Getting to Work: Old Navy

Old Navy - 6th Ave & 18th St
Old Navy – 18th & 6th

Starting work last semester at one of the most entertaining retail clothing stores there is has been a tornado of laughs, stress, and learning. If you are not familiar with the American brand, Old Navy is “a place where you can find all of your wardrobe “must-have’s” at prices you can’t believe. Everything from your favorite t-shirts and jeans to your seasonal fashion faves. A place where every family member is invited. Where everything has great style and quality and the shopping experience is actually fun, not a chore.” (Gap Inc.)

Getting started in April, I was excited to begin a new journey, and my first real retail experience at the flagship store. A flagship is a company’s main store that is used in showcasing the various brands the store offers. Unlike other stores within the chain, the flagship is usually more impressive, bigger and shelves more merchandise than the rest. Getting to know the retail industry from the top of the ladder store was a great learning experience.

Why Old Navy you may ask? In a city filled with competitive H&M, Forever 21,  and Zara – Old Navy has always been a brand I associated with the real American dream. From day one, Old Navy was a revolution. They are fabulous, affordable fashion, not afraid to break the industry’s rules. They recognized that fashion didn’t have to be just for rich people – it could be for everyone.  With the first store opening in 1994, Old Navy became the fastest retailer to reach $1 billion in sales within four years and today are one of the largest apparel brands in the world, operating more than 1000 stores across the US, Canada, Puerto Rico & Japan.

This is my store, and if you would like to be apart of the brand, be sure to check out the Rotational Management Program (RMP) a 9+ month training program based in our corporate offices in San Francisco and New York City.

As a trainee in RMP, you’ll start the program knowing which product function you will be placed into upon graduation —  Inventory Management, Merchandising or Production. During the program you’ll rotate through each function and see how our product lifecycle works — from ideation to production. You’ll develop collaboration skills by working with cross-functional teams to effectively deliver the right product as well as build general management proficiencies. In addition to the ownership of day-to-day responsibilities, you’ll be provided with classroom training and assigned special projects that allow you to make an impact by directly influencing the business and interacting with senior leaders.

While in the program you will rotate within one of the brands – Old Navy, Gap, Gap Outlet, Banana Republic, Banana Republic Factory Stores or Athleta. Upon graduating you will be placed into a full-time position with competitive benefits and salary within that brand.