Working with Target Corporation's Merchandise Presentation Department, eighty-one students competed in a visual merchandising innovation challenge this spring.  Students were given challenges in three different departments: Boys, Men's, and Ready to Wear and worked in teams to develop strategies addressing those challenges and implementing their solutions in a 3D virtual store. 

First prize was awarded to Sarah Lundberg and Natasha Bursch; second prize to Sasenka Curic and Joe LeGarde II; and third prize to Katy Anderson and Liz Schenkat. 

The following teams received honorable mentions: Jennifer Silbernagel and Michelle Kisrow; Rebecca Doepke and Erika O'Brien; Kaitlyn Grabinski, Michelle Conklin, and Jessica Chiu; and Landon Hersch and Elizabeth Wilson.

(Back row, left to right) Sara Lundberg, Natasha Bursch, Celeste Bosn, David Sommer, Amy Grabow; (front row, left to right) Joe LeGarde II, Sasenka, Liz Schenkat, Katy Anderson, Jihan Elshazly, Juanjuan Wu.

(Top) First prize storyboard by Sara Lundberg and Natasha Bursch; (bottom) Third prize storyboard by Katy Anderson and Liz Schenkat.

Thanks to everyone from Target who participated, including: David Sommer, Director, Merchandise Presentation Department; Amy Grabow, Senior Group Manager, Apparel and Accessories; Celeste Bosn, Presentation Manager, Men's; Jihan Elshazly, Business Analyst, Big Boy; Cara Damminga (M.S. Apparel and Retail '11), Business Analyst, Ready to Wear and Target Canada; and Emma Jaeger, Business Analyst, Men's.

More stories about retail merchandising:

• Kim Johnson Receives Distinguished Teaching Award
• Jenna Koller (BS '02 Retail Merchandising) at L'Oreal
• Windows On Display at the Guthrie and Weisman