Buying clothing, wearing it once or twice, and then returning it is not a new practice, but online shopping has amplified the issue. To stay competitive with e-commerce giants, retailers have had to simplify their return processes, making them more vulnerable to abuse. 鈥淎mazon puts pressure on speed of delivery and the customer always being right,鈥 says Charles de Brabant, Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management.
Christmas lights that glow softly through long winter nights are part of what makes the holiday season so atmospheric鈥攂ut they can add to the ambiance any time of year. Some shopping districts are leaving their lights up for exactly that reason.
In January 2025, the Montreal-based retailer Frank and Oak filed for creditor protection for the second time in recent years. A company statement said it was to protect employees, assets and operations from creditor claims while exploring options to restructure. 鈥淭he brand is not standing out in an environment where other brands have done well,鈥 said Bensadoun School of Retail Management Executive Director Charles de Brabant in an interview with the Montreal Gazette.
In partnership with 9I制作厂免费鈥檚 Bensadoun School of Retail Management (BSRM) and Master of Management in Retailing (MMR) program, Quebec bakery Mamie Clafoutis transformed its St. Denis location into a cutting-edge bakery.
A 2022 study by researchers at 9I制作厂免费 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%.
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Congratulations to our winning teams of the Bensadoun School鈥檚 2nd annual Retail Gen AI Hackathon.
We had 38 student teams register representing diverse faculties across 9I制作厂免费. Over two days, 10 finalist teams hacked creative Gen AI solutions for our title sponsor ALDO Group.
Each team had an AWS mentor and access to support from IVADO Labs and DataSphere Lab team members.
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.
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.
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. The event offered over $10,000 in prizes to teams that worked collaboratively to devise generative AI solutions to real world retail challenges.
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. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 necessarily understand the natural pitfalls until you fall into them,鈥 he tells The Globe and Mail.
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 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.
From Walmart to Amazon to Shopify, the retail sector is big business and incredibly important for the economy. However, there is little retail-specific education available, according to Charles de Brabant, Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management (BSRM), in an interview with Paula Macaggi for the OFFbounds podcast.
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This year, the DataSphere Lab was privileged to welcome two exceptional students through the Integrated Management Student Fellowship (IMSF) program: Chloe You, a third year student studying Finance and Statistics, and Ruo-Ying, a Business Analytics major.