Category: Past Events

On March 2, 2022, our members convened to put our Retail & E-Commerce acumen to the test. It was intriguing to discover that Denner’s foundation dates back to 1860, predating both Coop (1969) and Migros (1925)! The questions sparked vibrant discussions, all while we savored the exceptional beer from Hermann Bier, proudly brewed in St. Gallen. For the inaugural time this year, our members had the opportunity to vie for tickets to the HSG.Retail Tech Conference (valued at approximately 800 CHF) and the IRM.Retail Startup Showcase. Undoubtedly, these were prizes worth striving for!

As the semester drew to a close and the festive season neared, our retail and e-commerce club celebrated with a special fondue dinner. Our Christmas Dinner was held on Thursday, 15th December, at the Restaurant National zum Goldenen Leuen.

We were privileged to welcome representatives from MANOR to the University of St. Gallen. They delved into the evolving shopping experience and how MANOR adeptly maneuvers through the dynamic retail environment. After providing insights into MANOR’s rich history, Stefan Wetzler, Benjamin Flückiger, Sven Partusch, and Sherin Keller discussed their personal experiences. They also shed light on MANOR’s ongoing initiatives and the challenges they face in omnichannel and in-store retailing. The subsequent apéro provided an excellent opportunity for attendees to engage in deeper, one-on-one discussions, addressing their individual queries and interests. It was also a chance to network with MANOR’s representatives and relish the Goodie Bag, generously sponsored by MANOR St. Gallen.

On October 24th, we had the privilege of hosting Valora Digital from the Valora Group at the University of St. Gallen. They enlightened us on the prevailing trends and the promising future of Quick Commerce. After providing a succinct introduction to Valora Digital, Lukas Wohlgemuth and Lauren Wick delved into ‘avec now’. This case study empowered our students to ideate and brainstorm ways to augment the services of ‘avec now’. The subsequent apéro presented a golden opportunity for participants to showcase their insightful findings.

At our penultimate event of the spring semester, we were excited to have a diverse group of retail experts join us to discuss the role of luxury & sustainability in retail. The interactive and flexible format of an unconference allowed everyone to participate actively and enter the discussions in which he/she could contribute and learn most. At the apéro, everyone had the chance to further engage with fellow retail enthusiasts and experts from the industry. 

In collaboration with our corporate partner, Lidl, we delved into the intricate challenges confronting brick-and-mortar retail. Throughout the case study, participants showcased their ingenuity, proposing innovative concepts for a new urban store. Following the discussion, the apéro presented a prime opportunity to engage with representatives from Lidl Switzerland, allowing us to discover the thrilling career prospects they offer.

On November 30, 2021, we were happy to get together with Samy Liechti, HSG Alumni and founder of BLACKSOCKS. With the launch of BLACKSOCKS in June 1999, not only was the first sock subscription born, but also the first online subscription. The Swiss online subscription pioneer shared with us his experiences and the challenges he faced while building BLACKSOCKS. Afterwards discussions continued during a nice apéro.

On October 11, we welcomed our partner Retail Capital Partners (RCP) for a short presentation, a collaborative workshop and a tasty apéro. Together with senior professionals our members had lively discussions about the potential value creation in the current shift from brick-and-mortar to online. Three teams cracked a case and participated in a pitching competition with a delicious prize. Congratulations to the winning team and a big thank you to everyone who took part, we were impressed by all creative inputs and ideas.

At our 2nd general assembly, we gave our members an overview of our past events and presented our results of the 2nd club year. In addition, all members were invited to elect the new board. We finished of the evening with delicious pizza and beer and are now looking forward to invite all existing and new members to many cool events in the upcoming semester. Enjoy your well-deserved summer break!