The elective in retailing is built upon a strong foundation of expertise in the sector within the Saïd Business School, through the work of its Institute of Retail Management. The elective is collaboratively taught by a senior practitioner - Alan Giles - alongside a faculty member - the Institute’s Academic Director, Jonathan Reynolds. Alan Giles is Chairman of lifestyle retailer Fat Face and a non-executive Director of the Office of Fair Trading.
This course aims to develop participants’ understanding and critical awareness of a sector which has become powerful in its own right, within a buyer-driven value chain. Retailers play an important part in economic growth and are now both potent economic as well as social actors across an increasingly international stage, including both mature and emerging markets. Retailers are not only closer to consumers than manufacturers and suppliers, but increasingly trusted brands in their own right and even cultural innovators. The sector is also entrepreneurial and increasingly technology-driven: barriers to entry are low and it is possible to grow larger and more quickly than in many other sectors. Market share reflects retailers’ influence over consumers, competitors and suppliers. However, whilst scale is associated with brand power it also brings social responsibility.
Vocationally, this course is relevant not just to those seeking careers in retailing, or consulting careers which will bring them into contact with retail businesses, but also to those seeking careers in consumer goods industries, or service industries, all of which are affected by the power and the decision-making of major retail firms. To this end, the elective also hosts a number of senior retail directors and CEOs as guest speakers. Guests in 2009 have included executives from Tesco, Kingfisher, Mothercare and Zara.