Canadian university-focused annual retail industry event, Retail Week, has expanded to involve three well-known universities, with a goal to promote retail education and retail careers. This year’s Retail Week takes place between Monday, October 2 and Friday, October 6, and it’s seeking sponsors to help make it grow this year, as well for years to come.

Retail Week now includes activities at the University of Alberta School of Retailing in Edmonton, the Ted Rogers School of Retail Management at Ryerson University in Toronto, and at the David Sobey Centre for Retail Innovation at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax.

The collaboration includes a number of events, with the www.RetailWeek.ca website providing a schedule of activities at all three schools for the week.

In Edmonton at the University of Alberta School of Retailing, activities will include the following:
-A student-focused event discussing how to build a consulting company (Monday, October 2),
-A student-focused event discussing how to start a clothing brand (Tuesday, October 3),
-A career fair in the School of Business Atrium, and an executive round table dinner (Wednesday, October 4) with a networking event after a morning board meeting on Thursday, October 5, and
-A tour of several major shopping centres, courtesy of Retail Insider’s Editor-in-Chief Craig Patterson, who will be in Edmonton for part of the week.

As well, Goodwill will be operating a unique pop-up at the School of Retailing offices at 9007 HUB Mall on October 2 and October 3 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

In Toronto at the Ted Rogers School of Retail Management at Ryerson University, activities will include:
-Educational lectures (including discussions about retail real estate, and retail website coding, as well as a CREA Charrette inter-school competition) on Monday, October 2,
-A presentation by Amazon Canada for students, as well as a CREA Charette on Tuesday, October 2,
-Lectures on storytelling skills for interviews (by Ivan Wanis Ruiz), ethical leadership for retailers as well as speed networking with retail employers on Wednesday, October 4,
-Lectures re: health and wellness (Greenhouse Juice Co. and Well.ca), a discussion of TJX Canada’s off-price buying model and field trip to its head office, and a RRAA Alumni Association panel night on Thursday, October 5, and
-A lecture on how to connect with Gen Z on Instagram by the digital team at Adidas Canada.

And in Halifax at the David Sobey Centre for Retail Innovation at Saint Mary’s University, events and activities will include:
-A Human Resources panel (lectures from retail executives from several leading companies about skills needed, emerging opportunities and career paths) on Monday, October 2,
-Retail Innovation Awards on Thursday October 5, recognizing three retailers for their uniqueness, innovation and impact (5:30-8:30pm at the Loyola Conference Hall, see below), and
-Retail Tours on Friday, October 6, at the Halifax Shopping Centre, where students will meet with retailers and mall executives in the morning and in the afternoon, students will get an exposure to logistics and supply chain at the Port of Halifax.

The Retail Innovation awards on October 5 in Halifax are being presented to three companies in recognition of their retail leadership and innovation, with the award winners including:
-Regina-based jewellery company Hillberg & Berk (whose pieces have adorned the Queen) which empowers women “one sparkle at a time”,
-Upscale craft retailer Brika in Toronto, whose community of more than 400 makers has seen the company move from online to three stores, and
-Retailer The Uncommon Group, which comprises retail stores that celebrate Nova Scotian products and history, led by the business leader who walked away from Wall Street to remind Halifax to love local.

Retail Week is seeking sponsors — funds will help students learn more about retail, events, marketing and more, and sponsoring companies are publicly recognized as being valued contributors. For more information, contact Emily Deveaux, Executive Director at the University of Alberta School of Retailing, at: salsbury@ualberta.ca.