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Vol. 11 No. 4

Outreach and Engagement in a Retail Environment: The University Meets Home Improvement

  • Margaret H. Teaford
  • Susan L. Zavotka
  • Christine A. Price
Submitted
July 29, 2010
Published
2010-07-29

Abstract

Even at land-grant institutions, faculty seldom work with commercial retailers on community programs. Retailers can help with outreach and engagement programs because they provide the “natural habitat” for consumers the programs seek to address. Allied health, family science, and interior design faculty at the Ohio State University worked with Lowe’s Home Improvement
Stores to bring information to the public on home modifications and universal design, a concept that advocates for environments for people of all ages and abilities. Lowe’s has collaborated in offering in-store workshops, products, and displays for consumers interested in making home modifications, as well as a
universally designed model kitchen and bathroom. Because of differences in academic community and retail cultures, working together calls for flexibility; however, such collaboration can yield benefits to both partners. Retail store environments are not always ideal for teaching, but utilizing them can help academic outreach programs reach consumers.