Center for Retailing Innovation
For more than 40 years, Texas A&M University’s retailing center has connected students, faculty, and industry leaders to shape the future of commerce.The Future of Retail Products and Customer Experiences
As the first retailing center in a business school, we have evolved into the Center for Retailing Innovation, where marketing strategy, consumer insights, product and merchandising innovation, and emerging technologies meet.
Center History
Center Overview
The Center for Retailing Innovation connects students, faculty, and industry leaders to design retail experiences customers love. We work with retailers, brands, technology providers, data firms, agencies, and other innovators to explore breakthrough merchandising strategies, next-generation marketing, and emerging technologies that make shopping more engaging, seamless, and personalized.
Experiential Learning
Students gain hands-on experience through real-world projects, competitions, and events that bring them face-to-face with decision-makers driving change in the industry. Industry partners benefit from fresh ideas, faculty expertise, and applied research that turns insight into measurable customer and business impact. Together, we are shaping a retail future where innovation is grounded in delivering greater value to the customer.
Meet Our Team
The Center for Retailing Innovation is dedicated to the success of our students and partners. We’re here to connect, collaborate, and create impact in retail. Explore our work, meet our leaders, and discover partnership opportunities on our directory page.
Explore Programs
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.
Corporate Partnerships
The Center for Retailing Innovation Corporate Advisory Board has been our key to success. The Center for Retailing Innovation is funded through sponsorship donations from participating retailers, brands, distributors, technology companies, marketing service providers, and research/consulting firms.
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.
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.
NYC Retailing Trip
The Center for Retailing Innovation hosts an annual experiential, learning-based field trip to the heart of New York City. The trip includes a New York City Retail Market Visit and participation in the NRF Foundation Student Program.
Private Brands – PLMA University Outreach Program
Join the premier private brand program for Texas A&M University students passionate about retail, manufacturing, and marketing. Immerse yourself in the dynamic world of store brands at the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) University Outreach Program held in Chicago annually.
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.
Recruiting Opportunities
Recruit top talent and the next generation of retailing leaders at our Retailing Career Fairs. For corporate partners, the Center for Retailing Innovation can design strategic, customized on-campus engagement opportunities which can include guest speaking/lectures, student networking, informational presentations, Brand Days, competition judging, resume reviews/mock interviews and more.
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.
Retailing Competition
Showcase your creative, analytical, and collaborative skills while solving real-world retail challenges! You’ll receive a prompt and work with your team to develop innovative solutions, presenting your findings to a panel of retail professionals.
CLC Fashion Experience
Take a behind-the-scenes look at the fashion industry in New York City. Through workshops, brand immersion, and hands-on creative work, you will see how ideas move from concept to execution while building your own personal brand along the way.
Events
The Center for Retailing Innovation hosts multiple events throughout the academic year for students, industry partners and professionals, and faculty. We host speed networking events, etiquette dinners, retail road trips, community outreach programs, and more each year.
View Our Events Calendar
Give to the Center
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.
GiveDepartment
The Aplin 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 Aplin 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.
Aplin Department of Marketing
Make Your Next Big Move
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