Retail and Services Entrepreneurship

This course is designed for students interested in managing and owning retail or services businesses. The course examines retail and services entrepreneuring in a variety of formats, including starting a new business, buying an existing business, franchising, corporate venturing, and managing independent or family businesses. Theories of entrepreneurship and innovation are introduced to help students develop and evaluate new concepts for retail and service enterprises. This course also emphasizes the marketing aspects of entrepreneurship, such as developing merchandise assortments or service offerings, target marketing, positioning, competition analysis, location analysis, and the design of the store or service outlet. Writing projects include the development of a new business plan or an analysis of a franchising opportunity.