Retail students’ field trip to Paris

Published 9 February 2012

Final year retail students from the School of Service Management have recently returned from a field trip to Paris.

The trip gave students the chance to explore the famous retail hotspots in Paris.  There was a trip to the oldest department store in the world - Bon Marché, where you can shop for designer clothing and jewellery, and purchase delights from the illustrious food hall. 

Students also visited the commercial area of the Champs-Élysées, known as one of the most beautiful retail streets in the world.  This spectacular shopping setting is under the shadow of the famous Arc de Triomphe. It contains a number of high-end fashion outlets including Louis Vuitton, Cartier and Hugo Boss, as well as famous high street brands including H&M and Marks and Spencer. 

Retail students in front of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris

An afternoon was also spent in the haute couture district of Faubourg Saint-Honoré, which houses the luxury boutiques of Versace and Yves Saint Laurent.

There was also a visit to the Musée du Louvre for a special exhibition by French graphic artist Jean Paul Goude.  He created well-known campaigns for Perrier, Citroen and Chanel and whose muse, Grace Jones became a style icon.

All students on the field trip found it useful for both their studies and future careers. It also gave them the chance to explore one of the most famous cities in the world.

Retail Marketing BA(Hons) student Megan Beazar advised the trip helped her to decide what she would like to after graduating. She said: “I enjoyed visiting all the designer boutiques and seeing how their visual merchandise displays differ to over here. It has made me decide which sector I would prefer to work in when I graduate, this being the fashion sector.” 

Erin Brooks, who is also studying Retail Marketing BA(Hons) said the field trip will help with her dissertation. She said: “I am doing my dissertation on window displays and visual merchandising. The trip helped me out immensely as I was able to take photos and include them in my project.

“I know the other students also took in all the window displays and were fascinated not only with the visual techniques used in the stores, but also by the designers and the amount of high end, luxury shops there were. We passed what I presume was the Louis Vuitton flagship store- it was huge! I really enjoyed visiting Paris because I have never experienced a city like it, such a beautiful and romantic place yet it still had the buzz that London has.

“I would definitely recommend this trip for other students. It was one of my memories of university that will never be forgotten.”