Retailing in Taiwan: modernization and the emergence of new formats

Abstract

Explains that Taiwan’s retailing is predominantly a mix of traditional markets and department stores, an abundance of convenience stores, a group of supermarket and hypermarket chains, many direct marketing companies and a dynamic fast‐food industry. Outlines the history of Taiwan’s development as a democratic society in order to provide a framework for describing the modernization process. From the 1600s through the period of Japanese colonization ending in 1944, Taiwan was an agrarian society. Beginning less than 50 years ago, rapid industrialization brought greater wealth to the 21 million people who inhabit the island and the recent transition to a more democratic society has resulted in consumer awareness and greater interest in life quality. Suggests that the new retail formats have done a lot to satisfy consumer demands for professional service, product value and variety, and a safe, clean environment. However, single‐site retail formats that require long‐term and large‐scale investments, such as malls, shopping centres and retail streets, are very slow to develop. Better civic co‐ordination, greater openness to international retail planners and financial institutions, as well as increased confidence about the future, are key to the next stage of retail development. Provides details of current retail statistics (in US dollars). Describes Taiwan’s retail history and discusses future retail opportunities.