Purpose:

As a technical course in the Department of STEM Education and Professional Studies, it serves two purposes: First, it provides Fashion majors with practical application in the planning and operation of a fashion apparel retail business. Second, for Marketing Education majors, it provides current content and application in planning retail business operations that may be used in the Marketing Education classes they will teach.

 LeADERS:

This course specifically meets the LeADERS Entrepreneurship area. Courses with a LeADERS designation help students showcase their development of employer-valued skills throughout their undergraduate experience. For more information and to become a LeADERS Candidate, visit LeADERS on through the Office of Academic Success Initiatives and Support web page.

 

Required Materials

Required Textbook:

EntrepreneurshipLinks to an external site. OpenStax, Jan 16, 2020 Web Version Last Updated: Jan 04, 2024	You have several options to obtain this book. Download Directions View online	FREE
Small Business Management in the 21st CenturyLinks to an external site. Saylor Academy, 2012	View online to an external site.	FREE
SBA website and ResourcesLinks to an external site..	SBA website and ResourcesLinks to an external site..	FREE

 

Other Materials: 

• • Students must have access to the Internet, a computer, a video camera and microphone, an external mouse, Canvas, and Zoom. 
  • ALL students must complete assignments with MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.  Thanks to ODU's campus agreement with Microsoft, you can access and download Office 365 at no cost.   
  • The Library has computers you can use; broken computers, chargers, screens, cameras, or batteries do not justify missing class or an assignment.
  • Reliable WiFi access is an online course requirement.  Plan ahead and know locations where you can access WiFi should your home internet be out.

Google Docs and Sheets are NOT acceptable substitutes for MS Word and Excel.

 

Course Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• • Apply strategic planning techniques to problems in the retail merchandise industry.
  • Identify environmental and legal factors that impact merchandise retailers.
  • Complete target market and trading area analysis for merchandise retail start-up.
  • Determine optimum store location using site location analysis and target market data.
  • Design and illustrate a store layout that facilitates merchandise sales and aligns with the projected store image.
  • Describe an appropriate organization plan and division of work for a small business fashion retailer.
  • Determine the optimal merchandise mix consistent with a specific store image and the target market to be served.
  • Plan merchandise selection, pricing, and markdown policies for the business.
  • Describe an inventory control system selected for the retail business.
  • Prepare a financial plan for a start-up fashion retail business, including initial start-up costs, planned monthly sales and markdowns, a six-month merchandising plan, equity and loan amortization plan, cash flow, and income statement.
  • Compose professional-quality drafts and a final written report of the project.
  • Conduct independent research and make decisions rooted in facts.
  • Collaborate or work independently throughout the semester on a Fashion retail business plan.
  • Use constructive feedback to make improvements.
  • Practice time management and work autonomously.

Instructor-Specific Student Objectives:

• • Exhibit a professional work ethic; attend class on time, engage positively with peers and instructor, ask relevant questions, remain attentive during class, complete assignments on time, overcome obstacles, and avoid excuses.
  • Demonstrate enthusiasm for learning and making content connections to real-world examples.
  • Develop professional communication skills: speak to be heard, explain how you arrived at an answer, listen, ask questions, and consider timing and tone when speaking or writing.
  • Read messages and announcements to stay agile and up to date.
  • Use research and resources available to gather information and solve problems.
  • Demonstrate independence and self-sufficiency and take pride in coursework.

Your Responsibilities:

• • You are expected to demonstrate professionalism by being punctual, meeting deadlines, and dedicating yourself fully to your tasks.
  • Check your ODU email account and Canvas daily for time-sensitive messages from me. Staying informed is your responsibility.
  • Practice active listening and fully utilize the provided resources and materials. Each module contains comprehensive information and instructions for completing your business plan.
  • Develop the ability to seek answers independently. I encourage you to engage critically with the course material and think deeply about the topics we cover.
  • To achieve an average grade in a 15-week undergraduate course, you should plan to spend an average of 5-6 hours per credit per week on classwork. Three of these hours will be spent in class, while the remaining hours should be devoted to reading assigned material and working on assignments and projects.
  • Submit all assignments electronically through Canvas on or before the due date. Late submissions will not be accepted, with no exceptions.

Expectations

• Overall, the course is organized as a senior capstone project to facilitate each student's growth in knowledge and application of "best practices" in retailing.  This is a fast-paced course in which you will write a complete business plan. The class is run in a workshop manner. You will review and learn concepts each week and then use class time and homework to apply them to your project. Self-assessments will be used to fine-tune each part of the plan.  You are responsible for catching up on all missed lessons; time doesn't permit reteaching material covered. You must keep up with the work from the start. You are strongly urged to create a filing system and work ahead when possible.
• Students in the fashion marketing and management program are trained for management-level careers and are expected to practice professionalism and behave as if in a professional work environment, conducting business with superiors, subordinates, and customers.  10% of your grade is based on your professionalism.  Class attendance, punctuality, preparation, and participation are considered when assigning a professional grade (Rubric) for each class session. 
• Students should actively engage with course materials, conduct thorough research, and carefully follow instructions. They are encouraged to seek answers independently, rather than relying on their instructor for guidance.
• The course content and deadlines are structured to keep you on track and ensure your senior project is portfolio-worthy.  Late work WILL NOT be accepted for a grade.  Assignment due dates determine how well students can master the content in a specified time.  This is a management program; students are expected to exercise time management and problem-solving skills.  For equity and fairness, all students will have the same amount of time to demonstrate their mastery of assignments.  Contact your instructor in ADVANCE with any questions or concerns
• This course is the culmination of your studies, and the project represents your accrued understanding of business and marketing, ability to conduct research, time management skills,  critical thinking capacity, and communication skills. Your grade reflects performance relative to the standards provided. 
• Draft #1 Rubric
• Draft  #2 Rubric
• Final Business Plan Rubric
• Class Assignment Rubric

What you can expect from me as your instructor:

As a teacher, my objective is to encourage students to actively engage with course materials, conduct thorough research, and follow instructions carefully. I aim to foster an environment where students feel empowered to seek answers independently, cultivating their critical thinking and problem-solving skills without over-relying on instructor guidance.

• I will ensure the accuracy of the course content.
• I will provide clear guidelines on the course assignments and hold you accountable for self-sufficiency.
• I will be available to provide direction to answer your questions and provide meaningful feedback in a timely manner.
• I will respond to all emails within 48 hours (Monday-Friday). If you wait until the last week of the semester to address an issue, there will not be enough time to resolve it. 
• I will do my best to create a worthwhile learning experience for all my students.
• I will follow fair and clear evaluation guidelines for all the course assignments.
• I will do my best to create a learning environment where you can succeed.

What I expect from you, as my student:

• You will attend all classes unless you have a valid reason to miss the class.
• You will submit all assignments electronically through Canvas on or before the due date. NO late assignment submissions. NO exceptions.
• You will check your ODU email account and Canvas announcements daily for time-sensitive messages and adjustments.
• In addition to class attendance, you will spend an average of three to four hours studying and preparing each week.
• You will participate in in-class and after-class discussions respectfully and thoughtfully and work as a productive, valuable team member.
• You will follow the ODU Code of Student Conduct.
• You will do your best to succeed in this class; take responsibility for your learning and progress. 
• Please ask questions and seek assistance when you are confused.
• Stay on top of your assignments and keep the lines of communication open.

Course Policies:

• MARKETING EDUCATION MAJORS ONLY: If you have not done so, purchase a LiveText subscription (once during your ODU career only) and submit a copy of your final written project to your directory.
• Read and outline specified chapters each week. Complete the reading quizzes by Sunday, 11:59 PM deadline.
• You are responsible for the material in the texts, hyperlinked resources, uploaded handouts, as well as, the material presented during lectures.
• All assignments should be typed in an MS Word document with citations in APA format and are due by Sunday at 11:59 PM unless otherwise specified. 
• APA In-text and Reference Page citations are required.  Unreferenced work will not be graded. 
• Use the provided resources for help.
• Use MS Excel to complete the Financial Plan worksheets and proforma statements.
• Deadlines are assigned to keep students on track to complete a Portfolio-worthy business plan by the end of the semester. Each module builds on the previous content. Assignments are graded using a rubric based on completeness, effort, application of business and marketing knowledge, and ability to gather, synthesize, and use data. No late work will be accepted.
• Two drafts of your work will be edited and graded before you submit the final plan. Use my feedback to correct your business plan.
• Students have the option of dissolving a partnership if it becomes dysfunctional. If this happens, the student(s) must complete an individual project, no matter the date.

APA and Writing Resources:

Academic Integrity Tutorial

Writing Center Help Documents

Make a Writing Center Appointment

The Purdue Online Writing Lab Links to an external site.(OWL)

APA Reference Guide 

Course Schedule

This schedule is tentative, and it may change during the semester. The content is also subject to change depending on students' interests and progress.

Course Schedule 

Grading Criteria

 

Grading Criteria

In this course, I will calculate your final grade based on the following categories:
Criteria	Percentage
Professional Participation	10%
Class and Homework Assignments	10%
Quizzes	7%
Business Description Assignment	7%
Drafts	33%
Final Written Business Plan	33%

Grading Scale:

Percentage	Grade	Description of letter grade
93-100	A	Represents excellent achievement relative to the level necessary to meet course requirements.
90-92.99	A-
87-89.99	B+	Represents proficiency,  above the level necessary to meet course requirements
83–86.99	B
80–82.99	B-
77–79.99	C+	Represents achievement that meets the course requirements in every respect: Average
73–76.99	C
70–72.99	C-
67–69.99	D+	Represents achievement that is worthy of credit even though it fails to meet the course requirements fully: Below Average
60–66.99	D
0-59.99	F	Represents achievement that fails to meet the course requirements: Unsatisfactory

Note: A grade of "I" indicates assigned work yet to be completed in each course or absence from the final examination. It is assigned only upon instructor approval of a student's request.  The "I" grade can be given only in exceptional circumstances beyond the student's control, such as illness.  In these cases, the student is responsible for notifying the faculty member. The "I" grade becomes an "F" if not removed by the last day of classes of the following term (excluding the exam period) according to the following schedule: "I" grades from the fall semester become "F," if not removed by the last day of classes of the spring semester; "I" grades from the spring and summer sessions become "F" if not removed by the last day of classes of the fall semester.  An "I" grade may not be changed to a "W" under any circumstances.

 

Course Policies

Attendance and Participation:

Students in the fashion marketing and management program are trained for management-level careers and are expected to practice professionalism and behave as if in a professional work environment conducting business with superiors, subordinates, and customers.  10% of your grade is based on your professionalism.  Class attendance, punctuality, preparation, and participation are considered when assigning a  professional grade for each class session.  Rubric

Late/Make-up Work Policy:

Students are expected to check into the course weekly. You are responsible for all information presented in the lectures and readings and for all modifications to assignments made in Canvas. No late work will be accepted without a documented excused absence from the Office of Student Affairs. Working a job is NOT an approved excuse. By signing up for this course, you have committed to managing your time and completing all coursework by the assigned due dates.

Course Disclaimer:

The course schedule and activities are subject to change. Changes will be shared during class and posted as Announcements in Canvas.

 

University Policies

 Standards of Classroom Conduct

The faculty has the primary responsibility for managing the classroom environment. Students who engage in prohibited acts that disrupt a class may be directed by the faculty member to leave the class for the remainder of the class period. 

Familiarize yourself with theCode of Student Conduct. Regardless of awareness and approval, it will be enforced in this course.  

VIII. Prohibited Behavior

Academic Misbehavior

A. Academic Sabotage: An intentional effort to corrupt or negatively impact another student's academic work.
B. Cheating: Copying, collaborating, or completing an academic exercise with or for other students or parties without permission from the class-assigned faculty member; paying someone to complete assignments; using any unauthorized materials to assist on assignments; misusing study aids such as Chegg, Quizlet, Course Hero, etc., to complete or pass class assignments; using test banks or copying answers from another source or student. This also includes unauthorized use of artificial intelligence sites including, but not limited to, ChatGPT, Dall-E, Alpha Code, Tensor Flow, Scribe, etc., and any act or behavior that gives the student an unfair advantage.
C. Fabrication: Inventing, altering, falsifying, creating data, citation, or information in an academic exercise or for any improper purpose. Knowingly presenting false or falsified official documentation such as transcripts, doctor's notes, supervisor evaluations, application materials, etc.
D. Facilitation: Helping another person participate in any act of academic misbehavior (including, but not limited to, sharing course materials without permission).
E. Misrepresentation: Misleading an instructor as to the condition under which the work was prepared, including, but not limited to, undisclosed Artificial Intelligence (AI) use, substituting for another student, or permitting another person to substitute for oneself on any academic work.
F. Plagiarism: Intentional or unintentional use of someone else's scholarly or academic work, language, ideas, or other material as your own without proper citation in an academic exercise (whether reproduced or presented verbatim or in paraphrased or summary form); recycling a previous assignment as a new assignment without appropriate citation or notification and approval from faculty members.

Non-Academic Misbehavior

J. Classroom Disruption: Any disruptive or disorderly behavior that disturbs the classroom instructional environment (in-person or virtual classes or interrupts the facilitation of intended learning outcomes.)
K. Damaging Property: Destroying, damaging, defacing, or vandalizing University property or the property of others.
L. Dishonesty: Intentionally providing false, fraudulent, deceptive, or misleading information to University officials, faculty, or staff; forgery; falsification of documents; unauthorized duplication or distribution of university-issued keys or other University property.
M. Disorderly Conduct: Behavior that creates a hostile, frightening, or intimidating environment or threatens the physical health, safety, or well-being of others. This behavior can include loud, unnecessary, unusual, disruptive, or continuous noise that disturbs the peace.

The following standards are intended to define acceptable classroom behavior that preserves academic integrity and ensures that students have optimum environmental conditions for effective learning.

1. 1. Students must turn off cell phones or set them to vibrate mode.
   2. Classes will begin on time, and students will respect the time boundaries established by the professor. If classroom doors are locked for a guest presentation or Examination, students may not knock or seek entrance in other ways.
   3. Students should notify instructors in advance when a class will be missed. In the event of an emergency that causes a class to be missed, instructors must be notified as soon as possible.
   4. Instructors may require cell phones and other electronic devices to be left on their desks during tests or examinations.
   5. Students should not engage in extraneous conversations during classes. 
   6. Students must activate their Old Dominion e-mail accounts and check them before each class. If the student chooses to have his/her messages forwarded to another account, it is the student's responsibility to take the necessary steps to forward them.
   7. Consumption of food and drink during class is prohibited, except when the professor has specifically approved of such acts.
   8. Offensive language, gestures, and the like are disrespectful and disruptive to teaching-learning.

Honor Pledge

"I pledge to support the honor system of Old Dominion University. I will refrain from any form of academic dishonesty or deception, such as cheating or plagiarism. I am aware that as a member of the academic community, it is my responsibility to turn in all suspected violators of the honor system. I will report to Honor Council hearings if summoned." By attending Old Dominion University, you have accepted the responsibility to abide by this code. This is an institutional policy approved by the Board of Visitors.

 

*In a Senior-level course, students are expected to conduct academic research using credible resources and utilize APA format to reference resources using in-text citations and full reference page entries.  The course project requires students to conduct research, report data, and apply concepts to a retail business plan.  Unreferenced work will not be accepted.  

 As a faculty member, I am bound to report any academic integrity violations.  All cases are heard before the honor council. If found guilty, the student automatically receives a failing grade in the course, and a notice is entered into the permanent record for a period of time.

Educational Accessibility and Accommodations

Old Dominion University is committed to ensuring equal access to all qualified students with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Office of Educational Accessibility (OEA) is the campus office that works with students who have disabilities to provide and/or arrange reasonable accommodations.

If you experience a disability that will impact your ability to access any aspect of my class, please present me with an accommodation letter from OEA so that we can work together to ensure that appropriate accommodations are available to you.

If you feel that you will experience barriers to your ability to learn or take tests in my class but do not have an accommodation letter, please consider scheduling an appointment with OEA to determine if academic accommodations are necessary.

The Office of Educational Accessibility is located at 1021 Student Success Center, and the phone number is 757-683-4655. Additional information is available on the OEA website: The Office of Educational Accessibility. 

University Email Policy

The Old Dominion University email system is the official electronic mail system for distributing course-related communications, policies, announcements, and other information. In addition, the University email user ID and password are necessary for authentication and access to numerous electronic resources (online courses, faculty webpages, etc.). For more information about student email, please visit Student Computing. 

Withdrawal

A syllabus constitutes an agreement between the student and the course instructor about course requirements. Participation in this course indicates your acceptance of its teaching focus, requirements, and policies. Please review the syllabus and the course requirements as soon as possible. If you believe that the nature of this course does not meet your interests, needs or expectations, if you are not prepared for the amount of work involved – or if you anticipate that the class meetings, assignment deadlines or abiding by the course policies will constitute an unacceptable hardship for you – you should drop the class by the drop/add deadline, which is listed in the ODU Schedule of Classes. For more information, please visit the Office of the University Registrar.

Privacy of Student Information

The sessions are recorded, and online students must appear on camera to participate.

• Privacy of Student Information