What do Campus Reps actually do?
I love doing campus rep internships, as they are such a good way to get retail experience in small college towns like Athens. My junior year, I was a rep for Cosmopolitan, and now Trend-Tribe as a senior. My friends and peers ask me a ton of questions including, "what do you even do?" and "so that just means you get free stuff, right?"
I went ahead and compiled some interviews with other brand rep fellows at OU, along with my own answers, to help everyone learn what it's like to be a campus rep.
What brand/company are you a campus representative for?
Allison: Trend-Tribe
Hannah: Donni Charm
Caroline: Serengetee
What are some of your weekly/monthly tasks that you have to perform?
Allison: Host trunk shows with campus organizations, promote brand on campus, distribute promo code to customers, engage in weekly phone calls with headquarters and collaborate with other OU Trend-Tribe team members.
Hannah: Establish a Donni Charm at OU. Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, meet with different organizations to present Donni Charm clothing to them, pitch clothing releases to local media outlets, handle all merchandise shipped from our headquarters, train other brand ambassadors, sell a certain amount of products per month.
Caroline: Meet the other reps at OU, promote the company by wearing their merchandise, give discount codes to friends to buy Serengetee products, and final project at the end of the semester on promoting Serengetee.
What is the most challenging part about your position?
Allison: Trying to partner organizations to host events with. Sometimes people won't even respond to you, but usually if they do, they see the product and get really excited!
Hannah: Finalizing the sale. Donni Charm is a high-end fashion brand and it's a little out of reach financially for college students.
Caroline: Getting people interested in the product and buying it!
What is the most exciting part about your position?
Allison: Holding trunk shows. I loved showing people jewelry I loved! I also get to talk to the CEO and Founder of the company on a regular basis, and [she] is awesome! Also, the free jewelry (duh!)
Hannah: Receiving special offers and new products. It felt like Christmas morning when I received my first shipment of Donni Charm merchandise. Your first week, Donni Charm will send you a welcome package with a free scarf of your choice and a bracelet. Also, a percentage of each purchase goes to philanthropy, which I greatly value, so that was an exciting part knowing that each sale was also benefiting a philanthropy.
Caroline: Getting the name out there and helping the company.
How do you think this position is preparing you for a future career?
Allison: I am a Retail Merchandising major, so every aspect of this position is helping me out. I make sales goals and then host events where I get to see my results instantly. It has also given me confidence to put myself out there!
Hannah: I'm a Journalism major, so I'm interested in doing PR for a clothing brand. Being a brand ambassador for a high-end clothing brand was a great stepping-stone. It has also given me confidence to put myself out there!
Caroline: I did this just for fun! I'm an Education major so it doesn't do much for my resume, but planning, being creative and time management.
