Canadian students examining the Dutch retail industry
Fifteen Canadian business students from Ryerson University in Toronto visited the Business, Finance & Law faculty at Inholland Diemen last week. The students, who are all part of the Retail Students' Association, visited the Netherlands to learn more about the European retail industry.
Together with fourth year students Small Business & Retail Management (now merged into the Dutch programme Business Studies), the Canadians attended guest lectures about retail trends in the Netherlands. Besides that, they also visited the ING Innovation Studio, the concept stores of ING and Albert Heijn, and the head office of Ahold. The latter trip was organised by Inholland alumni who now hold management positions within Ahold’s webcare and customer support.
On Monday, the whole group ventured into Amsterdam to see whether the latest trends in retail had already hit the local shops. In the afternoon they returned to Diemen and shared their findings with the group. Especially the HEMA fascinated our Canadian guests, as there is nothing alike in their home country. According to student Mathew Catangui, only Walmart has similar features.
Inholland's Business, Finance & Law faculty has been organsing exchanges with Ryerson University for a while. Every year, a group of Inholland-students who follow the minor International Retail go to Toronto to explore the Canadian retail industry. A few years ago, our students examined the distinctive character of stores in Toronto. The enthusiasm of the employees (so called “associates”) of home improvement company Home Depot, was marked as a great example by our students.