Canadian Retailer - Winter 2016 - 38

RETAIL CONSULTING

Real world experience

The opportunity to sample the realities of the retail world is
something Murray knew his students would benefit greatly
from. "An 18 or 19-year old student won't have much experience
in retail and the real-world problems that are part of it. They're
surprised by what I call the 'messiness' of retail. Problems can
change during the course of an engagement, and students don't
always have the tools at first. It's not like in the sterile environment of a classroom where they have all the tools they need,
fixed timetables and schedules, and no real repercussions for
failure. This represents a valuable experience that's hard to find
elsewhere," he asserts.
While Murray was always "I've been encouraged by
certain of the value proposthe number of students
ition of the program he began
to envision three years ago, who have been hired as
he's been pleasantly surprised a direct result of their
by the success it's achieved in experience here. Being
such a short span of time.
a consultant looks great
"I've been encouraged by
the number of students who on a resume; it really
have been hired as a direct helps differentiate them
result of their experience from other students.
here. Being a consultant looks
Those hiring want to see
great on a resume; it really
helps differentiate them from students working on
other students. Those hiring real-world problems,
want to see students working and this program offers
on real-world problems, and
just that. I've also been
this program offers just that.
I've also been encouraged encouraged by how many
by how many clients want clients want us back. The
us back. The rehire rate is rehire rate is extremely
extremely high. Clients now
high. Clients now think
think of us as almost having
of us as almost having
us on retainer," he explains.
In the short term, Murray us on retainer."
and Delveaux want to refine
- KYLE MURRAY, University of
the program. Because it's still
Alberta's School of Retailing
new and was built from foundations up in only a year, there are some things that they admit
need to be ironed-out. In the longer term, an expansion of the
program is in the cards. These things considered, they're very
confident of a bright future for the student consulting group.
"It's a very sustainable program because the school charges
the client a fee, which pays the students and provides operating
costs. The School of Retail is privately funded by the retail industry, so this is an important new revenue stream for us," explains
Delveaux. "More importantly, we're offering something of value
to clients and students."
As ongoing processes are continuously shaping Canada's
retail economy, Murray believes that the Student Consulting
Group is just the type of innovative program that is needed to
provide the skills that can shape tomorrow's retail leaders. After
all, they'yre the ones who will be tasked with ensuring that the
38 |

CANADIAN RETAILER | WINTER 2016

(top) Elnur Kasumov and (bottom) Emily Delveaux of the School
of Retailing Consulting Group.

Canadian retail industry remains competitive.
"This initiative helps our retail partners
achieve their goals. And it helps our students
develop their analytical and communication
skills. And it helps develop leaders of tomorrow's retail world," he asserts. "It's a unique
program that we think will be a benchmark for
others that might follow."

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Retailer - Winter 2016