Saint Mary’s University is offering a course via its David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services to help local sales businesses navigate the challenges of COVID-19.

The centre’s RISE Again Retail program is a spin-off of its “Retail Innovation, Strategy and Excellence” course. It is cancelled for 2020 but usually offers management training to retail entrepreneurs.

“This is uncharted territory for everyone,” the centre says on its website. “Leading during and after the crisis requires attention to certain leadership attributes. This is also an opportunity to strengthen or, in many cases, rebuild the organizational culture.”

The RISE Again program will be offered online and include six modules, each of which will be presented from 1 to 3 p.m. Atlantic time.

In addition to generalized advice, the content will include content based on the Centre’s pandemic-related market research. The proprietary data includes surveys with at least 30 retail executives and an unspecified number of retail employees.

The first online class will be held June 30 and the last on July 16. The modules will feature input from six different instructors, including business consultant Ramy Nassar and strategist David Zeitsma. Nassar founded toymaking giant Mattel’s Retail Innovation Lab and Zeitsma is a former principal at “Big Three” consultancy Bain and Company.

To apply, companies must be small, retail-focused and based in Atlantic Canada. The program is listed at $299, but the first 200 registrants will receive free access – the result of an Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency sponsorship.

Entrepreneurs can find more information here and register here.

Disclosure: Saint Mary's University is a client of Entrevestor.