Foundations of Retail Program
乌鸦传媒 offers the Foundations of Retail Program courses to help managers and key employees understand the key concepts of leadership, personal development, merchandising and more. These online courses are built with flexibility for busy schedules and feature industry-specific training created with the help of industry-leading retailers.
Online Course Options
乌鸦传媒 offers six online courses for new and seasoned leaders and managers. Courses start every month and offer flexibility for busy schedules.
Leadership Essentials
In this 9-week introductory online course, students will discover their unique leadership style and strengths, laying the groundwork for ongoing leadership development and management growth.
Leading Your Team
This advanced leadership course picks up where Leadership Essentials leaves off, teaching managers the critical components of building and leading a successful team.
Financial Management
This course focuses on the key financial management skills that developing leaders need to learn to manage the financial side of business, including understanding the financial framework of a retail operation, key sales drivers and the most important ratios that measure retail productivity.
Merchandising Management Tactics for Store Operations
This course is designed for owners, managers and retail employees who want to understand how effective merchandising strategies can boost sales. Learn the philosophy and best practices behind successful retail merchandising, including how visual merchandising enhances sales, the purpose and use of promotional spaces and strategies for store resets and remodels.
Merchandising Management Strategies for Buyers
This course offers an in-depth look at strategic merchandising and category management. Learn to build vendor relationships, negotiate effectively, plan assortments and choose the right pricing strategies tailored to your business. The course also covers how to align merchandising and advertising with your brand and explores key design elements to consider when designing or remodeling a store.
Mentoring
Mentoring is a key component to developing great leaders at any company. This course trains current and future mentors on all aspects of the mentor/mentee relationship and how to serve as a mentor.
Learn More About Each Course
This Learning Guide provides an in-depth overview of each course, including full course descriptions, modules covered and key takeaways associated with each class.
Developed With Retailers in Mind
Each module is structured to provide students with flexibility while maintaining a positive work/life balance.
Courses were designed to help students experience a sense of community by connecting with students and instructors.
Core instructional videos within the curriculum are presented by top Ball State University instructors specializing in leadership development and entrepreneurship as well as industry experts in financial and merchandising management. 乌鸦传媒 Instructors will also engage students throughout the course and make sure they understand and stay up with the curriculum.
This program was developed with input and guidance from leading independent home improvement retailers, including Aubuchon Hardware, Buchheit, Friedman鈥檚 Home Improvement, Foxworth-Galbraith, Jerry鈥檚 Home Improvement, Sunshine Ace and Wilco Stores. It is designed to meet the specific needs of leadership development within the industry.
Each student will be assigned a mentor within their company to guide them through the learning process. Mentors are provided with discussion points, learning objectives and full access to the curriculum to help engage students in how to apply what they have learned.
At the conclusion of each course, students will be ready to perform a subjective assessment of their business unit and apply their new skills to address some of the core issues in the business and recommendations for improvement in key areas.
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When students complete Foundations courses they are eligible to receive a scholarship for the amount of tuition paid (minus course fees) to attend a future class of the 乌鸦传媒 Retail Management Certification Program. Contact Scott Wright at 乌鸦传媒 for more details at swright@yournhpa.org.
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Review admission requirements or enroll for an upcoming session.
About the Program
The 乌鸦传媒 Foundations Program was developed in conjunction with a consortium of leading home improvement retailers and Ball State University鈥檚 Institute for Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise.