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Background: In today's dynamic business environment, organizations face high pressure for change and adaptation. It is generally perceived that change is inevitable and many believe that change is an ongoing and never-ending process. The retail industry is a highly competitive sector, and thus it becomes paramount for organizations to successfully manage change. The subject of change management has been present for a long period, however, a remarkably low amount of research has been focused on change management for retail store managers. Therefore, this study aims to examine retail store managers' communication during change processes. Purpose: This study’s purpose is to create a comprehensive understanding of retail store managers’ communication during change processes. Moreover, to identify which elements should be prioritized by retail store managers communicating during change. Method: To achieve the purpose of this thesis, a qualitative interview study was conducted, and it consisted of seven semi-structured interviews with retail store managers. The thesis was guided by an inductive approach, and a thematic analysis of the empirical findings was utilized. Conclusion: This study found that retail store managers' communicational structure was similar as it was based on the same elements, adaptability, selectivity, multiple channels, and prioritization. The structure enabled retail store managers to ensure that the communication was clear and open, thus minimizing employee stress and uncertainty. Continuing, the results indicated that retail store managers should prioritize certain communicational elements, for instance, clarity, openness, and long-run perspective.

The ever-evolving retail landscape in the United States represents a narrative of change for local communities. While change may signify instability, it also presents opportunities for innovation. This dichotomy is particularly pertinent in small downtowns, where the faltering of both national chain and locally owned retail establishments is felt, not only by business owners, but by all members of the community. The loss of anchor stores (large stores that serve to draw patrons to a commercial center) has proven especially challenging for downtowns that formerly relied on the consumer traffic generated by a big-name retailer. The loss of anchor stores also scars the built environment, which is often not designed to respond fluidly to programmatic flux. While the default response to a failed anchor store is often to simply replace it with a slightly more robust retail anchor, this approach to renewal is shortsighted, for the replaced anchor store will inevitably fail as well. Instead, it is essential that the reuse of vacant anchor spaces be designed to not only sustainably support local economies, but also to address and enhance community and the built environment. Reprogramming, as opposed to replacing, former anchor stores presents an opportunity to embrace change in order to build a truly sustainable and vibrant neighborhood that considers retail to be one of many assets. This thesis presents a study of and an intervention at the site of a, still vacant, former Borders bookstore and café in the downtown of a New York City metro north community. The design proposal seeks to identify, develop, and celebrate the coalescence of the site’s economic, social, and architectural potentials. Paradoxically, while the proposal focuses on promoting the local capacity of a particular place, the greater implications of this study can be translated to other small downtowns nationwide, and perhaps even globally.

Digitaliseringen och den tekniska utvecklingen som sker i samhället påverkar hur människor lever sina liv, och hur vi gör affärer. Genom introduceringen av digitala handelsplattformar och ny teknik i butikerna utökas utbudet av varor och tjänster, således också vilka upplevelser som konsumenterna efterfrågar. Det här får konsekvenser inte bara för handeln utan även för fastighetsbranschen. Den här uppsatsens syfte har därför varit att undersöka kopplingen mellan handeln och fastighetsbranschen, och specifikt utröna den fysiska butikens utmaningar och möjligheter i den digitala världen. Vidare undersöks betydelsen av dessa effekter för fastighetssektorn. En kvalitativ intervjumetod använts utöver litteraturstudier, för att på ett djupare plan plocka upp vilka attityder som olika aktörer inom fastighetsbranschen har gällande digitaliseringen. De medverkande har en bred spridning av erfarenheter och kunskap från olika håll av fastighetsbranschen och handeln, vilket givit arbetet många olika perspektiv. Slutsatserna är många, men den främsta är att varken forskningen eller intervjupersonerna tror att den fysiska butikens funktion som försäljningskanal är hotad på grund av digitaliseringens framfart. Däremot kommer handlarna och fastighetsbranschen få arbeta hårt på att utveckla nya affärsstrukturer och vässa sitt serviceerbjudande gentemot kund för att kunna överleva konkurrensen från nya försäljningskanaler. Butikernas funktion kommer troligen även att utvecklas till att bli mer än handelsplatser – de kommer att bli mötesplatser och arbetsplatser. I det arbetet krävs ett tätt samarbete mellan alla berörda parter. Avslutningsvis har det även visat sig att handel och fastighetsutveckling har många gemensamma beröringspunkter, och att omställningen till en digital framtid måste göras gemensamt. / The digitalization process and the technological development affects peoples’ everyday life as well as how we do business. Through the introduction of digital trading platforms and new technology in the physical stores, the supply of goods and services has increased leading to costumers demanding even more goods and new exciting shopping experiences. This does not only affect the commercial sector, but also the real estate sector. Therefore, this paper focuses on the connections between commerce and real estate. Specific focus is given to physical stores and their challenges and opportunities in the digital world. Furthermore, the importance of these effects for the real estate sector is investigated. A qualitative interview method was been used in addition to literature studies, aiming to explore attitudes in the real estate sector on a deeper level. The participants have a wide spread of experience and knowledge from both commerce and real estate, which has given the work many different perspectives and angles. The conclusions are many, but the main one is that neither the research nor the interviewees believe that the physical store is threatened due to the advance of digitalization. To be able to survive the competition from new sale channels, the retailers and the real estate sector must co-operate in building new business structures as well as sharpening their customer service offerings. The function of the physical store is likely to develop into more than a sales venue – it will evolve into being a place to meet and to work. This will require a close cooperation between all stakeholders. In conclusion, it has also been found that commerce and property development have many common points of contact, and that the transition to a digital future must be done jointly.

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Statement of Problem Revitalization of downtowns across America continues to be challenged by the shift to the suburbs. The barriers to integrating large-scale retail in a small, medium, and large city downtown were examined. Forces of Data The System View Planning Theory (Taylor, 1998) guided the study of city planners’ and consumers’ perceived barriers to integrating large scale retail into the downtown. In order to ascertain the barriers to integrating large-scale retail into the downtown intercept-surveys with consumers (n=30, responded to the intercept survey in each city) and interviews with city planners were conducted. Conclusion Reached Some significant differences were found between perceived barriers towards integrating large-scale retail into small and large-city downtowns. Although most consumers reported a positive attitude towards large-scale retail, most consumers in Tucson and San Diego indicated that the cost of shopping in the downtown outweighed the benefits. Traffic, parking, pedestrian-friendly street-oriented environment, and local character are among the major barriers identified by the study cities to integrating large-scale retail into the downtown. However, over half of the consumers surveyed agreed that they would shop at large-scale retail on the weekdays if it were available, but less than half of consumers in Tucson and San Diego would shop at large-scale retail on the weekends. Recommendations Three recommendations were suggested to successfully establish and sustain large-scale retail in the downtown. 1. Continue to find creative solutions to parking and traffic barriers. 2. Create a multifunctional, walkable downtown, with amenities to meet most consumers’ needs. 3. Establish retail stores in the downtown that enhance the local character and cater to residents’ needs rather than mostly tourist needs.

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No description available.

No description available.