Several hundred students, faculty and industry executives attended the Executive + Scholar Lecture Series event held on the UNT campus on October 18, 2018 to hear insights from Phill Oaks and Dr. Judith Forney.  The engaging lecture and fireside chat explored the current complexeties, challenges and evolving consumer behaviors that are being influenced by the adaptation of technologyy into the shopping experience.  The discussion and interviews focused on the consumer buying experience, evolving implications for retailers and heightened customer expectations. The event is put on by the Global Digital Retailing Research Center at the University of North Texas and organized by the center's Sr. Director Linda Mihalick.

Mr. Oaks, Group General Manager and Officer at Walmart Global eCommerce, Jet, Moosejaw and Hayneedle shared valuable insights from his experiences working for Amazon and now Walmart.com, the world's largest retailer.  

Dr. Forney, a professor in UNT's Merchandising and Digital Retailing programs who focuses her research in the areas of consumer experience and the customer purchasing journey shared the history and future of consumers' always present desire for experiential retailing.

Following the lectures, students were able to engage in an open dialog with Mr. Oaks and Dr. Forney regarding consumer behavior trends and the exciting future job opportunities.

Read the UNT press release on this Executive + Scholar Lecture Series event.