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Leeds Beckett retail students get hands-on with the hand-made
The BA (Hons) Retail Marketing Management students from Leeds Business School teamed up with craft and fashion company Fabrication, based in The Light, on Leeds’ Headrow.
They used their display and visual merchandising skills to promote products ranging from jams and chutneys to handmade paper, greetings cards and ceramics.
Global branding consultancy Two Visual, which works with companies including Accessorize, Ikea and The North Face, sponsored the venture for the third year.
Two Visual’s joint branding director Jeanette Cheetham said: “It’s been fabulous being involved with Leeds Beckett students again.
“It’s so good to see them getting hands-on experience to support the theory side of their qualification.
“The results of the practical activity have been fantastic with the students producing great displays and I am sure that Fabrication will see an increase in sales. I can’t wait to be involved again next year.”
Student Jen Stockton, who worked with local artist and potter Margaret Glackin, said working in different roles alongside business professionals had given her valuable insights.
“I really enjoyed the module, especially working with Fabrication,” she said. “It allowed me to work with people outside of the university to complete work that will benefit a real business and to help me to understand the role of a visual merchandiser.”
Leeds Beckett lecturer Esther Pugh, who leads the visual merchandising module, said providing hands-on industry experience was a crucial part of the course.
“Students learn the principles of visual merchandising on paper and from lectures but unless they can get their hands on a real window or retail space they will never fully understand the challenges and opportunities of this discipline,” she added.