What we do
We aim to be a centre of excellence dedicated to advancing the knowledge base of retailing in New Zealand and internationally. We were established in 2015.
Retail is a key driving force of the global economy. Through our research and networks, we promote, connect, and help realise the university’s strategic priorities around the themes of:
- agrifood business (particularly at the Auckland campus)
- creativity
- innovation
- sustainability
- health and wellbeing
- society.
Find us
We are based at the Massey Business School on the Auckland campus.
Massey Business School, Auckland 0632, New Zealand
Our objectives
The objectives of the Centre for Advanced Retail Studies (CARS) are to:
- deliver world leading and internationally excellent publications and high impact research outcomes by studying the changing dynamics and composition of retailing, its managerial implications, as well as wider social and cultural significance
- influence public policy and practice through engagement with the wider community by employing our applied research expertise to research that is relevant to the demands of the retail industry in New Zealand and internationally
- further our national and international research network to strengthen our visibility and collaboration
- expand our retail partnerships within Massey University both within Massey Business School and across the other Colleges
- support the submission of substantial, multi-disciplinary proposals for grant funding and knowledge exchange projects, through the on-going development of awareness, skills and relationships amongst colleagues and external stakeholders
- support the next generation of creative and innovative research students and post-doc scholars who will be independent in their thinking and learning, and motivated in their desire to contribute by exposing them to and involving in CARS research projects and relationships
Strategic partners and international collaborators
The Centre for Advanced Retail Studies has a series of partnerships with key retailers and industry level organisations that help realise our strategic objectives.
We also collaborate internationally with a variety of universities and organisations on research projects, exchange programmes, and teaching initiatives.
International collaborators
Australian Consumer, Retail, and Services (ACRS) Research Unit, Monash University
Department of Marketing, Retail and International Business, University of Surrey
Strategic partners
The Warehouse Group
The Warehouse Group is New Zealand's largest retail group, made up of The Warehouse, Warehouse Stationery, Noel Leeming and Torpedo7. Massey's Centre for Advanced Retail Studies (CARS) collaborates with The Warehouse Group to help realise our strategic objectives.
First Retail Group
First Retail Group are experts in developing potential, driving performance and managing risk - advising and enabling consumer-facing sectors including retail, hospitality, healthcare and tourism.
Retail NZ
Service IQ
Research and study
Retailing is a key driving force of the global economy. As a leading research-intensive university, we take retail education and research seriously.
Retail studies has played an integral part in building Massey’s longstanding and world-leading reputation in the areas of agriculture, agribusiness, and related fields.
Research strengths
Learn more about our research strengths.
Retail and services management
Massey Business School has significant research strengths in retail marketing, strategy and internationalisation, services operations and management, retail structures and organisation, retail banking and finance, retail law, property, and the retail-tourism interface.
Agrifood business
Agrifood business includes highly innovative and important industries that span the food value chain from molecule to mouth. Massey's integrated expertise positions us to play a key role in solving world issues like population expansion, pandemics, global warming, and food security.
Consumer behaviour
Massey is recognised for its leading research and expertise in the fields of consumer behaviour, as well as research into consumer and material cultures. The research spans the disciplinary domains of psychology, sociology, and cultural and social geography.
Business analytics
Massey conducts world-leading research in the area of business analytics. This includes the evaluation of the effects of retail-related marketing activities such as price, promotion, advertising, assortment, distribution, and loyalty programmes over time due to various factors.
Human resource management
Massey Business School has considerable expertise in human resource management, with a particular focus on retail issues and problems. This is conducted within the Massey People, Organisation, Work and Employment Research (MPOWER) group.
Health implications for retail
The broader social welfare implications of retail systems and managerial practices are a notable emphasis of the research conducted in the College of Health and College of Sciences.
Logistics and supply chain in retail
The highly-regarded Logistics and Supply Chain group is located within the College of Sciences. The group's expertise is focussed on the behavioural dimensions of industrial networks, supply chain collaborations, and performance.
Design, branding and communications
The design aspects of retail environments (both structures and interiors), as well as branding and communications, is the focus of innovative and cutting-edge research both within Massey Business School and Toi Rauwhārangi College of Creative Arts.
Webinars
Watch the Retail ReBoot series of free webinars by the Massey Business School. They explore the challenges of doing business in the time of COVID-19 and help provide some guidance and reassurance as we pivot to the new normal.
What the industry says
Watch members of the retail industry speak about the Centre for Advanced Retail studies in these videos:
Big Issues in Retail survey
We have led a number of initiatives to isolate and debate the big issues, and provide a platform to bridge the academic-practitioner divide.
One of these was the Big Issues in Retail survey. For this research, we partnered with:
The research sought to capture the key priorities, issues, challenges and opportunities for New Zealand retailers.
Staying relevant for retailers
The information and data provided by survey respondents created a snapshot of the retail sector, helping us understand their specific needs and requirements. It meant Massey and Monash Universities were able to continue research that is important to the retail industry.
We were also able to make sure we provide relevant educational and training degrees for those who wish to make a career of – or grow their professional development skills – within the retail sector, now and into the future.
It was also important for Retail NZ to gather information about the trends in retail. This helped them identify the issues that are important to retailers, so they can lobby central and local government on their behalf.
The survey
The first annual survey was completed in January 2016, and the results were presented at Retail NZ’s shop.kiwi International Forum.
The 2017 survey was completed in September 2017, and the findings were discussed in the local and national media.
Download Big Issues in Retail Survey Reports
Our people
Director
Professor Jonathan Elms – The Sir Stephen Tindall Chair in Retail Management.
Professor Jonathan Elms
Jonathan holds the Sir Stephen Tindall Chair Professor in Retail Management and is the founding Director of the Centre for Advanced Retail Studies in New Zealand. Before Massey, he spent seven years at the Institute for Retail Studies, University of Stirling.
Deputy director
- Dr Andrew Murphy.
Massey faculty
- Professor Jim Arrowsmith
- Dr Sandy Bulmer
- Dr Andrew Cardow
- Professor Paul Childerhouse
- Professor Juliana Mansvelt
- Trish O’Sullivan
- Professor Jane Parker
- Associate Professor Janet Sayers.
Research students
- Kousar Sadeghzadeh
- Simon Moore.
Visiting professors
- Professor Sean Sands (Director of the Customer Experience and Insight (CXI) Research Group, Swinburne Business School)
- Professor Marnik Dekimpe Research (Tilburg University, the Netherlands, and KU Leuven, Belgium).
Contact us
Massey Business School
- Hours
Address
Massey Business School, Kaupapa Whai Pakihi
Massey University
Private Bag 102904
North Shore
Auckland 0745- j.r.elms@massey.ac.nz
- Phone
+64 9 414 0800 extension 43323
- Mobile
- Location
Address
Massey Business School, Kaupapa Whai Pakihi
Massey University
Private Bag 102904
North Shore
Auckland 0745Find us on Google Maps
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