CRS 481:
CONTEMPORARY PROFESSIONAL ISSUES
IN CONSUMER, APPAREL, AND RETAIL STUDIES
TUES/THURS – 9:30-10:45 AM • SPRING 2016
Classroom: NMOR 330
Professor: Dr. Trish Kemerly
Email: twkemerl@uncg.edu
Office: 357 Stone Building
Hours: Mondays 9:30-10:30 AM, Tuesdays 11 AM-12 PM, or by appointment
REQUIRED TEXTS: UNCG Handbook (available online)
Any additional readings will be distributed during class or available electronically on
Canvas.
PREREQUISITES/COREQUISITES:
• For APD concentration: APD 443, CRS 321, and CRS 463.
• For GARI concentration: CRS 321, CRS 463, IGS 333, and RCS 464.
• For RCS concentration: CRS 321, CRS 463, RCS 362, RCS 464, and RCS 560.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Study of contemporary issues related to consumer, apparel, and retail studies.
Application of knowledge and skills to solve real world industry problems. Emphasis on entrepreneurship.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
• Integrate consumer, aesthetic, and quantitative information into the product development process.
• Integrate a vast array of forecasting, costing, style, material, product quality/serviceability, and
product feasibility considerations into new product development.
• Incorporate consumer research into the product development and retailing processes.
• Plan and execute a successful promotional campaign for your own business enterprise.
• Manage the operations of your own business enterprise.
• Work effectively in a multi-function team.
TEACHING METHODS AND ASSIGNMENTS FOR ACHIEVING LEARNING OUTCOMES:
This course will be a combination of lectures, class discussions, student projects, and student
presentations. Lectures will be used to introduce key concepts and to provide information from the outside
readings. Thus, you will be expected to have read readings(s) assigned in the syllabus prior to coming to
class on that day. In addition, videos and guest speakers will be incorporated on a limited basis.
CRS 481—Spring 2016
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STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY
Each student is responsible for reading the syllabus and becoming familiar with the policies and schedule
outlined within, including exam dates and assigned readings. Although every effort will be made to follow
this syllabus closely, it is subject to change. You are responsible for any announcements concerning the
course which are made during class, whether or not you are in attendance. Students are expected to read
assignments prior to scheduled class dates. You are responsible for checking Blackboard/Canvas
regularly to be apprised of any announcements pertaining to the course.
REQUIRED TEXTS/READINGS & COURSE PROJECT FEE:
In lieu of a textbook, the following readings will be provided to you, free of charge:
•
Filson, A. & Lewis, A. (2000). Cultural issues in implementing changes to new product
development process in a small medium sized enterprise (SME). Journal of Engineering Design,
11(2), 149-157.
•
Five products that failed and why. (2011, January 13). Forbes. Retrieved November 4,
o 2012, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/investopedia/2011/01/13/5-products-that-failedand-why/
•
Gary, S. P., & Ulasewicz, C. (1998). Made in America. Sebastopol, CA: GarmentoSpeak.
•
Gehlhar, M. (2005). The fashion designer survival guide. New York, NY: Kaplan.
•
Metikurke, A. & Shekar, A. (2011) An empirical study of important dimensions of new product
development practices in small and medium enterprises in New Zealand. International Journal of
Industrial Engineering, 18(2), 83-91.
•
Regan, C. L. (2008). Apparel product design and merchandising strategies. Upper Saddle
River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
NOTE: Because you do not have to buy a textbook but you will have to manufacture products to sell to
consumers by the end of the semester, every student is required to pay approximately $50 for materials
and supplies for the course project.
COURSE POLICIES
ATTENDANCE
Class attendance is expected. As outlined in the UNCG Undergraduate Bulletin:
Regular class attendance is a responsibility and a privilege of university education. It is
fundamental to the orderly acquisition of knowledge. Students should recognize the advantages of
regular class attendance, accept it as a personal responsibility, and apprise themselves of the
consequences of poor attendance.
Class attendance records will be monitored and excessive absences reported. The Withdrawal Due to
Class Attendance form serves as a request to withdraw students from class. Students are responsible for
CRS 481—Spring 2016
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all material covered in class regardless of the reason for absence. This may include assigned readings,
lecture and discussion, visuals, slides, videos and handouts. Because class lectures will not be limited to
readings alone, it is important that you be present. If you must be absent, arrange to get class notes from
another class member. Materials will not be available for pick-up at your convenience. It is assumed that
you are aware of ALL relevant due dates and course requirements. Exams missed due to an unexcused
absence may NOT be made up.
Excused absences: An excused absence is limited to illness documented by a physician’s
statement on original letterhead or death in the immediate family. Note: “Personal problems” are
not considered grounds for an excused absence unless documented by a physician’s statement.
Written documentation of the excused absence must be submitted to me within one week of the absence.
You will be notified whether or not the absence was approved. It is your responsibility to initiate, followup and keep records of these procedures.
EVALUATION
All work completed for this course will meet the minimum requirements of the UNCG Honor Code. Your
grade will be based on University Guidelines; refer to The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Undergraduate Bulletin. DO keep in mind that “excellent work” requires independent thinking and that to
receive this grade, you must bring qualities to your work “above and beyond” those expected by this
program.
Grading Scale: Final letter grades will be determined from the percentage of points earned out of the total
required points (350). The following percent scale will be used to assign grades:
A+ = 100 - 97 B+ = 89 - 87 C+ = 79 - 77 D+ = 69 - 67 F = Below 60
A = 96 - 93 B = 86 - 83 C = 76 - 73 D = 66 - 63
A- = 92 – 90 B - = 82 - 80 C - = 72 - 70 D - = 62 - 60
GROUP PROJECT
100 points of your overall grade will be based on a project in which your group will create, market, and sell
a product to a specific consumer group. Seventy-five (75) points of your individual grade for the project will
come from your performance in one of the team member roles. Twenty-five (25) points of your individual
grade will be based on the overall performance of the group members on the written portions of and the
success of project.
Team Member Roles & Assignments
Product Development Team (2 to 4 students; Designer; Manufacturer) — 75 points
The designer and manufacturer are responsible for conducting design and consumer research, creating
sketches for a new product to be sold, and for providing flat and electronic patterns, a spec sheet, a
production sample, and manufacturing instructions for the new product. For an individual grade, the
designer will submit sketches of the product and prepare a one page report to explain the specific aspects
of the product that will appeal to the target market. The designer will justify why the target market will want
to buy the product based on the research conducted by the product development team. The designer and
the manufacturer will work together to develop the flat and electronic patterns based on the sketches. The
manufacturer will create the spec sheet, a production sample, and manufacturing instructions for the new
product and provide the information to the factory for production. For an individual grade, the manufacturer
will submit copies of the electronic patterns, a spec sheet, and manufacturing instructions for the product
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and prepare a one page report to detail the production process and any adjustments that were made to the
original sketch during production of the sample and/or final product.
Merchandising Team (1 to 2 students) — 75 points
The merchandisers are responsible for sourcing the materials necessary to manufacture the product in the
correct quantities. The merchandisers will work in conjunction with the designer and manufacturer to
determine costs and quantities. The merchandisers will obtain the materials needed to manufacturer the
product in the appropriate quantities. All students in the group are responsible for paying for the
supplies! The merchandisers will deliver the materials to the factory to begin production. For an individual
grade, the merchandisers will prepare an item cost sheet for the product. The merchandisers will also
prepare a four-week plan containing information about predicted sales and costs for each week. The
merchandisers will write a one page report containing their written justifications for the material costs and
product quantities, as well as the retail price to be charged for each product sold.
Product Marketing Team (1 to 2 students) — 75 points
The product marketing team is responsible for creating a marketing plan for the product. The product
marketers need to develop an advertising and promotional campaign for the item directed at members of
the target market. The marketing plan should detail what will be done, where it will be done, and when it will
be done. The marketing team should work with the operations team to coordinate visual merchandising
efforts in the store (e.g., packaging, signage). For the individual grade, the product marketers will submit
this plan, along with justifications for their decisions. The product marketers will also execute one aspect of
their marketing plan during a specified week and will assess the effectiveness of their selected activity.
Retail Operations Team (1 to 2 students) — 75 points
The operations team is responsible for picking up the finished products from the factory, delivering the
products to be sold at the store and merchandising them in the store, tracking sales, collecting payments
for sales, and collecting unsold merchandise from the store at the end of the selling period. All students in
the group should receive payment for the sales of the merchandise! The operations team needs to
analyze the sales receipts in comparison to the four-week plan prepared by the merchandising team. The
operations team will also collect information about the actual buyers to compare to the information about
the target market prepared by the design team. For an individual grade, the operations team will write a one
page report to document the difference between the predicted and actual sales and the predicted and
actual customers. The one page report will provide a potential explanation for the differences as well as
recommendations for the future concerning the product design, the manufacturing, the merchandising, and
the marketing.
Please note, late assignments will not be accepted.
Individual assignments
A series of individual assignments or in-class activities will also be completed throughout the semester. Any
handouts detailing these assignments will be distributed separately.
Final exam
Although no formal final exam will be given in the course, we will plan to meet during the final exam period
to “debrief” and discuss our experiences (both good and bad), the lessons we learned, and our plans for
the future. We also may have a business presentation, which will be scheduled during the semester.
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Attendance and participation are required at this session. During the session, each group will prepare a
presentation to show the class their product, sales results, and their lessons learned. If you do not attend
this session, you will be given a zero for your individual group project grade.
Final Grading
Individual assignments/participation
Group project
Total
50%
50%
100%
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
The UNCG Academic Integrity Policy States: “If knowledge is to be gained and properly evaluated, it must
be pursued under conditions free from dishonesty. Deceit and misrepresentations are incompatible with
the fundamental activity of this academic institution and will not be tolerated.” By choosing to enroll in this
course and by completing the assignments, projects, examinations, etc., you are by default held to the
standards of the Academic Integrity Policy, and you are subject to sanctions should you violate the policy in
any manner.
UNCG seeks to comply fully with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Students requesting
accommodations based on a disability must be registered with the Office of Disability Services in 215 Elliott
University Center, 334-5440, http://ods.dept.uncg.edu/, ods@uncg.edu.
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TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE
Date
Topic
Readings & Items Due
Tuesday,
Jan. 12
No class (Dr. K is in NYC)
Review syllabus
Thursday,
Jan. 14
Course introduction
Form groups
Tuesday,
Jan. 19
New Product Development
(2.1 A powerpoint)
Discuss and select
team roles
Thursday,
Jan. 21
New Product Opportunity Recognition
Finalize group membership
Tuesday,
Jan. 26
Idea Generation & Screening
Consumer Market Analysis—Primary & Secondary
Research; Design
Research
• Gehlhar, M. (2005). (pp. 39-44)
• Regan, C. L. (2008). (pp. 76-91).
• Groups meet to finalize product
idea
• Product Development Teams start
working on research & designs
Thursday,
Jan. 28
Concept Development & Testing
Design, Sketch, and Pattern Development
Tuesday,
Feb. 2
Business Analysis
Key Financials
2.5 A in class
CRS 481—Spring 2016
• Regan, C. L. (2008). (pp. 172-194;
455-459)
• Product Development Teams
continue working on designs and
patterns
• All groups meet with instructor
• Product Development Teams
continue working on designs,
patterns, spec sheet, production
sample, and manufacturing
instructions;
• Product Development Teams and
Merchandising Teams meet to
discuss materials needed
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Thursday,
Feb. 4
Merchandising — Planning, Sourcing,
and Costing
• Gary, S. P., & Ulasewicz, C.
(1998). (pp. 33-50; 51-56)
• Regan, C. L. (2008). (pp. 117;
129-138; 325-329; 343-346; 352355; 446-455; 487-488)
• Merchandising Teams obtain
materials needed, work on item
cost sheet, and work on four-week
plan
Tuesday,
Feb. 9
Merchandising — Planning, Sourcing,
and Costing
• Merchandising Teams obtain
materials needed, work on item
cost sheet, and work on four-week
plan
Thursday,
Feb. 11
Deliver sketches, patterns, spec sheets, production
samples, manufacturing instructions, and materials
Tuesday,
Feb. 16
Being Creative
Thursday,
Feb. 18
Market Testing & Commercialization
Marketing to Consumers
Tuesday,
Feb. 23
Operations
Thursday,
Feb. 25
Guest speaker
Tuesday,
March 1
New Product Development
in the International Market
Thursday,
March 3
New Product Development
in the International Market
CRS 481—Spring 2016
• Gary, S. P., & Ulasewicz, C.
(1998). (pp. 57-74)
• Gehlhar, M. (2005). (pp. 87-98;
145-158)
• Regan, C. L. (2008). (pp. 476-479)
• Product Marketing Teams work on
marketing plan
• Gary, S. P., & Ulasewicz, C.
(1998). (pp. 83-92)
• Gehlhar, M. (2005). (pp. 99-143)
• Metikurke, A. & Shekar, A. (2011)
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March 7-11 — Spring break! J
Tuesday,
March 15
New Product Development
in the International Market
Thursday,
March 17
Group meetings with Instructor
Tuesday,
March 22
Pick up Finished Products
Thursday,
March 24
Deliver Products
Tuesday,
March 29
Begin Selling
Careers in New Product Development
Thursday,
March 31
Developing Success Predictions
Tuesday,
April 5
Group Meetings
• Marketing Teams report to other
team members
Thursday,
April 7
Group Meetings
• Operations Teams report to other
team members
Tuesday,
April 12
Group Meetings with Instructor
Thursday,
April 14
What’s Next
Tuesday,
April 19
Group Meetings with Instructor
Thursday,
April 21
All groups meet to finalize
group project paper
Tuesday,
May 3
(12 pm-)
“Final Exam” — Meet to discuss group
projects/present findings
CRS 481—Spring 2016
• Operations Teams check in
products
• Submit final group project paper
for grading
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