European Retail Research
2010 I Volume 24 Issue I
1st Edition
Published on 8. September 2010
VIII, 222 pages
978-3-8349-8938-3 (ISBN)
Description
The discussion about Multi-Channel-Systems in retail business might not be new - but it has gained momentum against the background of consolidations and mergers, the devel- ment of information and communication technologies (ICT) and experiences of disillusi- ment with pure e-commerce players (Dohmann et al. 2002; Barth et al. 2007). This is additionally evidenced by the increasing number of academic publications and the gain in importance of multi-channel distribution in retail-practice - where many pure e-players have augmented their structure of distribution with alternative channels (Tang/Xing 2001; Schögel et al. 2004). Despite the lively discussions on the part of academic researchers and the growth of experience in practice, there is still an unsatisfactorily low level of knowledge - which might be the reason why companies often fail in the realization or achieve only suboptimal levels of channel in- gration - even though the domination of multi-channel companies in the B2C e-commerce s- tor (with the exception of a few companies, e. g. eBay or Amazon) implies a great potential for success (Hudetz/Baal 2005; Emrich 2008). For this reason most authors seem to agree upon the potential as well as the relevance of multi-channel distributors. Hudetz/Baal identify mul- channel companies "a good starting base to get even more dominant in the future" (Hudetz/Baal 2005, p. 136). Emrich agrees that multi-channel strategies might become "crucial to survive" (Emrich 2008, p. 1), and Ahlert/Hesse (2003) substantiate with empirical studies the preference that customers have for multi-channel distributors.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Wiesbaden
Germany
Publishing group
Betriebswirtschaftlicher Verlag Gabler
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
VIII, 222 p. 25 illus.
File size
1,93 MB
ISBN-13
978-3-8349-8938-3 (9783834989383)
DOI
10.1007/978-3-8349-8938-3
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
09/2010
1st Edition
Springer Gabler
€53.49
Shipment within 7-9 days
Persons
Prof. Dr. Peter Schnedlitz, Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration, Austria
Content
Interactive Web 2.0 Applications in the Multi-Channel Marketing for Retailers.- How to Maintain a Process Perspective on Retail Internationalization: The IKEA Case.- Trade Credit Periods in Retail Commerce for Products of Mass Consumption: An Application to Spanish Legislation.- Customer Satisfaction with Loyalty Card Programs in the Austrian Clothing Retail Sector - an Empirical Study of Performance Attributes Using Kano's Theory.- Clustering Customer Contact Sequences - Results of a Customer Survey in Retailing.- The In-Store Antecedents and Consequences of Perceived Shopping Value for Regularly Purchased Products.- Strategic Differentiation in the Japanese Convenience Store Business. The Example of Lawson's Format Variation.- Retailing in the United Kingdom - a Synopsis.- The Danish Retail Market: Overview and Highlights.
Retailing in the United Kingdom - a Synopsis (S. 173-174)
Steve Burt, Leigh Sparks and Christoph Teller
Abstract
This paper illustrates the structure of, and trends in, the retail market of the United Kingdom (UK). This industry analysis describes the retail environment compared to continental Europe and considers the regulatory issues which have helped form this retail environment. By using secondary data we describe concentration and consolidation tendencies and explain specific features of the UK retail market. Major trends are identified and discussed, concluding with an outlook on future developments.
1. Introduction
1.1. Retailing in the United Kingdom and Europe
In a number of ways retailing in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [in the following United Kingdom (UK)] appears to operate differently from the general pattern in continental Europe. Some may see this as yet another example of UK’s unwillingness to embrace the European Union, but as with all retailing, the sector merely reflects the context within which it operates and the norms of behaviour that have developed in the domestic market. In this brief paper we highlight the distinctive features of the UK’s retail market and illustrate how these have shaped the nature of competition in the sector.
Any attempt to understand the UK retail scene should start by recognising the distinctive features of this market (Mintel 2010). The United Kingdom is a compact island market of more than 60 m people living in circa 25 m households and with the third highest density of population in Europe after Belgium and the Netherlands. It is the sixth largest economy (Gross domestic product 1,808 bn EUR) worldwide and third largest in Europe after Germany and France. The total consumer expenditures are the second highest in Europe (1,096 bn EUR) after Germany (1,367 EUR) and 7th highest per capita in Europe (17,851 EUR in 2008).
The UK is ranked 4th in terms of total retail sales (318 bn EUR) and 12th in terms of retail sales per capita (5,184 EUR). Urban centres are relatively close together and although decentralisation of large retail stores to the urban periphery has occurred, planning policy has attempted to maintain a strong retail presence in the urban core of most major towns and cities (BCSC 2006; Guy 2007). As occupants of mainland Europe know all too well, Britain can perhaps best be described as “in Europe, but not European”! General attitudes towards the European Union amongst the majority of the population can be described as ambivalent, as illustrated in the strong desire to retain the national currency.
Despite this somewhat ethnocentric view, the UK market is an open economy, and a large number of non-national retailers operate in the market. At the same time, UK retailers are increasing their presence outside the domestic market.
Steve Burt, Leigh Sparks and Christoph Teller
Abstract
This paper illustrates the structure of, and trends in, the retail market of the United Kingdom (UK). This industry analysis describes the retail environment compared to continental Europe and considers the regulatory issues which have helped form this retail environment. By using secondary data we describe concentration and consolidation tendencies and explain specific features of the UK retail market. Major trends are identified and discussed, concluding with an outlook on future developments.
1. Introduction
1.1. Retailing in the United Kingdom and Europe
In a number of ways retailing in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [in the following United Kingdom (UK)] appears to operate differently from the general pattern in continental Europe. Some may see this as yet another example of UK’s unwillingness to embrace the European Union, but as with all retailing, the sector merely reflects the context within which it operates and the norms of behaviour that have developed in the domestic market. In this brief paper we highlight the distinctive features of the UK’s retail market and illustrate how these have shaped the nature of competition in the sector.
Any attempt to understand the UK retail scene should start by recognising the distinctive features of this market (Mintel 2010). The United Kingdom is a compact island market of more than 60 m people living in circa 25 m households and with the third highest density of population in Europe after Belgium and the Netherlands. It is the sixth largest economy (Gross domestic product 1,808 bn EUR) worldwide and third largest in Europe after Germany and France. The total consumer expenditures are the second highest in Europe (1,096 bn EUR) after Germany (1,367 EUR) and 7th highest per capita in Europe (17,851 EUR in 2008).
The UK is ranked 4th in terms of total retail sales (318 bn EUR) and 12th in terms of retail sales per capita (5,184 EUR). Urban centres are relatively close together and although decentralisation of large retail stores to the urban periphery has occurred, planning policy has attempted to maintain a strong retail presence in the urban core of most major towns and cities (BCSC 2006; Guy 2007). As occupants of mainland Europe know all too well, Britain can perhaps best be described as “in Europe, but not European”! General attitudes towards the European Union amongst the majority of the population can be described as ambivalent, as illustrated in the strong desire to retain the national currency.
Despite this somewhat ethnocentric view, the UK market is an open economy, and a large number of non-national retailers operate in the market. At the same time, UK retailers are increasing their presence outside the domestic market.
