Retail Change Research Articles

The COVID-19 pandemic impact on changes in retail and service sales over time and space: A case study of Slovakia

The COVID-19 pandemic impact on changes in retail and service sales over time and space: A case study of Slovakia

Exploratory Factor Analysis on Acceptance of Artificial Intelligence as Online Healthcare Product Sales Advisor Among Consumers of Guardian Pharmaceutical Outlets in Malaysia

Switching from human to artificial intelligence (AI) as online health sales advisors significantly impact sales. AI has been shown to influence customer purchases and adapt quickly to changes in online retail. While AI enhances efficiency and personalisation in sales, it also introduces ethical dilemmas, such as job loss and bias, alongside consumer scepticism about its accuracy and trustworthiness. Integrating AI into pharmacy practices demands a deep understanding of its effects on pharmacists’ roles, signaling a significant shift in healthcare delivery. This study aims to explore and confirm the seven Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 1 (UTAUT1) construct as a robust framework that can be utilized in the consumer acceptance of AI technologies in healthcare retail settings. The participants in the study were patrons of the Guardian Pharmacy in the Klang Valley region. The research team modified 46 questions from an earlier study, employing a dual translation method that involved translating the questionnaire from English to Malay and then back to English to better align with the demographics of the study group. The experts assessed and authenticated these revised statements to ensure their relevance and accuracy, focusing on content and appearance authenticity. The study analyzed and confirmed 103 responses using the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) technique. The EFA results indicated that each construct’s items were grouped into one component with factor loading higher than 0.6, with the total variance explained ranging from 69% to 90% and overall internal reliability of 0.944. This study enriches existing knowledge by validating the UTAUT1 framework as a robust framework in assessing consumer acceptance towards AI integration in healthcare sales, marking a significant shift in healthcare delivery and underscoring the need for a nuanced understanding of AI’s implications on pharmacists’ roles amidst ethical and consumer.

Fast Changes in Food Retailing Due to the Impact of COVID-19

Fast Changes in Food Retailing Due to the Impact of COVID-19

Patterns of retail gentrification on inner-city main streets in Stockholm: the role of privatized property ownership

ABSTRACT This study aims to investigate the connection between property owners and shopfront retail changes on main streets, exploring the role of private property ownership in retail gentrification. Examining four inner-city streets in Stockholm between 2009 and 2018, a commercial gentrification index reveals patterns of retail gentrification. Privatization in Stockholm (1990–2010) resulted in cooperative housing associations (CHAs) becoming the dominant property owners. Retail gentrification is slightly more pronounced among CHA-owned properties. Interviews with 122 small-business owners renting from CHAs indicate that their short-term economic interests limit efforts to counteract retail gentrification, favouring its exacerbation over preserving independent retailers on main streets.

Geographical differences in the financial impacts of different forms of tobacco licence fees on small retailers in Scotland

ObjectiveRetailer licencing fees are a promising avenue to regulate tobacco availability. However, they face strong opposition from retailers and the tobacco industry, who argue significant financial impacts. This study compares...

Fight for Customers - Correlations of Trade Organizations and Sales Promotionon the Hungarian FMCG Market

Tract of time after the millennial brought well definable changes in retailers’ trade organizations and marketing activity in the Hungarian three-pole FMCG market. Operation conditions of enterprises became more complicated which is also reflected in the variability of the number and intensity of relevant influencing factors as well as in the difficulties of forecasting them. Out of these the change of consumer/purchase behaviour, the growth of competition intensity, the swell of procurement marketing, changes in channel position, the innovation of informatics and info communication tools, the dominant change of economic environment, the stiffening legislation and the unexpected influence of ecological environment can be highlighted. An important starting point for exploring the impact of the changes focusing on market competition is that the number and activity of chain stores operating in Hungary has stabilized, which has shifted the direction of research to explore the relationship between trade organization and marketing, improving competitive advantages and management efficiency.JEL Code: M31

Generation Z fashion shopping behaviour during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: the effect of sustainable consumption

COVID-19 made significant changes in the fashion retail markets in European countries because stores were closed due to government restrictions. The study aims to examine the fashion shopping behaviour of Generation Z consumers before and during the first wave of COVID-19 and its influence on the future development of fashion shopping behaviour. Based on the literature review and knowledge gap identified, the authors developed hypotheses to examine the relationship between Fashion & Style (FAS), Sustainability (SUS), and Circular Fashion Economy (CFE) and their impact on shopping behaviour after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors analysed the results of the measurement model (n = 589) and the direct and indirect mediating effect of the latent variables on the shopping frequency before (BEFORE) the pandemic and on the shopping frequency during the pandemic (DURING) and after the pandemic (AFTER). The results of the measurement model show that significant relationships exist in the proposed model, namely, the relationship between IS and SFB, FAS and SFD, SUS and SFD, SUS and CHA, FC and CHA, and SFD and CHA. Furthermore, the selected demographic variables acted as a mediator for the measurement model.

Fight for Customers - Correlations of Trade Organizations and Sales Promotionon the Hungarian FMCG Market

Tract of time after the millennial brought well definable changes in retailers’ trade organizations and marketing activity in the Hungarian three-pole FMCG market. Operation conditions of enterprises became more complicated which is also reflected in the variability of the number and intensity of relevant influencing factors as well as in the difficulties of forecasting them. Out of these the change of consumer/purchase behaviour, the growth of competition intensity, the swell of procurement marketing, changes in channel position, the innovation of informatics and info communication tools, the dominant change of economic environment, the stiffening legislation and the unexpected influence of ecological environment can be highlighted. An important starting point for exploring the impact of the changes focusing on market competition is that the number and activity of chain stores operating in Hungary has stabilized, which has shifted the direction of research to explore the relationship between trade organization and marketing, improving competitive advantages and management efficiency.JEL Code: M31

Are local retail services an amenity or a nuisance?

Abstract We test whether local retail services are considered a nuisance or an amenity and how this distinction is capitalized into residential property values. Using a rich, micro-spatial dataset on property sales transactions and business activity in New York City, we estimate the impact of access to neighborhood retail services on residential sales prices. We construct two instruments to channel supply-side drivers of retail change and to address concerns of endogeneity between changes in retail activity and property values. Results show that retail services that are more frequently consumed and experiential, and are located in relatively more mixed-use neighborhoods are positively capitalized into property values. Residents also pay more to be closer to more diverse retail clusters, and relatively less to be closer to chains. This is true across smaller 1-to-4 family homes as well as larger condos/coops and multi-family rental buildings. The price effects from certain classifications of retail, like restaurants and personal services, are mixed depending on the kind of residential property and the local concentration of the retail. Therefore, the relative strength of the amenity or nuisance effect is very much conditioned on the type of service and the localized neighborhood context.

Retailing in India: Promulgation and Confrontation

The blast in India's retail area has fascinated numerous players-both at the public and global level-to receive the rewards of development in the retail business. The upsurge in the retail business has seriously changed the whole idea of shopping as far as the most recent organizations that are embraced and furthermore by virtue of customer purchasing conduct. There were days when buyers had a more independent attitude. Global brands where unfathomable and there was no openness of the assortments presented by the worldwide players. Shopping was more viewed as an action or an awkward undertaking where it was simply done to satisfy ones needs. Be that as it may, presently the circumstance appears to have taken a fast turn where in the wake of opening of the economy and passage of MNCs, shopping is appeared to be more as a joy and involvement in a wide assortment of items to browse the accessible. The blast of present-day retail design is clear from the rambling retail outlets, multistory shopping centers with amusement and food all under a solitary rooftop, stores, and hypermarkets, every one of them making shopping a pleasurable encounter. The monetary push of the 90's as confirmed in vigorous GDP development, more grounded money stores and dynamic market and working climate are impelling India on a direction of outstanding development in the area of retail exchange. The post advancement has seen retail arise as a dawn area. The financial advancement and expanded buyers mindfulness have given a driving force to retail change

Lockvogelangebote und Rabattschlachten: Der Bierverkauf des Lebensmitteleinzelhandels in den 1970er und 1980er Jahren

Abstract Previously undiscovered market studies show that the sale of beer as a loss-leader offer was already used as a competitive tool in food retailing in the 1970s and became an important feature of aggressive competition among retailers in the 1980s. The article illustrates the specific assortment and pricing policies in beer retailing and makes clear that increasing beer sales at low dumping prices led to profit losses for the stores. This highlights another facet in the development of the West German mass consumer society and the structural change in food retailing: the hallmarks of the growth and concentration process were not only the procurement and financing advantages of the large retailers, but also loss-leader offers and price undercutting in certain product groups, of which beer was demonstrably one.

A bibliometric review of the omnichannel logistics literature

ABSTRACT The emergence of omnichannel logistics has led to fundamental changes in traditional e-commerce, retail, and consumer decision-making processes. Due to its crucial effects, the subject of omnichannel logistics has been frequently discussed in the literature in recent years. However, there is a need to clearly define at what level in the field of omnichannel logistics have been conducted and the themes on which they have been based. The aim of this study is to present an extensive and concise literature review on omnichannel logistics and to analyse the thematic evolution of the omnichannel logistics field. The study used bibliometric techniques to explore research trends in the field of omnichannel logistics. Employing SciMAT and VOSviewer software, the study analysed 156 articles from Web of Science journals. These research articles cover the 2016–2022 period. The analysis allowed exploring the dynamics in different years and identifying main/sub-themes. The findings highlighted the themes that are still in the maturation process. These themes are retail, service quality, omnichannel management, city logistics, warehousing, e-commerce and supply chain. This study presents a holistic picture of omnichannel logistics and introduces the themes related to retailer behavior and logistics process to the literature. Researchers can further their studies by considering prominent keywords in omnichannel logistics management. In this sense, the study offers beneficial implications for academics.In addition, the results of the study reveal the direction of the sectoral trends and the trend in the field of omnichannel logistics. In this sense, it offers a roadmap to businesses and sector employees in determining their strategies.

Exploring digital transformation and technological innovation in emerging markets

PurposeThis research aims to fill the research gaps regarding customer preferences for digitalisation to create value for retailers and customers, as well as focus on retail change and shopping behaviour in grocery retail stores in the emerging market.Design/methodology/approachThis paper contributes to the research in this area by evaluating customers' and retailers' attitudes towards digital transformation in retailing through interviews. Methodologically, 200 questionnaires were gathered, and data were analysed with the partial least squared structural equation modelling method.FindingsThe findings of this study reveal that the effect of digital transformation in the retail industry will be more apparent in an emerging market.Originality/valueThe paper's originality consists in understanding the future retail structure in an emerging market. Notably, focussing on business-to-consumer businesses appears helpful in distinguishing between behavioural (buying) intention and online buying behaviour (actual usage) in an emerging market.

Urban Rehabilitation and Tourism: Lessons from Porto (2010–2020)

Cities experience rapid growth and transformation. Over the past decades, change has been particularly intense and complex, associated to globalization, spatial compression and temporal acceleration. Within this context, the EU funds introduced new urban rehabilitation dynamics that made a city center more and more attractive. This, alongside the growth of international tourism, has increased the number of city users, which has furthered the discussion on the relation between the physical, economic, social and environmental intervention of the city, as well as the debates on the positive and negative impacts of tourism in cities. With that in mind, we look at the intense change that occurred in the city of Porto, Portugal, in the period from an intense economic crisis to the COVID-19 confinement. We consider changes in buildings, retail and policies to conclude that a neoliberal attitude favoured a tourism-led and sustainability blind gentrification. Based on a survey and analysis of 50 urban rehabilitation initiatives in downtown Porto and on the analysis of recent public policies, we discuss the relation between urban rehabilitation and tourism in Porto, and therefore the effectiveness of public policies and its contribution to sustainable urban development.

An innovative approach to online consumer behaviour segmentation: the self-determination theory in an uncertain scenario

PurposeIn the most recent years, social, innovative, economic and political changes in the European context have characterized consumers' behaviours. The paper aims to understand if the use of electronic commerce differs in a situation characterized by uncertainty.Design/methodology/approachAn innovative approach to categorising online consumer behaviour considers the self-determination theory and basic psychological needs in an uncertain scenario. The research is based on a quantitative analysis obtained by clustering algorithms on a sample of 1,000 digital users in European countries. A structured questionnaire was administered online and distributed through the leading online social platforms and direct mailing.FindingsThe results show online activities during changes in consumer behaviour patterns and retailers' strategies. This research will allow online retail managers and practitioners to obtain important information to help them define appropriate customer-oriented strategic actions to enhance value in the electronic context for both customers and firms.Originality/valueThe innovation of this research approaches the categorization of online consumer behaviour by exploiting the self-determination theory in an uncertain scenario. Precisely, the novelty of this research is to highlight three detailed categories of electronic commerce consumers, namely, unwilling, halfback and digital, to collect, store and disseminate information about these categories of Online Consumers Behaviours.

On the bumpy road to recovery: resilience of public transport ridership during COVID-19 in 15 European cities.

COVID-19 has a dramatic impact on the use of public transport (PT). Most European cities report a decline in PT use during 2020 and 2021. Nevertheless, not all cities report similar decline patterns or comparable resilience paths. We investigate the resilience patterns of PT use during 2020 and 2021 in 15 European cities from 11 different countries using clustering and regression analysis of data originating from Google Mobility Reports, the Oxford Policy Stringency Tracker, and COVID-19 reports. Results highlight the variety of resilience patterns of PT use in these 15 cities. These patterns vary in time and space. PT use in some cities recovered faster and more significantly than in others. Findings also suggest that changes in retail and recreational routines had the highest impact on the resilience of PT use in most cities. Changes in workplace routines are also important, but to a lesser degree. The impact of policy stringency on PT use is significant, but less consistent between the 15 cities.

Extending the servicescape conceptualization: accounting for perceptions of crowding and risks under the pandemic

PurposeThough many conceptual and empirical studies have been conducted on the servicescape, limited research has focused on how the COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped factors influencing the servicescape. This paper aims to propose an extension of Bitner’s original conceptualization, including pandemic-induced physical and social constraints on servicescape in the form of crowding, consumer risk perception during the crisis and their impact on consumers' and employees’ behavioral changes in retail and hospitality sectors.Design/methodology/approachThis paper critically reviewed the past and emerging servicescape and risk literature. It then examines and delineates the concepts of crowding, density and associated risk perceptions to offer an extended servicescape framework. Alongside, scales were proposed to measure the constructs and guidelines given to conduct future empirical studies.FindingsThis paper discussed the major impact on servicescape during a pandemic situation, to what extent risk is perceived during consumption and the impact of crowding and store density on employee and customer behavioral responses.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper principally contributes by explicitly including specific risk dimensions and crowding and proposes the scales to measure consumers’ understanding of pandemic-induced perceptions of risk, crowding and density within servicescapes for further empirical testing. Alongside this, the identification and concretization of different types of perceived risks under COVID-19 provide critical and useful marketing implications.Originality/valueThis study identifies relevant risk dimensions, proposes crowding as an independent construct apart from servicescape physicality and proposes relevant measures for empirical verification.

Coping strategies and intended change of shopping habits after the Corona pandemic – Insights from two countries in Western and Eastern Europe

The Corona pandemic forced customers to develop strategies to cope with the situation and switch to alternative channels during lockdowns. This raises the question if such behavioral changes are only short-term or if consumers’ shopping habits change in the long run and thus cause or accelerate structural change in retailing. We analyze such immediate reactions and intended changes in habits using qualitative interviews conducted in Germany and Poland. Results show that German respondents had stronger intentions to support physical stores after the pandemic, while Polish respondents had stronger intentions to continue increased online shopping. Different retail structures explain these findings.

Rozwój sieci handlowej Dino na tle przemian w detalicznym handlu spożywczym w Polsce po 1989 roku

The last three decades have seen significant changes in grocery retailing. These have been the result of a number of factors, most notably the influx of investment into Poland by foreign food chains, and the spread of self-service sales. The emergence of large and medium format chain shops changed both the forms of trade, consumer habits, as well as the appearance and development of suburbs. The article in part one shows the process of change in grocery retailing after 1989. The second part shows the beginnings and development of the Dino chain. Supermarkets of this chain were mainly established in small towns and smaller centres, offering a limited range of products for a specific customer group. Built over two decades, the Dino chain is one of the largest employers, with more than 2,000 outlets. In 2020, it entered the top ten of the country's largest grocery chains due to its market share and sales revenues.

Relapse to problem drinking or trading up to spirits? Using U.S. national cross-sectional survey data to highlight possible negative impacts of potential tobacco retail changes

BackgroundAccording to the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association, twelve states in the United States (U.S.) have government retail monopolies on spirits/liquor sales. With a new federal minimum legal sales age for tobacco (raised from 18 to 21, the minimum legal sales age for alcohol), we examine possible unintended consequences of a hypothetical policy change restricting retail tobacco sales to state-run spirits/liquor stores in alcohol control states, which has been proposed as a tobacco endgame strategy.MethodsWe used cross-sectional survey data from 14,821 randomly-selected adults ages 21 and older who responded to the 2015 or 2020 U.S. National Alcohol Survey (51.8% female; 65.8% identified as non-Hispanic White, 12.4% as Black or African American, 14.2% as Hispanic or Latinx; 34.0% had a low level of education), including 2,274 respondents (18.9%) residing in one of the alcohol control states (representing 42.2 million (M) adults ages 21+). We estimated associations between tobacco measures (lifetime smoking status, lifetime daily smoking, past-year daily smoking) and alcohol measures (drinking status, beverage choices, lifetime alcohol use disorder (AUD) status, recovery status) overall and for specific subgroups.ResultsIn control states, 55.1% of people who smoked daily in the past year also reported lifetime AUD, including an estimated 3.56 M adults ages 21 + who reported prior (but not current) AUD. The association of daily smoking with lifetime AUD was stronger among those with low education compared to those with higher education. Further, 58.8% of people in recovery from an alcohol and/or drug problem (1.49 M adults ages 21+) smoked daily, and this was more marked among women than men in control states.ConclusionThere could be negative consequences of an endgame strategy to restructure tobacco retail sales, including increased risk for relapse to drinking among people who smoke daily, especially among women and people with low levels of education. Strategies to mitigate unintended harms would be needed if such a policy were implemented.