2. JRJ APPAREL’s History
• JRJ is a custom cycling and active wear apparel company.
• They custom design jerseys, shorts, shirts, Zumba, yoga and running apparel
for individual wear and for large events.
• JRJ was an online company for three years before they opened up a
storefront in Orange County, NY.
• They opened up the store to bring more large scale business. They now have
a meeting area were they can sit down with clients and draw up designs in
front of them.
• This expansion has led to many more clients and
Large scale outdoor events companies to come to us
and make up products to sell at their rides, 5k’s
and triathlons.
3. My history with JRj
• While attending Johnson and Wales this fall I was taking a
tradeshows course. During the course we had to actually work or
volunteer at a tradeshow or expo. I chose to volunteer at a bike
expo/cycling race in Providence.
• This was the first time I worked an expo and I loved how many
exhibitors and attendees came out to enjoy this great sport.
• I met JRJ at the expo and started to talk to them. I found out
they were based out near my hometown in NY. As we spoke I
networked immediately with them and spoke about interning
with there event and tradeshow team. After this expo I
volunteered at another expo for them and then I was asked to
join there intern group.
• I have been loving learning so much about the expo indusrty as
well as the meetings.
4. My Personal Goals
Some personal goals of mine during this internship were:
• To learn as much as I can in such a great hands on company.
• Learn good time manage skills, that I can use during rest of my
events career.
• How to organize a schedule well and how to complete all
assignments and paperwork on time. This one was hard in the being
but I did well. I learned great tips to complete work on time and to
keep on top of my work schedule.
• Lastly an important goal of mine was to learn to open up and not be
so shy talking to clients during meetings or at expos. I needed to look
like a professional and I believe I did a great job networking and
setting up meetings and events for JRJ.
5. My Internship Experience
• During the course of my internship I gained so much more
knowledge about the event and meetings industry that I didn't’t
know before.
• At all the expos we attended I networked for JRJ and because
of these connections I have made, I can potentially move to
another company and expand my knowledge even more. But I
wont do that right now, because I love working for this
company to much to leave. We have some great events for the
next year that I have started to plan, like a cycling race and 5k
to raise money for a local charity. With planning a charity race,
I know I will be learning so much more about non profits and
fundraising events, and I cant wait to learn as much as I can
planning them!
6. Organizational Chart
• At JRJ every department communicated with each other at all
times, about all projects that were going on. We as the events
staff would talk to designers and tell tem we had a meeting with
clients to design jerseys up, and the had to attend.
• Also when the event staff were attending expos we
communicated to the owner at all times with new connections
we had made and meetings we set up for future business.
• We all worked as one team, no one department was separate
from another.
7. Intern tasks
As an event intern, I had many tasks that the main event and
meeting planner needed to be done. I had to:
• Research bike and outdoor tradeshows and races on the east
coast and west coast, and register for them all.
• We traveled all over for the expos and I would also set up travel
accommodations for the whole team.
• I would also call bike shops in NYC and the surrounding states
to set up meetings to see if we could design jerseys for there
shop. This was one of my favorite things to do. I loved selling
JRJ to the potential client!
8. Professional Skills
Through this experience I have learned that
organization;
Communication
Time management
are key skills that you need to have to be a successful event planner.
Before starting I thought I was very organized person and had time
management down but I learned that I didn’t. I learned being 20
minutes early is being on time for any job.
I have learned many new helpful organizational techniques that you
could only learn from someone with experience in the industry.
I am grateful that I got to have such experience under someone with
great knowledge within the industry. I am so thankful I learned these
helpful and very important skills while working at JRJ.
9. Skills I enhanced over the course of my internship
Because of this internship, I have enhanced my communication skills.
It is key for everyone to have when entering the workforce. I feel that I have
enhanced and will grow everyday with my communication skills at work.
You will always be successful when you know how to communicate with other
workers, your boss, and your clients.
I have learned at my internship that I have to always speak up and always
communicate everything to your fellow work mates.
When you are working on a project or an event with others it is key to keep
talking every detail to an event out and know what everyone’s job is.
10. Since I have been at JRJ we have expanded the JRJ brand by
gaining more clients.
I have used my marketing and promotions knowledge that I
learned in school as well as my networking skills to expand
the JRJ brand.
The knowledge I learned in school has gotten me far already in
the company, and I cant wait to keep growing within the
industry using all the knowledge I have learned at Johnson and
Wales and this amazing internship!
11. What did I learn about myself
I have learned a great amount from this amazing internship. I can
communicate more to people and to speak up was a big thing I had to
overcome during this internship.
Another thing I learned is that I love going to this internship site everyday
and working in the field that I will be in for the rest of my life.
I have also grown to love the tradeshows industry!
It is so exciting being an exhibitor and networking with potential clients. It
gets me thinking I might make a career path change towards tradeshows.
Well with any career path I chose I can just remember all the amazing
hands on experience I have learned here at JRJ and continue to learn and
grown in events.
12. Skills I improved on during this internship
During my time at my internship I have definitely improved my
professionalism and work ethic skills.
I have learned that you should always be early with all paperwork and
assignments. It shows that you are working hard and it shows initiative.
I think that these two skills are good ones you can always improve on
everyday at work.
You have to show your boss and fellow workers you are part of the team
and want to be there.
At my internship site I have improved so much in the problem solving
area. This hand on experience internship has helped me grow my
knowledge so much in the events industry and I’m so thankful for this.
13. Project Review
• As a member of the event team we were consistently researching bike rides and
outdoor sporting events to be a part of and to desing the events apparel.
• One of teh big projects I had to do was contact a large 4 day cycling event from
NYC to Boston and set up some meetings to meet and discos our products as well
as being part of there event.
• When I got in contact with them I immediately set up appointments to meet. I was
so happy I got in contact with such a large event.
• We had our meeting and I got to speak about JRJ to the clients and tell them how
our company can join this event as well as design there apparel.
• At the end of the meeting we got to be there apparel suppliers as well as join there
ride as a sponsor, be part of there expo, and help plan there ride.
• From this one client, we have expanded our name and we have many meetings for
the near future for many expos and to
plan bike rides with charities!
• I have learned so much from this company,
and I am so happy I did my internship here!
