��ֱ��bվ Desautels Faculty of Management - MMR News

Healthy snacks make good business sense

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 19:04:02 +0000

A 2022 study by researchers at ��ֱ��bվ Desautels revealed that when shoppers were offered a promotion that gave them a choice between a healthy snack and a pastry with their coffee, sales of healthy snacks increased by more than 1000%.

AI Is Good for Us: A Microsoft-sponsored white paper

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 18:09:18 +0000

AI has become an omnipresent topic of discussion in our daily lives, both professionally and personally. While much has been written on the challenges, risks, and pitfalls of AI (and the strong need to regulate its development and deployment carefully), it's also important to highlight its numerous benefits and positive impacts on society and the economy.

Luxury Royalmount Mall opens amid excitement and concerns

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 18:13:10 +0000

Montreal’s long-awaited luxury shopping mall Royalmount officially opened on September 5. The project, which spans 800,000 square feet, and features stores like Gucci, Versace, and Louis Vuitton, aims to attract diverse shoppers from all walks of life with an “inclusive luxury” concept. While excitement is high, concerns exist over traffic and accessibility.

Retail Gen AI Hackathon is one part of ALDO Group’s artificial intelligence efforts

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 19:26:30 +0000

Generative artificial intelligence promises to transform the way business is done, but in most industries, it’s still unclear exactly how it will be used. Footwear retailer ALDO is working with Montreal’s cluster of AI talent to explore how to leverage this emerging technology. In October 2023, ALDO staged its first Retail Gen AI Hackathon in partnership with the Bensadoun School of Retail Management and Amazon Web Services. The event offered over $10,000 in prizes to teams that worked collaboratively to devise generative AI solutions to real world retail challenges.

Pricing models for fitness memberships often hide hidden fees

��ֱ��bվ — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 18:05:10 +0000

Gym memberships come with varying price tags and fee structures that can be confusing. Often, a membership contract can come with unanticipated charges. In addition to monthly fees, some charge for signing up, cancellation costs, and annual dues, which is why it is important to do research before signing up, according to Bensadoun School of Retail Management Executive Director Charles de Brabant. “You don’t necessarily understand the natural pitfalls until you fall into them,” he tells The Globe and Mail.

Even in challenging times for department stores, Quebec-based Simons is expanding

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 18:37:28 +0000

The rise of e-commerce decimated the business of department store chains, with names like Nordstrom pulling out of Canada altogether. But, department store chain Simons recently announced it is opening two new stores in Toronto. The Quebec City-headquartered retailer has slimmed-down offerings, with no in-store furniture sales or fragrance counters and lots of private label clothing brands.

Formula drivers are celebrities, but many shy away from the limelight

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 15:56:16 +0000

Formula One drivers are undoubtedly celebrities, but many prefer to stay out of the spotlight. According to Professor Karl Moore, while many sports involve team efforts, F1 drivers face the unique challenge of competing solo, even against teammates. Despite the fame, many are introverts who have dedicated their lives to their passion, often sacrificing a typical adolescence for their sport.

Bensadoun School of Retail Management sheds light on understudied sector of the economy

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 18:19:58 +0000

From Walmart to Amazon to Shopify, the retail sector is big business and incredibly important for the economy. However, there is little retail-specific education available, according to Charles de Brabant, Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management (BSRM), in an interview with Paula Macaggi for the OFFbounds podcast.

Embracing Retail Innovation: ��ֱ��bվ’s Master of Management in Retailing Explores Dubai

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 17:08:00 +0000

��ֱ��bվ’s Master of Management in Retailing (MMR) students have returned from an enlightening journey through Dubai's dynamic retail landscape. Led by industry experts, the week-long study trip provided unparalleled insights into retail strategy and innovation in the Gulf region.

Temu’s low prices are drawing in consumers despite product quality issues

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 16:44:19 +0000

The online marketplace Temu, launched in 2022, has become one of the most downloaded apps in North America. The platform is known for ultra-low prices, though the quality and safety of the products it sells are sometimes suspect. “If I understand their business model correctly, they sell products at a loss, and make money from the data they collect,” said Bensadoun School of Retail Management (BSRM) Executive Director Charles de Brabant in an interview with Radio-Canada.

Montreal’s La Vie en Rose is wise to take a gradual approach to U.S. expansion

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 19:18:33 +0000

Lingerie retailer La Vie en Rose operates in 20 countries, but they haven’t expanded to the neighbouring United States – until now. The Montreal-headquartered company is opening three stores in New York state, with an eye cast toward operating nationwide one day. But with a more crowded market for lingerie in the United States, they’re taking a cautious approach.

Businesses would benefit from deeper understanding of artificial intelligence

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 19:57:50 +0000

Generative AI has recently garnered significant attention, yet many individuals possess only a superficial understanding of the technology, as outlined by Professor Maxime Cohen in an open letter published in Le Devoir. Co-authored with Pierre Graff, Marie-Chantal Leduc, and Bertrand Milot, the letter emphasizes the necessity for businesses to enhance their comprehension of what AI can offer and what it cannot.

In times of crisis, there can be benefits to diversifying messages across different social media accounts

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 16:23:01 +0000

We live in an age of information, and we’re able to obtain it through many different channels. During disasters, many people turn to social media, and there is an orthodoxy in the field of crisis communications that organizations should speak in a consistent voice across different accounts and platforms. But Changseung Yoo is challenging that notion.

Small businesses can also benefit from AI

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 16:19:11 +0000

Big businesses are deploying artificial intelligence to streamline their supply chains, cut labour costs, and better understand their customers. For small- and medium-sized enterprises, keeping pace can be a daunting task.

Local bakery works with the Bensadoun School of Retail Management to guide move to check-out automation process

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 18:10:41 +0000

The pandemic hit many businesses hard, and the artisanal bakery and café Mamie Clafoutis was one of them. Their seven locations in Montreal and Ottawa were forced to reduce their hours to one shift per day. As they’ve emerged from the storm, they have sought ways to keep their costs low, and one of them is by automating checkout. Working with the Bensadoun School of Retail Management (BSRM), Mamie Clafoutis is sensitizing its clientele to the idea of self-checkout by stationing a single employee to oversee the process. But they have ambitions to become even more automated.

Maxime Cohen and Saibal Ray named Top Retail Experts for 2024

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 17:39:44 +0000

Two faculty members of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management (BSRM) have been named to Rethink Retail’s Top Retail Experts (TRE) list for 2024, one of the most prestigious global accolades in the Retail and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry.

MMR student shares how L'Oréal Brandstorm led to internship

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 20:41:01 +0000

Last year, after months of hard work and 'brandstorming', two ��ֱ��bվ Desautels teams took the podium at the 31st annual L'Oréal Brandstorm competition, competing against top teams from across Canada! Madison Laxer and her fellow Master of Management in Retailing (MMR) teammates, Aditi Bali and Supreet Kaur, took third place. Madison reflects on her experience participating in the case competition and how it even led to an internship.

Holiday grocery price freeze includes more products this year, but long-term affordability solutions needed

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 18:20:32 +0000

This year, Canada’s large grocery chains are freezing the price for a greater variety of items than usual before the holidays. While 10-15% more products are included in the freeze this year, the true test of affordability will come later. “How high will grocery prices be when the price freeze ends?” asks Professor Saibal Ray in an interview with CBC Radio’s As It Happens.

New Royalmount real estate development will bring greater luxury retail options to Montreal

��ֱ��bվ — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 17:26:20 +0000

Among the low-rise industrial buildings that line the northern end of Décarie Boulevard, a major new shopping centre is taking shape. The $7-billion Royalmount luxury retail and lifestyle centre is slated to open in summer 2024, after numerous construction delays.

Two ��ֱ��bվ Desautels units achieve silver sustainability certification

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 17:57:31 +0000

This Fall, ��ֱ��bվ awarded new Sustainable Workplace Certifications to nine units. Among them, two ��ֱ��bվ Desautels units earned the silver-level distinction: The Bensadoun School of Retail Management (BSRM) and IT Customer Services Team.

Canada's big grocery chains face pressure to cut prices as food costs rise

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 17:54:42 +0000

Food prices rose by 5.8 per cent in September, prompting the federal government to ask Canada’s five largest grocery chains to provide a plan for how they will stabilize prices, with staple products a likely focus. “High transportation costs, inventory issues and other pressures driving up costs are subsiding,” says Professor Saibal Ray, who specializes in Operations Management. Ray, commenting to Financial Post and Toronto Star, suspects the grocers’ promises to Ottawa will involve price cuts.

Automated checkout technology allows workers to focus on higher-value tasks

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 16:10:24 +0000

Amazon Go, convenience stores that eliminate the check-out process, are coming to Canada. Customers can use a debit card, credit card or payment-enabled phone to enter, select and buy items, and simply walk out of the store. Amazon introduced the cashierless stores in the U.S. in 2018 and is now opening locations in Calgary and Toronto. "The growth in this sector is remarkable, with a significant amount of investment pouring in," says Professor Maxime Cohen in interview with CBC.

Bensadoun School of Retail Management Road Shows work with businesspeople in rural Quebec

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 17:58:15 +0000

The way that we shop is changing, and for small- and medium-sized enterprises, it can be challenging to keep up with the pace of innovation. But the Bensadoun School of Retail Management (BSRM) is helping them do it. Since spring 2023, it has been hosting regional networking events that meet Quebec businesspeople where they live and work. Regional roadshows aim to help SMEs become omni-channel retailers, and consist of workshops that showcase the innovative research happening at BSRM.

AI tools boost and optimize productivity in the retail sector

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 20:34:33 +0000

Artificial intelligence (AI) will give productivity a major boost in the retail sector, according Maxime Cohen, Professor of Retail and Operations Management at ��ֱ��bվ Desautels, home to the Bensadoun School of Retail Management (BSRM)’s retail innovation lab.

BSRM and MMA launch Data Sphere Lab

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 18:27:29 +0000

The Bensadoun School of Retail Management, in collaboration with the Master of Management in Analytics (MMA) at ��ֱ��bվ Desautels Faculty of Management, is pleased to announce the launch of the Data Sphere Lab.

Consumers take time to adapt to frictionless check-out technology

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 20:09:24 +0000

Technologies like artificial intelligence are changing the way we shop. But change can be intimidating, and people can be reluctant to adopt it. The Bensadoun School of Retail Management’s Retail Innovation Lab provides such an example. At the highly automated Couche-Tard location on ��ֱ��bվ campus, cameras in the store allow customers to make frictionless purchases that don’t require bar codes to be scanned. Still, many people don’t want to use them.

Couche-Tard's Retail Innovation Lab is the store of the future

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 14:57:02 +0000

AI's impact on retail is set to revolutionize the industry, from crowd measurement to price management, changing the in-store experience significantly. Certified analytics and marketing intelligence professional Christian Bourque explains how infrared technology is currently used to analyze foot traffic levels and reveal the upcoming technological frontier in retail, stating that ��ֱ��bվ’s Retail Innovation Lab in the Bronfman pavilion exemplifies the store of the future.

CNBC looks to Dobson Centre for advice on annual disruptor list

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 17 May 2023 15:42:45 +0000

Even in a year that venture capitalists’ go-to bank collapsed, and venture capital funding slowed to a trickle, the disruptive power of startups has never been clearer. The 2023 CNBC Disruptor 50 list was the eleventh iteration of the list, and the top spot should come as no surprise. The generative artificial intelligence company OpenAI is the maker of ChatGPT, and no new technological application has created more buzz since the dawn of social media – or even the web itself.

Vaudreuil-Soulanges entrepreneurs connect with BSRM researchers to learn retail best practices

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 20:45:38 +0000

About sixty entrepreneurs from Vaudreuil-Soulanges region joined Desautels faculty and staff for a conference on best practices in retail.

Shift to shorter commercial leases creates niche for temporary pop-up activities

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 20:09:00 +0000

E-commerce has made it possible to order almost anything online, but that has made it more challenging for brick-and-mortar retailers to attract shoppers and with more stores sitting vacant, some shopping malls have gotten creative, and added temporary pop-up activities like roller skating and haunted houses. Before the pandemic, commercial landlords demanded multi-year leases, said Charles de Brabant, executive director at ��ֱ��bվ’s Bensadoun School of Retail Management.

��ֱ��bվ takes 2nd and 3rd place at L'Oréal Brandstorm Canada 2023

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 19:47:44 +0000

After months of hard work and 'brandstorming', two ��ֱ��bվ teams took the podium at the 31st annual L'Oréal Brandstorm National Competition in Canada, competing against top teams from across the country. BCom students Laetitia Doumet, Jo-Esther Abou Haidar and Andrea Salem (far right) placed 2nd, while Master of Management in Retailing (MMR) students Madison Laxer, Aditi Bali and Supreet Kaur (far left) took 3rd place.

Maxime Cohen and Saibal Ray named Top Retail Influencers for 2023

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 19:20:30 +0000

Two faculty members of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management were named to Rethink Retail’s Top Retail Influencers list for 2023. Professors Maxime Cohen and Saibal Ray were both recognized with this distinction, alongside some of the world’s top retail experts, consultants, analysts, academics, journalists, and thought leaders who are making an impact in the online retail community.

Excess inventory encourages steeper discounts in Black Friday sales

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 18:46:40 +0000

2021 was an anti-climactic year for Black Friday sales. Global supply chains had been disrupted, inventory was very low, and demand was very high. So, retailers had little incentive to sell items at discounted prices. 2022 has been a little different, said Prof Maxime Cohen in an interview with CTV News. Some supply chain disruptions have been alleviated, and there is excess inventory in certain product categories. This set of circumstances encourages retailers to discount products more aggressively.

Circular economy can help mitigate environmental impact of frenzied Black Friday shopping

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 15:40:52 +0000

Black Friday offers cut-rate deals, but low prices can come with a high environmental cost. If shoppers don’t make choices wisely, their purchases could end up in the landfill.

ICSC conference offers MMR students opportunities to learn and network

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 15:32:22 +0000

The Innovating Commerce Serving Communities (ICSC) conference in Toronto aims to create connections and catalyze deals between the innovators, dealmakers and changemakers who are driving retail forward. The Bensadoun School of Retail Management was well represented at this year’s three-day expo and networking event, which was held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Aldo Bensadoun gives master class at Bensadoun School of Retail Management

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 18:50:48 +0000

Aldo Bensadoun began his career at a chemical company, but that didn’t align with his values – or his vision. The entrepreneur launched ALDO in 1972, with a vision of love, respect, and integrity. Fifty years later, the company has more than 3,000 stores around the world.

Retail power in distribution channels: A double-edged sword for upstream suppliers

��ֱ��bվ — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 20:23:24 +0000

Authors: Yuhong He, Saibal Ray and Shuya Yin

Publication: Production and Operations Management
Volume 31, Issue 6, June 2022, Pages 2681 – 2694

Abstract:

AI-driven automated checkouts are coming soon to Couche-Tard’s Quebec locations

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 07 Sep 2022 16:44:13 +0000

Over the next two years, Alimentation Couche-Tard is installing more than 7,000 automated check-outs that use artificial intelligence to recognize the products that customers want to purchase, without having to scan each item individually. There are already more than 500 of these point-of-sale units in place – including at the Bensadoun School of Retail Management’s Retail Innovation Lab, where Alimentation Couche-Tard tested the technology. It has been deployed at locations in Arizona, and is being tested in South Carolina and Denmark.

Professor Yoo awarded 2022-2023 FRQSC New Academics Grant

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 20:03:52 +0000

Congratulations to Changseung Yoo, Assistant Professor, Bensadoun School of Retail Management with affiliation to Information Systems Area, who has been awarded the 2022-2023 FRQSC New Academics Grant (Soutien à la recherche pour la relève professorale) for his project titled “Social Media Content Creation Strategies and Engagement During Disasters” (“Stratégies de création de contenu et de mobilisation pour les médias sociaux pendant les catastrophes”).

Health data analytics can help improve access to health care

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 17:33:31 +0000

Health questionnaires are time-consuming – for doctors and patients alike. “The digitalization of all of those questions would allow patients to do lot of work before visiting a physician,” says Maxime Cohen, a Professor of Retail and Operations Management at Desautels and the Chief AI officer for ELNA Medical, Canada’s largest network of clinics. That would save a lot of time, and could help physicians see more patients, and increase access to health care for more people.

The novelty of celebrity collaborations can drive sales, build brands

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 18:19:03 +0000

For years, paparazzi have been clicking candid shots of Justin Bieber cradling Tim Hortons coffee cups, but it still came as a surprise to see Biebs Brew become an official menu item at Canada’s most popular coffee chain. The novelty aspect of this type of collaboration can help drive sales, said Charles de Brabant in a story in The Globe and Mail. Biebs Brew might only be available for a limited time, but some collaborations can last for decades – like those between athletes and apparel brands.

Management Masters Office achieves Gold-Level Sustainable Workplace Certification

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 18:09:44 +0000

Improvements in sustainability are often motivated by a desire to reduce environmental impact, but for the ��ֱ��bվ Management Masters Office, friendly competition plays a role too. In 2021, Sustainable Workplace Ambassador Wesley McCoy challenged a colleague to see who could reach Bronze-level Sustainable Workplace Certification first. The Management Masters Office achieved that goal, and then some. It was recently certified at the gold level, and the effort has had a profound impact on work habits in the office, according to Lauren Houghton, also an Ambassador.

Montreal named top Canadian city for students

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 15:09:55 +0000

After naming ��ֱ��bվ Canada’s top university earlier this month, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has ranked Montreal as the most desirable Canadian city to be a student, and one of the most sought-after and praised destinations for international students in the world.

��ֱ��bվ Desautels Masters Office attains Gold level of sustainability certification

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 19:17:34 +0000

After receiving a Silver certification under the ��ֱ��bվ Sustainable Workplace Certification program, the ��ֱ��bվ Desautels Masters Office has taken it to the next level, earning its Gold certification. The Sustainable Workplace Certification program challenges the ��ֱ��bվ community to foster healthier, environmentally friendly, connected workplaces through individual and collective practices. Congratulations to our Masters team for this stellar achievement; next up, Platinum!

Taxing waste could help make fashion more sustainable

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 16:30:46 +0000

Reducing waste can help lower the environmental impact of any business, and Javad Nasiry believes that policy can help achieve this. The fashion industry is a major source of carbon emissions, and fast fashion retailers have made it worse with low-quality apparel designed to be worn only a few times.

Technology used in Retail Innovation Lab to be deployed at scale

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 16:24:08 +0000

��ֱ��bվ’s Retail Innovation Lab is a testing ground for new technologies, and an automated check-out system that it is currently using will be deployed in 7000 Couche-Tard and Circle K locations. The computer vision technology uses eight cameras to automatically detect multiple items simultaneously at check-out, and Couche-Tard’s Vishnu Subramaniam gave TVA Nouvelles a demo of the cutting-edge tech in action – no scanning required.

��ֱ��bվ’s Retail Innovation Lab is the first frictionless store in Canada

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 20:34:20 +0000

At a glance, the Couche-Tard in the Bronfman Building looks much like any other. But it is actually an innovative research facility that uses technology to improve our understanding consumer behaviour. Known as the Retail Innovation Lab, a partnership between ��ֱ��bվ’s Bensadoun School of Retail Management and Alimentation Couche-Tard, it is the first frictionless store in Canada. At the Retail Innovation Lab, computer vision systems recognize grab-and-go items in real time, and payments are processed digitally, so customers can shop quickly.

Delve: How Predictive Data Analysis Illuminates the Future of Retail, with Maxime Cohen

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 27 May 2022 17:06:27 +0000

Artificial Intelligence innovation thrives in an environment where business arenas, fundamental research, and thought leadership overlap. As seen in recent AI initiatives in Montreal, determining the capacities of AI and related data analytics applications is essential to understanding how they will play out in the wider world, whether analyzing healthcare data or implementing predictive analytics in retail.

Delve: Could New Algorithms Ensure Everyone Pays Fair Prices Online?

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 19 May 2022 19:33:23 +0000

Dynamic pricing algorithms set the prices we pay online—and few rules govern how they work. Even if an algorithm doesn’t ostensibly consider race at all, research shows that it can be biased and discriminatory on the basis of race, as well as gender, economic level, and other personal information openly gathered from consumers.

Ultra-fast fashion company Shein has grown rapidly, but product quality could limit growth

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 18 May 2022 19:25:27 +0000

You might not know Shein’s brand, but chances are you’ve seen their clothing. The Chinese fast fashion company has quickly and quietly grown into an e-commerce giant. Shein targets young shoppers with an online-only business model and rock-bottom prices. They have been able to scale quickly because without physical shopfronts, Shein can sell anywhere that it can ship their products. But companies shouldn’t try to compete with Shein on price, according to Charles de Brabant, the Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management.

Professor Maxime Cohen makes Poets&Quants 2022 Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professors list

��ֱ��bվ — Mon, 16 May 2022 17:03:34 +0000

Poets&Quants has named Professor Maxime Cohen to its annual Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professors of 2022 list. The influential business school news site annually recognizes professors under the age of 40 who are masters in the classroom, influence business and policy, are prolific researchers and have demonstrated meaningful impact on their fields.

The pandemic forced brick and mortar retailers like ALDO to reimagine what a physical retail space can be: CEO David Bensadoun

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 11 May 2022 17:24:40 +0000

The pandemic hit brick and mortar retailers hard. Lockdowns pushed consumers toward e-commerce websites. ALDO was forced to close more than 250 stores, but it rapidly pivoted its business model to accommodate changing retail trends, says ALDO CEO David Bensadoun, who spoke to undergraduate and graduate students from Professor Marie Josée Lamothe's classes at the Bensadoun School of Retail Management.

Executives should understand what data tells them about the present – and the future

��ֱ��bվ — Mon, 02 May 2022 18:36:04 +0000

Data can tell you a lot about the current state of business, and what the future holds. That’s information that companies can use to make strategic decisions, and it is multiplying quickly. Up to 90 per cent of all data was created in the past two years alone. To leverage, Prof. Maxime Cohen recommends executive education programs in data science as a way to understand the possibilities, and communicate effectively with data scientists.

High margin impulse buys can help retailers boost profits

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 15:02:44 +0000

The check-out counter is the last place paying customers visit before they leave the store – and it is a retailer’s last chance to make a sale. The counter and the aisles that lead up to it are called a cash wrap, and can be arranged to entice customers to made additional purchases. A good cash wrap should incentivize impulse buys without being pushy, according to Prof. Maxime Cohen, a Professor of Retail and Operations Management at Desautels.

In-store shopping technologies can replicate the ease of online shopping

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 18:36:47 +0000

Standing in a check-out line is the least pleasant part of the shopping experience – and it could become a thing of the past. New technology is allowing shoppers to make in-store purchases with their phones, and a variety of self-checkout pilot projects are already underway at stores in Montreal. Some are as simple as scanning a QR code, and confirming your credit card information.

Victor Luis shares success story in Retail Leaders Talk

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 15:29:55 +0000

Victor Luis, Chairman and CEO of Moose Knuckles, explains his unique view on success and how he rose through the corporate ladder during the Bensadoun School of Retail Management Retail Leaders Talk. Students in the Master of Management in Retailing (MMR) were given insights into how to view success and pave one's own way rather than following others.

Online impulse buys have helped some cope with pandemic disruptions

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 20:19:05 +0000

During lockdowns, access to luxury services was severely limited. Fine dining establishments were reduced to haute cuisine in take-out containers, and spas forced to close altogether. But some shoppers have tried to fill that void with consumer goods. Everyone’s life was disrupted, but those who kept their jobs had some extra money in their pocket, and many of them spent it, says Charles de Brabant, Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management.

��ֱ��bվ Desautels Master’s Office receives new level of sustainability certification

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 20:31:01 +0000

After receiving a bronze certification under the ��ֱ��bվ Sustainable Workplace Certification program, the ��ֱ��bվ Desautels Master’s Office has taken it to the next level, earning its silver certification. The Sustainable Workplace Certification program challenges the ��ֱ��bվ community to foster healthier, environmentally friendly, connected workplaces through individual and collective practices. Congratulations to our Master’s team for this stellar achievement; keep up the good work!

Prof. Maxime Cohen lands new role

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 20:18:39 +0000

Canada’s largest integrated network of medical clinics is using technological innovation to improve the patient-physician experience, and Bensadoun School of Retail Management Prof. Maxime Cohen will help them do it. ELNA Medical recently announced that Cohen will be their first Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer. The Professor of Retail and Operations Management will use his expertise AI to help ELNA Medical achieve better health outcomes for their patients.

Turning a new leaf in the service industry

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 20:13:39 +0000

Workers in the service industry have often endured low wages, few benefits, and poor treatment. The pandemic has changed what they are willing to accept, and employers can no longer afford to treat workers like they can be easily replaced, says Charles de Brabant, the Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management. With workers in high demand, many will simply move on from a bad situation, but companies can help reduce the strain on their workforce through measures like reduced operating hours.

Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) & Bensadoun School join forces

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 15:31:23 +0000

A generous donation from the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) will support the Retail Innovation Challenge at the Bensadoun School of Retail Management by contributing to the development of the next generation of retailers. This partnership will help to deepen the Bensadoun School’s ties with Québec’s business ecosystem and further shape the future of retail.

Prof. Maxime Cohen to develop AI systems in healthcare

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 18:44:34 +0000

Congratulations to Professor Maxime Cohen, Desautels’ Scale AI Chair in Data Science for Retail, on his recent appointment as ELNA Medical’s inaugural Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer. In his new role, Cohen will leverage AI methodologies to improve health access and outcomes at primary and specialty care clinics across Canada.

The unique magic of luxury

��ֱ��bվ — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 19:21:15 +0000

What makes luxury? Is champagne’s charm found in its effervescent lightness, or the ceremony of its uncorking? It can be both. Consumers will pay a premium for all kinds of reasons, and luxury goods acquire their reputations through their rarity, provenance, or workmanship. But luxury is also in the eye of the beholder, according to Charles de Brabant, the Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management. Once the exclusive domain of the rich, luxury goods are now more widely consumed than ever before.

Bensadoun MMR is defined by experiential learning

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 16:42:33 +0000

The ��ֱ��bվ Bensadoun Master of Management in Retailing (MMR) continues to reinvent retail education through offering experiential learning opportunities. By solving real problems in collaboration with industry partners during their internships, MMR students gain early career experience and establish meaningful connections with mentors even before they graduate.

MMR Retail Leaders series features John Gerhardt

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 04 Feb 2022 19:07:36 +0000

John Gerhardt, Creative Director at Moët Hennessy (LVMH), recently spoke with Master of Management in Retailing (MMR) students about brand identity, sustainability, creativity, and his career trajectory. For Gerhardt, creativity is a vital business skill that ensures differentiation, and he feels risk-taking is crucial to being successful.

Desautels Masters Office earns certificate of sustainability

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 04 Feb 2022 15:57:59 +0000

Four ��ֱ��bվ offices, including the Desautels Faculty of Management Masters Office, have committed to advancing sustainability in concrete ways through the Sustainable Workplace Certification program. In the year ahead, the Masters Office will strive to reduce its ecological footprint with the goal of moving from bronze-level certification to gold and platinum.

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How far is too far for retail innovation?

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 22:24:08 +0000

Professor Saibal Ray, academic director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, is concerned that the ongoing rise in retail technologies like self-checkout kiosks and smartphone-based order facilities may backfire as some shoppers find these features inconvenient and frustrating. While technology has proven useful for navigating social distancing guidelines, it can only go so far before it disrupts people’s sense of comfort and control, he says.

New trucker vaccine mandate adds to supply chain woes

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 22:14:23 +0000

As of January 15, truckers crossing from the U.S. to Canada must show proof of vaccination to enter the country. Canadian truckers are exempt from the federal mandate but must quarantine for 14 days upon their return. In a recent broadcast of “CBC News: The National,” Professor Saibal Ray, Academic Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, says the mandate could result in significant supply shortages. The segment begins at the 8:50 mark.

Desautels professor named top retail influencer in 2022

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 22:09:08 +0000

Congratulations to Professor Maxime Cohen for making Rethink Retail’s list of Top Retail Influencers of 2022 in the academia category. Recognized for his groundbreaking leadership as co-director of ��ֱ��bվ’s Retail Innovation Lab, Professor Cohen is making a name for himself at the forefront of retail transformation.

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Making investing more transparent

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 20:02:13 +0000

In a new paper, Professor Maxime Cohen and his colleagues push for IPOs to adopt “triggered disclosures” instead of one-size-fits-all disclosures about their operations. Although currently voluntary, mandatory triggered disclosures would maintain company privacy while setting a precedent for greater transparency with investors.

Pushing back against fast fashion

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 19:39:23 +0000

The past five years have seen a rise in privately owned apparel resale companies, bucking previous trends toward fast fashion. Between ongoing clothing supply shortages and growing concern about sustainability, younger Millennials and Gen Zers are turning to curated vintage retailers to stock their wardrobes, explains Anwar White, Program Director of the Master of Management in Retailing.

Retailers are hoping for better days ahead after Omicron

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 19:10:09 +0000

In recent weeks, the highly transmissible Omicron variant has dampened once-sunny retail forecasts for 2022. But according to Charles de Brabant, Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, Canadian retailers may experience a sizable increase in sales after emerging from the latest round of lockdowns.

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Shedding light on liquor shortages

��ֱ��bվ — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 22:47:22 +0000

Amid supply chain bottlenecks overseas, Canada is facing a significant shortage of imported liquor, leading provincial liquor authorities to encourage early, local shopping for holiday favourites. According to Professor Saibal Ray, Academic Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, the ongoing scarcity of transportation resources is only making the shortage more acute.

Transforming revenue into community impact

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 17:57:27 +0000

When COVID-19 hit Canada, Catherine Dagenais (EMBA’18) successfully maintained employee and consumer operations at SAQ, Quebec’s liquor commission. As the government retailer’s CEO since 2018, Dagenais spearheaded company efforts to implement strict sanitary protocols and develop contactless delivery solutions to meet consumer needs. Under Dagenais’ innovative leadership, SAQ plays a pivotal role in giving back to Quebec, generating $35 million in weekly government revenue to fund schools, hospitals, and other services.

Building sustainable brands

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 17:51:55 +0000

In an upcoming Retail Leaders Talk, Liza Amlani will speak with Master of Management in Retailing (MMR) students about her vision for helping retail brands build more equitable and sustainable strategies.

As the founder of Retail Strategy Group, a consulting firm that helps retailers build more effective organizations, Amlani believes data and technology can be leveraged to create climate-conscious and consumer-facing solutions to a vast array of industry problems, from sourcing materials to selling a final product.

Storytelling in luxury retail

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 17:49:36 +0000

Earlier this fall, Master of Management in Retailing (MMR) students had the chance to hear from Lanita Layton, a luxury retail and brand consultant with over two decades of retail experience. Throughout the pandemic, Layton stood at the forefront of helping companies reimagine their brand stories to sustain loyal relationships with existing customers and expand their reach to new audiences.

This holiday season is make-or-break for retailers

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 17:11:40 +0000

In light of ongoing supply chain bottlenecks and labour shortages, businesses may not offer their deepest discounts this holiday season. According to Professor Saibal Ray, the Academic Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, 2021 sales will signal whether many retailers can stay afloat despite production delays.

Shedding light on the supply chain dilemma

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 20:51:32 +0000

As retailers anticipate a welcome uptick in sales amid the holiday shopping season, manufacturing and delivery delays continue to limit just how much profit retailers can expect.

IKEA Canada's Michael Ward shares vision of a retail future with MMR cohort

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 16:59:28 +0000

In a recent Master of Management in Retailing Retail Leaders Talk event, guest speaker Michael Ward, CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer of IKEA Canada, shared his insights on business from a digital and global perspective. Following the discussion, students had the chance to ask questions, allowing them to engage with the material further and gain a deeper understanding.

Black Friday: Forever changed by COVID-19 and digitization?

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 16:30:06 +0000

With online shopping more convenient than ever, Anwar White, Program Director of the Master of Management in Retailing, discusses how retailers have adapted their strategy around Black Friday to drive innovation, offering lessons for future leaders in retail.

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Retail Innovation Lab inaugurated by Quebec Minister of the Economy

��ֱ��bվ — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 22:06:46 +0000

The Retail Innovation Lab at ��ֱ��bվ in partnership with Alimentation Couche-Tard has been officially inaugurated by Lucie Lecours, Quebec’s Minister of the Economy. As the first of its kind in the world dedicated to on-the-ground simulation research for retail technology, the lab represents monumental progress and future growth for the Bensadoun School of Retail Management and its industry collaborators.

Slowing the vehicle supply chain

��ֱ��bվ — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 21:47:31 +0000

In the race to cut down on global carbon emissions, many experts are turning their attention to automotive manufacturers and their customers. As a potential solution to slowing the vehicle supply chain, Professor Saibal Ray, Academic Director at the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, suggests a collective pivot toward car rentals or other ride-share services in place of purchasing personal vehicles. The move would significantly decrease the number of cars in factories and on the road.

Retailers can ease customer anxiety after the pandemic changed grocery shopping

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 21:04:54 +0000

COVID-19 caused massive shifts in the way we do even the most mundane of things. Take grocery shopping, for example. This past October, Dr. Yu Ma, Associate Professor of Marketing and Academic Director of the Master of Management in Retailing (MMR), spoke at Grocery Innovations Canada. Here, he shared his insights on how COVID-19 has transformed the grocery shopping environment and what retailers can do to mitigate shopping anxiety and provide a positive shopping experience for consumers.

Finding solutions for fair, online pricing

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 13:52:59 +0000

With e-commerce here to stay, dynamic pricing algorithms are adjusting what individual consumers pay for their items online using a complex system of price comparisons and purchase histories. In a new episode of the podcast "In Machines We Trust,” produced by MIT Technology Review, Professor Maxime Cohen recommends clearer regulations for data collection to better protect the privacy and fair pricing experience of consumers.

Alimentation Couche-Tard expands frictionless retail experience

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 22:06:40 +0000

Through its partnership with the retail innovation lab, Alimentation Couche-Tard is working steadily to develop frictionless shopping solutions using AI tracking and smartphone technology.

Now, the company is expanding its efforts to pioneer a new customer experience as Circle K, one of its daughter brands, rolls out a fully frictionless option in several Arizona stores.

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Explore a ��ֱ��bվ Desautels graduate business degree

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 21:41:37 +0000

Whether you are looking to begin an MBA or delve deeper into the world of finance, retail or analytics, when considering a graduate degree there are four main things to look at: what you learn, who you learn it from, who you learn it with, and who else has learned it. In other words, the curriculum, the faculty, your classmates, and the alumni.

Welcoming inaugural cohort of MMR program

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 20:28:07 +0000

On September 1, 2021, the first ever cohort in the Master of Management in Retailing (MMR) commenced with 31 students in total. Hailing from eight nations across the world and with eight languages spoken among them, this cohort features a diverse set of academic backgrounds. Our inaugural class holds degrees in economics, finance, business, engineering, marketing and communications, and retail management, from universities around the globe. Welcome to our first ever MMR students!

Raising the bar for real-world learning in analytics and retail

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 00:30:28 +0000

KPI Digital entrepreneur Benny Cohen (BCom’82) shares business acumen and scholarship support with students in ��ֱ��bվ’s Master of Management in Analytics (MMA) and Master of Management in Retail (MMR) programs.

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Where technology meets retail

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 14:34:22 +0000

According to Charles de Brabant, Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, investing in smart technologies may help retailers profit in the long-term despite a steep upfront cost. In a pandemic world, frictionless alternatives to face-to-face interactions prioritize consumer safety, which could lead to increased brand loyalty and in-person browsing.

Weekend hope for retail

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 14:05:59 +0000

The labour shortage created by the pandemic forced many large retailers to decrease their hours of operation, leading to significant revenue losses, particularly over weekends. As the academic year progresses, Charles de Brabant, Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, predicts more students will be willing to work weekends if it means regaining some semblance of normal, pre-pandemic life.

��ֱ��bվ’s Retail Innovation Lab can help solve labor shortage in Quebec

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 14:00:38 +0000

Eric Bosco, the head of business development and partnerships at MITACS, provides recommendations for solving the current labour shortage in Quebec. He cites the Bensadoun School of Retail Management’s new Retail Innovation Laboratory as an essential partner in encouraging and supporting innovation within local companies.

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Uptick in back-to-school spending

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 13:52:37 +0000

Across Canada and the U.S., schools are opening their doors for in-person learning, causing a spike in back-to-school revenues that retailers haven’t seen since before the pandemic. Anwar White, Program Director of the Master of Management in Retailing, predicts that parents will spend more money than usual on supplies in their eagerness to give their children a normal back-to-school experience.

In-store technology is transforming retail spaces

��ֱ��bվ — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 17:58:51 +0000

Throughout the pandemic, in-store technologies like price-check kiosks and self-checkout have created a more convenient shopping experience for consumers and provided retailers with greater access to valuable data on shopping habits. But consumers are concerned about privacy, and retailers may not have the necessary resources to purchase and upkeep in-store tech.

Discovering a new normal in retail

��ֱ��bվ — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 18:35:55 +0000

As national borders and business doors open once again, retail experts are taking a careful look at how this newfound freedom and mobility impacts consumer behaviour. According to Anwar White, Program Director of the Master of Management in Retailing, many retailers are concerned about how to bring customers back in-store in a time when online shopping is becoming an increasingly convenient and reliable option. On the other hand, he says, some shoppers miss the old days just enough to set foot in-store for a more traditional shopping experience.

Frictionless shopping pays off

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 14:25:43 +0000

As convenient becomes more synonymous with contactless, Professor Saibal Ray, Academic Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, sees a wealth of opportunity for retailers to innovate.

By providing more digital options, both in-store and online, retailers can set the stage for a boost in sales and customer loyalty that exceeds their investment in technology upgrades.

Gauging progress in Canada’s vaccination efforts

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 09 Jun 2021 13:43:26 +0000

Professor Saibal Ray, Academic Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, joins a group of experts on the Bill Kelly Show podcast to share his perspective on the status of Canada’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout initiative, including the growing pressure to expand vaccine access on a global scale.

Desautels thought leadership publication Delve launches delve.mcgill.ca and new podcast episodes

��ֱ��bվ — Mon, 31 May 2021 13:03:00 +0000

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Delve, the thought leadership publication of ��ֱ��bվ’s Desautels Faculty of Management, has examined how organizations grapple with a rapidly changing world. In the spirit of embracing transformation and leveraging insight from the latest management research, Delve launches into uncharted post-pandemic directions with a new website and “New Normal” podcast episodes, aiming to inspire conversation and shift perspectives on some of the most consequential economic, social, and ecological topics of our time.

Luxury retailer embraces athleisure during pandemic

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 27 May 2021 21:59:48 +0000

Menswear retailer Harry Rosen Inc. built its brand by dressing Canadian men in tailored designer suits, but the mass exodus from offices and boardrooms across the country during the pandemic sent demand spiraling downward. In response, Harry Rosen expanded its casual collections and made a foray into the male grooming and personal care product arena.

Anwar White, Program Director for the Master of Management in Retailing, weighs in on the luxury brand’s ongoing efforts to address shifting demand.

Delve - The "New Normal" podcast: Black Swan Event with Saibal Ray

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 21 May 2021 20:36:07 +0000

In episode 1 of The ‘New Normal’ hosted by Dave Kaufman, Professor Saibal Ray highlights the successes and failures of the COVID-19 vaccine procurement and global distribution, compares Israel's effort to Canada's, and questions if Canada will want to do all that’s necessary to be prepared should similar incidents arise in the future.

Delve - "New Normal" podcast: Grocery Shopping Anxiety with Yu Ma

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 21 May 2021 20:42:18 +0000

In episode 3 of The ‘New Normal’ hosted by Dave Kaufman, Professor Yu Ma discusses how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected our relation to grocery stores, how shopping has changed in the last year, and what can be done from a technological perspective to improve the shopping experience and perhaps even help the consumer make more informed and healthier choices at the store.

The pace of technological innovation picks up in Canada’s retail sector

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 13 May 2021 14:18:30 +0000

The retail innovation lab at the Bensadoun School of Retail Management is redefining the way technology and consumer behaviour impacts the retail experience. Professor Maxime Cohen and Charles de Brabant reflect on the push for a safer, more frictionless experience in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Canada’s fashion retailers are under pressure to go green

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 28 Apr 2021 20:15:18 +0000

For Canada’s fashion retailers, reinvention is critical to success in a business landscape where consumers are becoming more aware of the impact of the fashion industry on global climate change and other forms of environmental degradation. Anwar White, Program Director for the Master of Management in Retailing program, shares his insights on the steps that brands should take to reduce their environmental footprint and appeal to a new generation of consumers.

Vaccine benefits far outweigh the risks

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 16:01:56 +0000

Professor Saibal Ray, Academic Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, joins the Scott Thompson Show to offer his perspective on the safety of AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines in the wake of health scares.

Listen (from 3:45 – 16:50)

Predicting the future of domestic vaccine production

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 13:05:25 +0000

Professor Saibal Ray joins the Scott Thompson Show podcast to answers questions about current state of COVID-19 vaccine acquisition across Canada. Recently, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a substantial provincial investment in the construction of a new, state-of-the-art influenza vaccine facility.

Preparing future retail leaders for post-pandemic world

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 18:29:50 +0000

Anwar White, Program Director for the Master of Management in Retailing (MMR) program, recently joined “The Voice of Retail'' podcast with Michael LeBlanc to discuss everything from the Faculty’s new retail innovation lab to future directions in retail.

He points to social media as the greatest factor in evolving retail trends, stressing that companies must continuously innovate post-pandemic to stay competitive.

Online shopping convenient but isolating

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 18:25:17 +0000

Professor Yu Ma, Academic Director of the Master of Management in Retailing (MMR) program, weighs in on the ongoing impact of the pandemic on Canadian retail trends, particularly the steep rise in e-commerce. From his perspective, the convenience of online shopping comes at the expense of the social aspect that encourages customers to spend their money in-store.

Canadian retail recovering from pandemic ahead of schedule

��ֱ��bվ — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 13:46:11 +0000

Emerging ‘shop local’ trends have helped set the Canadian retail industry on a fast track to recovery despite pandemic-induced closures.

According to Charles de Brabant, Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, the sense of community pride that has motivated shoppers to shop local makes all the difference for Canadian retailers that are struggling to weather the pandemic.

��ֱ��bվ’s retail innovation lab tests “frictionless store” concept

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 21:09:44 +0000

Under the leadership of co-director Professor Maxime Cohen, ��ֱ��bվ’s new retail innovation lab is experimenting with contactless shopping, a rising trend in retail innovation.

By downloading an app, shoppers can use QR codes to unlock store doors and pick up any items they want without having to check out in the store. Cohen joins Global News Morning Montreal to share more.

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Shopping centres face choice between reinvention and extinction

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 21:26:20 +0000

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to reshape consumer preferences in the retail industry, large shopping centres will either pivot or fade into memory.

Charles de Brabant, the executive director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, is disappointed with the stagnancy and inefficiency he’s witnessed in recent years. With the rise of online shopping cutting into their profit margins, large shopping centres must adapt more nimbly to have a shot at survival.

Package-free stores aim to eliminate waste

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 21:21:06 +0000

A new wave of sustainability-focused retailers are embracing a package-free retail trend to minimize the environmental impact of shopping for groceries and everyday goods.

Professor Saibal Ray, the academic director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, applauds the innovative attempts to avoid packaging while pointing out the difficulty of implementation.

Hudson Bay Co. entangled in rent payment disputes as pandemic hurts bottom line

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 22:48:51 +0000

In recent months, property firms behind prominent shopping malls across North America have taken Hudson’s Bay Co. (HBC) to court to claim unpaid rent totaling millions of dollars. While industry analysts question the financial security of the Canadian icon, recently taken private following a months-long process, key HBC executives cite the landlords’ unwillingness to absorb the share the costs of the pandemic as the primary reason for the dispute.

Hope for Quebec retail

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 20:56:50 +0000

Charles de Brabant, Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, is optimistic about the future of retail following a horrendous year for most Canadian retailers. Giants like Amazon and Walmart, who account for 20% of the retail market, still generated profits in 2020, but the remaining 80% fared so poorly that they brought overall industry profits down by 93%.

Boxing Day comes early for Quebec retailers

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 21:10:16 +0000

In anticipation of a two-week shutdown of non-essential businesses starting December 25, Quebec retailers are moving Boxing Day sales up a week. According to Charles de Brabant, Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, Boxing Day sales have already lost ground to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, making them less vital but for moving year-end inventory off the shelves. Learn more

For Canadian retailers, digitization is key to surviving the pandemic

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 18:56:41 +0000

Only 30 percent of Canada’s small business are hitting normal sales numbers as the second wave of the pandemic crashes into their bottom line. According to Professor Yu Ma, Academic Director of the Master of Management in Retailing, nothing short of digital transformation will equip these businesses to survive.

Retailers must adapt to survive holidays as COVID-19 lockdown remains in place

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 16:41:55 +0000

Historically, December yields the largest profits for retailers, who are accustomed to ramping up their year-end operations to keep pace with the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping. This December, however, is a different story.

As the recent surge of the COVID-19 pandemic forces businesses across Canada to close their doors once again, retailers must adapt to survive.

Canadian retailers in turmoil as pandemic lockdown continues

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 16:13:55 +0000

The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced thousands of retailers across Canada to shut their doors during the holiday season. Some will never open them again. Anwar White, Program Director, Master of Management in Retailing, puts the struggle that retailers are facing into context and points to a silver lining.

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Quebecers adjust to an unusual holiday season

��ֱ��bվ — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 23:37:40 +0000

Anwar White, Program Director of the Master of Management in Retailing, weighs in on current shopping trends in Quebec as the COVID-19 pandemic casts a shadow over the holiday season. From a growing trend toward e-commerce to in-store pickup, shoppers seek a balance between health concerns and convenience as they adapt their holiday plans to a new reality.

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Retail for a post-COVID world

��ֱ��bվ — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 21:03:25 +0000

Professor Saibal Ray weighs in on the strategies that will propel retailers to success in a post-pandemic landscape where the optimal customer experience is a frictionless experience. As the academic director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, Prof. Ray oversees the newly launched Master of Management in Retailing and the upcoming opening of a retail innovation lab that will give customers a glimpse of the future of retail.

Malls face uncertain future in COVID-19 era

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 14:11:06 +0000

Are malls on their way out? Charles de Brabant, the Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, joins the debate about the future of the traditional shopping centre in a rapidly evolving retail landscape.

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Pandemic sparks higher demand for locally made products in Quebec

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 27 Nov 2020 16:42:19 +0000

As the pandemic continues to strain local businesses, a greater percentage of Quebecers has stepped in to keep them afloat. Charles de Brabant, Executive Director of the ��ֱ��bվ Bensadoun School of Retail Management, weighs in on what to expect from shoppers this holiday season.

As the retail industry evolves, so too does retail education

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 16:24:13 +0000

The retail industry is rapidly evolving under emerging technologies and shifting consumer demands. Discover how the new ��ֱ��bվ-Bensadoun Master of Management in Retailing will prepare the next generation of retail leaders to shape the future of this exciting, in-demand industry.

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Montreal retailers plan for month-long Black Friday to stay afloat

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 19:35:21 +0000

Struggling Montreal retailers hope to build a critical mass of shoppers downtown through offering traditional Black Friday sales and events for multiple days, even up to a month in some stores. Professor Saibal Ray, Academic Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, weighs in on their Hail Mary strategy.

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Omnichannel strategy essential for retailers during holidays

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 19:43:17 +0000

Anwar White, Program Director of the Master of Management in Retailing (MMR), weighs in on the efforts of leading retailers to capture the attention of consumers during the holidays. He explains why an omnichannel engagement is critical to driving sales as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to shake up the retail landscape, and why the MMR is ideal for budding retail leaders.

Watch now

Balancing logic and magic

��ֱ��bվ — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 19:57:55 +0000

As technology shifts further toward AI technologies, the COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us that human qualities remain essential in business. Charles de Brabant, Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, says that in retail, you must find the balance between data and human experience.

Meet the MMR program directors

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 18:35:19 +0000

The new Master of Management in Retailing (MMR) program is the latest offering by the Bensadoun School of Retail Management (BSRM) at ��ֱ��bվ.

Yu Ma, Academic Director, and Anwar White, Program Director, discuss the MMR program ahead of its launch in fall 2021.

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How retailers can survive Montreal’s shift to red alert

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 20:06:13 +0000

On September 30, 2020, Quebec announced that Montreal’s COVID alert system would be upgraded to red, with various businesses forced to close their doors for an initial 28-day period. If Quebec cannot get cases under control before then, businesses may be hit with extended closures.

Rethinking the food sector for a post-pandemic world

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 15:01:52 +0000

The inaugural Retail Innovation Challenge hosted by the Bensadoun School of Retail Management in June set out to help businesses adapt to their new reality brought on by COVID-19. A report by Lightspeed, in partnership with the Bensadoun School of Retail Management and Canada Post, reveals solutions presented by student teams during the challenge.

Delve: Adapting our Global Supply Chains During a Historic Pandemic

��ֱ��bվ — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 19:55:36 +0000

For the last several decades we have been conditioned to assume that necessities like food items and cleaning supplies will be readily available whenever we require them. But the COVID-19 pandemic has upended those supply chains, as well as those for other necessities, such as medical devices (e.g. respirators) and personal protective equipment (e.g. masks, gloves). In this context, ��ֱ��bվ’s Saibal Ray explores how Canada can best adapt its global supply chains and the lessons to be learned.

Delve: The Retailer’s Post-Pandemic Playbook

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 14:06:46 +0000

Even if the spread of COVID-19 shows signs of slowing down and retail stores begin to reopen, the economic recovery from the shutdown will be long and convincing people to visit brick-and-mortar stores will be a challenge. Professors Maxime Cohen and Saibal Ray of ��ֱ��bվ’s Bensadoun School of Retail Management share two retail strategies that will be useful moving forward.

Desautels professors awarded IVADO research funding

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 13:29:58 +0000

Four Desautels professors have been awarded research grants by the Institute for Data Valorization (IVADO), a Montreal-based scientific and economic data science hub. The grants will fund three two-year research projects led by Desautels professors as part of IVADO’s Fundamental Research Funding Program.

Preparing case studies for today’s learners

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 17:58:30 +0000

In business schools, operations management (OM) and analytics courses often use case studies to drive student learning. While OM cases have traditionally focused on applications in production and manufacturing, millennial and Gen Z students are increasingly drawn to more practical, hands-on cases that develop their skills in areas like programming and data analytics.

Delve: Consumer Behaviour in the Post-Pandemic Retail Landscape

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 21:30:04 +0000

As the world rallies to contain the spread of COVID-19, consumers continue to adapt to the new normal, characterized by stringent physical distancing and self-quarantining measures. In such a context, few aspects of consumer behaviour will be left unchanged over the long term. Professors Maxime Cohen and Saibal Ray of ��ֱ��bվ’s Bensadoun School of Retail Management outline four shifts that we can expect to see.

Retail Innovation Challenge helps retailers through economic recovery

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 16:28:50 +0000

Charles de Brabant, Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, joins Retail Insider to share how the Retail Innovation Challenge is empowering students to help local and national companies on their road to economic recovery.

Leadership framework for a post-COVID retail industry

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 28 May 2020 20:53:29 +0000

Charles de Brabant, Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, proposes a framework to help retail leaders navigate the path to recovery as we begin to reopen our economies.

Business schools to lend a hand in economic recovery

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 05 May 2020 19:49:54 +0000

Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou, Dean of the Desautels Faculty of Management, looks at how business schools are providing community outreach to reduce the economic burden of COVID-19.

Lessons from China in a post-COVID retail industry

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 15:26:25 +0000

As the Quebec government plans to progressively reopen the economy, Charles de Brabant, Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, turns to China for lessons on reopening retail following a pandemic.

What can we learn from China as we plan to reopen our retail industry?

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 21:30:42 +0000

In an op-ed for Retail Insider, Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management Charles de Brabant highlights what we can learn from China’s experience reopening its economy post-COVID-19 lockdown. Brabant predicts a slow and progressive return to normal and considers how the relationship between brick-and-mortar and online stores may be impacted.

Quebec initiative to boost local economy

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 14:31:59 +0000

The Quebec government has introduced a new initiative called Le Panier Blue, or The Blue Basket, to encourage the online purchase of Quebec-made goods.

Charles de Brabant, Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management at ��ֱ��bվ, comments on how the platform will help local businesses.

Professor Cohen wins early career award for operations management research

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 17:44:24 +0000

Maxime Cohen, Associate Professor of Retail Management and Operations Management at the Desautels Faculty of Management, has been awarded the Wickham Skinner Early-Career Research Accomplishments Award. This award was given by the Production and Operations Management Society (POMS).

The Early-Career Research Accomplishments Award recognizes researchers who have received their doctoral degree within the previous six years and whose research has broadened the way that POM is conceptualized, practiced, and viewed.

Despite recent store closures in Quebec, retail industry is thriving

��ֱ��bվ — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 19:34:29 +0000

Despite a significant number of store closures in recent times, the retail sector is alive and well. Joining CTV News, Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management Charles de Brabant reveals how retailers can keep up with the changing industry.

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Separating Corona from the Coronavirus

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 21:28:34 +0000

Charles de Brabant, Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, comments on the fine line that companies must walk when faced with unfortunate coincidences during global emergencies.

Professor Saibal Ray publishes new book

��ֱ��bվ — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 20:49:52 +0000

In his new book Channel Strategies and Marketing Mix in a Connected World, Professor Saibal Ray puts the spotlight on how the digitalization of the retail channel affects consumers, products, and sustainability.

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Lowes Canada appoints new president

��ֱ��bվ — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 20:39:57 +0000

Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management Charles de Brabant weighs in on Lowe’s decision to appoint Anthony Hurst as head of its Canadian division. Hurst was previously Senior Vice President of Strategy and Transformation of the American chain.

Consumers show a rising interest in retail events

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 16:02:25 +0000

As we see a growing interest in retail events, retailers are tasked with the challenge of finding new and exciting ways to draw in customers. The expansion of Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales into a week-long event indicates that the retail industry is showing no signs of slowing down.

Bensadoun School on the rising popularity of Black Friday sales

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 27 Nov 2019 15:45:37 +0000

For many stores, Black Friday is now a week-long sale catering to the needs of both online and in-store shoppers. Professor Saibal Ray talks to Global News about the rising popularity of Black Friday sales and how the Bensadoun School of Retail Management is preparing the next generation of retailers to enhance the customer’s journey.

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Bensadoun School comments on closure of Lowes stores across Canada

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 15:43:00 +0000

Following the announced closure of 34 Rona and Lowes stores across Canada, Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management Charles de Brabant joins City News to weigh in on the slow growth rate of the Quebec and Canadian markets.

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The key to survival for brick and mortar retail stores

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 09 Oct 2019 18:20:06 +0000

Charles de Brabant, Executive Director of ��ֱ��bվ’s Bensadoun School of Retail Management, explains why some brick and mortar retailers survive while others collapse as e-commerce rises.

A closer look at the Ste-Catherine Street overhaul

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 21 May 2019 18:32:18 +0000

Charles de Brabant, Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, comments on the ebbs and flows of Ste-Catherine Street – widely regarded as the heart of retail in Montreal.

New board members for Desjardins Group

��ֱ��bվ — Mon, 13 May 2019 19:59:08 +0000

Desjardins Group has elected five new members to its board of directors, including Marie-Josée Lamothe, Professor of Practice for the Bensadoun School of Retail Management and President of Tandem International.

BCom students take the competition by storm

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 15:49:04 +0000

Desautels BCom students Charlotte Gaillard, Monica Gudernatsch, and Anne Sophie Levee are the Canadian finalists in the 2019 L’Oréal Brandstorm competition, coming in victorious over 125 participating teams.

Grocery stores for a more ethical world

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 17:29:16 +0000

While most will agree with making ethical food choices in theory, it remains difficult to sway consumers to change their buying behaviors.

For Professor Saibal Ray, Academic Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, the benefits must be apparent and immediate for the average shopper.

The key, he goes on to explain, is finding ways to save people time and money.

Professor Yang invited to prestigious retail conference

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 18:42:47 +0000

Professor Nathan Yang will share his research as an invited speaker at the eTail 2019 Conference. The conference will take place over May 7-9, 2019 in Toronto.

A retail school with big plans for the future

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 16:50:01 +0000

An article in Bloomberg takes a closer look at the ways in which the Bensadoun School of Retail Management will prepare students to address successfully the retail challenges that are unfolding on a global scale.

“Today’s retailers are facing massive disruption as well as complicated social issues,” says Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou, Dean of ��ֱ��bվ’s Desautels Faculty of Management. “In this environment, the traditional siloed way of thinking will no longer work.”

Nine retail predictions that might surprise you

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 18 Dec 2018 15:42:23 +0000

With 2019 on the horizon, Forbes has compiled a list of nine emerging retail trends to look out for; one of which will include the rise of the circular economy across operations, according to Aldo Bensadoun (BCom’64), Executive Chairman and Founder of The Aldo Group Inc.

Canada Revenue Agency announces the creation of an external advisory panel on service

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 15:40:04 +0000

Marie-Josée Lamothe, Professor of Practice at the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, has been named to the Canada Revenue Agency’s new advisory panel on service- an initiative to better understand the needs of Canadians and ensure an optimized client experience.

How sustainability catalyzes new programs

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 11 Dec 2018 20:23:48 +0000

Universities are actively rethinking their programming to include a strong focus on sustainability; one such example is the newly launched Bensadoun School of Retail Management, which will aim to foster sustainable consumption and healthy societies through research and teaching.

A new retail school at ��ֱ��bվ

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 18:51:46 +0000

Gulf News reports on the newly announced Bensadoun School of Retail Management, a game-changer for a retail sector in the midst of reinvention.

“At a time of massive change in the retail industry worldwide, the industry has seen unprecedented change in the last decade with the rise of e-commerce and the fall of formerly invincible category leaders.

What’s in store for the future of retail

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 16:24:47 +0000

Breakfast Television speaks with Bensadoun School of Retail Management’s Marie Josée Lamothe and Desautels BCom student Charlotte Gaillard about the changes unfolding in the global retail industry and how ��ֱ��bվ is shaping the future of this vital economic sector.

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Shoppers hit the stores with sights set on bargains

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 27 Nov 2018 17:51:17 +0000

Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become synonymous with frenzied shoppers looking to get the best deals on their favorite products.

In light of their growing appeal, Professor Saibal Ray charts the development of these major shopping events, particularly within the Canadian market.

Insights into the changing face of retail

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 23 Nov 2018 18:44:39 +0000

On one of the biggest shopping days of the year, Professor Saibal Ray, Academic Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management joins Global News Morning to explore the unique opportunities that the school will bring for students and researchers interested in the evolving retail sector.

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The timely introduction of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 16:48:48 +0000

On the occasion of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management’s inauguration, Aldo Bensadoun (BCom’64) sits down with BNN Bloomberg to explore how retailers can better serve today’s consumer, as well as the interdisciplinary approach that the new school will take to respond to challenges in the retail world.

A new retail school at ��ֱ��bվ, a game-changer for the world

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 16:43:00 +0000

The inauguration of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management took place on November 16, 2018.

In the presence of the School’s founding partners, government dignitaries, and leadership from ��ֱ��bվ’s community, Aldo Bensadoun (BCom’64) shared his vision for the school as one that will reinvent the playbook for retailers worldwide.

Management Dean’s perspective on the retail landscape

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 16:30:50 +0000

Dean Isabelle Bajeux joins CTV News to shed light on the changes unfolding in the retail industry and how, drawing from the interdisciplinary strengths of ��ֱ��bվ, the Bensadoun School of Retail Management is poised to make a significant impact.

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What the Bensadoun School of Retail Management will bring

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 16 Nov 2018 19:01:48 +0000

With the official launch of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management (BSRM), The Business of Fashion explores how the new school will address the dramatic shifts in the retail landscape through a highly interdisciplinary approach.

“The school will give a new playbook to the retailer in order to win,” said Aldo Bensadoun (BCom’64). “And today, I think every retailer needs a new playbook.”

Open for Business: ��ֱ��bվ’s Bensadoun School of Retail Management dedicated to the future of retail

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 16 Nov 2018 15:30:09 +0000

Interdisciplinary teaching and research hub equips next generation of leaders to promote sustainable retail practices

Marie-Josée Lamothe joins Lightspeed board

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 21:45:20 +0000

Professor of Practice at the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, Marie-Josée Lamothe, joins the Lightspeed board of directors during a time of pivotal growth for the company.

Lamothe joins alongside two other members who each bring extensive experience working in the retail and technology industries.

Why a retail management school? Why now?

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 16:51:47 +0000

La Presse interviews Desautels professor of practice Marie Josée Lamothe and BCom student Françoise Dondo as they share how the new Bensadoun School of Retail Management will equip students with the skills needed to thrive in the ever-changing retail industry.

As Lamothe makes clear, consumers will always need to make purchases, but the way in which they do so will be fundamentally different moving forward thanks to new technologies. Future retail leaders must, therefore, know how to adapt, and quickly.

ALDO Group mixes shoes and social justice

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 15:49:50 +0000

With shoe stores in more than 100 countries, ALDO Group is the first fashion footwear company to offset all of its carbon emissions - and is proud of it.

CEO David Bensadoun traces the company’s strong social conscience back to his father, Aldo Bensadoun (BCom’64) who founded the company decades ago.

The future of retail: Not as grim as you might think

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 20:45:50 +0000

If the media tends to focus on major store closures as a sign of a retail industry in turbulence, an article in Les Affaires sheds light on some of retail’s success stories, such as Simons.

The author also points to the Bensadoun School of Retail Management as a place for training leaders that will be able to thrive amid rapid changes in retail.

RILA joins forces with the Bensadoun School to tackle retail’s grand challenges

��ֱ��bվ — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 15:35:39 +0000

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), in partnership with the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, have announced their first-ever (R)Tech Global Retail Challenge – a case competition that seeks to address the complex issues facing the global retail industry.

The case competition will ask students around the world to develop creative ideas for reshaping retail in the circular economy and will culminate with a world-class finale in November at ��ֱ��bվ.

Canada Goose sets up shop in China

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 16:46:52 +0000

Canada Goose, the upscale outerwear brand, announced that it will open two locations this fall in China: a Hong Kong flagship outlet in October, followed by a store in Beijing the following month.

In light of this news, Charles De Brabant (BCom'83), Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, posits that the history of counterfeiting Canada Goose products in China might have contributed to their massive market appeal.

It’s full speed ahead for the Bensadoun Retail Initiative

��ֱ��bվ — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 19:32:22 +0000

Almost one year since the Bensadoun Family Foundation announced the landmark gift to ��ֱ��bվ of $25 million, the proposed Bensadoun School of Retail Management has received official approval from the University as of March.

According to Professor Saibal Ray, Academic Director of the Bensadoun Retail Initiative, “We see ourselves as having a unique opportunity to do something on a global level that can differentiate us.

Montreal merchants are not alone

��ֱ��bվ — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 19:13:30 +0000

Executive Director of the Bensadoun Retail Initiative, Charles de Brabant (BCom'83), has been selected to be a part of a committee organized to devise a commercial development plan for Montreal and strategy for the local merchants.

The committee will study how other cities are dealing with the global issues and challenges that are also prevalent in Montreal’s retail sector.

1st Fashion Retailing Conference

��ֱ��bվ — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 19:11:34 +0000

Join us in Montreal on April 27-28, 2018 for the 1st Fashion Retailing Conference.

Organized by the Bensadoun Retail Initiative, this conference will provide a forum for exchange —for both professionals and academics— at the newly opened Donald E. Armstrong Building. An impressive roster of academic and practitioner speakers will foster discussions about the latest research, industry practices & approaches, trends & challenges in retail.

Retail is not on its last breath, but alive and well

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 20:04:44 +0000

Despite popular misconceptions that the retail industry is in cataclysmic decline, Executive Director of the Bensadoun Retail Initiative, Charles De Brabant (BCom'83), sheds light on why this could not be further from the truth.

Retail, as he explains, is in the midst of transformation, not on the brink of demise.

Desautels researchers figure prominently in Innovation Superclusters Initiative

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 16:30:48 +0000

��ֱ��bվ will participate in two of the five “superclusters” selected by the Government of Canada for funding under its Innovation Superclusters Initiative.

Taking Ste-Catherine Street into the modern age

��ֱ��bվ — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 19:46:55 +0000

Montreal’s historic strip, Ste-Catherine Street, is undergoing four years of roadwork.

Charles de Brabant (BCom'83), Executive Director of the Bensadoun Retail Initiative comments on its implications in the retail industry.

Ste-Catherine has been a vital part of Montreal’s culture and identity, but since businesses have already been struggling, he sees Ste-Catherine as being stuck between two extremes.

Bensadoun School of Retail Management highlighted among Quebec’s most innovative business programming

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 22:07:52 +0000

As business schools adapt their programs to address the grand challenges of our time, ��ֱ��bվ’s Bensadoun School of Retail Management stands out as an initiative that will respond to the needs of a rapidly changing retail industry.

With many programs to be created at all levels over the next few years (Undergraduate, Masters, PhD), the School aims to equip students with the tools needed to succeed in an ever-evolving retail world, explains Charles de Brabant (BCom'83), Executive Director of the Bensadoun Retail Initiative.

The end of retail as we know it? Not so fast

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 15:49:24 +0000

Charles de Brabant (BCom'83), Executive Director of the Bensadoun Retail Initiative, says that popular perceptions of a declining retail industry are misleading; the reality is actually far more complex.

If the industry is undergoing major transformation, it is also experiencing tremendous growth. One of the challenges, according to de Brabant, is that the change is occurring at such a fast pace. Today’s consumers are looking for efficiency and ease, along with an immersive and personalized experience; and some retailers simply do not have enough time to adapt.

Saibal Ray on the potential benefits and costs if Amazon chooses Montreal

��ֱ��bվ — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 14:11:53 +0000

As Amazon hunts for a location for its second North American headquarters, Canada’s major cities are building their cases.

In a short interview with the ��ֱ��bվ Media team, Desautels Professor Saibal Ray talks about the benefits that a Montreal Amazon office would bring in terms of jobs and indirect benefits to the city’s academic and research sectors.

Desautels Dean on retail changes and opportunity

��ֱ��bվ — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 13:52:33 +0000

In a recent op-ed for the Montreal Gazette, Desautels Dean Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou discussed the seismic changes that have affected the retail sector over the past thirty years.

Lately, Montreal’s local landscape has seen the closure of big-name brick-and-mortar stores, while next-generation concepts like Frank + Oak have shaken the whole paradigm. Online shopping isn’t exactly going away, either.

Desautels Dean on Montreal as a college town, international students, and the ��ֱ��bվ advantage

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 26 May 2017 15:28:23 +0000

When Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou started as Desautels Dean nearly two years ago, she immediately began work on a strategic plan and started to get to know the people who make up the faculty.

When Bajeux-Besnainou sat down with Poets & Quants, the Paris native said that ��ֱ��bվ has proven to be the perfect match for her because it’s an English school in a French-speaking city.

��ֱ��bվ to launch international retail-management school with gift from Bensadoun Family Foundation

��ֱ��bվ — Fri, 12 May 2017 12:35:14 +0000

��ֱ��bվ is on its way to becoming a global centre for retail-management training, thanks to a $25-million gift from Aldo Bensadoun (BCom'64, LLD'12) via the Bensadoun Family Foundation.

The goal is to launch an inter-disciplinary school where students can come together with researchers and industry insiders to develop solutions for the ever-changing modern retail landscape.

����ֱ��bվ Desautels Faculty of Management - MMR News

Healthy snacks make good business sense

AI Is Good for Us: A Microsoft-sponsored white paper

Luxury Royalmount Mall opens amid excitement and concerns

Retail Gen AI Hackathon is one part of ALDO Group’s artificial intelligence efforts

Pricing models for fitness memberships often hide hidden fees

Even in challenging times for department stores, Quebec-based Simons is expanding

Formula drivers are celebrities, but many shy away from the limelight

Bensadoun School of Retail Management sheds light on understudied sector of the economy

Embracing Retail Innovation: ����ֱ��bվ’s Master of Management in Retailing Explores Dubai

Temu’s low prices are drawing in consumers despite product quality issues

Montreal’s La Vie en Rose is wise to take a gradual approach to U.S. expansion

Businesses would benefit from deeper understanding of artificial intelligence

In times of crisis, there can be benefits to diversifying messages across different social media accounts

Small businesses can also benefit from AI

Local bakery works with the Bensadoun School of Retail Management to guide move to check-out automation process

Maxime Cohen and Saibal Ray named Top Retail Experts for 2024

MMR student shares how L'Oréal Brandstorm led to internship

Holiday grocery price freeze includes more products this year, but long-term affordability solutions needed

New Royalmount real estate development will bring greater luxury retail options to Montreal

Two ����ֱ��bվ Desautels units achieve silver sustainability certification

Canada's big grocery chains face pressure to cut prices as food costs rise

Automated checkout technology allows workers to focus on higher-value tasks

Bensadoun School of Retail Management Road Shows work with businesspeople in rural Quebec

AI tools boost and optimize productivity in the retail sector

BSRM and MMA launch Data Sphere Lab

Consumers take time to adapt to frictionless check-out technology

Couche-Tard's Retail Innovation Lab is the store of the future

CNBC looks to Dobson Centre for advice on annual disruptor list

Vaudreuil-Soulanges entrepreneurs connect with BSRM researchers to learn retail best practices

Shift to shorter commercial leases creates niche for temporary pop-up activities

����ֱ��bվ takes 2nd and 3rd place at L'Oréal Brandstorm Canada 2023

Maxime Cohen and Saibal Ray named Top Retail Influencers for 2023

Excess inventory encourages steeper discounts in Black Friday sales

Circular economy can help mitigate environmental impact of frenzied Black Friday shopping

ICSC conference offers MMR students opportunities to learn and network

Aldo Bensadoun gives master class at Bensadoun School of Retail Management

Retail power in distribution channels: A double-edged sword for upstream suppliers

AI-driven automated checkouts are coming soon to Couche-Tard’s Quebec locations

Professor Yoo awarded 2022-2023 FRQSC New Academics Grant

Health data analytics can help improve access to health care

The novelty of celebrity collaborations can drive sales, build brands

Management Masters Office achieves Gold-Level Sustainable Workplace Certification

Montreal named top Canadian city for students

����ֱ��bվ Desautels Masters Office attains Gold level of sustainability certification

Taxing waste could help make fashion more sustainable

Technology used in Retail Innovation Lab to be deployed at scale

����ֱ��bվ’s Retail Innovation Lab is the first frictionless store in Canada

Delve: How Predictive Data Analysis Illuminates the Future of Retail, with Maxime Cohen

Delve: Could New Algorithms Ensure Everyone Pays Fair Prices Online?

Ultra-fast fashion company Shein has grown rapidly, but product quality could limit growth

Professor Maxime Cohen makes Poets&Quants 2022 Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professors list

The pandemic forced brick and mortar retailers like ALDO to reimagine what a physical retail space can be: CEO David Bensadoun

Executives should understand what data tells them about the present – and the future

High margin impulse buys can help retailers boost profits

In-store shopping technologies can replicate the ease of online shopping

Victor Luis shares success story in Retail Leaders Talk

Online impulse buys have helped some cope with pandemic disruptions

����ֱ��bվ Desautels Master’s Office receives new level of sustainability certification

Prof. Maxime Cohen lands new role

Turning a new leaf in the service industry

Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) & Bensadoun School join forces

Prof. Maxime Cohen to develop AI systems in healthcare

The unique magic of luxury

Bensadoun MMR is defined by experiential learning

MMR Retail Leaders series features John Gerhardt

Desautels Masters Office earns certificate of sustainability

How far is too far for retail innovation?

New trucker vaccine mandate adds to supply chain woes

Desautels professor named top retail influencer in 2022

Making investing more transparent

Pushing back against fast fashion

Retailers are hoping for better days ahead after Omicron

Shedding light on liquor shortages

Transforming revenue into community impact

Building sustainable brands

Storytelling in luxury retail

This holiday season is make-or-break for retailers

Shedding light on the supply chain dilemma

IKEA Canada's Michael Ward shares vision of a retail future with MMR cohort

��ֱ��bվ Desautels Faculty of Management - MMR News

Embracing Retail Innovation: ��ֱ��bվ’s Master of Management in Retailing Explores Dubai

Two ��ֱ��bվ Desautels units achieve silver sustainability certification

��ֱ��bվ takes 2nd and 3rd place at L'Oréal Brandstorm Canada 2023

��ֱ��bվ Desautels Masters Office attains Gold level of sustainability certification

��ֱ��bվ’s Retail Innovation Lab is the first frictionless store in Canada

��ֱ��bվ Desautels Master’s Office receives new level of sustainability certification

Explore a ��ֱ��bվ Desautels graduate business degree

��ֱ��bվ’s Retail Innovation Lab can help solve labor shortage in Quebec

��ֱ��bվ’s retail innovation lab tests “frictionless store” concept