The science and arts of retailing as a business have advanced over the years. Changing customer preferences, business innovations, globalisation, information technology and now, raising productivity, have pushed the boundaries of retail management. To develop leadership capabilities, retail executives have to learn more and faster than before. A formal grounding in retail management is essential for any retail executive; and, continuous professional development is a must for the contemporary retail manager as well as the business owner. A key focus of the Retail Academy is to develop leaders at middle and senior levels of the retail organisation. In a highly competitive global marketplace, retailers need leaders with higher education, deeper insights of the business and wider accessibility to networks.