“Nothing in retail moves without people, and that is a fact.”
Robert Davison Long, the 2022 NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship top recipient, is the Team Manager for Gucci in Tyson Galleria in Tyson Corner, VA - and he’s passionate about his industry, his colleagues, and his customers.
“I strive to create not just a shopping experience, but an overall luxury experience that clients take home with them.”
Robert’s journey in retail spans more than a decade – and got a major boost when he connected with NRF.
He was already working in retail when, as a junior at Columbia College Chicago, his Merchandising and Assortment Planning teacher, Dana Connell, suggested that he should apply for the NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship. “Competing for the scholarship put me on a national platform, providing visibility and reach that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. The exposure helped me land my three recent roles and inspired the confidence to apply for positions I wouldn’t normally consider.”
At Gucci, Robert’s primary responsibility is to foster the growth of his team, setting benchmarks, and establishing expectations to help his team reach their goals. “The growth of my team directly translates to the growth of the Gucci location, making their development my most important concern.”
Robert believes in fostering the growth of others in the retail industry as well. That’s why he spoke at the NRF Foundation Emerging Leaders Summit, where young professionals of varying backgrounds and titles are brought together for two days of networking and skill building.
“It would be a huge injustice if I didn’t invest in the young retailers attending the programs and panels with the same intent that was poured into me during my scholarship competition. I see myself in the faces of these young retail professionals.”
Robert’s perseverance to carve his career in the luxury retail space provides an example of how retail has a place for everyone. “In luxury retail, managers often don’t look like me. Several identities that define me are marginalized; I am Black and Queer. It is crucial for young professionals to see that despite roadblocks, with the right tools, heart, and support, they can succeed.”
Robert continues to show up for the NRF Foundation, focusing on paying it forward.
“I may not be the first, but I don’t want to be the exception. Every young retailer deserves the opportunities I received through NRF.”
Robert continues to be a champion for others in retail and continues to shine as he emerges as a young leader of the industry, reaching out and bringing his peers along with him.
“You have to love people, because people shape retail.”
It would be a huge injustice if I didn’t invest in the young retailers attending the programs and panels with the same intent that was poured into me during my scholarship competition.
