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- All Subjects: Retail
- All Subjects: Education
- Creators: Eaton, John
Description
It is important to examine training programs for in-store associates in the specialty retail industry. The retail industry is strong right now, and growth is expected to be at 7% over the next 10 years. In the retail industry, the Internet poses a credible threat to brick and mortar stores, as many customers now prefer to shop online. To compensate for this, storefronts need to provide an increasingly exceptional in-store experience to drive sales and maintain customer relationships. Creating excellent training programs for in-store associates is the best way in which to improve the relationship between the customer and the associate and create an excellent store experience. Strong associate training programs have numerous benefits to the overarching organization. An employee that feels confident and competent in their job is more engaged at work. Engaged employees are less likely to quit than average, which means a strong training program can save a company turnover costs and loss of institutional knowledge. Additionally, an engaged associate is more likely to exert extra discretionary effort, which increases operational efficiency. Ultimately, an engaged employee will strengthen the service profit chain and create a better overall experience for the customer. When creating a training program it is important to take into account the learning preferences of the company's associates. Millennial learners prefer working in groups, integrated technology, and lessons that are applicable to real life. Generation X learners are self-sufficient and view time as a luxury. They expect material to be straightforward and concise. Additionally, when creating a training program it is important to benchmark programs within and outside of the operating industry. REI has a comprehensive training program that focuses on connecting employees to the mission of the company as well as in-depth product knowledge. Macy's recently overhauled its training program to include more face time with managers and semi-annual refresher trainings. Ritz-Carlton, a step outside of the retail industry, provides legendary training where employees receive over 250 hours of training in the first year alone. Ritz-Carlton employees are highly engaged and autonomous in their work, which leads to an excellent hotel experience. Using my internship as a field study, I share some important results from work with a Fortune 400 specialty retailer headquartered in the Phoenix Valley. Here I examine the associate and customer relationship with the aim of improving the in-store experience. Through benchmarking, associate interviews, and data analysis I am able to recommend a long-term vision for training at the organization where up-to-date product information is accessible in the aisle and overall knowledge well rounded through buddy shift programs and cross-training. My overall recommendation for the specialty retail industry is to take a holistic approach to training. I advocate looking at training programs from multiple perspectives including learning preferences, employee motivations, and corporate culture. Additionally, holistic training means that a company educates and trains associates in all areas of the business through cross-training and buddy shifts. Holistic training will create an engaged work force and improve the customer experience.
ContributorsHouts, Madeline Kirby (Author) / Mokwa, Michael (Thesis director) / Eaton, John (Committee member) / Department of Management (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication (Contributor) / W. P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
Description
The concept of constant feedback through direct access to advanced technological devices has shaped the way consumers approach shopping for desired goods. Nowadays, people want their items faster, cheaper, of higher quality, and on their schedule. Consumer preferences such as these have provided an avenue for innovative thinkers to develop new business categories through the assistance of websites and smart phone apps. An example of one of these up and coming fields is the e-grocery industry. With the swipe of a thumb, customers can order and have their groceries shipped directly to their doorstep, sometimes within hours of placing the order. As time progresses and firms learn from operating experience, culture shifts such as this shopping method may become the new norms in society. This thesis outlines a business proposal for existing retailers such as Amazon, Wal-Mart, and Target to get in front of the curve in this wave of online shopping and gain market share in this space through utilizing their current competitive advantage in logistics structures. We will attempt to encompass all aspects of the new venture by including an overview of the opportunity at hand, a census from the direct end customers providing proof of concept, methods for carrying out operational requirements, financial models forecasting future cash flows and returns on investment, established marketing materials appealing to end users, and a means to expand the outreach of the business. The end goal of this project is to provide a platform for an existing retailer to adopt into its current business structure and launch a trial run of the proposal in the near future.
ContributorsMakis, Jordan (Co-author) / Makis, Jenna (Co-author) / Eaton, John (Thesis director) / Maltz, Arnold (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Finance (Contributor) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor)
Created2015-05
Description
The ASU Page Turners is an entrepreneurial community action program founded by Chase Fitzgerald and Hannah McAtee. In 2014, a third program partner, Chloe Holmes, replaced Hannah as co-president. The ASU Page Turners program aims to enhance opportunities for the children of the Tempe/Mesa school districts through a unique one-on-one weekly reading program that is designed to draw together engaged ASU Barrett students and similarly motivated second and third grade students at the Tempe Public Library. The ASU Page Turners empowers the youth of our community by growing reading confidence, vocalization, and public speaking that can serve as transformative skill sets both in and out of the classroom. This document serves as a description and appraisal of the work done to establish the program, expand its reach and success, reflect on the experiences of the primary collaborators, appraise the value of the work as seen by the Tempe Public library, and set it on a sustainable path of growth for its future with Barrett, The Honors College and the Tempe Public Library. The Page Turners community consists of thirty Barrett students and thirty second and third grade students from ASU's greater community who actively embrace our mission to cultivate their own intellectual growth in a safe and productive manner. We look for every opportunity to encourage academic development, hold ourselves accountable, and realize our potential through the work we are doing, regardless if you are the student or the teacher. We have learned that these roles regularly reverse themselves, as there is much to learn from an inquisitive child's mind.
ContributorsFitzgerald, Chase Matthew (Author) / Mokwa, Michael (Thesis director) / Eaton, John (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / School of Human Evolution and Social Change (Contributor)
Created2015-05
Description
The purpose of this thesis is to understand peer-to-peer study habits at Arizona State University, and provide recommendations for improving these habits through online integration. This was done by researching current peer-to-peer collaboration literature, and analyzing online integration efforts. Interviews of Arizona State University students were carried out in order to discover specific insights on study patterns at this university. The scope of this research study was further limited to freshman and sophomore engineering, mathematics, and science majors in order to mitigate the impacts of external factors. The background research and study illuminated various flaws in existing peer-to-peer collaboration tools and methods. These weaknesses were then used to design two online tools that would be incorporated into a student resource dashboard. The first tool, called "Ask a Peer", provides a question and answer forum for students. This tool differs from existing products because it provides a mobile platform for students to receive reputable and immediate responses from their classmates. The second tool, "Study Buddy Finder", can be used by students to form study partnerships. This tool is beneficial because it displays information that is essential to students deciding to work together. The thesis provides detailed designs for both modules, and provides the foundation for implementation.
ContributorsPatel, Niraj (Author) / Balasooriya, Janaka (Thesis director) / Eaton, John (Committee member) / Walker, Erin (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Finance (Contributor)
Created2013-12
Description
Despite the advancement of online tools for activities related to the core experience of taking classes on a college campus, there has been a relatively small amount of research into implementing online tools for ancillary academic resources (e.g. tutoring centers, review sessions, etc.). Previous work and a study conducted for this paper indicates that there is value in creating these online tools but that there is value in maintaining an in-person component to these services. Based on this, a system which provides personalized, easily-accessible, simple access to these services is proposed. Designs for user-centered online-tools that provides access to and interaction with tutoring centers and review sessions are described and prototypes are developed to demonstrate the application of design principles for online tools for academic services.
ContributorsBerk, Nicholas Robert (Author) / Balasooriya, Janaka (Thesis director) / Eaton, John (Committee member) / Walker, Erin (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Computer Science and Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2013-12
Description
Do more diverse teams create better outcomes, creatively and fiscally? Why do heterogeneous groups think more innovatively and create products that reach a wider audience? Diverse teams bring unique perspectives that force individuals to reimagine their world views and question what they know. This thesis focuses on the benefits of increased racial and gender diversity in the workplace. There is a dramatic difference in the number of women and people of color in tech companies generally, in STEM roles, and in leadership roles. The benefits of diverse teams (along all axis) is indisputable, yet companies still fight diversifying their employee base. Diversity in the workplace dramatically impacts the bottom line, but it is also incredibly important from a human rights perspective. The first step to reflecting the population's diversity ratio at all levels of business is educating the future leaders of America to its importance, both as a social justice initiative and a capitalistic one as well. I created and hosted a panel with local tech entrepreneurs and investors to discuss gender diversity, the struggles being a woman in business and solutions moving forward.
ContributorsRobinson, Sasha Raquel (Author) / Mokwa, Michael (Thesis director) / Eaton, John (Committee member) / School of Social Transformation (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-12
Description
REACH is an entrepreneurial community action program founded by Brett Fitzgerald and Kira Hoover. A third program partner, Mona Dixon, joined the team in May 2012. REACH enhances the potential success of high school teenagers in the Teen Center at the underserved Boys & Girls Club \u2014 Ladmo Branch in Tempe, Arizona. REACH strives to empower students to attend college, develop stronger leadership skills, and become more involved in their community. The program provides an opportunity for at-risk youth to engage in high caliber leadership discussions, receive college mentoring, organize and take on group designed and self-driven community action projects, and to connect with Arizona State University's community and resources. According to the Bureau of Statistics, 77.2% of African American and 40.6% of Hispanic children live below the poverty level. Poverty increases the relative discrepancy of opportunities across races and often breeds segregation. In order to foster a community of young leaders who embrace diversity, we must act to prevent racism, bigotry and prejudice at a young age and encourage all students to see themselves as leaders and scholars in the community. REACH is a community of young individuals who embrace diversity and understand the many possibilities when working together with other ethnic groups. REACH works with multiple ASU communities including the ASU Pat Tillman Scholars, Delta Sigma Pi \u2014 Gamma Omega, Barrett, The Honors College and W. P. Carey School of Business to organize and lead a group of teens through a remarkable curriculum that will shape the way they view cultural diversity, educational achievement, and leadership. The weekly meetings consist of discussions, creative team-building and critical thinking exercises and cultural awareness experiences. Demonstrating to the teens, administrators, volunteers, and mentors the rich culture that Tempe has to offer and the skills and experience that they have to offer their community as well.
ContributorsFitzgerald, Brett Patrick (Co-author) / Dixon, Mona (Co-author) / Hoover, Kira (Co-author) / Mokwa, Michael (Thesis director) / Eaton, John (Committee member) / Pickens, Judith (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Finance (Contributor) / W. P. Carey School of Business (Contributor)
Created2013-05
Description
The sole purpose of this innovative thesis is to produce and provide strategic recommendations for one of Arizona's premier Asian Supermarkets, that is, Lee Lee Oriental Supermarket. These strategic recommendations will then be utilized and integrated with Lee Lee's current marketing consultant company's marketing components, by Air Marketing, for Lee Lee. These recommendations will aim to serve four main purposes. These four main purposes will be to (1) create exchanges, which will create, deliver, and communicate value, (2) assist to continue developing the identity of Lee Lee, (3) establish relationships to grow Lee Lee's network, and (4) to help solve customer problems. Through these effective marketing recommendations, this innovative thesis project will assist to increase awareness of the supermarket, increase brand recognition and, ultimately, to assist in further defining the brand and uniqueness of the ethnic retail store.
ContributorsRodriguez, Elindoro Joseph (Author) / Brooks, Dan (Thesis director) / Eaton, John (Committee member) / Truong, Paulina (Committee member) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2013-05
Description
The retail department store industry has been in decline for years. Online shopping has become increasingly popular, and this was happening even before the pandemic. Department stores made the mistake years ago of focusing on expansion instead of improving their presence online. In this paper, I make recommendations to help retail department stores make more sales online, as well as get more shoppers back in their brick-and-mortar locations. There needs to be a new target customer that is much younger than the previous. Department stores need put money and time into building their social media platforms. These stores should be looking for several e-commerce brands to incorporate into their stores online, but more importantly in their brick-and-mortar locations. To grow bigger faster, department stores should start to consider using trusted third-party sellers like their biggest competitor Amazon does. Many younger people choose to shop from sustainable and socially responsible brands. Department stores should put in their best efforts to make sure they are caring about these things, not only to help make a change but to also increase their popularity among consumers. It is critical that large retail department stores use several influencers to promote their store and products among all forms of social media. This has become one of the most inexpensive and effective ways to increase sales. Finally, department stores should consider trying livestream shopping as a way to connect with their customers and sell more product. I have covered several ways that department stores can start to expand their business and begin to grow again. I believe these recommendations can transform the retail department store into possible something even more successful than it was before.
ContributorsBell, Emily Ann (Author) / Eaton, John (Thesis director) / Mokwa, Michael (Committee member) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05
Description
The purpose of this paper is to raise awareness about the problem nonrevenue sports face today by analyzing the key factors of the failing Division 1 model and providing some unforeseen consequences in the elimination of nonrevenue sports. The first section will explore the elimination and financial trends of NCAA Division 1 in a historical and contemporary context. The second section will provide the deep-rooted problems associated with collegiate sports. Lastly, the third section will analyze unforeseen consequences for athletic departments that should be accounted for when contemplating the elimination of a nonrevenue program.
ContributorsBelshay, Cade Michael (Author) / Eaton, John (Thesis director) / Mowka, Michael (Committee member) / Department of Finance (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05