Partners
With industry partners, we’re building a vibrant, innovative retail sector
Partnerships with the retail community are at the heart of the work of the David Retailing Centre Sobey Centre. Being strategically connected to the retail industry is essential to our development and delivery of relevant, timely and innovative thought leadership, research and programming that propels our industry forward and helps build a vibrant retail sector.
- Most of the research we conduct and fund to address real issues and opportunities in the retail sector, is conducted with industry partners and collaborators.
- We Invest in and develop new technologies, processes and methodologies that lead to intellectual property that is critical to the future of the retail industry. Innovation at the centre is carried out entirely in-house, with faculty, graduate students and industry partners.
- We develop and offer programs, customized training, events, case competitions, internships etc. geared to both experienced retail leaders and those interested in a career in retail. All of our educational programming is developed with consultation and input from industry experts.
- We have had representatives from over 50 retailers participate in our executive programs.
We are honoured to have worked with so many local, national and international business since our founding in 2014.
Our retail partners on research projects have included:
- eBay Canada
- Farm Boy
- Jackman Reinvents
- NSLC
- Pharmasave
- Sobeys
Our retail partners for case competitions and student experiential learning opportunities include:
- Bentley
- Charm Diamond Centre
- eBay Canada
- fairechild
- Halifax Shopping Centre
- IBM
- La Maison Simons
- NSLC
- Payzant Home Hardware
- Retail Council of Canada
- Sobeys
- Staples Canada
- The Head Shoppe
We thank all our partners for their trust in the David Sobey Retailing Centre. If you are interested is working with us, please email: davidsobeycentre@smu.ca
Research
The David Sobey Retailing Centre conducts and funds applied and collaborative research addressing real issues and opportunities relevant to the retail sector. The centre's research provides insights that improve business practices and outcomes for retailers.
Our work addresses cutting-edge issues such as applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) in retail, labour challenges, development of leaders, changing consumer behaviour, digital marketing and sustainability, among other topics.
This research is accomplished through our unique approach and infrastructure which include:
Multidisciplinary
We bring together expertise from all areas of business (as such marketing, management, strategy, finance, and accounting) as well as allied fields such as psychology, information systems, engineering, computer science and more to conduct multidisciplinary research addressing unanswered questions. Through multidisciplinary research, our faculty find innovative answers to questions and challenges facing the retail sector.
Collaborative
Our sponsored research projects are often conducted in collaboration with retail companies, which allows access to real-life data. Collaboration with retailers allows us to engage in research that is relevant to the retail sector.
Infrastructure and Equipment
Our research infrastructure includes a biometric research lab, a digital innovation lab, a mock store and a cashier-less retail store that is also a “living lab”. Researchers can conduct unique research using our world-class research infrastructure and equipment such as EEG (to analyze brain activity), eye-tracking, facial recognition, etc.
Sharing and Dissemination
We empower the retail community to make more effective decisions across the retail value chain. We do this by disseminating our research findings through blogs, short videos, panel discussions & symposia and executive programs. By providing easy access to insightful research, we help retailers make better decisions and improve their business outcomes.
Funding
Through our annual research funding program, we have awarded research grants of more than $500,000 to support 48 unique research projects spanning all functional areas of business as well as organizational psychology, computer science, engineering, and geography. We enable the creation of new knowledge by supporting unique research.