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VISITING COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY AND SAKS FIFTH AVENUE'S FLAGSHIP STORE (SESSION B)
Joseph Smith (FUSIA)
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2009-07-30 - On Thursday, July 30, Session B students of FUSIA Communications' Cross Cultural Internship Program (CCIP) visited both Columbia University, the oldest institution of higher education in New York City, and the Saks Fifth Avenue flagship store, one of the world's preeminent specialty retailers.
Students from the previous session have participated in the activities as well. Their feedbacks were so positive that FUSIA offered these activities to Session B students.
Having heard from their Session A colleagues, the students of Session B were excited about participating in both activities, and getting to do them both on the same day. With Columbia University, though the students had heard about its unique personality, it being the backdrop for feature films, and its classic Gothic architecture, a few good words from fellow students wasn't enough to prepare them.
"I was ready to write this off as boring," said Ka Lok Cheng, a Year 2 student of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, "but the more I saw, the more interesting things got."
Lu Lu Fan, an undergraduate student of the University of Hong Kong approached her visit from a different perspective, saying, "I was humbled being in the presence of a place where the research students hold seven Nobel Prizes. I'm grateful that I could be here."
"The buildings, the students, the history, the feel, the look of this place… I want to do my postgraduate studies here," said Amelia Yau, a Year 2 undergraduate student of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
With the morning barely over, the students rushed down into Midtown to 50th street to begin their tour of Saks Fifth Avenue's flagship store. Andrew and Sarah served as guides, beginning the trip with a brief history of Saks Fifth Avenue and the brands sold in the building. Indeed, students had to take a moment to stop and awe over the massive variety of brands on display. But, as with the previous session, the Saks Fifth Avenue visit became more than a shopping trip.
"What surprised me was that we were given refreshments even though we'll most likely never be customers here. I felt at ease for being treated well. I felt special. That made me understand exactly what the books mean when they say that a good impression on the customers begins with their first step in the store," said Wing Yan Hung, a Business student of the University of Hong Kong.
Shan Huang, a student of the Lingnan University, had this to add and summed up the spirit of the Saks Fifth Avenue tour: "When Andrew and Sarah gave the presentation I never expected that I'd learn marketing insights and methods to build and keep customer relationships."
At the end of the both tours, Ka Hung Cheng, an undergraduate student of University Science and Technology, had these final words, "It was a wonderful and tiring experience. I was expecting just to do some site-seeing and window shopping. I never expected that I'd learn something and have this kind of experience to bring home with me. It was a surprise, and a blast!"
About Columbia University:Columbia is known for its academic prestigious programs in medicine, science, the arts, and the humanities, and is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League. The campus features many neoclassical architectural styled buildings such as the famed Low Memorial Library, considered a national historic landmark.
About Saks Fifth Avenue's Flagship Store: Renowned for its high-end collections and top international designer labels, Saks Fifth Avenue is considered the authority in modern style. Opened in 1924, its flagship store occupies an entire city block and stands ten floors high. It is also one of the city's most preeminent luxury department stores and accounts for a significant amount of the entire chain's annual revenue.
Special thanks to student volunteers of this event: Chloe Cheah and Shiyang Yan (Hong Kong Polytechnic University) and Ka Yue Lo (Lingnan University).
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