This research seeks to provide a more concise understanding of multinational Greenfield strategies in emerging markets. A lot has been written pertaining to their conduct in established markets and this has proven inadequate as far as application to emerging markets is concerned. Scholars have developed theories on how multinationals operate but how practical are they on the ground?A two case study approach was seen as the most effective way to grasp the complexities involved in managing multinational firms in emerging markets. The scope was limited to sub Saharan Africa with two retail giants Shoprite and Game being the subject of scrutiny. Literature was developed on the basis of results of previous research and enhanced by in-depth interviews with top retail managers directly involved in the expansion process. Similarities and contrasts between the two firms’ strategies where examined with the aim of acquiring insights on retail Greenfield investments in emerging markets.The findings revealed that in emerging markets successful MNEs are the ones that target customers at the bottom of the pyramid whilst internalising risk and constraints within the context of institutional voids. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

The pricing practices that firms that follow are important from a microeconomic as well as a macroeconomic perspective, indicating the nature and level of competition. These practices also prove to affect the effectiveness of monetary policy. This study engineered a survey approach to better understand the pricing behaviour of firms in the South African retail sector.The survey approach to understanding pricing setting has grown in popularity in recent times, allowing for deeper insights into the mindsets of actual pricing professionals than information offered by micro data studies. Most previous studies have focused on developed countries, while this study deals with a sector of high industry concentration in a developing country with a relatively unstable foreign exchange rate.The results of the study demonstrate that South African retail firms compete primarily with their pricing and quality, and that there is evidence of barometric price leadership. The dominant framework used by firms to set their prices is mark-up pricing.Both price reviews and price changes in South African retail firms were found to be time dependent, and the causes of price changes were asymmetrical depending on the direction of the change. The main driver of price increases was an increase in input costs, while the main driver of price decreases was a reduction in domestic competitor prices.Prices within the South African retail sector were found to be sticky, with the strongest specific cause of firms delaying price adjustments being the maintenance of threshold prices. When considering the reasons for stickiness more broadly as themes, customer relationships are the strongest driver of stickiness, followed by the avoidance of coordination failure. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Ingeniero Civil Industrial / El siguiente trabajo se desarrolla en un retailer especialista dedicado a la ropa íntima femenina, con una importante oferta de productos de temporada, para los que resulta fundamental la administración de inventario y de precios en el tiempo. De forma complementaria, el retailer incorpora información de cámaras de video, donde se observa el tráfico en las distintas tiendas, pudiendo apoyar en las decisiones antes mencionadas. El objetivo del trabajo es definir una política de precios para productos de moda cuantificando el descuento y el período a realizarlo, usando información transaccional y de cámaras de video. Además se evalúa el aporte de la información de las cámaras para el proceso de fijación de precios y se caracteriza la tasa de conversión de las tiendas y de los productos a evaluar en cuanto a sus principales variables explicativas. Se utiliza una metodología que modela la demanda como un proceso de poisson que considera la llegada de clientes de la información de cámaras y la probabilidad de comprar dado el precio. Una vez definido el modelo de estimación de demanda se utiliza como input en la estimación de precios óptimos que tiene por objetivo maximizar recursivamente los ingresos esperados. Se trabaja con 23 artículos de la categoría trajes de baño que representan el 27% de las ventas de la categoría en el período. Se obtuvo una estimación de demanda con un MAPE semanal menor al 25%. Se definió una política de precios que busca concentrar la demanda en la temporada alta, con un precio alto al inicio y descuentos tempranos dejando pocas unidades para el final de la temporada. Actualmente el problema del retailer es que comienza de manera tardía con los descuentos, lo que lleva a que al final de temporada se deba rematar un alto porcentaje del stock. Con este cambio propuesto en la política de precios se espera tener un aumento de los ingresos de alrededor de un 5%. En cuanto al aporte de la información de cámaras por sobre la transaccional se concluye que en la estimación de demanda no es mucho mejor (disminuye el error en un 2%), principalmente por la fuerte correlación entre las variables (0,91). Su mayor potencial se encuentra al analizar la tasa de conversión, asociada positivamente a la lealtad de los clientes. Se cumplieron los objetivos del trabajo, llegando a resultados satisfactorios. Se proponen mejoras en la estimación de demanda al incorporar más información del tráfico a lo largo del tiempo, pudiendo realizarse regresiones sobre estos valores. Se propone también ahondar en otros usos de la información de cámaras, como lo es gestión de personal, de cajas, entre otros.

This cross-sectional study has investigated the relationship between how parents perceive retail stores that try to be more family friendly. It has also examined which factors parents value when it comes to stores being family friendly. Very little public research has been done on the subject of what parents’ value when it comes to store design, which is why the authors chose this topic.   The theoretical framework, as well as the questions used in the interviews, were based on theories the authors deemed connected to the subject in question. The main areas from which the authors have used theories range from competitive advantages, targeting and segmentation, consumer loyalty and the connection between stress and shopping.   Four themes were identified through the literature, and qualitative interviews were conducted over the phone based on the themes. Observations were also collected in retail stores to further explore the themes. Building on these themes, we suggest four propositions based on the data collected which can be further researched. Since the purpose of this paper was to allow respondents to freely discuss factors they value, a qualitative approach was used for the study. The interview subjects were approached while shopping with their children, and a phone interview was scheduled for later. The authors also collected observational data in three stores with different degrees of family friendliness, to further add further foundation to their themes. In addition, the authors present a theoretical model, based upon the four propositions presented.    The authors have found that the most common feeling parents associate with shopping while accompanied by their children is stress. Because of this, shopping becomes an unpleasant experience that parents try to finish as quickly as possible, often resulting in fewer items bought. It was also discovered that parents have more positive feelings towards stores that try to be more family friendly. Through the interviews and observations, a pattern was discovered. Families spent longer time and purchased more goods in stores with family friendly solutions installed.   Through interviews, many different elements that can reduce parents shopping stress were identified. The main thing the authors take away from the interviews is the fact that what parents value the most, is feeling welcome when they bring their children with them. Stores that implement even small solutions, contribute to parents feeling validated, which then reduces their stress levels.   Our conclusion is that store owners need to realize that it does not have to be hard to attract more families. Implementing elements in their stores that aid families in different ways will contribute to increased sales and happier customers. The authors also give suggestions on further research, namely on the relationship between pricing or location-elasticity versus family friendliness, as well as to which degree children in stores may have negative impacts on other shoppers.   Key concepts: Stress, Consumer Decision Making, Customer Loyalty, Shopping with Children, Competitive Advantage, Customer Segmentation, Targeting

This study explores the accessibility of prime retail space to start-up retailers from the landlord’s perspective. The purpose of this study is to determine the degree to which prime space is accessible to start-ups retailers. The study also aims to identify the factors influencing start-up access to prime space, the strategies used by start-ups to access prime space and the criteria by which landlords evaluate these start-ups. The study followed an inductive, qualitative approach. Ten in-depth interviews with leasing decision makers were conducted. The interviews were summarised and the data units therein categorised. The categories were then analysed and testable propositions were developed from these emergent categories. By applying analytic induction in light of the theory base, a set of explanatory models were derived. The study finds that prime retail space is not easily accessible by start-ups. However, it also provides a deeper understanding of the context in the form of a set of explanatory models for the phenomena observed. Armed with this understanding, start-ups can modify their approach and vastly improve their access to prime space. Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Thesis (D.B.A.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / This dissertation explores the design of delivery systems in a national probability sample of American retail banks. For the purposes of this study, the delivery system is defined as the aggregate of delivery channels through which a retail bank delivers its services. / 2031-01-01

En la actualidad, en el Perú el sector retail ha crecido considerablemente desde el 2016 y se han ido posicionando por sus diferentes modelos y formatos innovadores que se adecuan a las diferentes exigencias del consumidor. En los últimos meses del 2019 entraron al sector las tiendas asiáticas o más conocidas por el público como los fast retail asiáticos, las cuales se caracterizaron por estar presentes en los principales centros comerciales de la capital, por su diseño de tienda y por ofrecer un amplio surtido de productos, dentro de este se ofrecían más de 10 categorías de productos como tecnología, comida, papelería, belleza, entre otros. Por ello, el surtido pueda significar una de las principales variables que influye al consumidor en la intención de compra, de esta manera, que los fast retail asiáticos se enfoquen en conocer cuáles son los factores que influyen en la compra y dependiendo de ello poder establecer acciones que persuadan e intervengan en la de los consumidores. El objetivo de este trabajo de investigación es determinar si el amplio y profundo surtido que presentan los fast retail asiáticos presentan relación con la intención de compra entre los jóvenes de 18 a 30 años de Lima Metropolitana. El público primario de la investigación está compuesto por hombres y mujeres de 18 a 30 años de Lima Metropolitana. El estudio presenta un enfoque mixto por ser un estudio cualitativo y cuantitativo en donde se realizó 211 encuetas En cuanto, al cualitativo se realizó focus group con el público primario y entrevistas a experto, el resultado en general del análisis fue que el surtido si significaba para ellos un factor importante y que caracteriza a los fast retail asiáticos, sin embargo, no es determinante ya que, lo que llamó la atención fue el estilo de la tienda y porque fueron nuevas en el mercado. Por otro lado, se realizó el análisis cuantitativo donde la metodología del estudio fue correlacional en la cual se utilizó el modelo de la regresión lineal múltiple; el resultado que se obtuve del trabajo de investigación es que la variable surtido no presenta relación con la intención de compra, por lo cual se recomienda analizar otras variables como los factores intrínsecos e extrínsecos de los consumidores, ya que al ser nuevas las tiendas probablemente la moda, la curiosidad o el conocer algo nuevo haya tenido relación con la intención de compra. / Actually Peru, the retail sector has grown considerably since 2016 and they have positioned themselves for their different models and innovative formats that meet the different demands of the consumer. In the last months of 2019, Asian stores or better known to the public as Asian fast retail, which were characterized by being present in the main shopping centers of the capital, for their store design and for offering a wide product assortment, within this more than 10 product categories were offered such as technology, food, stationery, beauty, among others. For this reason, the assortment may mean one of the main variables that influences the consumer in the purchase intention, in this way, that Asian fast retailers focus on knowing what are the factors that influence the purchase and, depending on it, be able to establish actions that persuade and intervene in that of consumers. The objective of this research work is to determine whether the wide and deep assortment presented by Asian fast retailers is related to the intention to buy among young people between 18 and 30 years of age in Metropolitan Lima. The primary audience for the research is made up of men and women from 18 to 30 years of age from Metropolitan Lima. The study presents a mixed approach because it is a qualitative and quantitative study in which 211 surveys were conducted. As for the qualitative focus group with the primary public and interviews with experts, the general result of the analysis was that the assortment did mean for They are an important factor that characterizes Asian fast retail, however, it is not decisive since what caught the attention was the style of the store and because they were new to the market. On the other hand, the quantitative analysis was performed where the study methodology was correlational in which the multiple linear regression model was used; The result obtained from the research work is that the assortment variable is not related to the purchase intention, so it is recommended to analyze other variables such as the intrinsic and extrinsic factors of the consumers, since the stores are probably the new one. fashion, curiosity or knowing something new has been related to the purchase intention. / Tesis

Retail Evolution  A plan for the continued survival of retail  Retail has long been an integral part of society, today however, it is uncertain if it has a future. I have found that vacancies of stores in central Umeå have increased during recent years. In fact, the number of stores in Sweden as a whole has been on a steady decrease since 2011. According to the Swedish Consumer Agency, the trend will continue to decrease by 50 percent before 2030. For example, the large company MQ just filed for bankruptcy and even IKEA has recently shut down its first store. The reason for this is the online shopping phenomenon. Online shopping has taken market shares in the retail landscape and the trend is here to stay which leaves the question: How can conventional retail survive?  I believe the future of retail is a rejuvenated inner city in the sense of making it an including city, where both the big and the smaller companies work in unison as they are both needed. Retail needs to become attractive in order to fight increasing online shopping. For this to happen we need to make retail an experience and the stores need to solely focus customer relations and showcasing brands. Retail has to be transformed to provide small businesses the opportunity to sell their products as well as being a way for global companies to survive.  This project is about creating an option, something unlike online shopping, and the big malls of today. A way to attract people back to the dying inner city. The project is called Kvarteret Höder. It is a space with a large range of locally owned stores and cafés, encouraged by low rent and some larger brands which could carry more of the rent burden. As well as an event space where live music and group training can take place. A space to make people meet again through events, and in turn make retail attractive by becoming an experience!

The price pass-through relationship of retail gasoline markets in the United States has been examined on several levels. This dissertation takes two unique approaches to examine the pass-through behavior (1) a seemingly unrelated regressions model to survey regional differences in gasoline markets and (2) a pooled panel error-correction approach to analyze the effects of spatial competition on local Mississippi gasoline markets. The first model showed the presence of rockets and feathers on a regional level in the US. Moreover, every PADD had a long run asymmetric price pass-through relationship. I included variables to capture the effect of Hurricane Katrina. The inclusion of the Katrina variable indicated only the immediate period after the storm changed the pass-through behavior. Additionally, the market returned to the pre-Katrina pass-through relationship twelve weeks after the storm. The pooled panel model showed the presence of rockets and feathers in the state of Mississippi. It also indicated that the presence of spatial competition does have an effect on the price pass-through behavior. Moreover, the exact distance to the closest competitor did have a significant effect on the price pass-through relationship.

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