WMU to host academic conference in retailing, marketing and supply chain

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University will host the 2024 American Collegiate Retailing Association and American Marketing Association Conference from March 27 to 29. The triennial event brings together leading academics in retailing, marketing and supply chain management to discuss cutting-edge research and trends.

“We are fortunate to be hosting this prestigious academic conference at Western Michigan University,” says Dr. Russell Zwanka, associate professor of marketing. “With top programs in food marketing, supply chain management, sales and business marketing, and marketing, the topics covered tie in directly to the research conducted across our academic areas at the Haworth College of Business, especially the Food Industry Research and Education Center, headed by Dr. Marcel Zondag. Bringing this conference to Kalamazoo helps continue to solidify Western’s place as an applied academic research institution.”

Conference topics

• Career development, retail education and pedagogy: Research about retail employment, career development and education, including new methods, technology and pedagogical techniques.
• Consumer and shopper psychology and behavior: Inquiry into the influence of values, pricing, and in-store and online advertising.
• Ethics, diversity, equity and inclusion, corporate social responsibility and sustainability: Exploration of these topics and their significance to pricing, retailers and supply chains, as well as consumers and shoppers.

• Local, global marketing and retailing, and entrepreneurship: Study of hyperlocal, local, regional, national and global retail and entrepreneurship. The importance of pricing, technology, and advertising in business formation, as well as farmers markets, locally-grown food and grocery retailing will be discussed.
• Retail grocery, agribusiness and food-related research: In-depth conversations about local foods, food supply chain, food marketing, retail grocery and farmers markets. 
• Omni-channel retailing, online retail, and social media: Research focused on the integration of in-store, online, mobile and social retail formats, with or without influencer behavior. The effects of social media, online reviews, review sites and social media platforms will be covered, among other topics.
• Impact of the pandemic on retailing and marketing activities: Investigation of the impact of the pandemic on retailers, suppliers, supply chains, consumers and shoppers. Inventory levels, out-of-stock, pricing, business performance, closures, changes in retail space and malls will be included.
• Artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, big data and Internet of Things: Analysis of new technologies and their role in retailing and marketing. 

The conference offerings will also encompass topics not listed above, as well as extended abstracts and workshop proposals.

Find more information about the call for papers. Submissions are due by Tuesday, Oct. 31. Contact Dr. Russell Zwanka with questions.

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.