Diverse Speakers Featured at UA Retailing Day 2003

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Students and professionals alike will benefit from attending the 22nd annual Retailing Day at The University of Alabama on Sept. 25.

This year’s lineup of speakers and events, including talks by leading fashion industry figures, presents those who attend an opportunity to meet and talk with some of the most successful people in fashion retail, data-based marketing and logistics.

Begun to inform students about a variety of career opportunities, Retailing Day gives students the chance to rub elbows with successful business executives from a number of professions. The Alabama Retailing Association will again participate in the program.

Also participating, and assisting in sponsoring the events for the first time, will be the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama. The group will host a board meeting Sept. 24 and take part in all of the speaker sessions on Retailing Day.

Two of this year’s speakers, David Splawn and Doug Shipp, are UA marketing alumni. Both Splawn and Shipp earned bachelor’s and M.B.A. degrees, with concentrations in marketing, from the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration.

Also speaking on Retailing Day will be Mark Gibson, executive vice president of Compass Bank. He will speak on Compass’ marketing efforts.

Other speakers include Colombe Nicholas, an internationally known fashion figure and past president of both Anne Klein and Giorgio Armani, and Todd Lewis, director of logistics for Sak’s Inc. Nicholas currently serves on the board of directors for Tandy Brands (Radio Shack) and Ashford.com. Lewis has spearheaded his company’s effort to become “one of the most effective and efficient fashion retailers in the world.”

All events will be at the Bryant Conference Center on the UA campus. A student group, Alabama Retail Ambassadors, will host the event. The schedule for the program is as follows:

8-9:15 a.m. — Topic: Contemporary Fashion Trends
Colombe Nicholas, past president of Anne Klein and Giorgio Armani, current board member of Tandy Brands, Ashford.com
Fashion expert

9:30-10:45 a.m. — Topic: Fact-Based Marketing
Mark Gibson, executive VP of marketing, Compass Bank
David Splawn, principal, Splawn & Ward
Doug Shipp, senior VP and director of customer management, Compass Bank

11:00 a.m.-Noon — Topic: Logistics in Fashion Retailing
Todd Lewis, director of logistics, Sak’s Inc.

Luncheon — Alabama Retail Association Luncheon

Noon- 2 p.m. — Retailers of the Year awards presentation
Centennial Retailers Recognition

2 p.m. — Alabama Retail Association Board Meeting