BABA General Studies spotlight: Retailing specialization

The Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration General Studies program allows students in the Warrington College of Business to pursue a business degree while focusing on an additional field of interest. With 80 specializations to choose from, this program allows students to build a personalized skill set for their career. 

The retailing specialization teaches students how to leverage customer interest for products and operational growth. Housed in the Warrington College of Business, this specialization gives students an industry-specific foundation to retailing systems, management practices, consumer behavior and professional selling tactics. 

Elle Simmonds, Inez O’Neill and Carolyn Padfield are three students who have leveraged their specialization and Warrington’s resources to pursue a career in retail. Read how these students emphasize their passion for retailing throughout their business studies. 

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Elle Simmonds, BABA ‘26

Elle Simmonds’ (BABA ‘26) passion for business began in 5th grade; before she could fully understand all the facets of business, she started a baking business at 10 years old. 

She continued this passion in high school, selling upcycled Nike sneakers on Depop and doing door-to-door sales for a local business on Palm Beach Island. 

During her time at Warrington, Simmonds said her specialization courses grew her confidence in the industry, allowing her to walk into professional spaces with retail executives, feeling prepared and credible. She specifically noted how Christina Norton’s course, Intro to Retail Systems & Management, began her exploration of retailing as a professional. 

“Dr. Norton has become a mentor I know I will carry with me for the rest of my life,” Simmonds said. “She has fostered my curiosities and pushed me to be the best student and person I could be. My retail courses kept me engaged, and my professors gave me the closest thing to real-world experience they could offer within a classroom setting.”

Simmonds also began her business, Designated Elle, the summer before her sophomore year. Through Warrington and this business, her passion for entrepreneurship and retail has fueled her personal goals and professional aspirations. 

Post-graduation, Simmonds will work as an assistant buyer at Burlington in New York. She hopes her professional career will lead to a director of retail operations role for a luxury jewelry company. 

Simmonds lives by three guiding principles:

• “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at will change.”
• “Let them do what they’re going to do, and focus on what you’re going to do.” 
• “Everyone has something they can teach you, and everyone is important. The people you surround yourself with and the way you treat others says everything about who you are.” 

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Inez O’Neill, BABA ‘26

Inez O’Neill (BABA ‘26) was interested in various areas of business. Through her studies at UF, she has pursued her business studies while exploring real estate and retail. 

She chose to specialize in retailing because it combined the analytical and creative sides of business. With the growth of e-commerce and changing shopping trends, this specialization is both relevant to the industry and focuses on customer experience. 

“The Warrington College of Business has supported my retailing specialization by providing more hands-on and engaging learning experiences,” O’Neill said. “Once I started taking my specialization classes, I noticed they became much more interactive and practical, which helped me better understand how concepts apply in real-world settings.”

O’Neill noted how the smaller class sizes within her specialization allow her to build stronger connections with her professors and feel more comfortable in the classroom. 

After graduation, O’Neill plans to begin her professional career in sales or at a marketing agency. From there, she hopes to transition into roles that allow her to focus on strategizing, working closely with clients and driving results for a company. 

“A mindset I live by is that everything happens for a reason, and any hardships you face in life

are given to you because you are capable of overcoming them,” O’Neill. “I believe challenges are opportunities for growth, and they help shape who you are and who you become. This perspective has helped me stay resilient, positive and motivated even during difficult situations.”

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Carolyn Padfield, BABA ‘26, MSE ‘27

Carolyn Padfield (BABA ‘26, MSE ‘27) had always aspired to be a business owner. With a heart for entrepreneurship, pursuing a combined business degree at the Warrington gave her the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in the field. 

Padfield did not originally intend to pursue a specialization in retail, but after taking Introduction to Retailing Systems Management, she was quickly fascinated by the material and intrigued by her professor’s passion for the subject. 

“The course gave me the opportunity to explore and analyze the business strategies of companies I like purchasing from, and it showed me that I could work hands-on with products I use and enjoy every day,” Padfield said. 

Last summer, Padfield completed a merchandising internship for Macy’s to explore the corporate side of retail. This summer, she will work on the store side as a store executive intern for Target. 

Professionally, Padfield’s ultimate goal is to open her own nail salon. Until then, she plans to work in the retail industry to develop technical and interpersonal skills. 

“Gaining retail experience can help set you apart,” Padfield said. “When looking for retail positions, it is very important to emphasize your commitment to serving the customer.”