The Center for Retailing Studies

Marking 40 years since we set the standard as the first retailing center in a business school, our Center for Retailing Studies (CRS) remains at the forefront of retail education. We create a dynamic hub where students, researchers, and industry leaders converge, amplifying retail knowledge through innovative teaching, research, and collaboration.

Two students smile together.

Center Overview

Group of students networking and smiling.

The Center for Retailing Studies provides our students with a number of transformational learning experiences. Our academic mission is rooted in a strong curriculum of classroom study in the core elements of retail enterprise leadership, including fundamental skills such as retail strategy, merchandise management, digital commerce, retail innovation, store management and customer service combined with a retail capstone course.

Our award-winning research faculty continues to lead industry knowledge in areas of innovation in customer experience development, marketing in the digital age, and the evolution of retail organizational structures to adapt to a rapidly changing business environment. We partner with organizations from across the retail spectrum to research, develop and share knowledge that advances our industry and prepares us to serve consumers effectively in the years ahead.

From our founding in 1983 through to today, our mission remains focused on developing the retail leaders and business knowledge for tomorrow.

Meet Our Team

The Center for Retailing Studies is dedicated to the success of our students and partners. To learn about the center, our research, our programs or become a corporate partner connect with our leaders, faculty and staff, by visiting our directory page.

Two Mays Retailing faculty members.

Explore Programs

Student smiles while studying with friend.

Curriculum and Degree Tracks

Strategic Retailing Track coursework are well equipped for leadership roles in a retailing enterprise, with a particular focus on retail merchandising, marketing, digital commerce or omni-channel strategy.

Student intern poses in front of store.

Corporate Partnerships

The CRS Corporate Partner Board has been our key to success. The Center for Retailing Studies is funded through sponsorship donations from participating retailers, technology, research, and consulting firms.

Recruiter talking to students.

M.B. Zale Leadership Scholars

Named for the innovative merchant, M.B. Zale, the Zale Leadership Scholar program is the leading undergraduate professional development program for top students in retailing at Mays Business School.

Retailing students pose with company leaders.

M.B. Zale Visionary Merchant Lecture Series

The M.B. Zale Visionary Merchant Lecture Series highlights the role of innovation in the success of retail businesses. Established in 1998, this annual lecture series honors creative merchandising in today’s marketplace. The series also serves to recognize the late M.B. Zale as a legendary retailer, a visionary businessman and esteemed philanthropist.

Students pose on trip.

NRF Foundation Student Program

The NRF Foundation Student Program in New York City gives college students a unique opportunity to launch their future in retail. Industry executives in marketing, entrepreneurship, supply chain, technology and more will share their success stories and what they learned along the way. Explore various careers paths in the retail industry, meet with recruiters from your favorite brands and start to achieve the vision for your career.

Recruiters pose for photo.

Professional Distinction in Retailing

Open to all majors, Professional Distinctions complement a student’s degree and provide tangible evidence of rigorous experiential preparation for a career in the specific career track. The Professional Distinction in Retailing is a semester-by-semester recognition, where students can earn a medal at graduation upon four semesters of distinction in retailing.

Student and company employees pose for a photo at event.

Student Retailing Association

The Student Retailing Association is one of the largest student organizations within Mays Business School. Open to all majors, the focus of SRA is to serve students who are passionate about pursuing careers within the retail industry.

Two students smile at NYFW.

#UofNYFW – NY Fashion Week

Partnering with IMG College Licensing, retailing students have the opportunity to represent Texas A&M at NYFW: The Shows every September and February in New York City through a program called UofNYFW.

Events

The Center for Retailing Studies hosts multiple events throughout the academic year for students, industry partners and professionals, and faculty. We host a Retailing Summit, speed networking, etiquette dinners, retail road trips, community outreach programs, and more. Click the link below to look at our upcoming events.

Give To The Center

Four Texas A&M HR students smiling and holding 1st place prize in the 2022 Purdue HR Case Competition.

The Center is bolstered by contributions from corporate partners and alumni who are dedicated to nurturing the next generation of retail professionals. The annual contributions from our corporate partners ensure that students can actively participate in our comprehensive retail program.

Department

Department of Marketing

The Department of Marketing at Mays Business School is a distinguished leader in the field of marketing education and research. Our programs and curricula receive global recognition for their strength and continued contributions to the field of marketing. For more information visit the Department of Marketing website.

Marketing involves developing goods and services to satisfy customers’ needs and then making them available at the right places, at the right times and at competitive prices. Marketing also provides information to help customers decide whether specific goods and services will meet their needs.

Aerial view of Texas A&M campus.

The Center Experience

Watch this video to learn about our student experience, its application in business, the types of jobs you can get post graduation, and hear about our network of outstanding former students!