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

Published: 20 October 2017

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.

It’s within this context that the proposed Bensadoun School of Retail Management will come into fruition – and the timing could not be better. For de Brabant, the interdisciplinary School will be poised to tackle some of the most difficult issues facing the retail industry, which might include the renegotiation of NAFTA, or the implications of a rising minimum wage.

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