- Time
-
Thursday, Mar 05, 2026 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
- Location
-
2260 Student Innovation Center
- Price
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Free
- niehmlin@iastate.edu
- Phone
- 515-231-6157
Retail is evolving fast. Are you ready? Featured speakers will share real-world insights on innovation and entrepreneurship. Come for one hour or stay for all three, and leave inspired to build what’s next. Refreshments and door prizes available at each session.
Unlocking an Entrepreneurial Mindset to Power Retail Innovation
- Register (free) at check-in
- Attend one or all (3) of the hour-long presentations
Featured speakers
- Mindy Bergstrom, owner-operator of Cooks’ Emporium, Nook & Nest, Z.W. Mercantile, and The Recipe, a culinary event venue
- Executives from Von Maur and Dry Goods, Iowa-based fashion retail companies
- Dr. Linda Niehm, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Retailing, AESHM Dept., and certified Entrepreneurial Mindset Facilitator/Practitioner
About the annual Retail Ready Summit
Celebrating its fifth anniversary, the Retail Ready Summit emphasizes creativity, adaptability, problem-solving, and innovation — skills essential for career readiness, business resilience, and economic development. Designed for students preparing for careers, faculty advancing experiential learning, and business owners seeking growth strategies, the Summit fosters collaboration between education and industry.
Sponsors
- Department of apparel, events and hospitality management
- College of Health and Human Sciences