May 19, 2009
For Immediate Release

RCCC Students Give Local Store Windows a New Look

              SALISBURY, N.C. — Marketing students at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College applied knowledge gained in the classroom in a real world setting and helped out local merchants in the process.

               Students in instructor Nancy Whittaker's recently completed visual merchandising classes designed and created store window displays for two local merchants, one in Salisbury and the other in Concord. The students worked closely with the store owners to design window displays that captured the attention of potential customers, while communicating each store's marketing message.

               "The students had a lot of fun designing and decorating the windows," Whittaker said. "The projects provided them an opportunity to work in teams, prepare and manage a schedule, assign tasks, be flexible, and above all, meet the expectations of the business owners."

               RCCC's Small Business Center helped connect the students with potential partner businesses. In Concord, students worked with Kathleen Reeder, owner of "The Bead Lady," located downtown on Union Street. Thirteen students went to work on the custom jewelry shop's six windows. Students used an eclectic mix of colors and materials to convey the fun spirit of the store.
"It was a great experience," Reeder said. "It was nice to have a fresh look from another set of eyes and new ideas to decorate the windows."

               In Salisbury, students collaborated with Glenda and Barry Dyson, owners of "Just the Thing!" located downtown on N. Main Street. Ten students worked on two, large window displays for the store, which sells teacher supplies and educational toys. The students' design for the windows featured a summertime theme, with stuffed animals having all kinds of warm weather fun.
"We welcomed the opportunity to work with the RCCC students and support our community," Glenda Dyson said. "We enjoyed watching the students apply what they were learning in a real business setting."

               Whittaker believes the projects were a win-win proposition for the students and the business owners.

               "The store owners got free labor and a different perspective on their window designs, while the students put into practice the principles they learned in class," Whittaker said.

              RCCC offers an associate degree program in business administration, marketing and retailing. Program course work includes marketing, retailing, merchandising, selling, advertising, computer technology and management. For more information, see the RCCC website at www.rowancabarrus.edu/programs/bus/mkt.html, or call 704-216-3770.

               RCCC is a comprehensive, community-based institution of higher learning, serving the citizens of Rowan and Cabarrus counties in North Carolina. RCCC is one of 58 colleges in the state-supported North Carolina Community College System.

                RCCC offers fully-accredited associate-degree programs in more than 40 areas of study, including arts and sciences, business, information technology, health and public services, and engineering technologies. RCCC also offers accredited diploma and certificate programs focused on career training, continuing education and basic skills education. RCCC provides a strong foundation and transferable credits for students moving on to four-year colleges and universities and helps adults get the additional training they need to start new careers.

               RCCC annually provides more than 2,000 course offerings, serving an overall enrollment of approximately 20,000 students. In addition, RCCC provides the education and job-training programs needed to meet many of the workforce demands of the North Carolina Research Campus being developed in Kannapolis. For complete details, see the RCCC website at www.rowancabarrus.edu.