Retailers must adapt to survive holidays as COVID-19 lockdown remains in place
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
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.
Quebecers adjust to an unusual holiday season
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.
Retail for a post-COVID world
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.
Malls face uncertain future in COVID-19 era
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
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 McGill University 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
The retail industry is rapidly evolving under emerging technologies and shifting consumer demands. Discover how the new McGill-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
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.
Omnichannel strategy essential for retailers during holidays
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.
Balancing logic and magic
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.
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Meet the MMR program directors
The new Master of Management in Retailing (MMR) program is the latest offering by the Bensadoun School of Retail Management (BSRM) at McGill University.
Yu Ma, Academic Director, and Anwar White, Program Director, discuss the MMR program ahead of its launch in fall 2021.
How retailers can survive Montreal’s shift to red alert
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
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
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).
Delve: The Retailer’s Post-Pandemic Playbook
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.
