A survey prepared in 2006 by the Retail Council of Canada and Monster Solutions stated that the number one challenge cited by nearly three-quarters of all retailers surveyed is the task of attracting new employees from a shrinking talent base of suitable candidates.
This is a serious situation, given that the retail industry has a value of $390 billion to the Canadian economy. There is a definite need for instructional programs to address the industry's search for talented individuals with a fully developed range of appropriate skills.
To address this need, Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning will launch a new postgraduate program in January 2009, for professionals who aspire to become business leaders in the ever-changing Canadian retail industry.
The Retail Operations Management program carries the endorsement of both the Retail Council of Canada and the Canadian Retail Institute.
Retail Operations Management will be available in an intensive, eight-month full-time format, as well as in a part-time format. Students applying to the program must have a college diploma, university degree or equivalent work experience.
At the heart of the program is the development of strong critical thinking skills, along with acquisition of a solid understanding of the complexities of the competitive retail environment. The program also features challenging practical periods of work placement experience with various Canadian retailers.
Among the areas of study are: principles of retail management, customer service, strategies, innovations in retailing, marketing and sales, visual merchandising, financial planning, information systems, and logistics and supply chain management.
Conestoga marketing professor Dea Watson has been instrumental in designing this new program. She believes that the range and depth of the curriculum will be of great benefit to students and their employers.
The Canadian retail industry is a dynamic field that is rapidly changing and requires advanced management skills, she says. Many retailers are challenged with the speed of increased levels of competition, the growth of the Internet, changes in technology and sophisticated consumers who are looking for better value together with higher quality service. As a result, retailers require industry leaders with the necessary skills to address and resolve these challenges.
More information about Retail Operations Management, including details about admissions, courses and costs, can be found at www.conestogac.on.ca/retail.
Contact: Dea Watson, 519-748-5220, ext. 3814, dwatson@conestogac.on.ca.