The **"Forecasting Retail Purchases"** competition is designed for participants to develop predictive models that forecast whether customers will make purchases during a specified time period. The prediction window extends from **April 7, 2024, to July 30, 2024**, utilizing historical purchase data from **January 2, 2023, to April 6, 2024**. This competition not only aims to enhance participants' analytical skills but also to encourage the application of techniques learned in class.

### Objectives

Participants are tasked with predicting customer purchase behavior based on the provided historical data. The goal is to create models that accurately forecast the binary outcome of purchases (yes or no) for each customer on specified dates during the testing period.

### Additional Guidelines

1. **Code Release Incentives**:
   - Participants who release their code **three days before the competition ends** and maintain a top-three ranking at that time will receive **full marks** for this competition in the course. This policy encourages early submission and allows for constructive feedback and refinement of models.

2. **Evaluation Criteria**:
   - While rankings in the competition play a crucial role in determining final scores, the evaluation is not solely based on placement. 
   - Creative use of concepts taught in class, as well as the implementation of innovative techniques in participants' models, will be considered in the grading process. 
   - Participants are encouraged to think outside the box and demonstrate their understanding of the material through their unique approaches to problem-solving.

### Conclusion

This competition serves as a practical application of the skills and knowledge acquired throughout the course. By participating, you will not only enhance your predictive modeling abilities but also gain valuable experience in handling real-world data challenges. We encourage all participants to engage fully, collaborate, and push the boundaries of their creativity in forecasting customer behaviors. Good luck to everyone!