Retail Attributes Research Articles

Explaining disparities in food safety compliance by food stores: does community matter?

This paper provides a conceptual framework to explain why disparities may exist in food safety code compliance by food stores in different neighborhoods. Explanations include market dynamics, community characteristics, retailer attributes, inspector characteristics, and enforcement approaches, and interactions among the factors. A preliminary and limited empirical test of some of these relationships in Detroit, Michigan shows a higher rate of food safety violations by stores in poorer neighborhoods and in neighborhoods with higher concentrations of African-American residents. Stores inspected by female inspectors also scored higher numbers of critical violations, suggesting a need for greater examination of the social relations associated with enforcement interactions in food safety studies.

Consumer perceptions toward retail attributes of value retailers: functions of gender and repatronage intention

Consumer perceptions toward retail attributes of value retailers: functions of gender and repatronage intention

An intersector analysis of the relevance of service in building a strong retail brand

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to try to show the relevance of service quality in building a strong retail brand. It addresses how retailer attributes affect customer‐based retail brand equity, when considering retailers as brands. These attributes are compared with one another, and the importance of service is set in proportion to the other retailer attributes, both intersectorally and sector‐specifically. An integrated model is used here.Design/methodology/approachThis is an empirical study across five retail sectors (grocery, textiles, DIY, consumer electronics and furniture retailing) based on a survey with 2,000 face‐to‐face interviews. Structural equation modelling is used to illustrate the impact of central dimensions of the perception of retailer service and of the other retailer attributes on customer‐based retail brand equity.FindingsIn retailing, service quality appears to be the most important retailer attribute in building a strong retail brand – as demonstrated in four out of five sectors. The integrated model developed in this study can make a significant contribution to a field of knowledge which at present is not well developed.Research limitations/implicationsA more detailed analysis of the cross‐sectoral differences is undoubtedly necessary. Furthermore, a more exact analysis of retailer service is certainly required, but it must also incorporate other retailer attributes in order to achieve dimensions of comparison.Practical implicationsThe importance of service in retailing is intersectorally underlined in comparison to the other retailer attributes/retail marketing instruments. Even in sectors that characteristically use self‐service, the importance of service quality and particularly of friendly and competent staff is evident. Compared to the other retailer attributes, service is one strategic element that can be used effectively by retailers of almost any size. A small or medium sized retailer usually cannot distinguish itself from its competitors by means of price, but with a service‐oriented business.Originality/valueUnlike other investigations, a model is applied in this paper to five retail sectors, so both general and also sector‐specific conclusions can be drawn on the importance of customer service and the other retailer attributes. Furthermore, customer service is not analysed in isolation, thus we have dimensions of comparison, unlike many other authors who look at service alone.

Shopping motivation revised: a means‐end chain analytical perspective

PurposeShopping motivation is one of the key constructs of research on shopping behavior and exhibits a high relevance for formulating retail marketing strategies. Previous studies of shopping behavior as well as research in the areas of psychology and organizational behavior point towards a need to investigate the hierarchical nature of shopping motivation. The present study intends to take the first steps towards the development of a hierarchical theory of shopping motivation.Design/methodology/approachMeans‐end chain theory is adopted to explore the hierarchical nature of shopping motivation. A total of 40 in‐depths interviews with apparel shoppers were conducted using the laddering technique. Results are depicted in three hierarchical value maps.FindingsEvidence is provided relating to the social, experiential, and utilitarian aspects of shopping as represented by four dominant motivational patterns referring to the issues of shopping pleasure, frictionless shopping, value seeking, and quality seeking. Concrete retail attributes are presented which allow retailers to correspond to these motivations.Originality/valueThe paper identifies the need to introduce a hierarchical perspective to provide an increased understanding of consumers' shopping motivation. First, empirical evidence is provided regarding how consumers' cognitive structures relating to the benefits of shopping are hierarchically organized.

Influence of Product Class on Preference for Shopping on the Internet

The study reported here examined the influence of product classification (i.e., search, experience, and credence) on consumer preferences for shopping on the Internet, and the importance of Internet retailers' attributes. In addition, the authors investigated whether the emphasis consumers place on Internet retailer attributes significantly influences their online purchase preference for the different product categories. Based on the review of the product classification literature, products are classified into four categories: search products, two types of experience products, and credence products. Data were collected from adult Internet users in two phases, through self-administered surveys. The findings of the present study support the hypothesis that product classes significantly influence consumers' online purchase preferences. Internet retailer attributes were found to be important as well. In addition, the findings confirm that the importance consumers place upon Internet retailer attributes significantly influences their online purchase preference for different product categories. Managerial and academic implications are discussed.

Complaints of Asian shoppers toward Global Retailer: A content analysis of e‐complaining to Carrefour Korea

In the discount store area, foreign large retailers such as Wal‐mart, Carrefour, and Costco fight hard with domestic retailers in Korea. The Korean customer is a judge in the centre of such a difficult fight. Therefore, foreign retailers who are willing to win the game should pay attention to what Koreans say and respond to the complaint as fast as they can. This study monitored e‐complaints of customers towards Korea Carrefour through analysing contents of the bulletin board in an anti‐Carrefour site. Upon examining e‐complaints by category and retail attributes, there were found to be more complaints in electrical goods and food and groceries by product category, and in employee attitudes and store atmosphere by retail attributes. The implications for successful retail strategies of foreign discount stores in Korea are discussed and further research is suggested.

Effects of Multi-Channel Consumers' Perceived Retail Attributes on Purchase Intentions of Clothing Products

Consumers are increasingly shopping through multiple channels, providing opportunities to retailers who can increase profits by crossselling products through multi-channels. The objective of the study was to examine the effects of multi-channel consumers' perceived retail attributes on purchase intentions for (a) brick-and-mortar stores, (b) catalogs, and (c) the Internet. Following a pre-testing, a Computer-Assisted Telephonic Interview (CATI) was utilized for data collection with 500 multi-channel consumers. Structural equation modeling revealed that multi-channel consumers perceive important retail attributes differently across the three channels (i.e., brick-and-mortar stores, catalogs, and the Internet). Consumers perceived risks in personal security or buying private merchandise while shopping in stores. Consumers shopped clothing items via the Internet due to access to a variety of items and convenience-related attributes. Additionally, consumers who perceived higher level of cost tended to purchase clothing products through catalogs and the Internet. Managerial implications are provided for multi-channel retailers.

Objective and multidimensional acculturation measures: implications for retailing to Hispanic consumers

Recent growth of ethnically diverse US and international populations makes these groups especially attractive to retailers. Although acculturation research suggests that Hispanics differ from other ethnic groups, little research has been conducted on such potential differences within the Hispanic community. This study examined acculturation measures as predictors of differences among Hispanic consumers with respect to shopping orientations, attitudes toward retailer attributes, and information source preferences. Compared to objective measures, multidimensional measures more effectively predicted culturally-related phenomenon; whereas, neither measure discerned disparities in global attitudes. Implications for retailers’ use of tailored versus mass market strategies related to Hispanic consumers are discussed.

Speciality‐size college females: Satisfaction with retail outlets and apparel fit

This study measures the levels of satisfaction regarding retail attributes and apparel fit among speciality‐size (petite, tall, large) college women. Previous studies have measured satisfaction among older speciality‐size women, but none has focused on younger women. The study utilised a conceptual framework based on Renoux's theory of retail satisfaction which consisted of three dimensions: shopping system satisfaction, buying system satisfaction, and consuming system satisfaction. Renoux's theory of retail satisfaction was applied to speciality‐size college women when considering apparel purchases. Female students from nine geographically diverse universities completed the questionnaire. The 358 respondents were categorised into three speciality‐size groups based on their height or clothing size. Respondents who were not categorised as being speciality‐size were placed in an average category. Analyses of variance were used to measure the levels of satisfaction. Findings indicated large‐size college females were the only group who had significant dissatisfaction in regard to shopping and buying systems (retail attributes). The results were surprising because there are numerous stores specifically targeted to large‐size females; however, these stores do not appear to be satisfactorily meeting the needs of the large‐size college females who participated in this study. Petite, tall and large‐size college females indicated dissatisfaction with various apparel fit variables, with the large‐size group being most dissatisfied. The results indicated that apparel manufacturers should re‐evaluate their sizing standards; perhaps a universal, international sizing standard is warranted.

A psychographic study of the elderly and retail store attributes

The conflicting research on the elderly has led many to question the wisdom of using age alone to segment the market. Psychographics, or lifestyle groupings, has emerged as a more robust technique of identifying distinct categories of the 65 and older market. An activities, interests, and opinions (AIO) questionnaire from 386 respondents provided data to identify five distinct groups of elderly shoppers. Significant differences were found among the five clusters with regard to the perceived importance of various retail attributes which sell over‐the‐counter drugs: quality of store and personnel, store characteristics, and use of coupons and discounts.

STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF WEST EDMONTON MALL

This article addresses the question of how West Edmonton Mall (wem) may be a new and distinctive component of retail spatial structure by analysing the retail and service attributes of the mall in the context of (I) Edmonton's retail structure at the regional shopping centre level, and (2) the internal structure of the mall. It is suggested that wem has added a new level to Edmonton's retail hierarchy, rivalling the downtown as the city's primate centre. The analysis of tenant changes leads to the conclusion that these changes tend to reflect a movement from unconventional to conventional tenant mix, and that wem is not much different, other than in sheer size, from most large regional shopping centres. The only unique structural characteristic appears to be the existence of enclaves not usually found in other malls.

Short, Average-Height, Tall, and Big Men: Body-Cathexis, Clothing and Retail Satisfactions, and Clothing Behavior

The purpose of the study was to examine the mean differences in body-cathexis, satisfactions, and dissatisfactions with the clothing and retail attributes, and clothing behavior among short, average-height, tall, and big men. Data from a national random sample of 269 male consumers were analyzed. One-way analyses of variance showed that these four groups differed on mean body-cathexis, satisfactions with clothing, and retail attributes, but not on clothing behavior. Managerial implications based on the findings are discussed.