Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1990.

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

The UK market in fashion retailing is recognised as being the most concentrated in the world and companies in this sector are constantly striving to improve their market share and profitability. To do this requires a strong market position, which is developed, maintained and communicated to the target customer. This thesis explores the key issues of consumer and retailer perspectives of store positioning, how customers and retail employees perceive this image; and how image variables can be manipulated to defend or enhance market positioning. It concludes by developing a framework to indicate how image can be strategically managed. The literature review commences by setting out the historical perspective of the study of consumer behaviour and discusses a number of models, which aim to explain shopper attitude towards store and product selection. It moves on to investigate the attributes contributing to store image perception and to explore a number of methods of measuring store image. Past and current trends in retailing are examined and marketing strategies in the formation of retail image are discussed. The methodological pluralism used to obtain, generate and analyse data, is justified and results from four separate research phases. The exploratory research phase utilised qualitative methods to identify factors contributing towards store choice. In the second phase a multi-attribute model was applied to data to measure consumer and retail staff perception of store image. Furthermore, the congruence of customer and employee perception was evaluated. The third phase considered how con'sumers make store choice decisions by trading off attributes and allowed segmentation of sub-groups of customers with similar purchasing characteristics. The fourth phase used an interpretative approach to understand and compare key marketing strategies for two retailers. The conclusion highlights the issues that retailers have to manage in a fragmented market of consumers with high expectations of product quality, customer service and store environment. The research identifies that store choice factors vary not only between sectors but also significantly within sectors and shows product quality to be the prime factor. In addition, employee store image perception is acknowledged to be a useful indicator of customer purchase intention and the research emphasises the importance of companies having an organisational culture, which nurtures employee attitudes, motivation and skills to anticipate consumer behaviour and to provide quality service.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--Kent State University, 2007. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed July 10, 2007). Advisor: Jay Lee. Keywords: Retail Location Analysis; geographic information systems(GIS); Statistical Analysis; Regression Analysis; Geocoding; Catchment Area Analysis; Buffer Polygons; Thiessen Polygons; McDonald's; Burger King; Fast Food Restaurants; Overlay Analysis. Includes bibliographical references (p. 130-151).

The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on March 24, 2010). Thesis advisor: Dr. Matthew Foulkes. Includes bibliographical references.

The retail sections of central business districts of municipalities of British Columbia have a low degree of retail compatibility. Many unrelated commercial and other land uses that exist within the prime retail areas of central business districts weaken the degree of retail compatibility of the prime retail areas. The hypothesis of this study is that planning measures can and should be taken to improve the low degree of retail land use compatibility existing in the central business districts of municipalities in British Columbia. The need for study of this subject is justified on the basis of the importance and concern placed on central business districts. The improvement of a central business district must include the improvement of the retail section which comprises a vital component of any central business district. The decline of the shopping function in central business districts has been the cause of serious concern to planning and city officials alike, and needless to say, to the affected retailers as well. The convenience factor can be increased appreciably in a retail area which is planned or partially redeveloped to increase the degree of retail land use compatibility. Similarly, the tax base of the municipality would be improved because of the increased viability due to greater retail compatibility in the central business district. The central business districts of the three municipalities of Duncan, Grand Forks, and Castlegar in British Columbia are investigated in the study. It is shown that the degrees of retail compatibility in the central business districts of the three municipalities are poor. The main objectives of the study are to identify and analyze certain planning measures which could be implemented to improve the degree of retail compatibility. The reclassification of the widely-permissive general business type of zoning category is desirable in order to improve retail compatibility. The objective of reclassification is to direct the grouping together of compatible retail land uses, as well as other commercial uses commonly found in central business districts. On the basis of analysis of the attitudes of the three municipal councils, it is concluded that reclassification is politically feasible and it is strongly recommended that reclassification to be seriously considered by planning agencies for recommendation to their respective councils. The elimination of nonconforming uses that constitute "dead spots" in the retail areas of central business districts is urged strongly. It is revealed that this problem has been neglected to date by the selected municipal councils as reflected by the lack of enforcement of the statutes of the British Columbia Municipal Act to control or eliminate nonconforming uses. It is suggested that amortization approach to eliminate nonconforming uses which is used in parts of the United States should be added to the British Columbia Municipal Act. It is suggested that it is necessary for the municipal councils to review their policies in relation to reclassification of general commercial zones and in relation to the elimination of "dead spots"' within a comprehensive central business district planning program. The use of Federal Urban Renewal Legislation to improve commercial areas is a distinct possibility to achieve a higher degree of retail compatibility. It is recommended that the objectives of a central business district urban renewal scheme should coincide with the objectives of a comprehensive central business district planning program. The inclusion of a scheme to improve retail compatibility within a central business district renewal scheme appears to be politically acceptable. Also, the potentially affected retailers appear to be in favor of schemes to improve retail compatibility. It is concluded that planning measures can and could be taken to improve the low degree of retail land use compatibility existing in the central business districts of municipalities in British Columbia. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

by Chung Shiu-ling, Shirley. / Bibliography: leaf 45 / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1986

by Wong Hang-Tat. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1992. / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / Chapter I --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Petroleum Business in Hong Kong --- p.1 / Retail Market --- p.2 / Shell --- p.12 / Convenience Store Concept --- p.14 / Study Objectives --- p.18 / Chapter II --- TARGET GROUP --- p.23 / Chapter III --- METHODOLOGY --- p.26 / Chapter IV --- RESULTS & ANALYSIS --- p.33 / Customer perception --- p.33 / Investment --- p.41 / Profitability --- p.43 / Operations --- p.47 / Competitor Marketing Strategies --- p.49 / Chapter V --- RECOMMENDATIONS --- p.51 / Limitations --- p.51 / Recommendations --- p.52 / Conclusion --- p.58 / Further Work --- p.59 / APPENDIX --- p.60

Although Costco operates over 580 warehouse stores throughout North America, their location strategy remains relatively unexamined in the economic geography literature. A cursory examination of Costco’s network makes it clear that the firm chooses to locate primarily in the suburbs of major cities, where income levels are somewhat higher than the national average. However, what is not clear is the extent to which other demographic and geographic factors adequately account for Costco’s store locations, and what strategy underlies the geography of the firm’s warehouse stores, especially in relation to its distribution network. This research studies Costco in order to decode the location strategies that have guided the company’s North American and international expansions. The investigation attempts to identify key elements of Costco’s multinational retail network, including this network’s evolution over time. This paper seeks to benefit both retail business and public policymakers by highlighting elements of Costco’s location strategy that have contributed to the firm’s success.