Purdue alumna brings new business to West Lafayette, launches automated beauty and wellness retail store
Leslie Roberson (left) and Kendra Bracken-Ferguson (right), co-founders of LumiNicole, recently launched an automated retail store at Krach Leadership Center. The store is located directly across from the Amazon store on the first floor. Photo provided by Administrative Operations Communications.
Purdue University’s new partnership with LumiNicole, a next-generation retail marketplace, is set to make beauty and wellness products more accessible, as well as create opportunities for internships and student engagement.
As part of the partnership, a new automated retail store is now available on the first floor of the Krach Leadership Center on the West Lafayette campus. The store offers a wide variety of products, including beauty, wellness, personal care and everyday essentials for a convenient, cashless shopping experience.
“Purdue is continually looking for thoughtful ways to enhance the student experience. This partnership expands access to beauty and wellness resources, providing a service that supports students and their ever-evolving needs,” said Jessica Robertson, associate vice president of Auxiliary Services. “It is our hope that faculty, staff and visitors take advantage of this convenient resource.”
LumiNicole’s automated retail technology incorporates real-time inventory management, intelligent merchandising and performance analytics, allowing product assortments to evolve based on demand.
Today’s students expect convenience, discovery and experiences that fit seamlessly into their lives.
Kendra Bracken-Ferguson
Co-Founder of LumiNicole and Purdue Alumna
Beyond the retail experience, Purdue and LumiNicole plan to explore opportunities for students to participate through internships, brand ambassador roles, campus activations and experiential learning initiatives.
“We want to create an experience that not only provides students with everyday essentials but also gives them opportunities to engage with entrepreneurship, retail innovation and brand building in meaningful ways,” said said Bracken-Ferguson.
Kendra founded LumiNicole with Leslie Roberson. Kendra is a 2002 Purdue graduate who earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the College of Liberal Arts. She was immersed in the student experience herself, including dancing on the Purdue Golduster Dance Team and serving as president of her sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho. Together with Leslie, they have built a multi-brand retail model designed to connect consumers with emerging and established brands in non-traditional retail environments.
“Our vision for university partnerships has always extended beyond the transaction and we’re excited to partner with Purdue as we gain momentum across higher education,” said Leslie Roberson, Co-Founder of LumiNicole. “Purdue follows the flagship launch at Adelphi University and the partnership with Student Agencies at Cornell University.”
The store in the Krach Leadership Center is currently available and fully stocked. It is one of two planned for West Lafayette, with a second store launching in the near future.
Auxiliary Services is part of the Administrative Operations organization, which supports the university with safe, reliable and transformative services. Providing students, faculty, staff and visitors with a convenient, cashless shopping experience is just one of many ways the organization powers Purdue. Be sure to follow Administrative Operations on Facebook and Instagram for frequent updates.
About Purdue University
Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 106,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 57,000 at our main campus locations in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its integrated, comprehensive Indianapolis urban expansion; the Mitch Daniels School of Business; Purdue Computes; and the One Health initiative — at www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.
About LumiNicole
LumiNicole is a next-generation retail marketplace redefining how beauty and wellness brands reach consumers in high-traffic, non-traditional environments. Through automated retail, intelligent merchandising and curated retail experiences, LumiNicole connects consumers with innovative brands across universities, airports, hotels, hospitals, residential communities and major event venues.
Founded by beauty industry veterans Kendra Bracken-Ferguson and Leslie Roberson, LumiNicole combines technology, data-driven merchandising and strategic partnerships to create a more accessible, scalable and inclusive future for retail.
For more information, visit LumiNicole.com.