Unboxing Consumer Products & Retail

The Economic Engine That Powers Everyday Life

What you'll learn
Learn the terminology & strategies of the consumer products & retail industries
Understand the Quick Service Restaurant ("QSR") space through a detailed case study
Review how consumer products manufacturers & retailers partner to deliver customer experiences
Identify the areas where manufacturers & retailers compete with each other
Become conversant in the emerging challenges & technologies impacting these industries
Learn how technology trends, such as AI, will shape the future of consumer products & retail
Understand the unique strengths, capabilities, and challenges of the off-price retail segment
Introduction to financial analysis
Introduction to key retail metrics
Learn retail pricing strategies
Refresher of marketing basics and how consumer products companies appeal to emotions
An overview of assortment planning, allocation, pricing, visual merchandising and omnichannel
Learn common retail store layouts

Requirements
No prerequisites required

Description
How do everyday products make it from the factory floor to your shopping cart—and why do some brands become household names while others disappear?In Unboxing Consumer Products & Retail, you’ll uncover the inner workings of the consumer products industry (think food and beverage, personal care, apparel, and household goods) and explore how these products are developed, marketed, sold, and restocked across retail channels.  You'll also learn the art and science behind retail including an overview of assortment planning, allocation, pricing, visual merchandising and omnichannel.Whether you’re an aspiring buyer, merchandiser, marketer, or product manager—or just curious about the business behind the brands—this course will give you real-world insight into one of the most dynamic industries in the world.What you’ll learn:How consumer products are categorized, developed, launched and marketedCase study on Chipotle Mexican Grill, to illustrate key concepts of the quick service restaurant segmentThe retail ecosystem: discount, specialty, online, off-price, and everything in betweenThe roles of buyers, merchandisers, marketers, and supply chain teamsKey retail strategies: pricing, assortment planning, allocation, and replenishmentHow loyalty programs, technology, and omnichannel trends are reshaping retailCase studies from top brands and retailers, with practical takeawaysExplore the complex relationship between consumer products companies and retailersAn introduction to financial ratio analysis to demonstrate how to interpret financial statementsAn introduction to retail math using some key performance indicatorsYou’ll build a solid foundation in the consumer products and retail industries—plus tools you can apply in business, interviews, or your own ventures.No prior experience is required. Whether you're a student, early-career professional, or entrepreneur, this course is designed to be both accessible and impactful.

Who this course is for:
Early-career professionals who want to better understand consumer products & retail as they enter the space, Industry analysts who want to review emerging challenges & technologies, HR talent acquisition professionals who want to understand consumer products & retail terminology, Project Managers who want to gain familiarity with the business landscape impacting their projects, Anyone who is curious about these industries & their importance