HIGH POINT, N.C., Aug. 29, 2014 – High Point University senior Stephen Lillie got more than a great bargain during his summer internship with BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc. He began his time as a merchandising assistant intern and filled the role of assistant buyer at the company when the position became available.
During his internship, Lillie was able to train and perform the duties of assistant buyer. He tackled the role head-on, assisting a BJ’s buyer with sales analyses and new item quotes for lawn care, winter supplies and baby merchandise.
In his marketing role, the HPU strategic communication major was responsible for in-print and online marketing submissions and made suggestions for marketing based on sales analysis. He also helped organize BJ’s annual golf tournament and silent auction.
Lillie, a Millbury, Massachusetts, native, has worked for BJ’s retail locations since 2009. He started in high school and continued working with the company each summer during college before moving to the corporate office – an experience he says has truly paid off.
“This internship has given me a holistic perspective on the industry as well as hands-on experience and confidence in my work ethic that I can work for a multi-billion dollar organization and succeed,” he says. “BJ’s offers an amazing internship program. My boss allowed me to attend all vendor meetings and even meetings with senior management. I also presented a marketing project with a group of interns to the CEO, SVP of Human Relations, EVP of Marketing, and the EVP of General Merchandise. The knowledge I have gained through my four months at BJ’s will stay with me throughout my career.”
From here, Lillie says he won’t limit himself when it comes to defining his future career path. He says he can see himself as a marketing executive focused in brand development, but he also has an interest in exploring crisis communications for Fortune 500 companies.
“My coursework at HPU has helped with my internship because of the outstanding professors,” he says. “Many of my professors have experience working in different industries. They understand what it takes to be successful in their field, and they apply their knowledge in the classroom each and every day. It’s a hands-on learning environment. It’s not always about memorizing things out of a textbook; it’s about taking what you learn and applying it to real life situations. High Point University has prepared me to succeed.”