Guest editorial: research themes in retailing

This paper is designed to address the differences among competitors in the use of interfirm influence strategies, trying to discover tendencies in the use of each strategy, ranking the use of the different influence strategies and identifying the type of strategy used by each manufacturer. Data were gained by a mail survey of the major computer manufacturers in Spain. Empirical research has been undertaken in order to build the constructs 'coercive influence' and 'noncoercive influence', and they are ranked by level of use. Causal analysis is used to provide such analysis. Type of influence strategy adopted by suppliers is analysed. Grouping of computer manufacturers according to the type of influence strategy adopted is also provided.     

Guest editorial: perspectives on sustainable consumption

The typical guest editorial within a special issue of a journal will explain the theme of the special issue, introduce the different contributions that follow, outline the contributions that each makes and identify the common threads that connect them. By contrast, this editorial article seeks to provide an overview which explores the broader context for the challenges that are presented by the pursuit of ‘sustainable consumption’ as a field of scholarship, a form of behaviour and a public policy goal. It explores some of the complexities involved in understanding sustainable consumption, and the ways in which conventional approaches to understanding consumption and consumer behaviour may be insufficient to understand and promote sustainable consumption.     

Guest Editorial

Abstract

While some Internet-only retailers survive and prosper, for most, multichannel retailing provides a sustainable and attractive blend of new and existing retail formats. The complementary roles of stores and Internet are frequently noted, yet the renewed significance of catalogues is often ignored. This paper is based upon a survey of 2,341 shoppers across three product sectors and three shopping scenarios, identifying their relative utilization of, and attitudes towards, stores, catalogues and the Internet.

Principal component analysis and multi-attribute analysis (MAA) scores summarize attitudes across the three channels, sectors and motivational scenarios. Four major components in channel choice emerge consistently: risk reduction, product value, ease of shopping and experiential. K-Means clustering on preference and behavioural variables identifies the truly multichannel shopper segment. Key characteristics of these shoppers are summarized, demonstrating that the multichannel shopper comprises a large and mainstream segment. Implications are identified for retailers and researchers.     

Guest Editorial

No abstract available for this article.