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SSENSE bankruptcy could be harbinger of trouble for Canadian retailers

admin — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 17:04:06 +0000

On August 29, the United States ended the de miminis exemption, a rule that had allowed small value shipments to cross the border without duties for decades. It’s already affecting some retailers in Canada. The Montreal-based luxury fashion retailer SSENSE filed for bankruptcy the same day the de minimis rule was changed, and cited the change as a reason that it did. As recently as 2021, the company was valued at $4 billion by Sequoia Capital, a U.S. venture capital firm.

Inflation and tariffs a double whammy for retailers

admin — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 15:47:15 +0000

Montreal-based clothing retailer SSENSE has filed for creditor protection. As recently as 2021, the company was valued at US$4 billion. “For retailers, it’s been a double whammy,” the Bensadoun School of Retail Management’s Executive Director Charles de Brabant told the BBC. “Inflation squeezed consumers, and U.S. trade policy changes have made it for a difficult landscape for retailers.”

One year in, Montreal’s luxury-focused Royalmount mall is still seeking its sweet spot

admin — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 17:05:48 +0000

It has been one year since the Royalmount Mall opened its doors, with a goal of transforming luxury retail in Montreal. The gleaming concourses of the upscale shopping centre are often largely empty, but that isn’t necessarily a sign that Royalmount won’t do well in the long run, according to Charles de Brabant, the Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management.

Businesses need to adapt to change to grow

admin — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 18:21:07 +0000

For Quebec, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are an engine of economic growth. Many SMEs have grown into prosperous companies, writes Bensadoun School in Retail Management student William Bernasconi in an article for the Conseil québecois du commerce de detail. But it’s important to consider failures as well as successes. And local businesses have often struggled to grow because of operational constraints, shifting consumer behaviour, and intense competition.

Mid-market brands to benefit from consumers’ renewed focus on the basics

admin — Wed, 21 May 2025 19:39:28 +0000

2024 was a rough year for retail in Canada, and 2025 doesn’t look much better, writes Charles de Brabant in Retail Insider. The Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management noted that the combination of high interest rates and high inflation has taken a toll on consumer pocketbooks, and they are expected to focus on the basics this year. That plays well for mid-market brands.

EMBA Alumni Virtual Panel: Entrepreneurship and the EMBA

admin — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 19:16:21 +0000

EMBA Alumni Virtual Panel: Entrepreneurship and the EMBA
How can an Executive MBA support your entrepreneurial ambitions?

MBA Online Info Session: Wednesday, October 8, 2025

admin — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 15:14:07 +0000

Join us for a 91ֱ�� MBA information session, where you'll gain an in-depth understanding of the MBA curriculum, faculty expertise, and the unique features that set our program apart.

MBA Event: Access MBA in Calgary, Canada

admin — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 19:17:51 +0000

Access to the World's Top Business Schools

We connect qualified candidates with admissions teams at top business schools through face-to-face meetings.

Event participants will experience:

91ֱ��-HEC Montréal EMBA Online Information Session: Tuesday, November 18, 2025

admin — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 15:31:37 +0000

This 91ֱ��-HEC Montréal EMBA information session will feature the Executive MBA’s:

Access Masters Event in Sao Paulo, Brazil

admin — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 19:06:24 +0000

Access to the World's Top Business Schools

We connect qualified candidates with admissions teams at top business schools through face-to-face meetings.

Event participants will experience:

ACCEPTER le vélo: Findings and Perspectives from Two Years of Research

admin — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 15:38:01 +0000

As municipalities and governments are increasingly called upon to accelerate the ecological transition, the development of sustainable mobility has become a major strategic priority.

MBA Online Info Session: Wednesday, November 5, 2025

admin — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 15:14:20 +0000

Join us for a 91ֱ�� MBA information session, where you'll gain an in-depth understanding of the MBA curriculum, faculty expertise, and the unique features that set our program apart.

Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting (GCPA) online information session

admin — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 18:49:20 +0000

Join us on October 3, 2025 at 10 AM for a 91ֱ�� Graduate Certificate in Accounting information session, where you'll comprehensively understand the GCPA curriculum, faculty expertise, and unique program features.

MBA Event: Access MBA in Vancouver, Canada

admin — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 19:19:11 +0000

Access to the World's Top Business Schools

We connect qualified candidates with admissions teams at top business schools through face-to-face meetings.

Event participants will experience:

LCBEE Business Ethics Conference: Ethics and finance

admin — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 13:23:56 +0000

Annual Business Ethics Conference: Ethics in Finance