Hello everyone! My name is Lauren Milanak, and I am entering my third year at Wake Forest University where I study Business Enterprise Management, Entrepreneurship, and Dance. However, I spent my summer interning with the Creative Team at DM Merchandising. My relationship with DM began during my senior year of high school. I participated in an entrepreneurship program where my team of peers and I conceptualized and developed a product – soon to be what retailers know and love as Brush Bestie®! We were at a standstill with development when we connected with Gavin Marks, the CEO and owner of DM. He graciously showed my teammates and I around his company’s showroom and took the initiative to bring our product to life. We learned about molds, import testing, branding, and everything in between. Witnessing the realization of Brush Bestie piqued my interest in this industry, leading me to this incredible experience as an intern.

 

The first day of any internship can be quite intimidating. Being the youngest and not knowing what to expect is quite scary. When I stepped into DM’s office on my first day, everyone treated me with enthusiasm and respect. From that day on, I looked forward to attending work every day because of the amazing employees who motivated me to accomplish every task with diligence. Being an intern for the Creative Team meant I got to see the life cycle of many products, and on top of that, experience the promotional side through various marketing strategies and initiatives. 

 

I assisted in these roles by completing a variety of unique tasks, such as content creation, promotional emails, trend tracking on social media platforms, and trade show marketing fixtures. Through these tasks, I gained a wealth of knowledge and practical skills, but also feel that I learned the most from shadowing my colleagues. Their expertise and guidance are incredible, and I am extremely grateful for their mentorship and support. This internship has been an invaluable experience that I will cherish as I continue my academic and professional journey, and I cannot thank DM Merchandising enough for such a wonderful summer.