	Board bus at O’Hare approximately 2 pm
March 23	Arrive at Memorial Union Approximately 4:30 to 5:00 pm

Taylor Kuypers

2011-03-02T19:26:00.000-06:00

My name is Taylor Kuypers and I am currently a sophomore at UW-Madison. I am extremely excited to have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to China and see some of the world’s leaders in retail, as well as hear from Li & Fung. I believe that one of the most interesting parts of the trip will be seeing Kohl's factory from end to end, and of course seeing some of China's rich culture. I look forward to meeting all of my future group members and becoming close friends. I hope to learn more about supply chain and the whole sourcing side of the equation. This trip could not be possible without the help of Kohl's and its team, as well as UW-Madison, so for that I thank you. I can't wait to take my first few steps in China!

Megan Dorsey

2011-03-02T18:04:00.000-06:00

Hi! My name is Megan Dorsey and I am a senior majoring in Retailing and Economics. I'm looking forward to learning more about product development and experiencing the manufacturing side of retail. I'm excited to experience a new culture on this incredible trip. I am so grateful to Kohl's, Li & Fung, and the Kohl's Center for Retailing Excellence for letting me take part in this amazing opportunity!

Zach Pereles

2011-03-02T14:36:00.006-06:00

你好! My name is Zach Pereles, and I am currently a sophomore majoring in Retail and Spanish. My calling within the Retail Industry is somewhere in product development and design. After visiting the Kohl's Design Studios in New York, I am very interested in what goes into actually mass producing a product. I want to personally thank Kohl's, Li & Fung, and UW-Madison staff! The dedication to enhancing learning and taking education to the highest level is what makes me a dedicated scholar, and in turn what will make me a great employee.
Thank you!

Erica Anderson

2011-03-02T12:20:00.000-06:00

Hello! My name is Erica Anderson and I am a senior majoring in Retailing with a Certificate in Business. I am extremely excited and grateful for this once in a lifetime opportunity. I love traveling and cant wait to learn more about the culture and retail practices in China. Global sourcing and supply chain management are two very important fields and I cant think of a better place to gain insight first hand. I would like to thank everyone involved in planning this trip, especially Kohl's, Li & Fung, and UW faculty.

Jillian Holschuh

2011-03-01T23:46:00.001-06:00

Hello! My name is Jillian Holschuh and I am a junior working my way towards a degree in Retail. Being a fortunate guest of Li & Fung, I cannot wait to be able to observe ideas being turned into high quality products that are sold worldwide. This opportunity to see the inner-workings of projects of such magnitude will be a momentous lesson I will carry with me my entire career. I am looking forward to being immersed in the heart of international business and Chinese culture. I am truly grateful to Li & Fung, Kohl’s, the UW staff, and for all of those who are making this trip possible.Thank you!

Ali Wangard

2011-03-01T14:00:00.000-06:00

Hi! My name is Ali Wangard and I am junior majoring in Retailing. I am so grateful to be a part of such an amazing trip and I can't wait to experience an entirely different culture and meet new people. China plays such a critical role in the retail world and I am looking forward to being able to broaden my understanding of China and their place in the industry.

Carolyn Breuer

2011-02-28T22:31:00.000-06:00

My name is Carolyn and I am a junior in the Retailing program here at UW-Madison. I am looking forward to learning more about product development and the global supply chain process - what better way than through a firsthand experience in China! I have no doubt that this trip will be very beneficial in shaping my knowledge and perspective of the retail industry and, in addition, introduce me to the dynamic Chinese culture.
I want to thank everyone who is making this experience possible for us, especially Kohl's, Li & Fung, and Kohl's Center for Retailing Excellence. You are making such an impact on our education here at UW-Madison!

Michael Stallsmith

2011-02-28T20:53:00.001-06:00

I am thrilled to have this once in a lifetime opportunity! China is going to be amazing. I am a senior majoring in marketing, and I am pursuing a career in retail. I owe a lot of thanks to Kohl's and the Center for Retailing Excellence for giving me so many opportunities this past year to grow and develop myself. I look forward to getting to know everyone on the trip better, immersing myself in Chinese culture, and seeing a side of retail I have yet to experience.

Melissa LaBorde

2011-02-28T13:24:00.001-06:00

Hi everyone! My name is Melissa LaBorde and I’m a sophomore majoring in Retailing. I’m hoping to intern with Kohl’s next summer so I’m excited to explore a different side of their business. I’m extremely grateful for all of the unbelievable opportunities the Kohl’s Center for Retailing Excellence has provided to students and am especially looking forward to this amazing experience abroad. I’m excited to get to know all of you better and can’t wait for this incredible trip!

Katelynn Johnson

2011-02-28T12:34:00.001-06:00

Hello everyone! My name is Katelynn Johnson and I am a Junior majoring in Marketing and Management & Human Resources. I am so looking forward to our trip to China. This summer I will be interning at Kohl's so I am thrilled to have the opportunity to witness the other side of their business from the manufacturing and supply chain perspectives. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity of a lifetime and would like to send my thanks to those at Kohl's, Li & Fung, and the Kohl's Center for Retailing Excellence. I look forward to getting to know all of you better and cannot wait to experience all China has to offer!

Natalie Schuler

2011-02-28T12:30:00.000-06:00

I am a senior majoring in Textile and Apparel Design at UW. Although most of my work is done with local materials and in conjunction with small local businesses, I am very interested in the global impact of the textile industry. The textile industry encompasses everything from very local handmade crafts that express the cultural traditions of a community, to global trade that affects the global economy. I am so looking forward to this trip so that I might become more familiar with the influential textile industry as well as the rich culture of China.

Pamela Regalado

2011-02-28T11:50:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone! My name is Pamela Regalado and I am a Marketing and Management and Human Resources major. I am a senior graduating next December so this summer I will be interning in the product development office at Kohl's corporate. I am so excited to learn more about the product development process and I look forward to applying my knowledge this summer. Thank you so much to everyone involved in planning the trip, and especially to Kohl's and Li & Fung!

Leah DiPalma

2011-02-28T11:46:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone! I am a Junior majoring in Retailing here at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I am a member of the executive board for the Student Retail Association, a member of AKPsi business fraternity, and avid Rec-sports soccer player. I am extremely excited to explore a new culture and learn more about the supply chain in China!

Anna Lautmann

2011-02-28T11:44:00.000-06:00

Hi guys,

My name is Anna Lautmann and I am a junior majoring in Marketing. To be able travel with UW faculty and students to one of the world's most vibrant economies this spring break is a once in a lifetime opportunity. In addition, to be sponsored and accompanied by Kohl's, arguably the most successful middle market retailer in the US, and Li & Fung, one of the most dominant retail sourcing/supply chain companies in China, makes the trip all that more amazing! I am so excited to learn more about the complexities behind supply chain management and how a product is actually taken from concept to reality.

Thank you again for the amazing opportunity!

Anna Turner

2011-02-27T20:10:00.000-06:00

As a junior in the Textile and Apparel Design program, I am looking forward to learning about production and retail. I also cannot wait to meet new people and experience Chinese culture! Thank you so much to Kohl's, Li & Fung, and the faculty of UW-Madison for this unique and exciting opportunity.

Kailey Smith

2011-02-27T19:36:00.001-06:00

Hello, my name is Kailey Smith and I am a junior majoring in Textile and Apparel Design at UW-Madison. I am unbelievably grateful to Kohl's, Li & Fung, and the Center for Retailing Excellence for the chance to discover the world of Chinese business and culture. I am very enthusiastic about this opportunity, as I believe such a firsthand look at the retailing industry will give me a remarkable advantage in my future career of designing and producing textiles. Furthermore, I cannot wait to explore all that China has to offer!

Jacqueline Rudzinski

2011-02-27T12:58:00.000-06:00

It's hard to believe that we leave for China in less than 2 weeks! As a textile and apparel design major, I am so excited to be able to witness the apparel industry through a global perspective and in a large scale. With my curiosity and enthusiasm in tow I know I will learn a lot and make connections with everyone on the trip.

Abby Forecki

2011-02-27T02:15:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone! My name is Abby Forecki and I am a junior marketing and supply chain major at UW-Madison. I am very excited to see Kohl's supply chain up close as well as take in some amazing sight-seeing. I cannot wait for this life changing, nerve-racking, once in a lifetime experience to begin and I'm also looking forward to forming some new friendships.

Jairus Shaw

2011-02-26T19:22:00.000-06:00

My name is Jairus Shaw I am a senior Retailing major. I am currently 21 and looking forward to my first trip to China. I can already tell this will be an amazing trip and will open my eyes to the true globalization of our nation’s economy. The trip is rapidly approaching and I believe I will take away memories from this voyage that will affect my framework on the rest of my career.

Monica Klein

2011-02-25T20:50:00.001-06:00

Hello! My name is Monica Klein and I am a junior Textile and Apparel Design student here at UW. I am beyond excited to travel to China and I cannot believe the trip is less than 3 weeks away! Having the opportunity to see the other side of retail and design will be invaluable to my future design career. I cannot imagine the great sites we will see, people we will meet, and memories we will make. See you all on the other side!

Vicky Opitz

2011-02-25T19:54:00.001-06:00

Hi, my name is Vicky Opitz and I am a senior majoring in Political Science, Communication Arts, and Anthropology. I am so incredibly excited to be a part of this program and to have the opportunity to experience China both from a business and cultural perspective. I am also looking forward to learning about the retail process in a country that has such a strong presence in the global market. In addition I can’t wait to experience a new culture and meet many new friends.

Thank you to everyone at Kohl’s, Li & Fung, and the UW faculty for making this once-in-a-lifetime experience happen.

Avery Wine

2011-02-24T22:41:00.000-06:00

My name is Avery Wine. I am sophomore in Industrial Engineering with a certificate in business. It still hasn’t hit me yet that I am going to China. This will definitely be a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am so grateful for all the people at Kohl’s, Li & Fung, and UW that have made it possible. I am looking forward to emerging myself in the culture and learning as much as I can. As, an industrial engineering student, my focus is supply chain. Some of the most advanced supply chains are in China so this will be an amazing learning opportunity for me. I hope to take all I learn from this trip, and apply it to my classes and future careers.

Carly Miller

2011-02-24T22:24:00.000-06:00

Hello, my name is Carly Miller. I am a proud Badger majoring in Marketing, Management & Human Resources in the Wisconsin School of Business. On this trip, I am excited to learn through first hand observation. It is a truly unique experience to combine travel, company visits, and an applicable case into one class. I am ready to soak up this new culture and learn about business practices in a different country. The location is very exciting as China is an especially relevant country to study within the retail industry today.

I am so grateful to the people and organizations that make this trip possible. Thank you to Kohl’s, Li & Fung, and Kohl's Center for Retailing Excellence for planning and supporting this trip. Your commitment goes above and beyond to provide an amazing experience for all of the students.

Preston Knapp

2011-02-24T15:41:00.000-06:00

I am extremely excited for my first trip to China, and I can not think of a better way to experience everything China has to offer than with fellow Badgers!

My name is Preston Knapp and I am a Junior majoring in Marketing and Management and Human Resources. I've always been interested in what it takes for American businesses to maintain successful global supply chains. Kohl's and Li & Fung are perfect examples of companies that does this well, and I can't wait to witness their processes firsthand.

Thank you to Kohl's, Li & Fung, and the faculty and staff at UW-Madison for making this opportunity a reality for all of us. I look forward to gaining a once-in-a-lifetime experience, learning about a new culture, and meeting plenty of new friends.

Preston

Jenny Wenzlaff

2011-02-24T13:56:00.001-06:00

Hello,

My name is Jenny Wenzlaff and I am a sophomore majoring in Consumer Affairs with a Certificate in Business. I love to travel and am thrilled to be going on the China: Business, Culture, & Retail Industry Trip! Since retailing is a global industry and China plays a significant role, I am excited to see the steps of the supply chain first-hand. Not only am I excited to see the retail and business industry in China, but I also look forward to experiencing the culture and meeting many new friends.

Thank you to Kohl’s, Li & Fung, the UW faculty, and everyone else involved in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! I cannot wait for the journey to begin!

- Jenny

Logan Floyd

2011-02-24T11:30:00.000-06:00

Hi, my name is Logan Floyd, and I am majoring in Consumer Science with a certificate in Entrepreneurship. I can't say enough how excited I am to be going to China with the Center - it really is a dream come true! I'm most looking forward to studying the supply chain process first-hand, as well as taking a thorough look at the "Concept-to-Customer" experience. It will be the trip of a lifetime, and I can't wait to go! Thank you so much to everyone who made the trip possible - especially Kohls, the Center, and Li&Fung!

Bethany Mielke

2011-02-23T23:52:00.000-06:00

Hi my name is Bethany Mielke. I am a junior studying retailing here at Madison. I am so excited to go to China and get to know everyone on the trip! I have never been out of the country before so China will definitely be an eye opening experience. I am excited to learn more about their culture and as much as I can about China's retailing industry. Thank you so much to everyone who made this trip possible!

Julia Vasylenko

2011-02-23T21:54:00.000-06:00

Hello,

My name is Julia Vasylenko. I am a senior double majoring in accounting and risk management. One of the main reasons I am excited for this trip is to see the Chinese supply chain processes in action. We learn a lot about business-to-business interaction, but to actually be able to see it for ourselves, in China, will be a great learning experience. This will be an eye opening trip that will put into perspective everything I’ve learned during my four years at UW-Madison.

I would like to thank everyone at Kohl’s and UW for making this trip possible!

On Wisconsin!

Benjamin Wood

2011-02-23T14:56:00.000-06:00

"Surreal" is not quite strong enough a word. As a business major at the UW and a technology buff, there really is no place more exciting to be visiting than China, and I could not be more thankful for the opportunity to go. Thank you Kohl's! I am looking to merge business with advanced technology solutions to improve the accuracy and efficiency of ordering tools, unit sales forecasts, you name it! Going to China and studying one of the more advanced supply chains in the history of world trade should be very interesting and educational. If anyone out there wants to send a group of students to Brazil or India next, I'm all for it!

Benjamin Wood, UW-Madison BBA 2011

2011 China Study Trip Itinerary

2011-02-23T14:09:00.000-06:00

Below is a preliminary itinerary for the 2011 Study Abroad trip to China!

Friday, March 11           - Depart Chicago

Saturday, March 12      - Arrive Beijing, Coach pick up to hotel
       - Free time to shop, explore, relax, and have
                                        fun!

Sunday, March 13        - Beijing local tour - Forbidden City, Tiananmen
                                       Square
      - Great Wall

Monday, March 14       - Beijing local tour - Summer Palace, Wu Tong,
                                       Olympic Grounds, Tombs
   - Chnese Acrobat Show
                                     - Dinner with group

Tuesday, March 15       - Early flight to Shanghai
                                     - Li&Fung Office at Shanghai
                                 - Shanghai local tour
                                     - Dinner with group
                                     - Back to hotel

Wednesday, March 16 - Depart to Wu Xi
                                     - Kohl's Factory Visit
                                     - Free time after return to Shanghai from Wu
                                        Xi

Thursday, March 17      - Depart to Hangzhou
                                     - Kohl's Woven/Printing mills visit

Friday, March 18    - Free Time
                                     - Coach pick up to airport
                                     - Depart to Hong Kong
                                     - Arrive in Hong Kong, coach pick up to hotel

Saturday, March 19      - Presentation: Li&Fung Retailing and Marketing
                                     - Free time to shop, explore, relax, and have
                                       fun!

Sunday, March 20        - Presentation and Brunch
                                     - HK Local Tour - Stnley, the Peak, Big Buddha,
                                       Boat Trip

Monday, March 21       - Poly U: 4D Presentation
                                     - Tour: technical, testing, knitting, and sewing
                                        labs
                                     - Presentation: Li&Fung Hong Kong
                                     - Lunch
                                     - Sustainability
                                     - Coach pick up to Central Denim Mill
                                     - Sweater Factory
                                     - Cocktail hour
                                     - Dinner with group

Tuesday, March 22       - Depart to ShenZhen
                                     - Kohl's End-to-End Product Supply
                                        Chain/Product Development
                                     - ShenZhen Li&Fung office/factory visits

Wednesday, March 23 - Coach pick up to airport
                                     - Depart to Chicago

2011-01-26T21:51:00.000-06:00

This year at the conference students got an first look at the same innovative things to come in the retail world along side CEOs and company professionals

Jerry tires on the free mickey mouse hats we all receive from the Disney Store Booth

One of our own, Michael Stallsmith, participates and presents to the conference members with his groups winning powerpoint presentation.

Getting to see alumni from UW Madison retail program, including Jenny Hawkins!

A highlight of the trip, eating appetizers and hearing from Bobby Flay himself at his restaurant Bar Americain. No one in our group will forget that visit

Overall the trip was a fantastic adventure and educating experience in the best place to see retail hands on, New York City!

NRF Conference

2011-01-25T22:05:00.000-06:00

The National Retail Federation Conference was an amazing opportunity for us to interact with retailers and business professionals and become informed about the changes occurring in the industry. Additionally, we were able to visit several companies including Macy’s, Kohl’s and Li & Fung to learn more about their businesses and hear about many incredible opportunities. The entire trip proved to be a very beneficial and exciting experience!

-Carolyn Breuer

NYC trip

2011-01-20T16:03:00.000-06:00

This year's New York trip was awesome! The day spent with Kohl's at their New York office was so stimulating as we got to talk to some of the top designers and personnel within the office. We were exposed to an amazing array of individuals (Lauren Conrad, Pero Lee, the Food Network team, Bobby Flay) who each have very unique roles within Kohl's and it was really interesting and exciting to hear from all of them.

Bobby Flay signing his cookbook that we each received from Kohl's!

Thanks so much to Kohl's and the Center for coordinating such a great trip!
Anna

Down the home-stretch

2010-12-07T15:45:00.003-06:00

Wow! What an amazing semester it has been!

Just when we start to think that each semester can't possibly get any busier than the last, we get thrown into the madness that is each and every semester at UW-Madison. But we wouldn't have it any other way! This blog post will serve as a quick recap of what we and our students have been up to all semester. While the following will give you somewhat of an idea, we encourage you to go to our website (http://www.sohe.wisc.edu/centers/cre/index.html), which is brand-spanking-new by the way, and check out this Fall's newsletter. We don't think you'll be disappointed!

Speaking of our website, it is BRAND NEW and we love it! It took a lot of hard work and a lot of time, but we couldn't be more pleased with the outcome. We think we finally have an easy-to-use, yet professional website that reflects extremely well on us, our partners, and our students. We welcome any feedback that you have!

Bridgestone renewed it's partnership with the Center this semester. We are always amazed by the generosity of our donors, and we appreciate absolutely everything they do to make sure the Center continues to thrive as one of the leading academic Retail centers in the nation!

The Student Retail Association (SRA) continued to take wonderful steps forward as an organization. Not only did they continue to offer high-caliber programming, but they also restructured to capitalize on their members' talents and initiative.

The Center's Retail Lecture Series continued its established tradition of bringing superstar-speakers from partner companies. This year's lecture featured Divisional Planning Manager Bob Baus, who fielded nearly 45 minutes worth of student questions! After the lecture, a number of students and staff were invited to a networking cocktail hour and dinner with Kohl's representatives. The students and staff alike were able to gain fantastic insight to the various career paths with one of the industry's leading companies.

Similarly, the Retail Leadership Symposium once again proved why any student interested in retail needs to take the class. Boasting an AMAZING line-up of speakers, including current and former CEOs, as well as a co-owner, multiple Vice Presidents, and many more, students had the distinct opportunity to learn from those who have done it all in so many different areas of the industry.

Our students had the wonderful opportunity to participate in a number of amazing case studies. Including cases from American Eagle, YMA - the Fashion Scholarship, and the National Retail Federation, students were able to use and expand their knowledge through real-world scenarios. These case studies asked students to, among other things: Develop a marketing plan with the possibility of presenting to C-Suite officials, and having their ideas implemented in stores across the country; develop a creative, viable Private Brand for a retailer that fills a void in its current product offering; and researching/developing plans for mobile strategy implementation - particularly applying mobile technologies to customer service solutions.

Industrial and Systems Engineering Professors Raj Veeramani and Ananth Krishnamurthy were honored to receive a research grant worth over $220,000 from Center partner Hy-Vee, Inc. They will lead the Center's research thrust area in retail supply chain optimization. The goal of this project is to develop an evaluation framework and analytical models to gain fundamental insights into the impact that automation can have on the performance of distribution operations at an individual DC level, as well as the distribution network as a whole.

Student Ariel Arnson, President of the Textile and Apparel Student Association, has her hands plenty full, leading an organization, helping students develop their portfolios, and leading the planning for this Spring's annual fashion show. Oh yeah, and she's competing in a competition for NASA. Yes, that NASA. Arnson and other colleagues at UW-Madison are competing to win a competition which focuses on creating an inflatable exploratory loft for astronauts to live and sleep in on extra-terrestrial surfaces.

The last thing we will mention, but certainly not least, is that Kohl's Department Stores recently announced it would once again sponsor a trip for 30 students to study abroad in Hong Kong and China. The trip will once again focus on Business, Culture, and the Retail Industry, primarily studying the overseas processes of sourcing, supply chain and distribution, design and product development, brand marketing, brand management, and more. This year's trip will once again take place over Spring Break, and will again include stops in Hong Kong and Shanghai, but will not include Shenzhen. Instead, students and staff will stop in Beijing, a city with far more cultural and historical significance.

As always, we wish to thank our partnering companies for all your generous contributions of your limited, valuable resources. Without you, the Center for Retailing Excellence would not exist, and we and our students are extremely grateful for all that you do.

Remember to follow us on Facebook (Kohl's Center for Retailing Excellence) and Twitter (@kcre_uwmadison) to keep up to date on whatever the Center is up to, and be sure to check out our newsletter and brand new website!

Go Badgers (Rose Bowl bound!), and as always...

On Wisconsin!

We're Back!

2010-09-02T14:06:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone!

After a long (and busy!) summer, we cannot be more excited to have everyone back on campus for another great semester. We have a great year planned, with plenty of excitement and enthusiasm from everyone both in-and-outside the Center. Some things to look forward to for the coming year:

- The continuation of the hit "Retail Lecture Series" (September 14th), this year featuring Kohl's Director and Divisional Planning Manager, Bob Baus

- A star-studded lineup for the Retail Leadership Symposium, including W. Paul Jones (Chairman, President, and CEO of ShopKo), Lorna Nagler (CEO of Christopher and Banks), and many more

- Another great year of programming and trips from the Student Retail Association

- Trips to New York and Monterey Bay (and maybe even back to China!)

- Another exciting Board of Advisor's meeting (late April)

- And much more!

As always, we want to thank our Corporate partners for their ongoing expertise and generous contributions of both time and money. Without you, the Center wouldn't exist, and your continual support only grows the ability to reach a broader, more talented pool of young retailers.

Also, make sure you follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get the most up-to-date info about the Center's happenings! Search "Kohl's Center for Retailing Excellence" on Facebook, and "kcre_uwmadison" on Twitter.

Here's to a great semester and year, and as always...

ON WISCONSIN!

John Whiting - Essay blog

2010-04-19T17:53:00.000-05:00

On this day we got to tour a Walmart based in Shanghai. We have really seen Walmart grow to a level that is almost unthinkable in the United States, but many experts believe that Walmart’s future expansion lies outside of the United States. Although its current form of operations is very successful in the United States, Walmart needs to adjust in order to be successful in other countries.

We got to see this change first hand as we walked through the store. One of the first things you notice when you walk in are large yellow signs that hang down from the ceiling. It was almost sensory overload as you walk through the store and are bombarded with price signs. This is how things are done in China. The Carrefour we went to had the exact same format.

The other thing you’ll notice is that the restocking of shelves is done during the day as well as at night. Unlike the United States where all stock is done at the end of the day or late at night, restocking is done as needed throughout the day. This sometimes created a hassle as aisles would become clogged and customers would get frustrated trying to maneuver around the boxes.

The other thing I noticed was the larger selections. Competition is the cornerstone of our economy. We do have a selection of a few brands in almost every category. In China, there is a much larger selection in certain categories. Even within the same category, a brand will have a much wider array of products for the customer to choose from. For example, to fit the taste of the consumer in China, Lays potato chips had various flavors that we are not accustomed to like Lime, Cucumber, and Blueberry. Pringles also had shrimp and crab flavored chips. Take an entire Walmart store, add a second level, and that is the size of the store we went into. The entire bottom floor was filled with grocery while the second floor was all hard and soft lines.

I also noticed that there was a lot more demonstrations and product samples throughout the store. While this is a typical practice at many grocers in the United States, they are mostly done on the weekends. We went into the Walmart on a weekday afternoon when this would typically not be done back in the United States. This must be a part of the Chinese culture where the Chinese are more use to trying products out in order to know that they will enjoy the products they were buying. If you think about the average household income of the average Chinese person, this makes sense that they would want to maximize their dollar when purchasing groceries.

Lastly, probably the most shocking aspect of Walmart was the fact that they have busses that constantly bring people to the store. With how expensive it is to own a car and the city of Shanghai being so bike and moped friendly, this makes sense for Walmart. Walmart was literally packed with lines at every register, this makes me believe that this particular Walmart in Shanghai must be a destination store.

I believe the business operations of Walmart have evolved to create a format that is more friendly to the Chinese consumer. Too often companies do not do enough research in the area they are going in and fail. Target recently had to do this when they opened a store in Hawaii and Alaska. Although they are part of the United States, they have very unique cultures.

Shanghai (John Whiting)

2010-04-17T01:21:00.000-05:00

After arriving in Shanghai, on our way to the hotel we got to see all of the lights of Shanghai since we arrived at night. Some of the best lights were the area of the Shanghai Expo. After checking into our hotel, I think I can speak for everyone when I saw we were astonished at our rooms! It was probably the nicest hotel room I’ve ever been in. I think everyone came down and complained about their room being too nice to Deborah and Jerry. My king-size bed, amazing view, and waterfall shower did the trick to get me prepared for the next day.

A few of us learned our first night in Shanghai that when you step inside a taxi In China, you better pray you get back alive. It was almost as if there are no rules when on the roads in China. The best way to describe it is organized chaos. Cars come at you from every direction, if no one is around with a red light you can go, speed limits don’t matter, and I’m surprised their horns still work with how much they use it. It is actually very cheap despite the high gas prices, so that was nice.

We started off the next day at the Li & Fung Shanghai office. From the front it didn’t appear like much, but the inside was amazing. We learned a lot about the Chinese economy which help to put things into perspective a bit and would help set up the rest of our trip nicely in China. We then went to Kohl’s factory where we saw pants and shorts being made that would come out in late summer fall. We got to see the entire process from cutting the fabric and sewing together pockets all the way up to the finished product and even getting it ready for the stores. At night we were treated to an INCREDIBLE acrobat show. I’ll let the pictures do the speaking for me.

Our last day was filled with sightseeing! We truly felt like we were in China as we visited a fairly large temple that featured numerous jade Buddha’s. We also got lucky because they were performing a ceremony when we got there. We were given a little free time to explore the market around the temple where we attempted to haggle the price down… some successful, others including me, not so much. Either way, it was extremely fun and got a keepsake to take home. We then went to the highest observatory deck in the world at the Shanghai World Financial Center. The view was incredible! They had windows on the floor so you could look straight down. Last but not least… Walmart. The entire first floor was all food and the 2^nd was everything else. It was packed as more and more bus loads of people arrived from all over the city. It was interesting to see the differences between this Walmart and ones back in the US.

Time to leave. On the morning of this sad day I went to the market that we were at last night to do some last minute shopping. My last meal in Shanghai was a Chicken Burger at KFC that had peas, carrots, and corn inside of the burger and it was quite delicious. I knew we had a 13-hour flight ahead of us and I was dreading every minute leading up to stepping on the plane. I am extremely grateful that I got to experience China on this spring break trip with 34 or so other individuals. I said this would be a once in a lifetime trip, although it was, I definitely plan on coming back.

Day 5 in China (John Whiting)

2010-04-17T00:03:00.000-05:00

Today was an extremely jam-packed day! We started off at the Li & Fung offices again to hear Deborah Vinson and Bruce Bergstrom speak to us. Deborah talked about their merchandising training program where they took current employees and would train them to become merchants. Bruce spoke about Li & Fung and corporate sustainability. This was an interesting speech because Li & Fung does not actually own any factories. They need to work with their corporate customers and factories to ensure that each factory follows the guidelines of not only Li & Fung, but each of the customers whose products are made at the factories.

We then were on our way to Shenzhen. It seemed like a completely different world compared to Hong Kong. There was a lot less English, people drove on the same side of the road that we are use to in America, and there appeared to be guards almost everywhere. Our lunch buffet was a little more American, but it was delicious. After lunch we went to the Li & Fung offices where we heard from Kohl’s product design that talked about technical design and some of the brands at Kohl’s.

To see what retail was like in China we stopped at a store called Carrefour. This was my first experience at this store and it is sort of a mix between Costco and Walmart. Perhaps the most shocking and cool part of the store was their produce section which had live fish, chicken feet, jellyfish tentacles, and cut up chickens to name a few out in the open which was interesting to look at. Nearly everyone on the trip bought some kind of snack whether it was blueberry, lime or cucumber flavored Lays or Peanut Butter and Chocolate cream Oreos… MMMMMM!

Obviously these snacks were not enough for hungry college kids so we went to eat at the Peking Garden restaurant back in Hong Kong. We were all stunned as they took a large ball of dough and twisted it and slapped it against the table to create many strands of noodles. The course this restaurant was most famous for though was its Beggars Chicken, which is wrapped in leaves and baked in the ground. It is customary for patrons to crack it open with a hammer for good luck. It was very juicy and had a unique flavor.

Kristi & Megan: Last bits of Hong Kong & Shanghai!

2010-04-09T20:15:00.000-05:00

Monday, March 29

Today was our first visit to China! We spent the morning at Li & Fung learning about their efforts in sustainability and their new design program for current employees. The design program filtered current employees into a year of education and training in order to prepare them for new roles in product design. It is obvious that Li & Fung invest in their employees and allow them to explore their different interests within the vast roles that Li & Fung play in the retail industry.

After our presentations we were off to Shenzhen for a Kohl’s product presentation. In Shenzhen, we learned about the product development process including technical design, color matching, and brand management. It was especially cool to see how color is matched from across the world. It was amazing how technical the process truly is.

Once we arrived back in Hong Kong we went to dinner at the Peking Garden Restaurant where we were treated to an amazing meal of Peking duck, Beggars chicken, and fresh noodles made right in front of us!

Tuesday, March 30

Today we toured PolyU. All I can say is AMAZING. We watched a fashion show in 3D, walked through a design studio where students were creating garments out of straw and other interesting materials, and saw some other technology that the school is leveraging. After our tour we ate lunch and departed for a denim mill and a sweater factory tour.

Our first factory stop was the denim mill. We walked through the entire process of what goes on at the mill. Some of these processes include hand weaving the material, washing the denim with stones, and inspecting each roll of fabric.

Next we headed to the sweater factory. It was definitely smaller than the denim mill, some very advanced technology. This factory is able to design a product in one day, and within 24 hours create the entire sweater! What impressed me the most was the company’s care for its’ workers. They hire from local struggling areas, and are very understanding of problems when arise at home. The factory manager was extremely enthusiastic about her job, and you could tell she had a positive impact on all the workers.

To finish the evening, we had another amazing dinner provided by Kohl’s!

Wednesday, March 31

Today we had the morning off to explore the city, but we ended up catching up on some sleep and packing up our room that had turned into a bit of a mess over the last few busy days.

That afternoon we flew into Shanghai and got our first glimpses of this beautiful city! We could not wait to explore more of it in the daylight. Our hotel here is GORGEOUS and we could not feel any luckier. Our corner room overlooks the city and has windows on every wall (including in the bathroom!) We ended our busy day of traveling with a delicious buffet at the hotel!

Thursday, April 1

We began today with an announcement from Jerry. He said there was good news a bad news. Good news was that we were going to be touring the city in a blimp. Bad news... APRIL FOOLS! Unfortunately, many of us were extremely excited and believed the "good news," since Kohl's has already treated us extremely well. After the news we were started our day.

We visited one of Kohl's Factories. We saw how the factory receives the design, the rolls of fabric the clothing is made from, and also toured a room where workers were assembling some Apt. 9 pieces. There were lines of people each contributing to the creation of one pair of pants or a pair of shorts. The working conditions seemed to be very well at this factory, and we were both impressed with all of the work that is done there.

To end our day, we attended the Chinese Acrobat Show. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this, it is very similar to Cirque de Solie. Kristi’s flip camera died, so we were unable to take video for you, but we would definitely recommend the show to anyone visiting the area!

Friday, April 2

Today was quite a busy day! We started our day early with a visit to the Jade Buddha, a worshipping area for Buddhists. After taking in the gorgeous scenery we got the opportunity to try some real Chinese tea! We spent the day sightseeing around Shanghai, including a visit to a garden from the Ming dynasty, and getting in as much souvenir shopping as we could. We could not have asked for a better last night in China though- we were asked to an alumni dinner with Chanchellor Martin! This was an amazing opportunity to network with former UW students now living in Shanghai. We ended our night (and our trip) with a chorus of a Badger favorite, “Varsity.”

Saturday, April 3

Although we are very sad to leave Shanghai, Kristi and I are excited to get home for Easter. Madison... Here we come!

Both of us are going into the retail industry, so it was very important for us to understand how a company like Li & Fung interacts with a retailer like Kohl's Department Store. This was an opportunity of a lifetime, and we will never forget all that we learned. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Kohl's and Li & Fung!!!!!!!!