CASE
STUDY
Empowering Fashion’s Future: Shaping Tomorrow’s E-Commerce Leaders with Steve Madden & Shopify
Overview
In its second year, Steve Madden invited Shopify to work with us to empower 20 talented BRAG (Black Retail Action Group) chapter students from Howard University and Clark Atlanta University. This immersive program combined a four-session virtual Boot Camp with a hands-on Capstone Project, culminating in live presentations, a market visit in Atlanta, and professional profile videos and headshots that showcased each student's unique style. By partnering with Shopify—a global leader in e-commerce—the program offered students an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how retail fashion e-commerce operates.
Program Highlights
​​​​Virtual Boot Camp Sessions
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Power Partnerships: Dive into the Steve Madden-Shopify collaboration, where students learn firsthand how cutting-edge e-commerce platforms drive retail success.
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From Clicks to Carts: Master customer discovery with real-world case studies, leveraging Shopify’s insights into social media and SEO strategies.
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Beyond the Checkout: Explore how to build lasting customer loyalty through effective merchandising and user-generated content.
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Your Brand, Your Future: Develop entrepreneurial skills and learn to create a personal e-commerce site using Shopify’s innovative tools.
Capstone Project
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Teams crafted a strategic e-commerce plan focused on optimizing the Gen Z customer journey—from a captivating homepage to effective conversion strategies—using a dedicated admin site and curated toolkit provided through Shopify’s platform.
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Profile Videos & Headshots: During the Atlanta visit, expert Paul Morejon coordinated professional headshots and profile video sessions, enhancing students' personal branding and digital portfolios.
Impact & Takeaways
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Exclusive Industry Access: The strategic partnership with Shopify offered unparalleled insights into the mechanics of retail fashion e-commerce.
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Skill Building: Students gained critical expertise in digital retail, customer engagement, and innovative storytelling.
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Future-Ready Leaders: The program equipped emerging talent with both the creative vision and practical skills necessary to thrive in today’s fashion industry.
Conclusions
The 2nd Annual “Celebrating Fashion’s Future” program not only bridges the gap between academia and industry but also sets the stage for the next generation of fashion innovators. By merging hands-on learning with exclusive access to Shopify’s e-commerce expertise and professional media experiences, the program inspires a dynamic, forward-thinking approach to retail fashion e-commerce.
