Enquanto faz suas compras, o consumidor despende tempo e esforço para a realização de várias tarefas como o deslocamento até a loja, a busca por informação sobre o produto desejado, a localização do produto dentro da loja até sua efetiva posse, após a finalização da transação no caixa. É a conveniência o atributo que minimiza os gastos de tempo e esforço do consumidor durante todas as etapas do processo de compra. Sua importância é crescente, na medida em que os recursos não-monetários de tempo e energia se tornam escassos e, conseqüentemente, mais valorizados na sociedade contemporânea. Neste contexto, objetivouse neste trabalho, o estudo da conveniência como necessidade do consumidor moderno, com a finalidade de determinar se ela varia em distintos formatos de varejo. Sendo assim, esta necessidade é estudada no shopping center, um formato de varejo tradicional composto por lojas, e no varejo eletrônico, um formato sem lojas, de expansão recente. A comparação entre os formatos de varejo se deu pela determinação das dimensões do constructo necessidade de conveniência em cada um deles, bem como pela identificação dos tipos mais importantes de conveniência na composição do constructo em cada formato. A pesquisa teve caráter exploratório, quantitativo, sendo realizada por meio de um levantamento, aplicado em meio eletrônico. Os resultados mostraram que a necessidade de conveniência na amostra estudada varia entre formatos, indicando não se tratar de uma necessidade intrínseca do consumidor. A conveniência constitui, portanto, uma necessidade dinâmica, que se modifica de acordo com o contexto de compra. Foram identificadas, para o shopping center, quatro dimensões da necessidade de conveniência: acesso, busca, transação e posse. No varejo eletrônico, porém, esta necessidade se desdobra em apenas três tipos, com as conveniências de acesso e busca formando uma única dimensão. Além disso, na composição da necessidade de conveniência total dos consumidores, identificou-se relevância predominante de um tipo de conveniência distinto em cada formato de varejo. No shopping center, observou-se a predominância da conveniência de transação, enquanto no varejo eletrônico, o tipo mais relevante foi a conveniência de acesso e busca. Estes resultados indicam que os esforços para a criação de um composto de conveniência no varejo devem levar em conta as especificidades de cada formato. / Consumers spend time and effort to complete several tasks while shopping. These tasks include the trip to the store, the search for information on the desired product as well as locating the product they wish to purchase and completing the checkout process. Convenience is the attribute which minimizes the time and effort spent by the consumer in the buying processes stages. Its importance is growing as the non-monetary resources of time and energy become scarce and consequently more valued in contemporary society. This study has aimed to investigate convenience as a modern consumers need which has been analyzed in two different retail formats. The first one was the shopping center, a traditional format composed by stores and the second was electronic retailing, a non-store format of recent growth. The dimensionality of the need for convenience construct was assessed and the dimensions were compared across formats in terms of their composition and relevance for the overall construct. To accomplish the proposed goals, a quantitative research of exploratory nature has been undertaken by the administration of an online survey. It was found that the need for convenience varies according to the retail format for the sample studied. This result indicates that the need for convenience is not an enduring consumer need but a dynamic necessity that changes between different shopping contexts. Four dimensions have been identified for the shopping center, which are access, search, transaction and possession. However, for electronic retailing only three dimensions were obtained since the access and search conveniences have formed a single dimension. In addition, the relevance of each dimension in the overall construct composition was examined. It was found the predominance of one convenience type for each format, namely the transaction convenience for the shopping center and the access and search convenience for electronic retailing. These results indicate that the efforts toward the creation of a retailers convenience offer should take into consideration the particularities of each retail format.

The aim of the thesis is to identify new technologies currently used in retail and to evaluate the attitudes of domestic customers to these technologies. Then, based on the findings, devise recommendations on the use of these new information technologies. The diploma thesis deals with individual information technologies which are used in the Czech Republic and abroad, but also with those that are still being developed. With the help of research, the topic of retail technology is viewed from the perspective of customers.

Employee turnover is high in small retail business, compelling business leaders to implement strategies that successfully reduce employee turnover. The conceptual framework guiding this study was the Herzberg 2-factor theory because the theory identifies factors that influence job satisfaction and employee turnover. The study population was retail owners and managers from small businesses in the retail industry in San Antonio, Texas who had demonstrated successful strategies to reduce employee turnover. A focus group was conducted with 4 retail managers, and semistructured interviews were conducted with 2 small retail owners, all of whom were recruited via purposeful criterion-based sampling. Yin's 5-step process for data analysis of compiling, disassembling, reassembling, interpreting, and concluding resulted in themes of continuous learning in the workplace, communication, and valuing employees. These leaders provided continuous learning in the workplace, which demonstrated their value of their employees. Communication was a key concept discussed by all participants, as it built credibility with leaders and employees, increased productivity, and reduced turnover. The study has value to the practice of business because results may benefit industry growth by increasing retail leaders' knowledge levels about employee turnover. The findings may affect positive social change as leaders apply strategies useful for reducing employee turnover as lower turnover rates might reduce unemployment, stabilize communities, and improve the human and social conditions outside the workplace.

During the past decades, the establishment of external shopping centers have been increasing, causing debates on how they affect the viability and vitality of city centers. Instead of studying them as individual actors that are in competition with each other, it is interesting to examine them as components that together make cities complete trading destinations.  The purpose of this thesis is to study the coexistence and collaboration between different retail agglomerations. Retail agglomeration attributes are implemented to distinguish existing strengths and weaknesses for each trading venue, in order to identify where they complement each other. The research method is qualitative with an abductive approach. Six semi-structured interviews were conducted with respondents who represent different associations.  The findings of the research revealed that city centers and external shopping establishments are able to coexist if they complement each other through their individual offerings and experiences. Different retail agglomerations attract contrasting customer groups, allowing them to coexist. Collaboration between retail agglomerations can be implemented in several ways and can enhance the attractiveness of cities as trading destinations. The collaboration can occur by implementing shared marketing, shuttle bus services or collective events.  This research is limited to only investigating one medium sized city and three retail agglomeration formats. Furthermore, the choice of participants did not include consumers and store owners, which could have provided additional perspectives. The findings contribute to the study field by highlighting how retail agglomerations can coexist and collaborate and can be useful for other medium sized cities.

La presente investigación se realizó con el objetivo de determinar si impacto financiero de los contratos de asociación en participación conforme la NIIF 11 “Acuerdos Conjuntos” en los bancos del sector retail. Para llevar a cabo la validación de nuestra hipótesis, hemos encuestado a los principales bancos del sector retail de Lima. Se realizó un caso práctico bajo dos escenarios, el cual ayudará a evaluar el impacto financiero de nuestro tema de investigación. De los datos analizados podemos concluir que implementar la NIIF 11 generaría un impacto financiero favorable para los bancos del sector retail. Esto se llevaría a cabo bajo la figura de consorcio. / The present investigation was carried out with the objective of determining the financial impact of the joint venture agreements under IFRS 11 "Joint Agreements" in the banks of the retail sector. To carry out the validation of our hypothesis, we have surveyed the main banks of the Lima retail sector. A practical case was carried out under two scenarios, which will help to evaluate the financial impact of our research topic. From the data analyzed, we can conclude that implementing IFRS 11 would generate a favorable financial impact for banks in the retail sector. This would be carried out under the consortium figure. / Tesis

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This thesis investigates the history of labour management at David Jones, the major Australian retailer and manufacturer, between the years 1838 and 1958. This thesis examines the development of consent-based approach to labour management at David Jones, in particular the development of paternalism and welfarism. In doing so this thesis explores both general questions regarding the factors that influence why certain firms adopt a consent-based approach to labour management, as well as informing debates around the existence of nineteenth century paternalism and the origins of twentieth century welfarism. The historical material contained at the David Jones Archives and elsewhere reveals little evidence of paternalism as a deliberate management strategy. This brings into question the usefulness of paternalism as a concept in the historical study of Australian labour management. The inability to trace paternalism also undermines explanations of twentieth century welfarism premised on the pre-existence of nineteenth century paternalism. The historical materials, however, do note that twentieth century welfarism was a deliberate labour management strategy adopted by David Jones management. Welfarism, combined with systematic management and training, was initially adopted following the First World War to deal with the threat of industrial turmoil. However, in the 1930s, welfarism increasingly became a pro-active strategy designed to create skilled selling and raise the profile of the firm within the community. Further, welfarism at David Jones in the inter-war period was more than merely a new form of paternalism, somehow transformed by being in a larger, more bureaucratic setting or a result of employers confronted an increasingly feminised workforce. Welfarism at David Jones was a deliberate strategy, informed by overseas experiments, management consultants and the new science of psychology. Welfarism at David Jones continued into the post World War Two period. However, new forms of retailing, in particular self-service, undermined attempts to create skilled selling. Elements of welfarism remain at David Jones and continue to support the firm???s corporate image as a provider of high-quality customer service.

This dissertation examines whether the regulation of the franchise sector is effective in achieving two of the stated goals of the Franchising Code of Conduct. These two goals are redressing the imbalance of power in the relationship and increasing levels of certainty for participants in the sector. Based on the ‘new learning’ in regulation, this dissertation takes an expansive approach to the concept of regulation. It considers how, in a ‘multi-layered system of governance’, the layers of regulation of the franchising sector contribute to these goals. The results of the analysis suggest that private, self-regulation through the layers of market and contract sets up a relationship where there is an imbalance of power in favour of a franchisor and uncertainty for a franchisee. The market interaction between the parties establishes these conditions, which are reinforced by the contract, in particular by the interaction of the standard form and relational qualities of the contract. A public layer of governance, direct intervention in the form of the Franchising Code of Conduct, relies largely on selfregulatory tools such as disclosure and is also ineffective in addressing the imbalance of power in the relationship and in increasing levels of certainty for franchisees. Because neither self-regulatory mechanisms nor legislative intervention achieves the stated goals of redressing imbalance of power and uncertainty in the franchise relationship, the analysis concludes that a reframing of regulation is necessary. The recommended revised regulatory program features collaborative, participative, democratic process to gather and assess good measurements that inform the identification of problems and the selection of tools appropriate to address those problems.

Introduction As the world is becoming increasingly integrated, many firms search for partners overseas with hope to find benefits. Internationalization is today the industrial norm, and in this new and ever-expanding environment, international purchasing has become a major challenge that firms have to face in their daily operations. Yet, despite the growing importance of international purchasing by retailers, previous studies have mainly focused on international purchasing by manufacturing firms, and as the authors have acknowledge the retailers' significance on the national markets, a gap has been identified. Purpose The purpose of this thesis is to examine and map out the current state of Swedish retailers' international purchasing activities. Method In order to fulfill the purpose, a quantitative research was chosen. In total, 74 telephone interviews have been conducted, resulting in a response rate of 80 percent. The sample was based on the 120 largest retailers in Sweden, with regards to turnover. Conclusion Swedish retailers have been grouped into four distinctive clusters; the Veterans, the Freshmen, the Cravens, and the Intellectuals. Each cluster showed clear and specific characteristics that distinguished them from each other. One common feature existed; regarding what risks that were connected with international purchasing. Almost everyone highlighted the loss of control, due to long distances, as being the main risk with international purchasing. The different clusters had diverse suggestions for how to overcome this; the Veterans focused on long-term relationship-building, the Freshmen spread their purchasing activities on multiple suppliers, the Cravens contracted trade companies to take the risk, and the Intellectuals invested in a high level of integration among all actors involved.

This paper will assess the relationship between tenant characteristics and public REIT volatility. Specifically, we focus on the retail REIT subset of the industry. Given that retail REITs are one the most transparent asset classes, they provide an interesting landscape for evaluating the relationship between the firm and the customers, or in this case, the tenants. Specifically, we assess how major tenant ownership, public or private equity owned, impacts the volatility of the REIT’s stock price using 2010 data on 30 retail REITs. Controlling for tenant credit quality, leverage, ROE, book-to-market, size, age, region and property focus, we find that a higher percentage of rental revenue from private equity owned tenants is associated with lower REIT stock volatility, and a higher percentage of rental revenue from publicly owned tenants is associated with higher REIT stock volatility.