I have returned from my month abroad! The experiences I have had this past month have been nothing short of amazing! Throughout the past month, I traveled to seven different countries as part of the Faculty-led Europe Marketing Study Abroad Program! This program has truly allowed me to immerse myself in the world around me. We visited several industry-leading companies such as Design Bridge and Partners, Swarovski Crystals, and the BMW Welt. It was interesting learning from these companies and observing the similarities and differences in business practices. In regards to marketing, I found that most of the businesses we visited focused their marketing tactics on a larger scale. On several of our visits, we were shown advertisements that each company made. From these videos, I concluded that most advertisements were made with the purpose of reaching everyone, rather than a target market. This type of marketing differs from the typical marketing we see in the United States, where advertisements are created to reach a target market. Another observation I had from visiting each company is the excellent customer service that is provided. Each of the companies we visited highlighted how customer service is a crucial part of the success of the business. I find this to be a new trend in businesses all over the world, including here in the United States. Between visiting a beautiful beach in Nice to traveling to the Alps and everything in between, I truly have seen amazing places! I am very appreciative of the hard work our faculty members put into this trip to make it possible. I know the connections I made with my peers will last for years to come, and I am excited to see what the future holds for each of us! This past month exploring the world has allowed me to grow in independence and has given me various skills that will allow me to be successful in my future endeavors!
