Diana Solotan ‘05 Ross Stores Inc. Internship
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Geo-coding, 1-3-5 mile rings, demographic analysis, site plans, and aerials are just a few of the words that describe my summer internship at Ross.
Ross Stores, Inc., better known as Ross Dress for Less, began with just six stores in 1982. Today, it operates more than 600 stores in more than half of the United States and Guam. In addition to the rapid growth of Ross, the company recently announced the rollout of its new concept, dd’s DISCOUNTS, a similar off-price chain targeting lower-income households. The new chain will be introduced in the West Coast with the initial 10 stores to be opened by the end of 2004. Ross Stores is a Fortune 500 company with almost $4 billion in sales last year.
I was lucky enough to work in one of the most fascinating departments at Ross, the Real Estate Market Research department. It was amazing to witness a team of three people perform one of the most essential and difficult functions of a retail company: to select the perfect sites for new stores. Working in this department and with some of the most brilliant people I have ever met, I realized how critical this function is, especially for a retail company. College courses just do not place enough emphasis on this aspect of the retail business.
On the job, I was taking on challenges I never envisioned myself tackling. I created maps, aerials and site plans for proposed sites. Using mapping software, I created 1-3-5 mile rings, trade areas and demographic analysis. I researched new markets, created a Power Point presentation for the vice president of property development, and helped a Fortune 500 company move its corporate headquarters from Newark, California to Pleasanton. As a map illiterate person, I was challenged, yet engrossed by the projects assigned to me.
Besides the people in my department, I got to meet many remarkable people throughout the company, such as the VICE PRESIDENT of marketing and the senior manager of store planning and allocations. It was interesting to find that even though they each specialized in different aspects of the company, they were all similar in that they were absolutely passionate about Ross.
The most valuable lessons learned were not derived from the tasks or projects, but from the people. The highly intelligent and accomplished professionals that surrounded me served as a source of daily inspiration.
My internship at Ross Stores, Inc. was a unique experience. My goal was to gain some experience in the world of retail. I achieved my goal and along the way picked up experience in two other interesting areas: the off-price retail industry, in particular, and the world of real estate. You’ve heard it before, but I’ll say it again… “Location. Location. Location.”
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