Fashion Merchandising Opens FM Connection

Welcome to the Retail Entrepreneurship course Fashion Merchandising-style! Eighty-eight second-year students have been hard at work since the beginning of September with their "What's the Big Idea" project. "Finally, after weeks of research, planning and prototypes being reworked and marketing plans being put into place it was time to launch and sell 21 different products. Each group of students was responsible for creating a unique product that would fill a need for the consumer in today's marketplace" explains Fashion Merchandising Professor Linda Jenken. "Not only have the students been diligently working on the actual product to sell but they have also been learning what components need to be put into an effective business plan in order to get that product from concept to actual store shelves."

Melanie and Katie are ready for customers inside the FM Connection Boutique

Over a two week time span the students successfully launched their fashion, personal use, technology, and entertainment products in a space dubbed "FM Connection," located in Fanshawe's London campus Bookstore. The program partnered with the Fanshawe Bookstore to give the students a "real life" simulation of selling their product for the first time in an actual boutique setting. Under the direction of program PT technician Michelle Giroux, the "book buyback" space in the DEF junction was transformed to create an atmosphere for the students to launch and sell their unique and diverse products. (At right: Debi promotes her company's environmentally-friendly tote bags.)

Alysha, Sandra and Niki, promoting their line of Snak n' Shorts

The students have gained hands-on experience and the knowledge of various aspects of the retail business. FM Connection is a learning tool that has created discussion back in the classroom of best practices that will further develop their products and create a strong business plan. All in all, it has been a great learning process for the students, the professor and the program to flow the evolution of a retail business. Organizers hope this opportunity will lead to a permanent retail space on campus, with the store used as a classroom supporting the many courses within the Fashion Merchandising program.

Two dates have been added to the FM Connection schedule. You can catch the sales on December 1 and 3, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., in the DEF Junction across from Tim Hortons.