New trucker vaccine mandate adds to supply chain woes
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 鈥淐BC News: The National,鈥� Professor Saibal Ray, Academic Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, says the mandate could result in significant supply shortages.
Desautels professor named top retail influencer in 2022
Congratulations to Professor Maxime Cohen for making Rethink Retail鈥檚 list of Top Retail Influencers of 2022 in the academia category. Recognized for his groundbreaking leadership as co-director of McGill鈥檚 Retail Innovation Lab, Professor Cohen is making a name for himself at the forefront of retail transformation.
Making investing more transparent
In a new paper, Professor Maxime Cohen and his colleagues push for IPOs to adopt 鈥渢riggered disclosures鈥� 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
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
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.
Shedding light on liquor shortages
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聽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
When COVID-19 hit Canada, Catherine Dagenais (EMBA鈥�18) successfully maintained employee and consumer operations at SAQ, Quebec鈥檚 liquor commission. As the government retailer鈥檚 CEO since 2018, Dagenais spearheaded company efforts to implement strict sanitary protocols and develop contactless delivery solutions to meet consumer needs.
Building sustainable brands
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.
Storytelling in luxury retail
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
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
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
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?
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
The Retail Innovation Lab at 51吃瓜网 in partnership with Alimentation Couche-Tard has been officially inaugurated by Lucie Lecours, Quebec鈥檚 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
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.
