What make millennials click when it comes to retail, and retail-sector jobs?  Delegates of the Asia Retail Leaders Conference (ARLC) 2019 received some insights from the millennials themselves at the grand finals of Singapore’s first Inter-Varsity Retail Challenge 2019, where student teams presented first-hand views on the mindsets, preferences and behaviours of the new generation.

A first of its kind, the retail challenge invited tertiary students from institutes of higher learning in Singapore to participate in trend research and analysis of key issues facing retailers today both locally and regionally.  The Challenge saw overwhelming response when it opened in August 2019, with more than 80 participating teams represented by a total of 254 students.

The participating students hail from six tertiary institutions in Singapore, namely National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, SIM Global, Singapore University of Social Sciences and Singapore University of Technology and Design, and SMU.

Teams were tasked to address the topics: ‘Millennials’ Retail Shopping Behaviours in the Age of the New Retail’, and/or ‘The Professional Retail Job of the Future’.

Through a rigorous judging process, 10 teams (out of the 80 participating teams) were invited to present at the semi-final round held on 2 November 2019.  The four best teams which emerged then made their presentation to an esteemed panel of judges at grand finals held at the retail conference on 14 November 2019.

Following an intense final round, the esteemed judging panel, comprising senior management members of RCoE’s eight foundation companies – namely DBS, Decathlon, Harvey Norman, Ikea, Microsoft, Popular, Tiffany & Co and Visa – crowned Team Faretail the champion of the inaugural Challenge.  The all-SMU team comprises Haris Lim (BBM, Year 2), Daphne Yap (BBM, Year 2), Jacqueline Ho (BBM, Year 4), and Jay Jia (BBM, Year 4).

[Photo: The Champs, Team Fairtail, comprising (L-R) Haris Lim (SMU), Daphne Yap (SMU), Jacqueline Ho (SMU) and Jay Jia (SMU)]

The winning team clearly stood out with their well-researched content and excellent delivery.  Ms Macey Tan, Investment Manager Property & Expansion, IKEA, said, “Faretail delivered an engaging, clear and insightful story.  In particular, they highlighted the importance of glamming up the retail career with more training programmes, certifications, as well as career advancement and management programmes.  Such initiatives are highly important if we want to attract, train and retain the incoming millennial workforce.”

“The quality of their presentation was also very impressive as the presenters were able to marry millennial retail trends and talent into one engaging presentation.  Professional and well-researched – well done!” she added.

Commenting on the finalist teams’ overall performance, Ms Wong Wei Ling, Vice President, Asia Pacific, Tiffany & Co., said, “The finalist teams are dynamic, analytical and creative.  They arrived well-prepared, presented high quality work and showcased both strong team work and compelling individual flairs.  I am very proud of these groups of energetic young adults; they represent a new generation of talent required to rejuvenate the retailing scene in Singapore and beyond our shores!”

It was also a memorable journey for Team Fairtail (main photo), as it was for the audience and judges.  Team Fairtail shared, “From the preliminary round to the finals, there was never a dull moment in building our core capabilities and finding our competitive edge.  With Jacqueline’s vast retail knowledge, Haris’s strong adaptability, Daphne’s attention to detail and Jay’s ability to tie everything together in a strategic action plan, we not only unlocked a priceless camaraderie but also a potential venture into the world of retail.”

[Photo: 1st runner-up Team Quantum South Beathers, comprising (L-R) Nicholas Tan (SMU), Tham Wai Kin (NUS), Loh Jun Kai (SIM Global), Garialdi Salim (SIM Global).]

[Photos: 2nd Runners-Ups Team Justice Consulting (comprising (L-R) Victoria Liu (SMU), Tess Ang (SMU), and Slevin Chua (SMU)); and Team KDR Consulting (comprising (L-R) Kendrick Neo (NUS), Reena Premchand Primalani (NUS), Deborah Khoo (NUS), and Toh Ding Young (NUS).)]