Benjamin Wood

"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

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

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

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

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