As mentioned in the first issue of Retail Reimagined, retailing is expanding at an unprecedented pace. Retailing, whether at the local, regional, national, or global level, is a vital part of every aspect of our lives. As such, the University of Houston Global Retailing program opens up exciting career opportunities that cross physical and virtual global barriers and borders.
Retailing includes all products and services that move to the consumer, including everything bought and sold at all levels in the world. The necessity to embrace e-tailing as it develops a global presence, is changing retailing and e-commerce. Students in the Global Retailing Master of Science program study the many aspects of moving a company to a global position as e-commerce is woven into the courses. Also, technology is integrated into coursework through the study of inventory management, supply chain management, customer relationship management, and the e-tailing elements in the process of working across global entities. Courses such as Cross-Cultural Perspectives are designed to develop the ability to cope with language and communication barriers, cultural complexities, consumer empowerment, changing technology, and overseas trading policies that must be understood by people working in all aspects of an organization.
The increase in working remotely is resulting in many unanticipated challenges in work practices and systems. Global Retailing courses emphasize teamwork across borders which has caused organizations to re-evaluate operations and procedures for dealing with the challenges. Students in the program are required to work in virtual teams, preparing them to meet the global necessity of collaboration and cooperation and allowing them to gain team leadership experience across borders, whether physical or virtual. Involving students in international travel is an emerging aspect of this program that will add value to students’ portfolios and give them the experience to work across borders even if they choose to stay in their home country.
Following the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, forging new processes will be a responsibility of retailers in meeting future challenges presented by the new world. Will there be a “new normal” for consumers following the COVID-19 crisis? Will consumers change their buying habits? Will there be new approaches to global retailing?
Students in this program can be a part of that changing environment in global retailing and create the “new normal.” This is a very good time to consider the Master of Science in Global Retailing program. Contact Dr. Marcella Norwood at mnorwood [at] uh.edu (mnorwood[at]uh[dot]edu) or call 713-743-4125 to join this exciting program and earn a Master of Science Degree in Global Retailing.