NRF & Georgetown Launch Retail Initiative to Tackle AI, Logistics & More
The National Retail Federation (NRF) and Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business have joined forces to launch the NRF Business of Retail Initiative. This significant collaboration aims to advance retail studies, support students, and shape the future of the industry.
The initiative, funded by a $6 million gift from the NRF, will focus on developing solutions to contemporary retail challenges such as personalization, customization, logistics, and artificial intelligence applications. It will also support 'agentic' shopping, where customers actively participate in their shopping experience.
The NRF, the leading authority and voice for the retail industry, will collaborate with existing academic areas at McDonough. These include the Business of Sustainability Initiative and the AI, Analytics and the Future of Work Initiative. The gift will establish a National Retail Federation Chair in Retail Studies, fund the National Retail Federation Summit, support two National Retail Federation MBA Fellows, and provide research grants.
Kelly Lee, assistant teaching professor of marketing, will serve as the initiative's Program Director, while Luc Wathieu, professor of marketing, will be the Research Director. The initiative aims to produce long-lasting research and elevate the significance of retail studies by combining Georgetown's academic excellence with NRF's industry expertise.
The NRF Business of Retail Initiative at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business promises to be a game-changer in retail studies. By addressing contemporary challenges and supporting students, it seeks to shape the future of retail and serve the common good.
