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Schedule

The schedule below outlines the topics we will be covering in this course, along with the associated time frames and assignments. Note that assignments are due based on North American eastern time (ET). This ensures that all students have the same deadlines regardless of where they live.

The due dates for the assignments are noted in the Course Schedule below. Deadlines will be defined as 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, the last day of the lesson time frame, unless otherwise noted.

Late Policy

This policy is only applicable to courses with no late policy previously stated in the syllabus.

Late assignments will lose one grade for each day or part of a day they are late. For a late team assignment, all team members will receive the penalty.

Schedule conflicts may be unavoidable in rare cases, even with the extreme flexibility offered by asynchronous instruction. If you anticipate a conflict, discuss it with the instructor beforehand to allow for agreement on an alternative schedule or alternative work submissions. Do not expect leniency after the fact for missed assignments.

Lesson 1: Retail Overview and Career Opportunities

Time Frame

Week 1

Readings and Videos

 

Activities and Assignments
  1. Personal Introduction and Retail Career Interest Discussion due (initial post due 11:59 p.m. Thursday; comments to peers due 11:59 p.m. Sunday)
  2. Potential Extra Points: Participate in Lesson 1 Online Discussion.
  3. Optional: Watch Jacqueline Jackson's podcast and Mark Nachman's video.
Lesson 2: Retail Strategic Planning

Time Frame

Week 2

Readings

 

Activities and Assignments
  1. Potential Extra Points: Participate in Lesson 2 Online Discussion.
  2. Team Formation due.
Lesson 3: Understanding Retail Customers

Time Frame

Week 3

Readings and Videos

 

Activities and Assignments
  1. Extra Points: Lessons 1, 2, and 3 Current Events Discussion Forum due.
  2. Potential Extra Points: Participate in Lesson 3 Online Discussion.
  3. Optional: Watch Chelsea Filley's and Catherine Eisenbrandt's PODcasts
Lesson 4: Retail Competition in the United States and the Global Market

Time Frame

Week 4

Readings and Videos

 

Activities and Assignments
  1. Potential Extra Points: Participate in Lesson 4 Online Discussion.
  2. Optional: Watch Stephanie Blackman's PODcast.
Lesson 5: Logistics and Supply Chain Management in the Retail Management Process

Time Frame

Week 5

Readings and Videos

 

Activities and Assignments
  1. Potential Extra Points: Participate in Lesson 5 Online Discussion.
Lesson 6: Location Planning, Marketing Selection, and Retail Location Analysis

Time Frame

Week 6

Readings and Videos

 

Activities and Assignments
  1. Team Project: Online Retail or Brick-and-Mortar—What Will Win? due.
  2. Potential Extra Points: Participate in Lesson 6 Online Discussion.
  3. Optional: Watch Mark Nachman's PODcast.
Lesson 7: Managing the Merchandise Planning Process, and Lesson 8: Buying, Handling, Merchandise Selections, Vendor Negotiation, and Vendor Control

Time Frame

Week 7

Readings and Videos

 

Activities and Assignments
  1. Lesson 7 Merchandise Budget and Open-to-Buy Problems due.
  2. Lesson 8 Cash Discount Problems and GMROI due.
  3. Extra Points: Lessons 4–6 Current Events Discussion Forum due.
  4. Potential Extra Points: Participate in Lessons 7 and 8 Online Discussions.
Preparation for Midterm

Time Frame

Week 8

Readings and Videos
  • None

Activities and Assignments
  • Sample Exam I due.
Midterm

Time Frame

Week 9

Readings and Videos
  • None

Activities
  • Take the Midterm: Good luck!
Lesson 9: Retail Pricing 

Time Frame

Week 10

Readings and Videos

 

Activities and Assignments
  1. Lesson 9 Merchandising Math Problems due.
  2. Extra Points: Lessons 7–9 Current Events Discussion Forum due.
  3. Potential Extra Points: Participate in Lesson 9 Online Discussion.
  4. Optional: Watch Jacqueline Jackson's PODcast.
Lesson 10: Store Layout and Design, and Lesson 11: Managing Store, Sustaining Marketing, Financial Management, and HR

Time Frame

Week 11

Readings and Videos

 

Activities and Assignments
  1. Food for Thought due.
  2. Lesson 10 Why We Buy Questions due.
  3. Potential Extra Points: Participate in the Lessons 10 and 11 Online Discussions.
Lesson 12: CRM and Market Research

Time Frame

Week 12

Readings and Videos
  • Textbook, Chapter 11: Customer Relationship Management (Levy et al., 2023)
  • Lesson 12 Module and Lesson 12 Lecture Videos

Activities and Assignments
  1. Potential Extra Points: Participate in the Lesson 12 Online Discussion.
Lesson 13: Retail Communication Mix and Lesson 14 Omnichannel, Customer Service, and Data

Time Frame

Week 13

Readings and Videos
  • Textbook (Lesson 13), Chapter 15: Retail Communication Mix (Levy et al., 2023)
  • Textbook (Lesson 14), Chapter 4: Multichannel and Omnichannel Retailing (Levy et al., 2023)
  • Lesson 13 Module, Lesson 13 Lecture Videos, Lesson 14 Module, and Lesson 14 Lecture Videos

Activities and Assignments
  1. Extra Points: Lessons 10–14 Current Events Discussion Forum due.
  2. Potential Extra Points: Participate in Lesson 13 and 14 Online Discussions.
Thanksgiving Holiday

Time Frame

Week 14

Readings and Videos
  • None

Activities and Assignments
  • None
Preparation for Final Exam

Time Frame

Week 15

Readings and Videos
  • None

Activities and Assignments
  1. Sample Exam II due.
Final Exam Week

Time Frame

Week 16

Readings and Videos
  • None

Activities and Assignments
  1. Final Exam due.
  2. Extra Points: PODcast Reflection Paper due.
  3. Extra Points: Individual HBR due.

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