Healthy snacks make good business sense
A 2022 study by researchers at 捆绑SM社区 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
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
Montreal鈥檚 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 鈥渋nclusive luxury鈥� concept. While excitement is high, concerns exist over traffic and accessibility.
Retail Gen AI Hackathon is one part of ALDO Group鈥檚 artificial intelligence efforts
Generative artificial intelligence promises to transform the way business is done, but in most industries, it鈥檚 still unclear exactly how it will be used. Footwear retailer ALDO is working with Montreal鈥檚 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.
Pricing models for fitness memberships often hide hidden fees
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.
Even in challenging times for department stores, Quebec-based Simons is expanding
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
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
From Walmart to Amazon to Shopify, the retail sector is big business and incredibly important for the economy.
Embracing Retail Innovation: 捆绑SM社区鈥檚 Master of Management in Retailing Explores Dubai
捆绑SM社区鈥檚 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鈥檚 low prices are drawing in consumers despite product quality issues
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.
Montreal鈥檚 La Vie en Rose is wise to take a gradual approach to U.S. expansion
Lingerie retailer La Vie en Rose operates in 20 countries, but they haven鈥檛 expanded to the neighbouring United States 鈥� 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鈥檙e taking a cautious approach.
Businesses would benefit from deeper understanding of artificial intelligence
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.
In times of crisis, there can be benefits to diversifying messages across different social media accounts
We live in an age of information, and we鈥檙e 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
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
The pandemic hit many businesses hard, and the artisanal bakery and caf茅 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鈥檝e emerged from the storm, they have sought ways to keep their costs low, and one of them is by automating checkout.
