/channels/taxonomy/term/16933/all en /channels/channels/news/pricing-models-fitness-memberships-often-hide-hidden-fees-357949 <p>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 <a href="/newsroom/charles-de-brabant"><strong>Charles de Brabant</strong></a>. “You don’t necessarily understand the natural pitfalls until you fall into them,” he tells The Globe and Mail.</p> Mon, 15 Jul 2024 18:05:10 +0000 webfull 200784 at /channels /channels/channels/news/even-challenging-times-department-stores-quebec-based-simons-expanding-357923 <p>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.</p> Tue, 09 Jul 2024 18:37:28 +0000 webfull 200748 at /channels /channels/channels/news/temus-low-prices-are-drawing-consumers-despite-product-quality-issues-356135 <p>The online marketplace Temu, launched in 2022, has become one of the most downloaded apps in North America. The platform is known for ultra-low prices, though the quality and safety of the products it sells are sometimes suspect. “If I understand their business model correctly, they sell products at a loss, and make money from the data they collect,” said <strong>Bensadoun School of Retail Management</strong> (BSRM) Executive Director <a href="/newsroom/charles-de-brabant"><strong>Charles de Brabant</strong></a> in an interview with Radio-Canada.</p> Thu, 14 Mar 2024 16:44:20 +0000 webfull 198602 at /channels /channels/channels/news/new-royalmount-real-estate-development-will-bring-greater-luxury-retail-options-montreal-352688 <p>Among the low-rise industrial buildings that line the northern end of Décarie Boulevard, a major new shopping centre is taking shape. The $7-billion Royalmount luxury retail and lifestyle centre is slated to open in summer 2024, after numerous construction delays.</p> Mon, 13 Nov 2023 17:26:20 +0000 webfull 194731 at /channels /channels/channels/news/bensadoun-school-retail-management-road-shows-work-businesspeople-rural-quebec-351757 <p>The way that we shop is changing, and for small- and medium-sized enterprises, it can be challenging to keep up with the pace of innovation. But the<a href="/bensadoun-school/"><strong> Bensadoun School of Retail Management (BSRM)</strong></a> is helping them do it. Since spring 2023, it has been hosting regional networking events that meet Quebec businesspeople where they live and work. Regional roadshows aim to help SMEs become omni-channel retailers, and consist of workshops that showcase the innovative research happening at BSRM.</p> Tue, 10 Oct 2023 17:58:15 +0000 webfull 193681 at /channels /channels/channels/news/consumers-take-time-adapt-frictionless-check-out-technology-349925 <p>Technologies like artificial intelligence are changing the way we shop. But change can be intimidating, and people can be reluctant to adopt it. The Bensadoun School of Retail Management’s Retail Innovation Lab provides such an example. At the highly automated Couche-Tard location on ƽ���岻�� campus, cameras in the store allow customers to make frictionless purchases that don’t require bar codes to be scanned. Still, many people don’t want to use them.</p> Tue, 22 Aug 2023 20:09:24 +0000 webfull 191295 at /channels /channels/channels/news/vaudreuil-soulanges-entrepreneurs-connect-bsrm-researchers-learn-retail-best-practices-347906 <p>About sixty entrepreneurs from Vaudreuil-Soulanges region joined Desautels faculty and staff for a conference on best practices in retail.</p> Thu, 20 Apr 2023 20:45:39 +0000 webfull 189148 at /channels /channels/channels/news/shift-shorter-commercial-leases-creates-niche-temporary-pop-activities-347905 <p>E-commerce has made it possible to order almost anything online, but that has made it more challenging for brick-and-mortar retailers to attract shoppers and with more stores sitting vacant, some shopping malls have gotten creative, and added temporary pop-up activities like roller skating and haunted houses. Before the pandemic, commercial landlords demanded multi-year leases, said <strong>Charles de Brabant</strong>, executive director at ƽ���岻��’s <a href="/bensadoun-school/">Bensadoun School of Retail Management</a>.</p> Thu, 20 Apr 2023 20:09:00 +0000 webfull 189147 at /channels /channels/channels/news/novelty-celebrity-collaborations-can-drive-sales-build-brands-340189 <p>For years, paparazzi have been clicking candid shots of Justin Bieber cradling Tim Hortons coffee cups, but it still came as a surprise to see Biebs Brew become an official menu item at Canada’s most popular coffee chain. The novelty aspect of this type of collaboration can help drive sales, said <strong>Charles de Brabant</strong> in a story in The Globe and Mail. Biebs Brew might only be available for a limited time, but some collaborations can last for decades – like those between athletes and apparel brands.</p> Wed, 06 Jul 2022 18:19:03 +0000 webfull 180800 at /channels /channels/channels/news/ultra-fast-fashion-company-shein-has-grown-rapidly-product-quality-could-limit-growth-339626 <p>You might not know Shein’s brand, but chances are you’ve seen their clothing. The Chinese fast fashion company has quickly and quietly grown into an e-commerce giant. Shein targets young shoppers with an online-only business model and rock-bottom prices. They have been able to scale quickly because without physical shopfronts, Shein can sell anywhere that it can ship their products. But companies shouldn’t try to compete with Shein on price, according to <strong>Charles de Brabant</strong>, the Executive Director of the <strong>Bensadoun School of Retail Management</strong>.</p> Wed, 18 May 2022 19:25:27 +0000 webfull 180212 at /channels /channels/channels/news/online-impulse-buys-have-helped-some-cope-pandemic-disruptions-338605 <p>During lockdowns, access to luxury services was severely limited. Fine dining establishments were reduced to haute cuisine in take-out containers, and spas forced to close altogether. But some shoppers have tried to fill that void with consumer goods. Everyone’s life was disrupted, but those who kept their jobs had some extra money in their pocket, and many of them spent it, says <strong>Charles de Brabant</strong>, Executive Director of the <strong>Bensadoun School of Retail Management</strong>.</p> Wed, 23 Mar 2022 20:19:05 +0000 webfull 178958 at /channels /channels/channels/news/turning-new-leaf-service-industry-338498 <p>Workers in the service industry have often endured low wages, few benefits, and poor treatment. The pandemic has changed what they are willing to accept, and employers can no longer afford to treat workers like they can be easily replaced, says <strong>Charles de Brabant</strong>, the Executive Director of the <strong>Bensadoun School of Retail Management</strong>. With workers in high demand, many will simply move on from a bad situation, but companies can help reduce the strain on their workforce through measures like reduced operating hours.</p> Thu, 17 Mar 2022 20:13:40 +0000 webfull 178837 at /channels /channels/channels/news/retailers-are-hoping-better-days-ahead-after-omicron-336127 <p>In recent weeks, the highly transmissible Omicron variant has dampened once-sunny retail forecasts for 2022. But according to <strong>Charles de Brabant</strong>, Executive Director of the <strong>Bensadoun School of Retail Managemen</strong>t, Canadian retailers may experience a sizable increase in sales after emerging from the latest round of lockdowns.</p> <div class="bl-tpl"><a class="button--outline" href="https://reporter.mcgill.ca/will-omicron-spoil-a-retail-revival-in-2022/" target="_blank">Learn more</a></div> <p> </p> Tue, 11 Jan 2022 19:10:09 +0000 webfull 176136 at /channels /channels/channels/news/holiday-shopping-will-take-creativity-and-patience-year-335741 <p>Between historically high levels of demand and ongoing supply shortages, holiday shoppers will have to get creative with their gift-giving this year, says <strong>Charles de Brabant</strong>, Executive Director of the <strong>Bensadoun School of Retail Management</strong>. As delayed shipments and back orders become the new normal, consumers may have to wait until February or March 200 for heavily discounted wish list items to finally hit the shelves.</p> Sun, 19 Dec 2021 22:41:14 +0000 webfull 175725 at /channels /channels/channels/news/booming-niche-luxury-retail-335254 <p>Sequoia Capital recently valued the luxury fashion e-commerce platform, Ssense, at $4.1 billion.<strong> Charles de Brabant</strong>, Executive Director of the <strong>Bensadoun School of Retail Management</strong>, attributes the company’s success to its ability to appeal to its Gen Z and millennial target audience. This decision is a marked contrast to many other luxury retailers who try to satisfy too many consumer groups, he says.</p> Wed, 01 Dec 2021 20:46:47 +0000 webfull 175229 at /channels