Journal of Business and Retail Management Research

Due to saturated domestic markets many retailers seek potential growth and profits in the global market. After reviewing internationalization failures of big three global retailers, Wal-Mart, Carrefour, and Tesco, three important factors emerged which other retailers should consider as they plan strategies for internationalization and expansion. They are (1) adapting to host culture and market; (2) attaining competitive advantages in the new market; and (3) achieving global mindset and strategy. Findings of this paper can help retailers implement their internationalization strategies for the success in the global market.

The purpose of this article is to (1) summarise and structure recent literature about overall business trends in the retail industry, in particular those present in the Western European markets, and (2) outline the more specific logistics challenges that are related to these trends. The study is based on a literature review conducted during autumn 2009. As one of the dominating markets in Western Europe, special attention has been given to the German market and German literature in the area. The results imply that the ongoing demographic and socioeconomic changes in the Western European markets accelerate the four overall business trends of retailers’ geographical expansion into new countries and regions, increased share of private labelling, further specialisation of store concepts, and increased consolidation and vertical integration. From a logistics perspective it can be argued that these trends are related to several logistics challenges that must be handled by retail companies. The most important ones discussed in the literature reviewed include an extended domain of control and logistics responsibility in the supply chain, new requirements on logistics competence, the use of logistics related technology, and support for cost- and service efficient geographical expansion. Although logistics has always been important for retail companies, the results from this study further reinforce the view of logistics as a strategically important capability for retail companies.

Private labels gained an increased market penetration and are growing at a rapid rate. Retailers’ brands are to be found next to national brands in most product categories. The purpose of this study is to analyze the comparative perception of retailers for factors affecting sales growth of private labels in India. Factors taken are After sales service, Promotion, Price, Perceived Risk, Packaging and Brand Image of Store. The study comprised three categories of private labels namely Food and Non Food FMCG, Apparel and Consumer Durables. Multistage random sampling was used to collect responses from 200 store managers. A significant difference is found in perception of retailers for after sales service and perceived risk while no significant difference is found for Promotion, Price, Packaging and Brand Image of Store in the categories considered. Further study presents implications for retailers in terms of chalking out effective strategy on the basis of category of private labels. Manufacturers of national brands need to aware of gaining acceptance of private labels in various categories. This research opens up new areas of investigation for private labels in India.

This paper proposes a global expansion model in Food & Beverage retail based on the concept of ‘Custom Standardization’. The concept explores how processed and prepared Food and Beverage can be retailed from an outlet and further how this outlet can be duplicated through chaining or franchising mode. The fundamental imperative that can dictate the pace of chaining is an operational design that is built on an element of standardization combined and integrated with an element of customization. This paper restricts this basis-for-expansion model to the Food and beverage business as the data used has been derived from a best-practice in that domain. An extension of the model to other domains can be pursued through further research. Also the case research for this paper is entirely based on the most successful global Food chain, McDonald’s.

By understanding the relationship between consumer decision-making style and consumer alienation, insight can be gained into consumers and the manifestations of their wants and needs, especially as it concerns discretionary purchases (which comprise most purchases). Individuals possessing differing consumer decision-making styles are hypothesized to possess differing degrees of alienation from the marketplace. The results support several of the hypotheses. The relationships, however, appear to be more complex than hypothesized. The implications for retailers are discussed.

Empirical studies on consumption patterns provide important insights into the theoretical aspects of consumer demand, through highlighting the changing habits and preferences of consumers over the years. After seventh five year plan when the Indian economy had crossed the Hindu growth rate and especially after the implementation of GLP (Globalization, Liberalization, and Privatization), the economy has been experiencing a healthy growth of per capita income. This has given a boost to the food processing industries to grow since the Engel’s elasticity of demand for processed food has been found to be more than one (Mukund 2010). The more than one Engel’s elasticity of demand categorises processed food items as luxurious items and it further tells that Indian consumers will expend more and more on processed food items as their income increases. The present study examines the determinants of brand equity in the perspective of processed food products in India. The finding suggests that the Indian consumers have started recognizing the processed food brands and are showing their preferences towards certain brand fulfilling their appetite. However for different determinants of brand equity, the magnitudes of preferences are varying significantly.

Retailing is the set of activities that markets products or services to final consumers for their own personal or household use. Retailing does activities by organizing availability of products and services on a relatively large scale and supplying them to customers on a relatively small scale. Retail service is a series of activities designed to enhance the level of customer satisfaction i.e., the feeling that a product or service has met the customer expectation. Its importance varies by product, industry and customer; for instance, defective or broken merchandise can be exchanged. In order to find out the correlation between retail customer service and sales of the retail outlet, this study has been undertaken. The objective is to review different retail services offered by retailers in India. The study also attempts to find out customer satisfaction levels with respect to retail services and to find out impact of retail services on sales. Finally there are recommendations for better retail value added services to the customers

Since many years ago, customer satisfaction is a common subject for organizations because it makes organization success and also many researchers consider customer relationship management as an essential factor on customer satisfaction. In this study, we want to identify the relationships between customer personality, perceived customer relationship management and customer satisfaction. Statistical universe is customers of Melli Bank of Kerman, Iran and sample contains 80 individuals of whom. We used library method to collect literature and data obtained a questionnaire with 28 questions. Pearson correlation and Regression relation between Extraversion personality customer, Neurotic personality customer and perceived customer relationship management. There is a positive relation between Agreeable personality, Conscientious personality customer, Openness to experience customer and perceived customer relationship management. Also, there is a positive relation. Results of this study can help to organization to be success by understanding differences between customers.

According to survey conducted by Retail Banking Research, the number of ATMs world wide as on 2005 were 1,544,853, which may cross two millions by the end of 2001. This figure clearly, shows the tremendous growth of ATMs during the years. Very interesting to see Asia Pacific region found the largest regional ATM market with 32.30 per cent of the global ATM market. The ATM density in India is far lower than that of the other developing countries, however ATM installation is growing at a rapid pace in the county. Currently India has an ATM penetration of about 0.04 per 1,000 people. In India, Nationalized banks accounted for the largest share of the total installed ATMs. With regard to the installation of the off-site ATMs New Private Sector Banks had a largest share while nationalized banks occupied largest share in onsite ATMs installation. Some banks have started mobile ATMs in order to reach remote areas that may not have a large enough population. Interestingly the ratio of ATMs to total branches of the respective branches is tremendously increased after 2005

This article considers the perhaps remarkable fact that there is no regulation, nor even compulsory registration, of the hairdressing profession in the United Kingdom. Part one includes a thumbnail history of its development, pausing to consider the colourful characters of fact and fiction which are part of the story. Part two examines the series of attempts at remedying the situation - up until the demise of the last effort - which failed because Parliament was more concerned on the day with banning foxhunting. It concludes that this apparently straightforward amendment of existing legislation is both necessary and long overdue

This study aimed to determine the role of micro-businesses in the socio-economic development in the Province of Ilocos Norte. It indicates the possible effects of the micro-business profile such as organizational characteristics and management practices, and micro-entrepreneurial profile such as personal characteristics, competencies and social responsibilities on the output indicators. In the same manner, there is a possibility that the output indicator: products and services, qualitative assessment of products and services, and quantitative assessment of products and services, have an impact in the socio-economic development in the province of Ilocos Norte

There are various roles played by the members in a family but research on family decision making has been largely confined to spouses, who have been considered as the relevant decision making unit in a family. However, the role of third party influences, such as children, on decision making strategies and negotiations is essential to taking a broader view of the relevant unit of analysis. Traditionally, women were seen to be the purchasing agents for the family. Now a days, In India increasing participation of women in the workforce has prompted a shift in this role as children are increasingly the "buyers" for the entire family. Even in families where women do not work, children are observed to share this role with their mothers. Children enjoy greater discretion not only in making routine consumption decisions for the family but also in pestering their parents to buy other products desired by them .It is also observed that children are socialized by their parents to act as rational consumers. After years of direct or indirect observation of parental behaviour in the marketplace, they gradually acquire relevant consumer skills from their parents. The structure of Indian families has been previously characterized as joint families with traditional SRO (that is, the husband predominated in all family affairs). However, owing to influences from the West, the structure of Indian families has changed to nuclear or extended families (nuclear families plus grandparents). The India