My name is Bonnie Ayres and I’m a Retailing major at the University of South Carolina (USC) with an emphasis in Fashion Merchandising graduating in May. I’ve spent my time at USC completing internships that were directed in my field of study at companies like Nordstrom and Sea Island Resort. I also had the chance to spend a semester in Paris, France taking classes focused on luxury retail branding, which was made all the more exciting in one of the fashion capitals of the world. I was able to use these experiences to assist others in my time serving as a peer leader for a University 101 class of incoming freshman within the college of Hospitality, Sport Management, and Retail. I have a strong creative side that has aided my experiences within the retail field and I love to look at things with an exciting new point of view. 

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This e-portfolio is a representation of my experiences throughout my time at the University of South Carolina that contributed to my Graduation with Leadership Distinction in Professional and Civic Engagement. I highlight the importance of my key insights of relationships, adaptability, and unconventionality by reflecting on my experience in internships peer leadership, and courses. I also include a leadership section, a plan to implement a strategy to increase the amount of sales in Urban Outfitter’s “Urban Renewal” sales line of upcycled clothing to reduce the amount of waste produced by the company within the retail industry. 

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-Bonnie