Students Add Retail Strategy Analysis Course to Class “Shopping Carts”
Creative director and professor of practice, Kristen Dolzynski, shares her insights on retail operations in ADV 481 course
By: Riley Lingerfelt
If you are a student currently window-shopping classes for next semester, consider ADV 481: Retail Strategy Analysis. Michigan State University alumna and ADPR professor of practice, Kristen Dolzynski, offers a course that looks at all things retail. Dolzynski has been in the retail space since 2005 and is the creative director and owner of her own brand, Kristen Dolzynski Creative. She now uses her passion of retail and research to provide a course that helps students get a deeper understanding of what makes retail – retail.
“It is the introduction to retailing from all the facets that make up retail. From branding, to concept, to business, to financials. Any part of the story that goes into retailing is part of this class,” said Dolzynski.
When teaching this course, Dolzynski says no semester is alike. She says she is keen on incorporating current retail trends and seeks to let her students’ voices be heard. She collides these two ideas when building the pedagogy for her virtual classroom.
“Lessons are curated to what you the student are interested in, so it makes it more interesting, because what do you want to learn about? And why do you want this brand? It’s of the moment and it is a lot about pop culture. I like to keep it fresh,” said Dolzynski.
Students who enroll in this course will find themselves digging deep into the layers of the retail space. While doing so, Dolzynski encourages students to use their critical thinking skills to break down assorted brands. Dolzynski says she sees the importance of these individual moving parts and how they work together to create success, allowing students to see the big picture of how well-accomplished brands operate.
“It puts everything in a nice tight bow of all these different elements from advertising, financials, anything that touches retail,” said Dolzynski “Product, marketing, anything that goes into business is all wrapped into this from creativity, analytics, all of this. It combines it all and really hones into some of these brands that people are obsessive about.”
ADV 481: Retail Strategy Analysis is not only offered to AD+PR students; students in sales leadership or retail management can also enroll in the class. Learn more information about the course here.