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 Charles de Brabant, the Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management. 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.

Congratulations to Professor Maxime Cohen, Desautels’ Scale AI Chair in Data Science for Retail, on his recent appointment as ELNA Medical’s inaugural Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer. In his new role, Cohen will leverage AI methodologies to improve health access and outcomes at primary and specialty care clinics across Canada.

The McGill Bensadoun Master of Management in Retailing (MMR) continues to reinvent retail education through offering experiential learning opportunities. By solving real problems in collaboration with industry partners during their internships, MMR students gain early career experience and establish meaningful connections with mentors even before they graduate.

As of January 15, truckers crossing from the U.S. to Canada must show proof of vaccination to enter the country. Canadian truckers are exempt from the federal mandate but must quarantine for 14 days upon their return. In a recent broadcast of “CBC News: The National,” Professor Saibal Ray, Academic Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, says the mandate could result in significant supply shortages. The segment begins at the 8:50 mark.

The past five years have seen a rise in privately owned apparel resale companies, bucking previous trends toward fast fashion. Between ongoing clothing supply shortages and growing concern about sustainability, younger Millennials and Gen Zers are turning to curated vintage retailers to stock their wardrobes, explains Anwar White, Program Director of the Master of Management in Retailing.

Amid supply chain bottlenecks overseas, Canada is facing a significant shortage of imported liquor, leading provincial liquor authorities to encourage early, local shopping for holiday favourites. According to Professor Saibal Ray, Academic Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, the ongoing scarcity of transportation resources is only making the shortage more acute.

Congratulations to Maxime Cohen, Professor of Retail and Operations Management, whose paper "The Effect of Short-Term Rentals on Residential Investment“ was selected as Best Conference Paper Nominee at the 2021 Conference on Information Systems and Technology (CIST)