RetailUp! 2026 – Level Up Your Retail Game: “Retail Transformation in the Era of AI, Sustainability, and the Future Generation”

Bunda Mulia University Management Study Program in collaboration with the Excellent Community of Management (XCM) proudly presents RetailUp! Competition 2026 – Level Up Your Retail Game 2026 , an educational seminar and competition in the retail sector designed to prepare the younger generation to face the increasingly dynamic and technology-based future of the retail industry. Carrying the theme “Retail Transformation in the Era of AI, Sustainability, and Future Generations”, the seminar was held on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at the UBM Lecture Hall, 3rd and 6th Floors, Bunda Mulia University Serpong Campus. This activity was attended by a total of 279 participants, consisting of 259 onsite participants and 20 participants who participated online via Zoom. Participants included students of the UBM Management Study Program in Semesters 2, 4, and 6, students of UBM Ancol Campus (hybrid), as well as high school/vocational school students from the Tangerang area and its surroundings. RetailUp! 2026 featured a competent resource person in the retail sector, Mr. Christian F. Guswai, who shared insights on how AI technology, sustainability practices, and changes in consumer behavior are influencing current retail business strategies. In his presentation, he emphasized that data utilization, digital innovation, and a customer-oriented approach are the main keys to creating a personalized and sustainable shopping experience in the future. Furthermore, on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, the second stage was held, namely the final round of the competition which was the culmination of the RetailUp! 2026 competition series. The final round competition was held at TURLA The UBM Retail Laboratory, Bunda Mulia University, Serpong Campus. This competition consisted of two main stages, namely the Retail Business Case Analysis Competition as the preliminary round and The Retail Challenge as the final round. In the initial stage, participants who were high school/vocational school students were challenged to analyze retail business case studies and present them in the form of systematic and innovative written work. From all participants who took part in the preliminary round, several best teams were selected to proceed to the final round based on the quality of their analysis, originality of their ideas, and the accuracy of their solutions. Entering the final round, the competition was held in the form of The Retail Challenge which focused on hands-on practice in the retail sector. The finalists, consisting of several groups, were given the challenge of arranging and arranging products on the provided display racks.

This activity aimed to test the participants’ understanding of merchandising principles, product placement strategies, and creativity in creating attractive and effective displays for consumers. After the shelf arrangement session was completed, each group was given time to prepare a presentation. At this stage, participants explained the concepts and strategies they used in arranging the products, including the reasons for choosing the position, the targeted consumer segmentation, and the added value offered. This presentation was one of the important aspects in the assessment, because it reflected communication skills, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of the retail industry.

The event began with the singing of the Indonesian National Anthem and the Bunda Mulia University March, followed by opening remarks from Ms. Devica Pratiwi, SE, M.Ak. The competition activities were guided by the moderator, Mr. Budi Christanto, SE, B.Bus., MM, who ensured the event ran in an orderly and interactive manner. The assessment in the final round was based on several criteria, including neatness and aesthetics of the shelves, understanding of merchandising principles, presentation quality, product placement strategy, and creativity and innovation. Based on the assessment results, the first place was won by a team from SMK YADIKA 11 Jaturnagara consisting of Nadira Khairun Nisa Abdulrohman, Kharis Saputryani Lase, and Shella Izatun Nafsiah. The second place was won by a team from SMAK Tunas Bangsa Cikarang consisting of Amelia Budiani Soendoro, Felove Livia Sany, and Derrick Karlson Hartana. Meanwhile, the third place was won by a team from SMA Fons Vitae 1 consisting of Michael Kevin Riyadi, Gracia Abigail Pardede, and Nikolas Savio Christo.

The entire series of RetailUp! 2026 activities were carried out well thanks to the full support of the Management Study Program, the student committee, and collaboration with partners and sponsors from the retail industry. Bunda Mulia University affirms its commitment to developing future retail leaders who are adaptable to technology, innovative in business strategies, and aware of the importance of sustainability in the retail industry. See you at the next RetailUp!