Mass Merchants Research Articles

Community Pharmacists' Motivation and Barriers to Providing and Billing Patient Care Services.

Recently, California (CA) pharmacists’ scope of practice has expanded to include independently prescribing self-administered hormonal contraceptives, nicotine replacement therapy medications, travel health medications, routine vaccinations, naloxone hydrochloride, and HIV preexposure and postexposure prophylaxis. However, previous reports indicate that practicing within this expanded scope has remained limited. Therefore, a 26-item, web-based survey was emailed to CA community pharmacists to assess pharmacists’ knowledge, intent, and barriers to prescribing and billing for these patient care services. A total of 216 chain, supermarket-based, independent, mass merchant, and health-system outpatient pharmacists were included. The primary services provided and medications prescribed are for vaccinations and naloxone. Most pharmacists agree that engagement in and implementation of new strategies to enhance patients’ access to care is important. Common barriers include patient unawareness of pharmacist-provided services, lack of payment for services, and difficulty incorporating services within pharmacy workflow. Pharmacists are confident in their ability to provide patient care services but are less knowledgeable and confident about billing for them. Enhancing promotion of pharmacist-provided services to patients, developing strategies to efficiently incorporate them into the workflow, and payment models can help overcome barriers to providing these services.

Creating Competitive Advantage: The Growth of Independent Bookstores in the U.S. 2009–2018

Independent bookstores (often called “indies” or “independents”) sustained threats to their basic business model because of the growth of national bookstore chains and the proliferation of book sales online, in price clubs, supermarkets, convenience stores, mass merchants, and specialty stores, the emergence of digital e-books and eReaders, and the U.S. recession of 2007–2009. These events triggered the closing of hundreds of independent bookstores. In spite of stiff online and brick-and-mortar competition and the recession, many independents were able to grow in size and importance. This article outlines the competitive advantages utilized by many independent bookstores between 2009 and 2018, resulting in an increase in the number of independent bookstores between 2009 (1651) and 2018 (2470).

Scripted Surge Pharmacy Pandemic Exercise: Testing Vaccine Administration and Antiviral Dispensing

In 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collaborated with the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) to develop and conduct the Scripted Surge Pharmacy Pandemic Exercise to assess the capacity of pharmacies to administer vaccines and dispense medications during a severe influenza pandemic and to evaluate their various approaches to this activity. A mass merchant pharmacy and a supermarket pharmacy were recruited in 2 different states. At each pharmacy, 2 consecutive 90-minute exercise runs were completed in which actors, simulating patients, presented themselves to the pharmacy counter and requested a vaccine and/or prescription(s). Each run was slightly different in terms of patient flow, staffing, and physical configuration. Individual plays were timed, and a quality assessment was conducted as each patient left the store. Despite the complexities of the pandemic scenario, the number of vaccines administered and prescriptions dispensed surpassed what that pharmacy could typically accomplish during current peak hours of operation. Furthermore, the number of requests successfully processed increased between the first and second runs at each site, suggesting that processing efficiency improved with practice and experience. Few unexpected outcomes were observed, most of which were attributable to exercise artificialities, and they were judged unlikely to occur under real-world scenarios and routine pharmacy practice. The experience gained from this exercise indicates that pharmacies can likely play an important role in improving access to vaccinations and medications during a future pandemic.

Stihl Incorporated: Go-to-Market Strategy for Next-Generation Consumers

Andreas Stihl AG is the world's leading manufacturer of chain saws and other outdoor handheld power equipment. Based on marketing challenges in its high-volume retail channel—mass merchants such as The Home Depot and Lowe's—Stihl's U.S. unit has narrowed its distribution system to a single channel: independent retail dealers specializing in yard maintenance equipment. This risky and highly publicized decision has proved extremely successful, raising profits, attracting more dealers into exclusive relationships with Stihl, and strengthening the brand's top-quality positioning. But Stihl management are concerned that this channel system may not fit tomorrow's demographics, dominated by homeowners from the so-called Generation X and Generation Y. The case outlines Stihl's business and channel systems and customer needs, then poses a series of questions that management believes must be answered to determine whether to maintain or move away from reliance on its specialty retailers and how to adapt its system.To understand issues related to retail channel strategy development in fast-changing consumer markets, as well as the challenges of adapting legacy routes-to-market systems to changing consumer service output demands.

Tech-Check-Tech in Community Pharmacy Practice Settings

Objective: The benefit of a tech-check-tech (TCT) practice model in institutional settings has been well documented. To date, few studies have explored TCT beyond institutional settings. This article summarizes the existing evidence in community pharmacy–based TCT research with respect to dispensing accuracy and pharmacist time devoted to direct patient care. Data Sources: A literature review was conducted using MEDLINE (January 1990 to August 2016), Google Scholar (January 1990 to August 2016), and EMBASE (January 1990 to August 2016) using the terms “tech* and check,” “tech-check-tech,” “checking technician,” and “accuracy checking tech*”. Bibliographies were reviewed to identify additional relevant literature. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Studies were included if they analyzed TCT and were conducted in a community pharmacy practice site, inclusive of chain, independent, mass merchant, supermarket, and mail order pharmacies. Studies were excluded if the TCT practice model was conducted in an institutional or long-term care setting. Survey data on theoretical models of TCT in community pharmacy practice settings were also excluded. Data Synthesis: Over the past 14 years, 4 studies were identified indicating TCT has been performed safely and effectively in community settings. The studies demonstrate that trained community technicians perform as accurately as pharmacists and that TCT increased the amount of pharmacist time devoted to clinical activities. In the 2 studies that reported accuracy rates, pharmacy technicians performed at least as accurately as pharmacists (99.445 vs 99.73%, P = .484; 99.95 vs 99.74, P < .05). Furthermore, 3 of the studies reported gains in pharmacist time, with increases between 9.1% and 19.18% of pharmacist time for consultative services. Conclusions: The present studies demonstrate that TCT can be safe and effective in community pharmacy practice settings, with results similar to those found in institutional settings. It is anticipated more states will explore TCT in community settings in the years ahead as a strategy to improve patient care.

“I Love the Value From Shopping at Mass Merchants!” Consequences of Multichannel Shopping Value

The importance of consumer value-driven strategies is highlighted in the marketplace, especially with economic stagnation. The aim of this study is to shed light on the mechanisms underlying consumers’ value perception of, satisfaction with, and loyalty intentions toward shopping at mass merchants in a multichannel retail environment by using their shopping orientations as predictors. Findings based on a national sample online survey of 1,411 U.S. consumers revealed that multidimensional consumers’ shopping value perceptions regarding shopping at multichannel mass merchants had significant and positive effects on their consumer satisfaction with and loyalty intentions toward shopping at the multichannel mass merchants.

Empirical Analysis of Competition between Wal‐Mart and Other Retail Channels

This paper quantifies the degree of competition between Wal‐Mart and different retail channels by exploiting a unique dataset that describes a consumer's choice of store. Using a discrete choice model, I estimate a consumer's choice of retailer in the sales market for DVDs among online, mass merchant, electronics, video specialty, and music stores. Wal‐Mart competes more intensely with other mass merchants, and conditional on price and distance, the average consumer still prefers Wal‐Mart to most other stores. I also consider a counterfactual experiment regarding the entry of Wal‐Mart into 15 proposed store sites into California.

Influence of retail store environmental cues on consumer patronage behavior across different retail store formats: An empirical analysis of US Hispanic consumers

This study examined the influence of Hispanic consumers’ perceived importance of apparel retail store environmental cues and demographic characteristics (i.e., age and the number of years lived in the US) on their apparel store patronage behavior across various retail store formats. Three apparel retail store environmental cue dimensions were identified. Of the three dimensions, Customer Service appeared as a significant determinant in Hispanic consumers’ decision to shop at department stores, specialty stores, and mass merchant stores. Convenience was significantly, but negatively, related to the use of specialty stores. Physical Atmosphere appeared as significant determinants of Hispanic consumers’ use of Internet websites. The respondents’ shopping frequency at department stores, Internet websites, and catalogues was significantly different based on the respondents’ age and number of years lived in the US This study offers insights for apparel retailers in building effective retail store environments to attract Hispanic consumers.

VF Corp.

AbstractApparel (MIC: SIC: 2329 NAIC: 315228)VF is an apparel company that is engaged in designing and manufacturing or sourcing from independent contractors a range of apparel and footwear for various ages. As of Dec 31 2007, Co. had five product categories that comprised of Jeanswear, Outdoor, Imagewear, Sportswear and Contemporary Brands. Co.'s products are marketed to consumers shopping in specialty stores, upscale and traditional department stores, national chains and mass merchants. Co.'s brand include: Lee®, Rustler®, Wrangler®, Wrangler Heros®, Timber Creek by Wrangler®, Riders®, JanSport®, The North Face®, Eastpak®, Vans®, Napapijri®, Reef®, Eagle Creek®, Kipling®, Red Kap®, John Varvatos®, and Nautica®.

Wolverine World Wide, Inc.

AbstractLeather and Leather Products (MIC: SIC: 3149 NAIC: 316219)Wolverine World Wide is a designer, manufacturer and marketer of a line of casual shoes, rugged outdoor and work footwear. Co.'s products are marketed worldwide under several brand names including Bates®, Cat® Footwear, Harley‐Davidson® Footwear, Hush Puppies®, HyTest®, Merrell®, Patagonia® Footwear, Sebago® and Wolverine®. At Dec 29 2007, Co.'s footwear was distributed domestically through 90 Company‐owned retail stores and to various accounts such as department stores, footwear chains, catalogs, specialty retailers, mass merchants and Internet retailers. Co.'s products are marketed worldwide in nearly 200 countries through Company‐owned wholesale operations, licensees and distributors.

Wolverine World Wide, Inc.

AbstractLeather and Leather Products (MIC: SIC: 3149 NAIC: 316219)Wolverine World Wide is a designer, manufacturer and marketer of a line of casual shoes, rugged outdoor and work footwear. Co.'s products are marketed worldwide under several brand names including Bates®, Cat® Footwear, Harley‐Davidson® Footwear, Hush Puppies®, HyTest®, Merrell®, Patagonia® Footwear, Sebago® and Wolverine®. At Dec 29 2007, Co.'s footwear was distributed domestically through 90 Company‐owned retail stores and to various accounts such as department stores, footwear chains, catalogs, specialty retailers, mass merchants and Internet retailers. Co.'s products are marketed worldwide in nearly 200 countries through Company‐owned wholesale operations, licensees and distributors.

VF Corp.

AbstractApparel (MIC: SIC: 2329 NAIC: 315228)VF is an apparel company that is engaged in designing and manufacturing or sourcing from independent contractors a range of apparel and footwear for all ages. As of Dec 31 2007, Co. had five product categories that comprised of Jeanswear, Outdoor, Imagewear, Sportswear and Contemporary Brands. Co.'s products are marketed to consumers shopping in specialty stores, upscale and traditional department stores, national chains and mass merchants. Co.'s brand include: Lee®, Rustler®, Wrangler®, Wrangler Hero®, Timber Creek by Wrangler®, Riders®, JanSport®, The North Face®, Eastpak®, Vans®, Napapijri®, Reef®, Eagle Creek®, Kipling®, Red Kap®, John Varvatos®, and Nautica®.

VF Corp.

AbstractApparel (MIC: 4.4 SIC: 2329 NAIC: 315228)VF is an apparel company that is engaged in designing and manufacturing or sourcing from independent contractors a range of apparel and footwear for all ages. As of Dec 31 2007, Co. had five product categories that comprised of Jeanswear, Outdoor, Imagewear, Sportswear and Contemporary Brands. Co.'s products are marketed to consumers shopping in specialty stores, upscale and traditional department stores, national chains and mass merchants. Co.'s brand include: Lee®, Rustler®, Wrangler®, Wrangler Hero®, Timber Creek by Wrangler®, Riders®, JanSport®, The North Face®, Eastpak®, Vans®, Napapijri®, Reef®, Eagle Creek®, Kipling®, Red Kap®, John Varvatos®, and Nautica®.

Wolverine World Wide, Inc.

AbstractLeather and Leather Products (MIC: 4.5 SIC: 3149 NAIC: 316219)Wolverine World Wide is a designer, manufacturer and marketer of a line of casual shoes, rugged outdoor and work footwear. Co.'s products are marketed worldwide under several brand names including Bates®, Cat® Footwear, Harley‐Davidson® Footwear, Hush Puppies®, HyTest®, Merrell®, Patagonia®, Sebago® and Wolverine®. At Dec 29 2007, Co.'s footwear was distributed domestically through 90 Company‐owned retail stores and to numerous accounts such as department stores, footwear chains, catalogs, specialty retailers, mass merchants and Internet retailers. Co.'s products are marketed worldwide in nearly 200 countries through Company‐owned wholesale operations, licensees and distributors.

Wolverine World Wide, Inc.

AbstractLeather and Leather Products (MIC: 4.5 SIC: 3149 NAIC: 316219)Wolverine World Wide is a designer, manufacturer and marketer of a line of casual shoes, rugged outdoor and work footwear. Co.'s products are marketed throughout the world under several brand names including Bates®, Cat®, Harley‐Davidson®, Hush Puppies®, HyTest®, Merrell®, Patagonia®, Sebago® and Wolverine® footwear. Co.'s footwear is distributed domestically through 82 Company‐owned retail stores and to numerous accounts including department stores, footwear chains, catalogs, specialty retailers, mass merchants and Internet retailers. Co.'s products are marketed worldwide in more than 170 countries through Company‐owned wholesale operations, licensees and distributors.

VF Corp.

AbstractApparel (MIC: 4.4 SIC: 2329 NAIC: 315228)VF designs, manufactures and markets branded apparel and other products through its four product categories: Jeanswear, Outdoor, Imagewear and Sportswear. Co.'s products and brands are sold through specialty store, department store, national chains and mass merchants, as well as through Co.‐operated retail stores, and through monobrand retail stores from independent parties offering these products directly to consumers. Co.'s brands include: Lee®, Rustler®, Wrangler®, Wrangler Hero®, Timber Creek by Wrangler®, Riders®, JanSport®, The North Face®, Eastpak®, Vans®, Napapijri®, Reef®, Eagle Creek®, Kipling®, Lee Sport®, Bulwark®, Red Kap®, John Varvatos®, and Nautica®.

Wolverine World Wide, Inc.

AbstractLeather and Leather Products (MIC: 4.5 SIC: 3149 NAIC: 316219)Wolverine World Wide is a designer, manufacturer and marketer of a line of casual shoes, rugged outdoor and work footwear. Co.'s products are marketed throughout the world under several brand names including Bates®, Cat®, Harley‐Davidson®, Hush Puppies®, HyTest®, Merrell®, Patagonia®, Sebago® and Wolverine® footwear. Co.'s footwear is distributed domestically through 82 Company‐owned retail stores and to numerous accounts including department stores, footwear chains, catalogs, specialty retailers, mass merchants and Internet retailers. Co.'s products are marketed worldwide in more than 170 countries through Company‐owned wholesale operations, licensees and distributors.

VF Corp.

AbstractApparel (MIC: 4.4 SIC: 2329 NAIC: 315228)VF designs, manufactures and markets branded apparel and other products through its four product categories: Jeanswear, Outdoor, Imagewear and Sportswear. Co.'s products and brands are sold through specialty store, department store, national chains and mass merchants, as well as through Co.‐operated retail stores, and through monobrand retail stores from independent parties offering these products directly to consumers. Co.'s brands include: Lee®, Rustler®, Wrangler®, Wrangler Hero®, Timber Creek by Wrangler®, Riders®, JanSport®, The North Face®, Eastpak®, Vans®, Napapijri®, Reef®, Eagle Creek®, Kipling®, Lee Sport®, Bulwark®, Red Kap®, John Varvatos, and Nautica®.

Dispensing errors in community pharmacy: perceived influence of sociotechnical factors

This study examined the impact of pharmacists' perceptions of errors in dispensing, errors in communication, delays in prescription processing, efficiency and physical mobility in the pharmacy by practice setting and sociotechnical factors (i.e. pharmacy design, drive through pick-up window services and automated dispensing systems). Community pharmacy practice in the USA. A two-page survey was mailed to a geographically stratified random sample of 1047 community pharmacies. One-way analysis of variance was used to determine the impact of attitudinal items with respect to pharmacy practice setting (e.g. mass merchant, supermarket, chain and independent) and sociotechnical factors. Pharmacy characteristics, pharmacist experience and total dispensing errors were also addressed. The response rate was 45.0% (n = 429). Pharmacists perceived that pharmacy design significantly (P < 0.05) contributed to dispensing errors, errors in communication, problems with efficiency and those similar problems were observed for all items relating to drive through window pick-up services. Automated dispensing systems were perceived as less likely (P < 0.05) to contribute to dispensing errors, errors in communication, efficiency problems and extra physical movement. Perceived dispensing error rate was 0.057%, and the number of dispensing errors was positively and significantly (P < 0.001) correlated with prescription volume. Cognitive errors accounted for approximately 80% of the dispensing errors. Perceptions of dispensing errors by pharmacists are influenced by design, drive through pick-up window services, and automated dispensing systems. However, more effort is needed to determine how cognitive processes relate to sociotechnical variables in pharmacy practice and other environments.

Wolverine World Wide, Inc.

AbstractLeather and Leather Products (MIC: 4.5 SIC: 3149 NAIC: 316219)Wolverine World Wide is a designer, manufacturer and marketer of a line of casual shoes, rugged outdoor and work footwear. Co.'s products are marketed throughout the world under several brand names including Bates®, Cat®, Harley‐Davidson®, Hush Puppies®, HyTest®, Merrell®, Patagonia®, Sebago® and Wolverine® footwear. Co.'s footwear is distributed domestically through 82 Company‐owned retail stores and to numerous accounts including department stores, footwear chains, catalogs, specialty retailers, mass merchants and Internet retailers. Co.'s products are marketed worldwide in more than 170 countries through Company‐owned wholesale operations, licensees and distributors.