Syllabus
WSU Department Name
Professional Sales
WSU Course Number & Listing
PS 2383: Retail Merchandising and Buying Methods (3 Credit Hrs.)
High School: Copper Hills High School
WSU Concurrent Adjunct Instructor: Rickee Stewart
High School Course Name: Retailing
2015-2016
(Attention: Contact the College or University you wish to attend to make sure that these
Concurrent Enrollment courses will meet your goals for fulfilling General Education
requirements or will count toward your chosen major).
Concurrent Adjunct Instructor’s Office Hours
7-7:30 a.m. and 2:30-3:00 p.m. daily
Concurrent Adjunct Instructor’s phone and email
(801) 256-5300
rickee.stewart@jordandistrict.org
Prerequisite High School Courses if any
None
WSU Course Description:
This course will provide a foundation for those students who plan to work in or with the retailing
industry. We will critically analyze the retailing process, the environment which it operates in,
and the functions that are performed. We will study extensively the six elements of the retail
strategy. These important elements include: merchandise assortment, pricing, communication
mix, location, customer service and store layout.
WSU Course Objectives:
As a result of taking this course, you will be able to accomplish the following:
-Summarize the six elements in the retail mix.
-Recall different retail categories and formats.
-Describe the current use of multichannel retailing in the industry today.
-Outline the pros and cons of each type of retail location a business owner may select.
-Name the key elements of the retail market strategy.
-Explain the organization and division of work for a retail firm.
-State the tools available for a customer relationship management programs.
-Utilize an income statement & balance sheet in identifying the financial standing of a firm.
-Analyze the financial condition of a retail firm: Gross sales, returns and allowances, net sales,
cost of goods sold, gross margin, expenses and net profit.
-Analyze the depth, breadth, and balance of merchandise to be purchased.
-Explain the responsibilities of a buyer.
-Identify and explain personal qualities a buyer must have.
-Identify price practices a retail firm may use.
-Prepare a 6 month buying plan for a retail firm.
-Evaluate the use of national brands or a private label in a retail store.
-Compute and evaluate discounts and allowances offered by a merchandise vendor.
-Compute and evaluate dating and transportation terms offered by a merchandise vendor.
-Identify and explain vendor-retailer negotiation practices.
-Compute retail price, selling price, cost, initial markup, maintained markup and markdown of
merchandise..
-Analyze inventory records and calculate shrinkage.
-Calculate turnover.
-Compute reorder point for basic stock.
-Analyze the sale of merchandise and determine how sales can be stimulated.
-Employ advertising and social media options to increase sales.
-Explain federal regulations that control the selling and buying of merchandise.
-Explain the store manager’s responsibilities in running the store.
-Identify 3 store layout plans.
-Describe several different display fixtures and their best use.
WSU Required Textbook & Materials:
Retailing Management by Levy and Weitz, Irwin/McGraw Hill, 2012 (8th ed.)
ISBN-13: 978-0-07-353002-4 or
ISBN-13: 9781121296220 (special paperback edition for Weber State University &
Jo Ellen Jonsson)
WSU Course Requirements:
Class: Class will consist of lectures, group discussions, assignments, active participation in the
daily operations of the school store, and a final exam. This class is structured to be flexible, and
our schedule may change to reflect that. Any changes to our schedule will be announced in class,
and posted on the course website.
Homework, Classwork, and Projects: Homework is to be submitted for grading on the date
specified in the schedule. It is HIGHLY recommended that you complete the assigned homework
problems since the final exam is based on the material learned within the assigned chapters.
Late Work: I do not believe that it is equitable to other students to allow work to be submitted
past the deadline. Because of this I have a very strict late policy. I will not accept any late
assignment beyond one week past the due date. Also, any work that is turned in after the due
date and within that window will incur a 50% penalty. Exceptions to this policy will only be
granted in advance and with significant justification. As a personal note, this policy is far
more lenient than most of your employers will likely be.
Cheating: I have zero tolerance for cheating, and it will not be tolerated under any circumstance.
This includes any form of copying without documenting the source, copying answers on a test,
copying text without documenting, and all other forms of plagiarism and unethical academic
behavior. Cheating will result in an automatic failure from the course regardless of the
situation! It will also result in your records being turned over to the school for further
action if needed.
WSU Grading:
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
C-
93-100%
90-92%
87-89%
84-86 %
80-83%
77-79%
74-76%
70-73%
WSU Course Evaluation:
As a concurrent student, you are given the privilege of evaluating this course. This is an
anonymous evaluation which allows you an opportunity to express your opinions of the course
and the instructor.
WSU Student Code of Conduct:
Download the WSU Student Code of Conduct at:
www.weber.edu/concurrent/students/CodeOfConduct.asp