5th Annual Retail Ready Summit to Inspire the Next Generation of Retail, Fashion, and Business Leaders

Ames, Iowa — The 5th Annual Retail Ready Summit will bring together students, faculty, and owner-operators from the retail, fashion, business, and service industries for an engaging, forward-looking event titled “Unlocking an Entrepreneurial Mindset to Power Retail Innovation”.

Hosted at the Student Innovation Center, with virtual attendance available, the Retail Ready Summit will feature speakers from a range of small to large retail businesses and will provide participants with real-world insights into navigating today’s rapidly evolving retail and consumer landscape through an entrepreneurial mindset.

Celebrating its fifth anniversary, the Retail Ready Summit emphasizes creativity, adaptability, problem-solving, and innovation—skills essential for career readiness, business resilience, and economic development. Designed for students preparing for careers, faculty advancing experiential learning, and business owners seeking growth strategies, the Summit fosters collaboration between education and industry.

Through engaging speakers and collaborative learning opportunities, attendees will gain tools to think strategically, lead boldly, and create meaningful impact across retail and service sectors. The event is sponsored by the department of apparel, events and hospitality management and the College of Health and Human Sciences, and led by the retail merchandising faculty team.

Event Details

Featured Speakers:

Contact

Dr. Linda S. Niehm
Professor and Director of Entrepreneurship & Retailing
Dept. of Apparel, Events and Hospitality Management (AESHM)
Iowa State University Email:  niehmlin@iastate.edu
Phone: 515-231-6157