Development of a retail life cycle: the case of Hong Kong's department store industry

Abstract

This essay identifies and analyses the life cycle trend of the department store industry in Hong Kong. The main research question is whether its development follows a pattern that can be explained by retail life cycle theory. The tracing of its life cycle trend line is the main contribution. Methodologically, the trend line is plotted on the basis of triangulating a number of quantitative and qualitative data sets. Quantitative data sets used include time series longitudinal data constructed from government statistics, while qualitative data consist of historical data from archival documents, and semi-structured interviews of retailing professionals. The significant findings are that Hong Kong's department store industry approximates the pattern described in retail life cycle theory and that it has in recent years entered a stage of maturity.