The effect of age on shopping orientation—choice orientation types of the ageing shoppers

Traditionally, ageing consumers have been considered and treated as a rather homogeneous group. The appropriateness of this way of conduct is increasingly challenged when the baby-boom generation is reaching the retirement age. In the near future, 55+ consumers will be the dominant consumer segment in Western societies. Therefore, retailers should be more aware of the heterogeneous needs and wants of the “new old”. In the current study, six segments of ageing (55–75 years old) consumers were formed based on choice orientation in the specialty retailing context. The findings were compared to those obtained using the sample of younger (18–54 years old) consumers. The study was based on the household survey collected in Helsinki metropolitan area in 2009. The results indicate that the ageing market is formed of different consumer types which are rather similar to those found among younger age cohorts.     

Varieties of Environmental Labelling, Market Structures, and Sustainable Consumption Across Europe: A Comparative Analysis of Organizational and Market Supply Determinants of Environmental-Labelled Goods

The purchase of environmental-labelled goods is an important dimension of sustainable consumption. Existing research on environmental labels and sustainable consumption has a rather individualistic bias. Organizational and structural determinants have only recently sparked attention. In this paper, a comparative framework is used to analyse the impact of organizational varieties of environmental labelling and market supply characteristics on purchases of environmental-labelled goods in 18 European countries. Focusing on labels for organic food and ecological durables, the plurality of existing labels as well as state involvement into labelling are used as the central dimensions constituting the organizational varieties. Market structures refer to the supply of labelled goods and the dominant retailing channels that make up the infrastructure for this dimension of sustainable consumption. After giving an overview on the underlying theoretical mechanisms of the main determinants, country differences in the organization of environmental labelling as well as the market structures are outlined. To analyse the effect of these differences, individual level data of a 2007 Eurobarometer survey on purchases of environmental-labelled goods is combined with organizational and market structural indicators. Using random intercept regression models and controlling for individual socio-economic and aggregate market demand-side factors, like average per capita income, share of post-materialists, and level of generalized trust, only the market supply and retailing structure reveal a robust effect on individual purchases of environmental friendly labelled goods.     

Analysing the fulfilment of service recovery paradox in retailing

The literature dealing with the Service Recovery Paradox (SRP) is vast, but some results are confusing and contradictory. In addition to this, scarce attention has been paid to service recovery in the context of retailing. This paper aims at verifying the compliance of the SRP in the context of retailing. Considering a sample of consumers that experienced a failure in the service delivered by a retailer and are very satisfied with the solution provided by the store employee, we test first the fulfilment of the SRP in the context of retailing. Secondly, we test the existence of significant differences in the customer satisfaction levels with the store before and after experiencing the problem considering several factors potentially influencing the impact of service recovery on customer satisfaction, therefore providing an encompassing analysis of the SRP and its main influencing variables, including some potential factors not previously explored. While we do not find evidence of the fulfilment of the SRP in retailing, differences in customer satisfaction before and after service recovery are highly related with consumer sociodemographic characteristics and shopping experience. Findings raise some practical implications.     

Reexamining emerging market animosity toward western developed countries: A social dilemma in physical retailing consumption under normative influence

Focusing on physical retailing as an apparent target for boycotts in the context of emerging market consumers' animosity toward Western developed countries, this research pioneers in its in-depth examination of a social dilemma whereby consumers on one hand wish to avoid purchasing Western products/services to meet social expectations, while on the other wish to continue purchasing Western products/services, because of perceived Western product/service superiority, at the risk of social disapproval. Differing from conventional animosity research that largely neglects interpersonal influence, this research synthesizes social influence theory and social exchange theory to compare consumers’ purchase decisions in visible (physical retailing) and less-visible (online shopping) consumption contexts that are subject to different strengths of normative influence, and proposes a cost-benefit analysis to explain how consumers make trade-offs between social expectations and self-interest. Two studies were conducted to test the hypotheses. Our study findings have important implications for future animosity research on consumer services that are subject to stronger normative pressure.     

Impact of market orientation on firm’s customer-based performance: the moderating role of employee orientation

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we examine the influence of employee orientation (EO) on converting constituent dimensions of market orientation (MO) into customer-based performance (CBP) and consider the robustness of these relationships in the context of firm age and size. Based on a sample of 410 mid-to-senior-level managers working in UK service industries, we find that all three dimensions of MO positively influence CBP. While highlighting the utility of employing a multidimensional approach to evaluate the customer-based outcome of MO implementation we highlight the nuanced role of EO in strengthening the MO–performance relationship and emphasise the crucial role employees play in implementing different strategic orientations in a perceivable way to customers.     

我国农产品超市经营发展的动因及前景分析

本文认为,20世纪90年代以来,我国农产品超市发展迅速,这种新型农产品零售业态的出现将对我国农业产业链产生深刻的影响,而收入水平的提高,物流技术的发展,消费需求与消费方式的变化,激烈的市场竞争则是我国农产品超市经营发展的主要动因。文章认为,根据我国的现状,农产品超市将是我国城市农产品零售市场的主导形式,而农贸市场依然是农村农产品零售的主要形式,连锁经营将是农产品超市经营的主要组织形式;我国农产品超市的经营发展不能一蹴而就,必须循序渐进。为了促进我国农产品超市的经营发展,必须因地制宜发展生鲜超市,加快农产品标准化工作,增加对农产品流通领域的投资。     

Retailing Innovations in a Globalizing Retail Market Environment

In recent years, the combination of economic growth and population growth in emerging markets and less developed markets has accelerated the progression of globalization of retailing and globalization by retailers. The challenges faced by global and globalizing retailers (retailers who currently have or intend to establish a market presence in mature markets, emerging markets and less developed markets) can be more daunting compared to those faced by firms in other industries such as automobiles, steel, and computers. Retailing innovations that are responsive to the characteristics of distinctive national markets and broader aggregations of markets such as mature, emerging and less developed markets are critical to the success of global and globalizing retailers. Against this backdrop, this paper focuses on retailing innovations in the context of a globalizing retailing environment. It attempts to shed insights into the characteristics of retailing innovations conducive to superior performance in distinctive national markets and across broader aggregations of markets. Towards this end, we first examine the environmental conditions of markets in different development stages, namely mature, emerging and less developed markets, and explore consumer based, industry based, and legal/regulatory based challenges faced by globalizing retailers in these markets. Second, we show how these challenges can be transformed into opportunities with retailing innovations. We conclude with a roadmap for future research and present propositions on future development with respect to retailing innovations in these markets.     

Segmenting the growing UK convenience store market for retail location planning

Branded convenience grocery stores have become commonplace in UK retailing, increasingly adopted by retailers traditionally associated with superstore retailing. This paper initially explores the conditions in which this shift has occurred, looking at supply-side changes, planning policy, and changing demographics and consumer behaviour. Subsequently, this paper quantifies the geographical market share of a number of prominent convenience grocery retailers at the postal area level across the UK in 2012. Finally, the paper offers a segmentation of the convenience market into a series of clusters by location type. By understanding the drivers of trade in different locations, through the cluster analysis outlined in this paper, a more powerful set of location strategies can be adopted by companies expanding in this market.     

The Outlook for European Grocery Retailing: Competition and Format Development

This article analyses retail trends in the main European countries, and particularly format evolution and competition amongst retailing firms. On the basis of the existence of European retailing landscapes that are sometimes similar without ever being identical, the article analyses the impact of the main factors of change on different national markets. Whilst retail internationalisation and new entrants, commercial policy, legislative environments, technological innovations, consumers and buying behaviour will have a convergence effect on different countries' retail structures, substantial differences will still exist. European retailing in the coming years will probably be characterized by increasingly less marked differences between countries than one finds today, but market segmentation, variety and differentiation of retailing formats and brand names will be stronger within each country.     

The moderating effect of culture on overall perceived value in the online purchasing process

This study analyzes differences in the formation of overall perceived value of a tourism service purchased online, taking tourists’ national culture as a moderating variable. The intention is to understand the influence of cultural dimensions on the antecedents and consequences of overall perceived value amongst consumers of different cultures. The sample is made up of 300 tourists (150 British and 150 Spanish) who have purchased a tourism service via the Internet. The two cultures to which the tourists belong differ in terms of the cultural dimensions of uncertainty-avoidance and individualism–collectivism. The findings reveal that in the formation of overall perceived value—which embraces both the online purchase phase and also consumption of the tourism service—moderating effects are generated principally by the cultural dimensions of uncertainty-avoidance and individualism/collectivism. The key practical implications of the study are to understand the variations on overall perceived value when making an online purchase, and to understand the role played by cultural dimensions in interactions with web-based businesses.     

Retailing in the Transition Economies of Poland and Romania: A Comparative Analysis

This research compares and contrasts the current state of development in the retailing industry in the transition economies of Poland and Romania. Two issues examined in this research are (a) the process of market reforms and resulting developments in store-based and non-store retailing, including the competition among large multinational retail chains and small local retail stores, and (b) the structure of the retail industry in terms of market share of 17 different categories of retailers within their respective sectors, namely, grocery retailers, specialty retailers, and non-store retailers, and overall growth registered by these retailers in the last 5 years (2004–2009). Managerial implications of the findings in terms of the opportunities and challenges in different categories of retailing business in the two countries are discussed, and directions for future research are identified.     

Brand personality appeal in retailing: Comparing fashion- and grocery retailing

In a mature retail market, branding can offer retailers opportunities for setting themselves apart. This study examines the construct ‘brand personality appeal’ (BPA; Freling et al., 2011) in retailing. Two consumer surveys are administered, on fashion retailing (n = 104) and grocery retailing (n = 101), focusing on (1) store personality, (2) BPA, and (3) retailer brand equity. A SmartPLS estimation shows that ‘enthusiasm’ is a personality trait that appeals to consumers regardless of the retail context, whereas ‘sophistication’ matters more in fashion retailing and ‘unpleasantness’ in grocery retailing. BPA is a significant driver of retail brand equity, regardless of the retail context.     

世界零售业与我国零售业的发展趋势

全球经济的加快增长为零售业的发展提供了良好的经济环境和动力,世界人口的增长为零售业的发展提供了广阔的需求和发展空间。中国消费品市场蕴藏着巨大的潜力,零售业在中国市场的发展空间非常广阔。但我国的零售业与外国相比,还存在着明显的差距,应针对我国零售业与我国零售企业竞争的劣势,采取相应措施,使其做大做强。     

2011年前三季度消费品市场运行分析

文章指出,进入2011年以来,我国消费品市场运行平稳良好,除一、二月份受春节小长假影响外,其余月份社会消费品零售总额增速在17％左右平稳波动,实际增速继续在低位运行,CPI增速在8月和9月份连续出现回落.大型零售企业销售稳定快速增长,三季度零售额增速比2010年同期提高4.02个百分点,1～9月份零售额累计增速比2010年同期提高4.18个百分点,服装零售额同比快速增长,而零售量却大幅下滑,家电零售额增速波动较大,金银珠宝类销售降温,食品类零售额增速逐步放缓.     

Perspectives on Corporate Excellence in Retailing

This paper focuses on the strategic and organizational determinants of superior corporate performance in retailing. Previously published studies on excellent companies at large, and on excellent retailing companies are reviewed, and the results of a content analysis of a small sample of excellent retailing companies are reported. Cheif among the hallmarks of excellent retailing companies uncovered are: excellence in human resources, focus on planning and control, market dominance, intimate knowledge of the served markets, technology edge and equitable sharing.     

Interformat competition in the grocery retailing

In the last few years, we have seen significant changes in the Italian retail environment which suggest that the patterns of retailing competition are more complex than in the past. In order to expand their target market in a context of economic recession, retailers are implementing new strategies aimed to stimulate the switching between different store formats. As a result, store formats are getting similar and new "hybrid" formats are emerging.This paper investigates the interformat competition between grocery store formats in the Italian retail market in order to understand which formats are converging and which, otherwise, are maintaining their distinctiveness. Our findings show that the rivalry between store formats (interformat) is becoming more intense than the competition within store formats (intraformat). These results have significant implication on both retailers and trade marketing strategies.     

Retail internationalization and retail failure: issues from the case of Marks and Spencer

Notwithstanding the importance of retailing to urban economies, the role of retailing in the marketing of urban places has been an area neglected by both academics and practitioners alike. It is acknowledged that the principles of marketing can be applied (albeit with modification) to the context of urban places. The theoretical implications of this are considered using Corsico's () metaphors of the city as enterprise, market and commodity. Such issues are considered via a survey of place marketing actors within the specific context of the marketing of towns and cities as shopping destinations in urban places classified as sub-regional and above. Particular attention is paid to responsibility for the marketing of the retail provision, the emphasis given to retail in the marketing/promotional activities of various urban stakeholders, the perceived role of retailing, and the factors influencing the nature of the urban retail provision. Promotion of retailing was found to be important for all urban stakeholders to a greater or lesser degree. However, prime responsibility lay with town centre managers and shopping centre managers. The implications for both theory and practice are discussed.     

The Paradox of Competition in the World of Volatility

Abstract

This paper analyses the mechanism in which fashion is produced, marketed, and consumed from the viewpoints of the consumption and supply-side, in the midst of an increasingly complex meaning of fashion and dress in modernity. The focus of the study is a theoretical account of the paradoxical consequences of market orientation and supply chain management in the middle market of international fashion retailing in the light of the idiosyncrasy of the restraints that are innately embedded in the fashion industry. The result gleaned from this study has an implication for an alternative approach of market orientation in international fashion retailing especially in the industrial economies.     

跨国零售企业中国市场营运模式比较及启示

纵观跨国零售企业中国市场的营销运作,显现出创新的竞争作为和卓越的竞争成效,因而有必要关注跨国零售企业中国市场营销个性的差异,尤其需要研究其营销共性的特征,将其营销运作模式进行对比分析,提炼核心能力的基本框架,把握核心能力关键所在,探索零售企业核心能力与行业竞争态势、目标市场竞争环境、以及总体竞争趋势的关联度,寻求我国零售企业跨入国际市场参与竞争的借鉴之路。     

Implementing diversity management in retailing: Exploring the role of organisational context

Abstract

Diversity management is a means of managing customer and employee differences for the benefit of the organisation. This qualitative study considers how contextual factors influence diversity management implementation in different retailing environments. Exploratory research was conducted in three SBUs of a UK retailing group: the UK high street SBU, the US operations and the online SBU. Despite different cultural, legal and historical differences between the UK and US, these factors did not lead to significantly different ways of dealing with diversity in the UK high street and US businesses. Instead the extent to which individual differences were recognised was influenced by the selling environment and the SBU's size and structure. The paper recommends that retailers need to develop a ‘home-grown’ approach to diversity management that acknowledges their organisational context.