Catalog Description:

This course focuses on the management of retail operations.  Topics include store location and layout, merchandise buying and planning, legal and ethical issues, promotion, pricing, human resource management, financial planning, information systems, and customer services.

Prerequisite: MKT 320 - Principles of Marketing

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Required Text:

Berman, Berry & Evans, Joel R. (2001). Retail Management: A Strategic Approach.  Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Course Objective:

To give students a venue to learn concepts and develop them into a usable body of knowledge about retailing and retail management. This will be accomplished using text and lecture information, current or significant events, and discussions with a focus on retailing topics.  The course design will require students to think critically, apply information, make sound decisions, and communicate clearly.

Methods:

1) Lectures;
2) Discussion and Vignettes;
3) In Class Assignments;
4) Homework Assignments.

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Expectations:

1) Read all assigned material prior to class period.
2) Observe proper class conduct by raising one's hand for discussion.
3) Pay attention, be alert, ask questions, and participate in discussion.
4) Organize your time to meet deadlines. (Late assignments are downgraded one letter grade for each class period late.)
5) Attendance is crucial for success. Regular classroom attendance is expected of all students.
     Excused absences are:
          A) personal illness, with valid note from the doctor or USA health service;
          B) death or critical illness in your immediate family, with a valid note;
          C) participation in a university sponsored co-curricular activity, which must be discussed with instructor prior to the absence.

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ADA Policy

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, students with bona fide disabilities will be afforded reasonable accommodation. The Office of Special Student Services will certify a disability and advise faculty members of reasonable accommodations.

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Statement on Changes in Course Requirements

Since all classes do not progress at the same rate, the instructor may wish to modify the above requirements or their timing as circumstances dictate. For example, the instructor may wish to change the number and frequency of exams, or the number and sequence of assignments. However, the students must be given adequate notification. Moreover, there may be non-typical classes for which these requirements are not strictly applicable in each instance and may need modification. If such modification is needed, it must be in writing and conform to the spirit of this policy statement.

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Grading:

1) Four Exams, (15% each, 60% of total);
2) In Class Case Write-ups, (6 of 20, 4% each, 24% of total)
3) In Class Case Presentation (10% total);
4) Class Participation (6% of total)
   A) Competitive based on Chips Earned in Discussions;
   B) Chips can be earned for:
      1) Insightful Questions, Comments, and Observations;
      2) Using interesting or particularly relevant topics for presentations;
      3) Integrating relevant topics from previous discussions, other classes, other disciplines to present discussion;
5) Intangibles, such as; neatness of work, tardiness, assignments turned in on time, etc.

Class Participation:
90-100% Outstanding attendance, consistent, high-level involvement in class discussion, leadership in class discussions, consistent group leadership and contributions;
80-90%   Regular attendance, consistent and regular involvement in class discussions, some group leadership and consistent group contributions;
70-80%   Regular attendance, periodic involvement in class discussions, little group leadership and some group contributions;
60-70%   Irregular attendance, little involvement in class discussions, no group leadership and few group contributions;
< 60%     Sporadic attendance, passive or reluctant to join class discussions, no group leadership and no group contributions.

Final Grade Listing:
     A = 90.00 and above;
     B = 80.00 through 89.99;
     C = 70.00 through 79.99;
     D = 60.00 through 69.99;
     F = 59.99 and below.

You will get what you earn!

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Reading and Class Assignments

Day #1 Monday, 6/30 Course Introduction and Discussion
Chapter 1 - An Introduction to Retailing

Day #2 Tuesday, 7/1 Chapter 2 - Building and Sustaining Relationships in Retailing
In Class Case - Lucy's LaundryMart: Caring for Customers and their Clothes
Chapter 3 - Strategic Planning in Retailing

Day #3 Wednesday, 7/2 Chapter 3 - continued
In Class Case - Long Live the (Burger) King!
Chapter 4 - Retail Institutions by Ownership

Day #4 Thursday, 7/3 Chapter 4 - continued
In Class Case - Maaco: Evaluating Franchising Opportunities
Chapter 5 - Retail Institutions by Store-based Strategy Mix
In Class Case - Starbucks Is Still Hot

Day #5 Friday, 7/4 HOLIDAY

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Day #6 Monday, 7/7 Chapter 6 - Web, Non-store-based, and Other Forms of Nontraditional Retailing
In Class Case - Advertising and Marketing on the Internet

Day #7 Tuesday, 7/8 Exam #1
Chapter 7 - Identifying and Understanding Consumers
In Class Case - Retailing in Europe

Day #8 Wednesday, 7/9 Chapter 8 - Information Gathering and Processing in Retailing
In Class Case - Touring With Mountain Travel Sobek
Chapter 9 - Trading-Area Analysis

Day #9 Thursday, 7/10 Chapter 9 - continued
In Class Case - Nebraska's Hilltop Mall: Competing with Wal-Mart across the Street
Chapter 10 - Site Selection

Day #10 Friday, 7/11 Chapter 10 - continued
In Class Case - The Mall of America

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Day #11 Monday, 7/14 Exam #2
Chapter 11 - Retail Organization and Human Resource Management
In Class Case - Becoming an Employer of Choice, Not Chance

Day #12 Tuesday, 7/15 Chapter 11 - Retail Organization and Human Resource Management
In Class Case - Becoming an Employer of Choice, Not Chance

Day #13 Wednesday, 7/16 Chapter 14 - Developing Merchandise Plans
In Class Case - Nordstrom Remakes its' Buying Organization

Day #14 Thursday, 7/17 Chapter 15 - Implementing Merchandise Plans
In Class Case - Pilferage Control the Sensormatic Way

Day #15 Friday, 7/18 Exam #3
Chapter 16 - Financial Merchandise Management

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Day #16 Monday, 7/21 Chapter 16 - continued
In Class Case - Schnuck Markets Moves to CPFR
Chapter 17 - Pricing in Retailing

Day #17 Tuesday, 7/22 Chapter 17 - continued
In Class Case - Pricing at Bojangles
Chapter 18 - Establishing and Maintaining a Retail Image

Day #18 Wednesday, 7/23 Chapter 18 - continued
In Class Case - Patagonia: An Environmentally- Focused Specially Retailer
Chapter 19 - Promotional Strategy
In Class Case - The Promotional Efforts of San Diego's La Casa Maria Restaurant

Day #19 Thursday, 7/24 Chapter 20 - Integrating and Controlling the Retail Strategy
In Class Case - Does Sparks Department Store Have a Future

Day #20 Friday, 7/25 Exam #4

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