BA (Hons) Retail Marketing

Retailers lead economies: Some of the most powerful organisations within economies are retailers. Retailers influence what people buy: Two thirds of all decisions of what to buy are made at the point of sale. Retailers dominate marketing: Retailers have taken over marketing leadership from manufacturers.Retailers lead innovation and change: Sophisticated customer relationship programmes, multi-channel promotional and marketing; merchandising systems, online sales and flexible supply chains. Retailing is a large and diverse industry that contributes significantly to the overall economy, as well as something that we as consumers experience regularly as part of our everyday lives. Understandably, the retail industry attracts a lot of attention from governments, the media and consumer groups. The sector is a major employer with over 2.9 million people currently working in retailing, equating to 11% of the total workforce. The retail sector is constantly met with new challenges; the growth of the internet, new forms of technology and consumer demand. As a result, retailers need managers with the necessary skills to tackle and meet these challenges. The wide-ranging experience of Stirling’s Institute for Retail Studies (IRS) academics and their links with the retail industry ensures that the retail marketing degree is practical and up to date with trends in the retail industry. This degree course provides a solid foundation in the general principles of industry, management, marketing, human resources and organisations. Students will also develop extensive knowledge and skills in consumer behaviour, marketing, international business, logistics and related subjects. Some of the topics covered in the retail modules include: • Retailers’ responses to changes within the external environment• The impact of the Internet for retailers and shoppers• Shopping behaviour and consumption choices • The cultural challenge of internationalisation • Designing an effective store layout • Effective buying and visual merchandising strategies • Strategy formulation, monitoring and control • Retail branding and communications • Dealing with clients through consultancy projects. As part of the course you may have the opportunity to take part in a student exchange. The IRS has exchanges with a number of Universities throughout Europe, the USA, Canada, Hong Kong and Singapore.