Strategic Planning and Management in Retailing Completes 30 Years With 2012 Programs in Williamsburg, Virginia, and Melbourne, Australia
The Strategic Planning and Management in Retailing Program was conducted in Williamsburg, Virginia, at the Mason School of Business of the College of William and Mary in May 2012. In addition, the program was offered in Australia later in the month at the Mt. Eliza Executive Education Center of the Melbourne Business School just outside of Melbourne. This year represents the 30th year the program has been offered, a significant milestone, begun in 1983. This program is currently offered twice in North America (at Babson College and at William and Mary), once in Australia, and once in Singapore (hosted by the Retail Academy of Singapore). The program is next scheduled to be offered September 8–14, 2012, at Babson College. Those interested are encouraged to apply early. For more information, please visit www.babson.edu/bee/retail or contact us at exec@babson.edu or 781-239-4354.
The programs kicked off with “The Eight Ways to Win in Retailing,” and with slight differences from program to program, featured cases on Target Stores, Best Buy, Seven Eleven Japan, Zappos, Best Buy, Zara, H&M, and Meijer. In addition, the faculty delivered lectures and exercises on financial and productivity analysis, strategic thinking and planning, category scorecards, customer relationship management, and customer and associate satisfaction.
On Wednesday afternoon at the Williamsburg program, the group participated in a store tour with visits to Wal-Mart Supercenter, Target Greatlands, Costco, Lowe’s, Home Depot, World Market, Fresh Market, Best Buy, hhgregg, PetSmart, Toys “R” Us, T.J.Maxx, and others. The group also visited the Williamsburg Prime Outlets to end the store visits. In addition, they were given a guided tour of Colonial Williamsburg, followed by dinner at Shields Tavern in the restored colonial area.
Australia program participants enjoyed the Mt. Eliza Executive Education Center, set in its picturesque waterfront position on the shores of Port Phillip Bay. It is ideally located near the traditional resort areas and the burgeoning wine, food, and golf district of the Mornington Peninsula.
Participants in the programs represented 10 locations: the United States, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, and Sweden. The participants came from companies in a wide variety of retail sectors, and the class was composed of senior level executives representing all the functions of a retail organization. Professors Larry Ring, John Strong, and Ron Hess were the primary program faculty for each of the programs. Ellen Sutton served as program manager and housemother, and looked after all members of the diverse group of participants at William and Mary, while Mary Milan supported the program at Mt. Eliza.