Main RMI Number
408-554-4960
SCU - St. Joseph's Hall
Room # 108
|
|
Retail Management Institute Newsletter - Winter '05
RMI Advisory Board Member Michael Schriver - by Natalie Dagan '05
RMI advisory board member, Michael Schriver, president of merchandising for DFS Merchandising Limited.
|
|
Michael Schriver is president of merchandising for DFS Group Limited, the world's largest travel retail company with stores throughout Asia Pacific and the U.S.
Michael's career with DFS began in 1998, and he is noted for leading the centralization of DFS planning and merchandising functions. His phenomenal experiences and talent have led to the success that he enjoys today.
Schriver graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia with a degree in marketing in 1983. During high school, he worked for Bamberger's as a part-time employee, and continued working for the company throughout his college years while assuming various supervisory positions. He liked the idea of being promoted at a young age and enjoyed working with customers.
After graduation, he continued working for the retailer, (which later became Macy's) and was admitted to Macy's Executive Program. After completing the program, he obtained his first full-time job as a manager of the men's dress furnishings and young men's departments. Throughout his 20 year career at Macy's East he held a wide range of positions, from store manager to divisional merchandise manager for home textiles. Holding positions both in the stores and in the buying offices gave Schriver "a well rounded experience in retail."
As previously mentioned, in 1998, Schriver "made the choice to make a change and work at DFS" due to the company's international appeal, tremendous culture and entrepreneurial opportunities - "to be in control of my own destiny." Initially, Schriver was responsible for half of merchandising in Hawaii, but nine months later he moved to San Francisco to take care of planning and distribution of the company, which was trying to finish its centralization. In 2002, he became the president of merchandising for DFS Group Limited, where his current role as a leader includes setting the merchandising strategy, establishing brand relationships, and energizing the various divisions to believe in the direction and strategies that the retailer is taking.
Working for an international company such as DFS is unlike working for domestic retailers. "There is never a 'normal' day," says Schriver. Due to the company's international appeal, the DFS merchandising team travels abroad extensively. Schriver's hectic schedule consists of working in his San Francisco office, visiting the divisions and stores worldwide, and going to markets in New York and Europe. However, as busy as his days may be, the highlights of Schriver's days are meeting with his planners and merchandisers during category review meetings and visiting the stores. "Being at the stores is really what it's all about," he says.
To hold an executive position, Schriver claims that one needs to be a strong leader who not only tells others what to do, but also has them wanting to follow. In addition, one needs to know how to manage through a system and surround him/herself with strong, talented people who are allowed to make mistakes. Finally, the last two ingredients to becoming successful are intelligence and a bit of luck.
Schriver's passion toward retail is due to the industry's ever-changing characteristic. "I get bored if it's not changing. I also like to create change," he says. Schriver offers wise advice for students who are interested in a retail career: One needs to be willing to make sacrifices for the first couple of years and accept the fact that some administrative and clerical work will be expected. Also, a willingness to take risks - buying too much or buying too little, bringing in an assortment that everyone may hate, taking markdowns - is an essential quality in this business. One needs to be excited about taking risks and believing that he/she is going to be right. The RMI advisory board and students are fortunate to have Michael Schriver as a representative of DFS Group Limited and appreciate his support of the program at Santa Clara University.
|
|
Back to Newsletter -Winter '05
Retail Management Institute - Santa Clara University
rmi.scu.edu
|
|
RMI Newsletter
