Retail students on the road

25 retail marketing and retail management students recently visited Bicester Outlet Village for a presentation and some shopping!

Miranda Markham, Community Relations Director at the village, gave a fascinating insight into the concept, consumer demographics, shopping profiles and the logistical demands of Black Friday where they remained open until midnight. She also gave all the students a VIP card giving them an extra 10% off their shopping.

Following an overnight stay in Birmingham it was onto the Clothes Show Live at the NEC for an amazing catwalk show with over 40 international models and dancers and over 500 high street and designer labels on show.

Clothes Show Live was a learning and interactive experience for the retail students where they observed fashion retail consumer buying behaviours, visual merchandising, product designs and branding strategies of the many fashion retailers exhibiting.

One student said of the trip: “I really enjoyed the clothes show live trip, I feel that I learnt a lot from the talk at Bicester Village. It was really interesting to learn all about their marketing and how they were originally set up. The extra 10 % off we got as well, was just a bonus. As a self confessed shopoholic I will most certanly be going back there at some point!!”

Student Katie Parvin said: “The Fashion show was beautiful and artistic and made the long drive worth while.”

“It was an awesome experience, with amazing bargains….can’t go wrong!!” said Ellie Abel of the trip.

Oliver Gilbert from the Retail Marketing BA(Hons) course said:  “I thought the presentation at Bicester was insightful and interesting. Seeing an insiders perspective to outlet retailing was an enlightening experience.”

We will be back!

Students also recently went to a field trip to London.