Alumni

Keeping Christmas lights on to add ambiance can help set a shopping district apart

admin — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 20:07:13 +0000

Christmas lights that glow softly through long winter nights are part of what makes the holiday season so atmospheric—but they can add to the ambiance any time of year. Some shopping districts are leaving their lights up for exactly that reason.

Montreal retailer Frank and Oak files for creditor protection for second time

admin — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 17:25:58 +0000

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. “The brand is not standing out in an environment where other brands have done well,” said Bensadoun School of Retail Management Executive Director Charles de Brabant in an interview with the Montreal Gazette.

Identifying tariffed products could be seen as attempt to mask increased margins

admin — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 19:03:24 +0000

Since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January, frequent tariff threats have disrupted the economy. It is difficult to keep track of which products will be tariffed, when they will be tariffed, and how much they will be tariffed by. But Provigo stores in Quebec are taking steps that will help shoppers understand the factors that affect the price of their groceries. They are developing signage that will mark tariffed items with a “T” to explain price hikes.

Mid-market brands to benefit from consumers’ renewed focus on the basics

admin — Wed, 21 May 2025 19:39:28 +0000

2024 was a rough year for retail in Canada, and 2025 doesn’t look much better, writes Charles de Brabant in Retail Insider. The Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management noted that the combination of high interest rates and high inflation has taken a toll on consumer pocketbooks, and they are expected to focus on the basics this year. That plays well for mid-market brands.

Tariff-induced economic uncertainty is affecting Canadians’ purchasing decisions

admin — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 19:38:04 +0000

Even as the venerable Hudson’s Bay Company liquidates its iconic department stores, some Canadian retailers are experiencing a renaissance. Quebec department store has been expanding, even as others struggle to stay in the black. But Trump’s tariffs are clouding the future for Canadian retailers.

Software helps combat online shopping fraud

admin — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 02:07:47 +0000

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. “Amazon puts pressure on speed of delivery and the customer always being right,” says Charles de Brabant, Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management.

Is Tim Hortons still Canadian?

admin — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 21:15:25 +0000

Tim Hortons is deeply embedded in Canadian culture, but is it still truly Canadian? According to ɬ�﷬ professor Karl Moore, ownership plays a key role. “If you’re owned by Americans, you’re no longer Canadian in the way that you were before,” he explains. However, he argues that nationality isn’t just about where a company is headquartered—it’s about where decisions are made.

Common household goods could be among those most affected by US tariffs

admin — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 16:36:38 +0000

With the spectre of sweeping tariffs sending ripples through Canada’s economy, the prices of some goods will be much more affected than others. Cheaper household goods like shampoo and toiletries could be among those most affected, according to Saibal Ray, a Professor of Operations Management at ɬ�﷬ Desautels. Higher end goods will be less affected, Ray told the Toronto Star, as most of these goods are sourced outside of the United States.

MMR students explore retail innovation in Dubai

admin — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 16:38:58 +0000

In March 2025, students in the Master of Management in Retailing (MMR) program at ɬ�﷬ Desautels, took part in a week-long study trip to Dubai, to explore one of the world’s most dynamic retail hubs.

The itinerary included meetings with industry leaders from Dubai Economy and Tourism, Huda Beauty, Apparel Group, Kitopi, DAMAC, Carrefour, and Majid Al Futtaim Group. Students gained firsthand insights into retail innovation, digital strategy, localization, and customer experience.

Saibal Ray and Anna Kim earn prestigious university awards

admin — Fri, 09 May 2025 16:54:49 +0000

Two researchers at Desautels were among the academics recognized by ɬ�﷬ with prestigious internal awards for their outstanding scholarship and research excellence. Associate Professor Anna Kim was among the eleven associate and assistant professors honoured with a William Dawson Scholar award, which recognized the demonstrated potential to become a global leader in their field.

Desautels’ valedictorian Grace Singer hopes for carbon-free future

admin — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 16:53:16 +0000

This year, ten valedictorians from across the university shared their reflections and insights with ɬ�﷬’s Class of 2025--with an eye cast toward the future. Desautels Grace Singer will be among them. The graduating Bachelor of Commerce student hopes to make a difference by advocating for decarbonization from within the business world. “In the long-term I hope to work directly with the adoption and acceleration of sustainable solutions, such as what I did within the cleantech company I interned at during my degree,” Singer says.

AI startup with roots at ɬ�﷬ Desautels raises €9M in venture capital funding

admin — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 23:31:03 +0000

There’s a lot that AI can do—and quite a bit that it can’t. And the mix of numbers and letters on a spreadsheet is one thing that AI has struggled to make sense of. Prior Labs wants to change that by developing machine learning models optimized to understand spreadsheets, which host an enormous amount of critical information in many firms.

Bridging research and reality in Black female entrepreneurship

admin — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 18:40:45 +0000

On February 4, ɬ�﷬ Desautels launched its Black History Month activities with an event focusing on Black female entrepreneurship, hosted by the Laidley Centre for Business Ethics and Equity (LCBEE) and the ɬ�﷬ Black Alumni Association.

Professor Betermier offers guidance for Quebec investors

admin — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 17:54:52 +0000

With increasing market volatility, Professor Sebastien Betermier shares his advice on how Quebec investors can weather economic uncertainty. In an interview with the Motnreal Gazette, he emphasizes the importance of staying disciplined, avoiding panic and hasty decisions, and consulting a financial planner before making changes. Betermier highlights the risk of overreacting to short-term fluctuations in the market and advises to focus on long-term investment goals.

Carney’s pro-Canada rhetoric helps bring Liberal Party back from the brink of near-certain election defeat

admin — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 15:30:18 +0000

In a time of great uncertainty, voter preferences in Canada have undergone a historic shift. Just a few months ago, voters were tired of Trudeau and a Conservative victory seemed all but assured. But Mark Carney has brought the party back from the brink. He has only been prime minister for a short time, but the role has rarely been as closely watched as during the Trump trade war. Carney’s strong pro-Canada rhetoric seems to be paying off: the latest polls show the Liberals as the likely winners of the late April election.