Bensadoun School of Retail Management - BSRM News

Healthy snacks make good business sense

�鶹�� — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 19:04:02 +0000

A 2022 study by researchers at �鶹�� 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%.

Meet the winning teams of our Retail Gen AI Hackathon

�鶹�� — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 14:45:28 +0000

Congratulations to our winning teams of the Bensadoun School’s 2^nd annual Retail Gen AI Hackathon.

We had 38 student teams register representing diverse faculties across �鶹��. 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 Is Good for Us: A Microsoft-sponsored white paper

�鶹�� — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 18:09:19 +0000

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

�鶹�� — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 18:13:10 +0000

Montreal’s 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 “inclusive luxury” concept. While excitement is high, concerns exist over traffic and accessibility.

Retail Gen AI Hackathon is one part of ALDO Group’s artificial intelligence efforts

�鶹�� — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 19:26:30 +0000

Generative artificial intelligence promises to transform the way business is done, but in most industries, it’s still unclear exactly how it will be used. Footwear retailer ALDO is working with Montreal’s 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.

Pricing models for fitness memberships often hide hidden fees

�鶹�� — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 18:05:10 +0000

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. “You don’t necessarily understand the natural pitfalls until you fall into them,” he tells The Globe and Mail.

Even in challenging times for department stores, Quebec-based Simons is expanding

�鶹�� — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 18:37:28 +0000

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.

Participate in the Fall 2023 edition of the Retail Gen AI Hackathon

�鶹�� — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 16:22:07 +0000

October 5-13, 2023

Want to work collaboratively in a fun yet competitive environment to develop innovative generative AI solutions for the ALDO Group’s Data & Analytics Corporate Team?

This first edition of the Retail Gen AI Hackathon, powered by ALDO Group, is a unique opportunity to work on a real-life problem, develop a solution in a fast-paced environment, and learn how AI and data analytics can help retailers make better data-driven decisions within their operations.

Bensadoun School receives $5M in provincial funding for retail innovation

�鶹�� — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 15:24:02 +0000

The Quebec Ministry of Economy and Innovation has awarded the Bensadoun School of Retail Management with $5 million in funding over the next four years. According to Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon, a significant portion of the funds will support the Bensadoun School’s retail innovation lab. Unveiled earlier this year, the live laboratory store is designed to provide insights that will help accelerate Quebec retailers along the path of digital transformation.

�鶹�� and Alimentation Couche-Tard launch unique laboratory store to propel retail industry and customers into the future

�鶹�� — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 20:41:49 +0000

Partnering with Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., the new retail innovation lab at �鶹��’s Bensadoun School of Retail Management will enable ground-breaking research and test innovations, including frictionless technologies