B8698-001: Creation of a Retail Enterprise (Master Class)
R - Full Term, 02:15PM to 05:30PM
Credit hours: 3.0
Location: WJW 416
Previous Terms Offered: Spring
Instructor: Mark Cohen
This course will trace the path of a retail enterprise from ideation to implementation. The course will migrate from a macro to micro view of all activities which must be engaged in to actually launch a retail enterprise. A retail enterprise may take the form of a “brick and mortar” store, a catalog, a web-based business, or, any combination thereof. We will focus on both a brick and mortar and a web-based effort. The retail enterprise created on desktop will potentially be an actual opportunity which students may have the opportunity to join, in an actual real-world setting, once the coursework has been completed.
Initial ideas will be identified, discussed, and then a specific idea or ideas will be selected with respect to market capacity, competitive opportunity, and economic viability. (I have a selected target strategy, but rather expect the class to bring their own idea forward). From this starting point, a business plan will be created, a financing strategy will be crafted, and organizational, operational, merchandising, and marketing plans will be formulated. The course will be presented through a combination of structured lectures, team assigned work projects, workshops and presentations, and guest appearances of individuals whose specific area of expertise will aid the class in accomplishing its final objective: the launch of a viable retail business. These outside “experts” will represent a variety of functional areas such as merchandising, marketing, investment banking, systems design, real estate planning, and store planning and design, etc.
Mark Cohen
Director of Retail Studies
Mark A. Cohen has been in the retail business since his graduation from Columbia University in 1971. (MBA '71, BS Electrical Engineering '69) He has over 20 years experience in president/chairman, chief executive officer level positions. Most recently he was Chairman/CEO of Sears Canada Inc, Chief Marketing Officer and President of Softlines of Sears Roebuck & Co., Chairman/CEO of Bradlees Inc., and Chairman/CEO of...