RILA launches first-ever global retail challenge
The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) is challenging co-eds to come up with ways to reshape the retail industry.
Through a partnership with the Bensadoun School of Retail Management at McGill University, RILA is introducing the (R)Tech Global Retail Challenge, a competition that encourages students around the world to develop creative ideas that can reshape retail in the circular economy. VF Corporation and Canadian Tire Corporation are sponsoring the event.
The competition is the brainchild of the association’s (R)Tech Center for Innovation, a division that exposes executives to the technologies and innovations defining retail’s future.
"Since its inception, RILA and the Center have been focused on helping retailers solve grand retail challenges and drive their businesses into the future," said Adam Siegel, senior VP of innovation for RILA. "We are confident this competition will open students to the opportunities within retail and foster meaningful solutions that can help shape the future of our industry and its contribution to the circular economy."
RILA and McGill have invited over 90 universities from around the world to join the challenge. Students will participate as either one- or two-person teams, and each will be tasked with finding solutions to accelerate young consumers' participation in scalable circular economies for retail and consumer products. All teams will be lead by faculty advisors.
The challenge will start in early fall, and continue for six weeks. The teams will gather at McGill University for a finals weekend on November 15-17, where finalists will be judged by executives from sponsor companies, as well as retail and circular economy experts, according to RILA.
"The (R)Tech Global Retail Challenge exposes students to one of these Grand Challenges: sustainability and the circular economy,” said Dean Isabelle Bajeux, Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University. “Teams will be equipped to find innovative solutions that could lead to new entrepreneurial ventures. This competition will showcase the future of retail from the next generation of industry leaders."
Through a partnership with the Bensadoun School of Retail Management at McGill University, RILA is introducing the (R)Tech Global Retail Challenge, a competition that encourages students around the world to develop creative ideas that can reshape retail in the circular economy. VF Corporation and Canadian Tire Corporation are sponsoring the event.
The competition is the brainchild of the association’s (R)Tech Center for Innovation, a division that exposes executives to the technologies and innovations defining retail’s future.
"Since its inception, RILA and the Center have been focused on helping retailers solve grand retail challenges and drive their businesses into the future," said Adam Siegel, senior VP of innovation for RILA. "We are confident this competition will open students to the opportunities within retail and foster meaningful solutions that can help shape the future of our industry and its contribution to the circular economy."
RILA and McGill have invited over 90 universities from around the world to join the challenge. Students will participate as either one- or two-person teams, and each will be tasked with finding solutions to accelerate young consumers' participation in scalable circular economies for retail and consumer products. All teams will be lead by faculty advisors.
The challenge will start in early fall, and continue for six weeks. The teams will gather at McGill University for a finals weekend on November 15-17, where finalists will be judged by executives from sponsor companies, as well as retail and circular economy experts, according to RILA.
"The (R)Tech Global Retail Challenge exposes students to one of these Grand Challenges: sustainability and the circular economy,” said Dean Isabelle Bajeux, Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University. “Teams will be equipped to find innovative solutions that could lead to new entrepreneurial ventures. This competition will showcase the future of retail from the next generation of industry leaders."