Poster Presentation at the ITAA Conference

Author: Sydney Buford | Major: Apparel Merchandising and Product Development | Semester: Fall 2023

On November 9th, I traveled to Baltimore to present my research at the 2023 International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference. This conference consisted mostly of professors and graduate students so it was a very special experience to get to participate as an undergraduate student. It was also an honor to be able to represent the University of Arkansas as the sole student from our school. While at the conference, I presented my Honors College thesis over influences on impulse buying behavior.

I was at the ITAA conference for two nights and was able to learn from so many different people during the time that I was not presenting. There were different presentation sessions all day and each presentation room had a different focus. I mostly listened to presentations having to do with consumer behavior since that is my research focus, but I was able to hear about unique research from other areas, like sustainability and product design. This gave me many possible ideas for future research, and I loved hearing about the advancements of the industry. One of the most exciting points of the conference was meeting researchers that I had cited in my research. It was truly amazing to talk to them about how they got to where they are today and how they became interested in that topic. I also heard multiple researchers reference my mentor’s research, which made me really proud.

At the conference, I presented my poster over my thesis. My thesis is on “The Effects of Fashion Involvement and Product Presentation on Consumers’ Online Impulse Buying Behavior”. I got to share my study with multiple people in fields that are similar to mine but also very different ones. There were different studies that I learned about that had to do with my research, and it’s really amazing to think that I could work on research with peers that I met that weekend. I got incredibly helpful feedback about how I can expand my research study, future research possibilities, and researchers I should work with.

At the conference, I presented my poster over my thesis. My thesis is on “The Effects of Fashion Involvement and Product Presentation on Consumers’ Online Impulse Buying Behavior”. I got to share my study with multiple people in fields that are similar to mine but also very different ones. There were different studies that I learned about that had to do with my research, and it’s really amazing to think that I could work on research with peers that I met that weekend. I got incredibly helpful feedback about how I can expand my research study, future research possibilities, and researchers I should work with.

Presenting undergraduate research at an international conference was an incredible experience that I will always cherish. In all honesty, I was so nervous beforehand to attend since I had never been to a conference prior, let alone presented at one. However, I actually had so much fun at the conference and quickly made friends upon arrival. The weekend flew by because I was having such a great experience and a filled schedule. It was truly enriching to get to meet so many other students and professors with shared passions. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to travel and present my research and I hope I can attend the conference again in the future.