Effectiveness of In-Store Displays in a Virtual Store Environment

This article examines in-store display effectiveness in an online grocery store and concentrates on two main issues. First, considering the more artificial and functional virtual store environment, we examine whether online in-store displays (ISD) produce a similar boost in sales as they do in offline stores. Second, we examine the moderating effect of display characteristics by comparing the effects of different display types. The results show that (1) online ISD can substantially increase brand sales and (2) ISD that preempt competition through a first-order and isolated position outperform ISD that attempt to make the product stand out in the shopping zone.     

基于因子分析法的区域零售业竞争力研究

基于可获得的统计数据，尝试性地提出了我国零售业竞争力的综合评价体系，从不同侧面综合反映了零售业的竞争力水平和态势。基于这一指标体系，利用因子分析法对我国30个省、直辖市、自治区2003年的零售业竞争力进行了定量评价。为了解各省市零售业发展的实际水平、提高零售业竞争力提供了客观依据。     

Mergers in the food retailing sector: An empirical investigation

We address the problem of merger evaluation, for competition policy purposes, in the retailing sector. The likely effects of a possible merger are analysed ex ante. The novelty of the paper lies in the inclusion of downstream and upstream market power effects on the retailers. Also, it provides an empirical application to the Portuguese food retailing market. The effects of additional concentration on prices are estimated, as well as the price reduction insiders are likely to obtain via an improved bargaining position. The final effect on prices depends on how these cost reductions are reflected in insiders’ prices, i.e., on the pass-through rate. For realistic values of this rate we find that the merger in question will most likely increase consumer prices and, therefore, should not be allowed on an antitrust legislation basis.     

Theory to practice: HIV/AIDS policies in operation within British retailing

Despite recent scientific advancements, Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV)/ Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) remains a serious health issue for those involved in employee management. The introduction of the Disability Discrimination Act (1995) has meant that increased numbers of HIV/AIDS infected workers are able to remain in employment, fully protected by this legislation. Because of the nature and characteristics of retail employment, it is suggested that retailers have an increased likelihood of encountering employees and/or customers with the disease, compared with most other industries. This paper examines one particular aspect of the challenge facing retailers, notably that of the ‘operationalization’ of their HIV/AIDS policies into practices, especially in terms of company selection rocesses, education and training, employee relations and employee assistance programmes. Data were collected from a number of leading retail companies, ¹ from which, important observations can be made with regard to retailers' attitudes towards employee welfare in general, and in relation to HIV/AIDS in particular. The research results indicate potential discrimination in terms of employee selection involving a significant number of major retailers, and little comprehensive education/training on HIV/AIDS occurring, despite evidence of disruptive behaviour by staff. In addition, the findings provide evidence that even major companies find it difficult to balance issues of employee welfare against the financial concerns of the organization, in terms of assisting affected employees.     

日本零售企业进入海外市场的动机、经营绩效与撤退原因

在零售商业的国际化过程中，日本零售企业扮演了重要角色．日本零售企业进入海外市场的动机与决策过程因进入市场、进入时期及业态形式的不同而不同，同时，日本零售企业在海外市场的经营绩效也是不容乐观的，并出现了大量的撤退案例。研究日本零售企业进入海外市场的动机及经营绩效不佳的原因，不仅对日本零售企业制定跨国经营战略具有参考价值，而且对包括进入国家或地区在内的全体零售企业制定零售经营战略也具有借鉴意义．     

我国零售业如何应对零售市场全面开放后的冲击

随着我国入世后过渡期的结束,我国的零售市场全面开放,国外零售企业加速了在我国扩张的脚步,我国零售业面临着更为激烈的竞争.本文通过系统分析我国零售业的优势与劣势,针对发展中存在的问题,提出了我国零售业提高自身综合竞争实力的对策.     

传统零售模式与网络零售模式的融合

互联网在商业上的广泛应用 ,已从根本上改变了零售业的运作 ,网上购买使顾客的购买活动不受时间的限制 ,而且可使顾客获得定制化的产品和服务。传统零售商们已认识到他们不能再忽视网上零售的重要性及其发展的潜力 ,应建立一个多渠道的包括传统零售和网上零售的商业模式 ,以便更好地为顾客提供增值服务。     

沃尔玛的国际扩张模式研究

本文以沃尔玛为例,回顾了其全球扩张历程,并对其海外扩张模式做了探讨,发现沃尔玛在国际扩张过程中,主要采取的是由近及远的空间扩张模式,对不同性质的目标市场,则分别采用收购和合资新建等国际化经营模式。以中国商业零售业对外资的开放政策变化为背景,本文还对沃尔玛在中国的发展做了剖析,并对其未来发展态势做出预测。     

Virtual store layout: an experimental comparison in the context of grocery retail

Interface design and the interaction between customer and computer are factors critical to business effectiveness over the Web. A key aspect of conventional retailing is store layout; an analogous aspect in virtual retail is virtual store layout. This paper reports on an experimental investigation into the use of three different layouts in online grocery retailing: freeform, grid, and racetrack. These three most common conventional retailing layout types were transformed into virtual layouts for computer-mediated interfaces. Subjects in Greece and the UK participated in a laboratory experiment: they were given a planned shopping task with money to spend, and performed their shopping through a virtual store with layout as the manipulated variable. The results show that layout significantly affects online consumer behavior, but that predictions generated from the literature of conventional retailing about differences in the outcome of layouts do not generally hold in a virtual setting. Some of the findings can be explained by reference to research in Human Computer Interaction (HCI).