An Inside Look At Retail Companies
In May of 2016, 26 Wharton undergraduates traveled to Germany via the Wharton International Program to get an inside look at a wide range of retail companies, including Zalando, Breuninger, Metro, Esprit, Dusseldorf Fair, and Manufactum. In addition to business site visits, the students enjoyed enriching cultural excursions in Berlin, Cologne, and Dusseldorf. Below are photos and quotes from the students who participated.
Student Testimonies
“It was an incredible experience. I learned a whole lot more about business and retail than I expected, I really enjoyed the cultural experience in Germany, and I became close with a bunch of great friends during the trip. It was an awesome experience across multiple facets of learning. I am thankful that I was able to attend this trip and would definitely be interested in attending another WIP trip in the future. This is a great program that Wharton offers!”
“My WIP experience exceeded my experiences, because I came in thinking that it was going to be simple business excursions followed by touristy events, but during this trip we were able to interact with VPs and Directors of different sections of large retailers, and really get to know the business and ask questions. Furthermore, the nights had many fantastic excursions in all of the cities we visited. I didn’t mind the relative lack of free time due to our busy schedule, because our busy schedule was filled with very enjoyable cultural experiences.”
“I left the trip with a strong understanding of the state of the German retail industry, and overall, an understanding of the German culture. I am very satisfied with the trip because those were my main objectives. Additionally, I made a lot of new friends and found the experience to be very enjoyable.”
“The Germany WIP trip was a very comprehensive experience that exceeded my expectations. I enjoyed the close interactions with the retailers, but also how the trip allowed us to understand how culture has many underlying influences on the way that retail is conducted…It was also great to see how what I learned in Wharton classes in everything from operations to marketing connected with the challenges that many German retailers brought up. It definitely showed the real-world applicability of what we learn at Wharton. On another note, I liked how the companies in Germany were very hospitable and welcoming. It was eye-opening to learn about retail in a country that I typically do not associate with the field. I was pleasantly surprised. Overall, I came into the trip unsure of what to expect and left with a unique experience full of many fond memories.”
Posted: January 29, 2017
