Non-food Retailers Research Articles

Food and non-food retail change in a post-communist country:A case study of the Gemer region in Slovakia

AbstractThe retailing sector seems to be rather sensitive to social and economic developments in a society. In contrast to global retail network trends, specific processes may be observed in some lagging regions in post-communist countries. In the article attention is paid to spatial changes in food and non-food retailing locations in the region of Gemer, one of the least developed regions of post-communist Slovakia. The retailing network transformation between 1996 and 2012 was measured by applying retail capacity calculations for surplus or deficit, related to the population size of municipalities within the region. In the article, we examine food and non-food retail locations in the Gemer region with a special focus on spatial changes (urban vs rural) as well as temporal and trends based on retail capacity growth indices. In conclusion, the findings suggest that rural food and non-food retailing businesses have gone through considerable change and that it is not in harmony with the globalisation processes visible in the urban environment. Specifically, retail capacities (both food and nonfood) in the Gemer region are witnessing a period of growth.

Integration Processes in Trade Sector

The current situation and development of trade sector are characterized by the increased autonomy of trade enterprises and exaggeration of working conditions through the competition. The article studies the integration processes in the field of trade, provides analysis of retail market and main formats of distributive networks of non-food market as the most promising and developing sort of market. The main research methods include: analysis of references on research, the study of practical materials. The results show that, on the one hand, non-food retail trade chains are characterized by higher retail turnover rates, and on the other, there is a decline in the share of sales. The article argues that retail chains have great prospects for further development as well as the household appliances and electronics sector are characterized by the rapidest growth rates nowadays. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n2s4p145

Motivations of small firms to develop relationships with banks

Purpose– This paper aims to investigate what drives the decision of small non-food store retailers to develop a relationship with the bank financing them. The analysis addresses the banking industry and quantifies the extent to which a decision to develop a relationship is influenced by satisfaction, trust and by two different kinds of values, namely, monadic and dyadic.Design/methodology/approach– The analysis is based on data collected from more than 400 small business by means of a questionnaire, and develops a structural equation model to estimate the impact of satisfaction, trust and value constructs on the intention to develop the relationship.Findings– The results show that satisfaction and trust do not exert a direct effect on the decision to develop the relationship that is directly determined by dyadic value (i.e. the comparison between the cumulated value given through time and the cumulated efforts sustained by the partner). In turn, dyadic value stems from monadic value (i.e. the self-centred comparison of the costs and benefits experienced within the relationship). In a nutshell, considering value perceptions by the business partner and the relational dimension of value provides a better understanding of the intention of small firms to develop their relationship with a financing bank.Originality/value– This study contributes to shaping a picture of the motivations that lead small firms to develop a relationship with their financing bank. Drawing from a heterogeneous literature and considering individual-level variables, a theoretical model is developed to include the relational dimension of value and value perceptions by the business partner in the relationship. The empirical analysis provides useful indications to practitioners to understand and effectively manage the partner’s decision to develop the relationship, suggesting where to intervene.

Enhancing Consumers’ Satisfaction and Loyalty of Retailers in Romania through Store Ambiance and Communication

Building and, more particularly, cementing a strong relationship between consumers and retail format is a major goal that any retail chain attempts to achieve through its marketing strategy. By resorting to various procedures and tools, the management of any retail brand seeks to develop in the consumer's mind a unique, different, attractive and particularly strong image of its own chain of stores. In addition to the supply of own items and brands, the location of store and the decision on the price levels, communication and store atmosphere fully contribute to shaping the customer's preference, contentment, satisfaction and, in the end, loyalty toward the store.The empirical research conducted on a sample of about 2000 people highlights, by comparison, the effect of communication and store atmosphere on building consumers’ satisfaction with, and loyalty toward, various food and non-food retail formats. Based on the survey methodology and using the face-to-face questionnaire administration, the research reveals major differences in building loyalty. Concepts are carefully operationalized and analyzed with the aid of structural equation modeling. Finally, significant scientific results and a number of managerial implications are revealed.

Linkages of retailer personality, perceived quality and purchase intention with retailer loyalty: A study of Indian non-food retailing

The present study was an effort to explore the direct and indirect (through retailer perceived quality and purchase intention) impacts of retailer personality on store loyalty. Questionnaire was used to collect data using systematic sampling from non-food retail store shoppers of age 18 years and above in Kolkata, a metropolitan city of India. Multivariate data analysis techniques like structural equation modeling were used to analyze the data. Results supported both the direct and indirect impacts of retailer personality on retailer equity. Interestingly, the extent of indirect impact of retailer personality on retailer loyalty is greater than direct impact. Arguably, this paper is the first to explore the linkages among retailer personality, perceived quality, purchase intention and store loyalty. Academic and managerial implications are further discussed.

Evolution of Non-Food Organised Indian Retail: A Historical Perspective

This paper traces the history of evolution of non-food retail in India and seeks to capture the key stakeholders contributing to its robust growth. In order to better understand the dynamics of non-food retailing, which is one of the fastest growing industry segments in India, the paper also identifies the associated opportunities and challenges that will impact new retailers and foreign brands’ decisions to enter the Indian market. The study is basically exploratory in nature. The study collected data from both primary (including in-depth interviews and survey with organised and unorganised retailers, consumers and non-food manufacturers) and secondary sources (drawn from industry sources, which included national and international published sources from 2005 to 2011). Findings show that consumer durables and footwear are evolving as major contributors to non-food retail growth in India, and that consumers, manufacturers and retailers play an important role in impacting the opportunities and challenges in the evolution process of non-food retailing in India. The study was exploratory in nature and did not use any statistical tests to prove or disprove any hypothesis; it focused on non-food retail only. This review provides a comprehensive understanding to both academics and practitioners of the opportunities and challenges prevailing in the Indian non-food retail market.

Determinants and mediators of the intention to upgrade the contract in buyer–seller relationships

This study presents a dynamic model of a business-to-business relationship aimed at explaining the motivation to upgrade a contract. It considers social and economic factors, and focuses on satisfaction, trust, loyalty (affective and cognitive) and relational identity. A model of the evolution of the relationship from the early stages of satisfaction and trust to the advanced stages of loyalty is developed and empirically tested using individual-level data. The empirical context of this study is given by the relationships between small non-food retailers and their financial providers. Affective loyalty emerges as a key mediator that helps increase the intention to upgrade: overall, economic and social factors will influence the intention via this key mediator. However, under different conditions these factors play a very different role, as relationship seniority, supplier size, and criticality of the service to the buyer moderate the development of the relationship. The research demonstrates the superiority of these elements in explaining the development of the relationship and understanding the drivers of the intention to upgrade a contract. The authors argue and show that trust and satisfaction reverse their relative importance in affecting upgrade intention, as one moves from less to highly critical services, whereas loyalty switches from active to passive when modeling the supplier size. The research also shows a different driver of loyalty as one moves from younger to older relationships.

Improving On-Shelf Availability and Out-of-Stocks in Non-food Retail

On-shelf availability (OSA) and out-of-stocks (OOS) are two important business criteria in the retail sector, particularly from a customer service and profitability perspective. However, most retailers in the non-food or grocery sector have paid little attention to OSA compared to food retailers. This article replicates a study by Grant and Fernie (2008) to further explore how non-food retailers measure OSA and solve OOS problems, critical factors to conduct in-store replenishment, and the impact of rapidly increasing e-commerce activities in the retail market. Findings supported the Grant and Fernie (2008) study and additional findings emerged about Internet and online concerns.

Innovation in non-food retailing in the early nineteenth century: The curious case of the bazaar

Commercial bazaars were a short-lived retail innovation of the first half of the nineteenth century, mainly in London. Rather like fairs had done earlier, they offered a wide range of clothing, household and fancy goods and entertainment. Like fairs they were about both shopping and leisure. But, unlike fairs, they were a controlled environment, permanent and fashionable. The norm was for counters to be let out daily, but some bazaars were essentially large shops. Traders in bazaars were often female, and at least some used bazaars as secondary outlets. Shop retailers complained about the unfair competition offered by bazaars, but many bazaars struggled commercially. Nevertheless they can be seen as precursors of department stores and covered market halls.

Alternative-Use Valuation, Open Al Planning Consent, and the Development of Retail Parks

In this paper I will examine the recent surge in development interest and land values associated with retail park development in the United Kingdom. This surge is shown to have arisen from changes in retailing methods among leading nonfood retailers and in land-use planning regulations which have created concerns over scarcity of land for future off-centre development. The implications for both setup and exit sunk costs for retailers, and alternative-use values for their land holdings, are discussed. It is also suggested that off-centre retailing may be subject to rapid changes in the next few years as the potential for maximisation of value from existing retail parks is sought by developers and financial institutions.

British Imports of Consumer Goods: A Study of Import Penetration 1974-1985.

Introduction the consumer goods industries 1974-85 developments in retailing the buyer's point of view clothing and knitwear domestic electric appliances household textiles furniture toiletries, china, wall coverings. Appendices: Definition and sources Turnover of major non-food retailers, 1976-84 Questionnaires sent to large and small retailers.

Point-of-sale terminal systems

The retail trade is turning increasingly to computerized systems to provide quickly and accurately the information that it needs to remain profitable. NCR have developed several ranges of computerized point-of-sale equipment for different retail applications. Various systems in use in the food and non-food retail trades are discussed, including those of the Army & Navy group (UK), David Jones (Australia), the Co-Op (UK) and airport duty-free shops. Optical character reading and laser-beam slot scanning will be used to automate further the transaction procedure at the point of sale.