Daily News

From Home Furnishing Business

Groovystuff Expands Internship Program

January 10, 2014  by in Community / Charitable Support, Industry   

She is an industrial design student at Auburn University. Wilson is the first from Auburn University to be selected for the internship program designed to provide students with real-world job experience in the residential home furnishings industry prior to their graduation.

Groovystuff Founder Chris Bruning established the "Groovystuff by Design: Connecting Education with Industry Internship" program in 2011. Groovystuff hired its first intern from the Industrial Design program at Appalachian State University in 2011, followed by an intern from the Interior Design Department at Missouri State University in 2012.
 
As a sophomore in the School of Industrial and Graphic Design at Auburn University, Wilson is scheduled to take part in a two-stage mentorship at the Groovystuff corporate offices in Dallas, Texas. Her 14-week program runs Dec. 11-Jan. 3; and is scheduled for completion May 19-August 8.  During this time she will gain on the job training in customer relations, inside sales support, year-end inventory, first- and third-quarter marketing strategy as well as participation in the company's 2014 trade events.

"I am very thankful for the opportunity Groovystuff has provided for me," Wilson said. "I feel this internship will provide me with a crash course into the furniture industry and necessary real world experience that will be useful after my college career."
 
Wilson was one of 16 students in the Industrial Design program at Auburn University who participated in an education to industry collaboration with Groovystuff for the fall 2013 academic semester.

Under the guidance of professor Tin-Man Lau and combined with design direction from the Groovystuff staff via Facebook, students were tasked with developing a residential home furnishings product utilizing the reclaimed materials found in the Groovystuff product line. Her innovative "Diverso Game Table" design was recognized by market attendees as the winning design and winner of the "Popular Vote at Market" at October's High Point Furniture Market.  
 
"The wonderful relationship that the School of Industrial and Graphic Design at Auburn University has with Groovystuff allowed our students to be exposed to and participate in the High Point Furniture Market in a direct and meaningful way," said Clark Lundell, chairman and head of the Industrial & Graphic Design Department at Auburn. "Chris Bruning has not only exposed our students and their designs to the market but also encouraged and brought them into the realm of product development and sales."
 
Groovystuff's not-for-profit 2013 ICON Award Winning "University Hall of Innovation & Job Creation"; and "Groovystuff by Design: Connecting Education with Industry Challenge" are a breakthrough approach to the nurturing of home furnishings design talent in partnership with leading U.S. colleges and universities.