Uptick in back-to-school spending
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鈥檛 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
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
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.
Frictionless shopping pays off
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鈥檚 vaccination efforts
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鈥檚 COVID-19 vaccination rollout initiative, including the growing pressure to expand vaccine access on a global scale. 聽
Desautels thought leadership聽publication聽Delve聽launches delve.mcgill.ca and聽new聽podcast聽episodes聽
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Delve, the thought leadership publication of McGill鈥檚 Desautels Faculty of Management, has examined how organizations grapple with a rapidly changing world.
Luxury retailer embraces athleisure during pandemic聽
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.
Delve - The "New Normal" podcast: Black Swan Event with Saibal Ray
In episode 1 of聽The聽鈥楴ew Normal鈥� hosted by聽Dave Kaufman,聽Professor Saibal Ray聽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鈥檚 necessary to be prepared should similar incidents arise in the future.
Delve - "New Normal" podcast: Grocery Shopping Anxiety with Yu Ma
In episode 3 of聽The聽鈥楴ew Normal鈥� hosted by聽Dave Kaufman,聽Professor聽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 healthie
The pace of technological innovation picks up in Canada鈥檚 retail sector
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.
Canada鈥檚 fashion retailers are under pressure to go green
For Canada鈥檚 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.
Vaccine benefits far outweigh the risks
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.
Predicting the future of domestic vaccine production
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
Anwar White, Program Director for the Master of Management in Retailing (MMR) program,聽recently joined 鈥淭he Voice of Retail'' podcast with Michael LeBlanc to discuss everything from the Faculty鈥檚 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
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.
