Applied Retail Track

Industry collaboration is at the core

The Applied Retail Track (ART) is a three-year collaboration with leading retail companies - where theory meets practice. Students each year are part of a Retail Club: a group of 15 - 20 participants intentionally mixed across Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3. This cross-year structure is designed to foster peer learning while providing direct exposure to industry partners.

Current Retail Clubs

• Accenture
• Axel Johnson
• E-commerce
• Fiskars
• H&M
• ICA
• Synsam
• Svensk Handel
• Systembolaget

Each year, every Retail Club works with a real partner company on strategic business challenges. The experience goes beyond simulation, involving live collaboration in which students are expected to deliver genuine value. The annual program includes four hands-on workshops hosted on site by the partner company, focused on addressing real business problems. It also features a thematic lecture connecting current industry trends to Retail Club activities.

For Year 2 students, the program includes a dedicated career module designed to support professional development and career planning.

For Year 3 students, the experience culminates in the Company Project, where operational strategies are developed and presented for real retail partners. Throughout the three years, learning is applied with increasing complexity, while professional networks are built through continuous interaction with industry. 

Personal development and leadership

Based on the Stockholm School of Economics’ pedagogical mission FREE - which summarizes the qualities and competencies students are expected to develop by graduation - the Antonia Ax:son Johnson Tutorial Program combines individual tutoring sessions with group discussions within the Retail Club. While the Applied Retail Track connects students with the business world, this program focuses on personal development and reflective learning.

Over the course of three years, students participate in 12 tutorial sessions with a personal tutor, both individually and in groups. These structured conversations provide opportunities to reflect on personal growth, challenge assumptions, and develop a personal leadership philosophy over time. Complementing these sessions, Retail Club discussions bring together diverse perspectives, enriching reflection and fostering deeper learning.

Professional excellence requires self-awareness, ethical clarity, and the ability to learn from experience. Through the program, students examine their biases, strengthen their ethical judgment, and develop a level of self-knowledge that extends beyond what can be achieved through lectures alone. By graduation, students are equipped not only with the knowledge of what to do, but also with a strong understanding of who they are as professionals.

AI and future business skills 

Through Prompt Days, students develop practical skills in applying AI to real business challenges. Hands-on workshops teach students how to use AI tools to analyze data, automate tasks, and develop innovative solutions. By combining academic insight with industry expertise, the initiative ensures graduates are prepared to navigate the technological transformation of the consumer economy.