The purpose of this study was to develop a conceptual integrated online visual merchandising framework containing online visual merchandising themes that South African apparel e-tailers could use when developing an effective apparel e-store, with the main aim of possibly influencing consumer purchasing behaviour. The study adopted a consumer-centred response approach to online visual merchandising in an attempt to holistically consider this area of the South African e-tail industry from the consumer’s perspective. The study followed a pragmatic paradigm that implemented a mixed-method approach. The qualitative section of the mixed-method approach primarily comprised four focus group interviews as the main data-collection instrument. The data obtained during the qualitative section was analysed by Tesch’s inductive descriptive coding technique, better known as thematic analysis. The findings obtained during the qualitative section were used as the basis for the quantitative section of the mixed-method approach, which implemented a self-administered web-based questionnaire as the data-collection instrument. The data was analysed by means of the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 23. The findings of the study delivered a conceptual integrated online visual merchandising framework that consists of 13 themes and 82 items. This conceptual integrated online visual merchandising framework will contribute to the South African apparel retail and e-tail industry, as both apparel brick-and-mortar retailers and apparel e-tailers in South Africa can benefit from using the conceptual integrated framework as a guideline. The value of the conceptual integrated framework lies in the fact that it includes consumers’ views regarding the online visual merchandising themes. Therefore, apparel e-tailers, as well as brick-and-mortar retailers that want to develop an e-store, or update an existing e-store, can use this conceptual integrated framework as a guideline to make their online offering as attractive as possible. This way involves the least possible online risks to ensure that online trust is created, and ultimately, that consumer purchasing behaviour has been influenced. / Business Management / D. Phil. (Management Studies)

Thin transparent conductive layers containing ATO nanoparticles are a modern material that has found use in a wide range of optoelectronic applications. For liquid phase deposition there were designed and prepared compositions using a „brick and mortar“ approach combined templating agents. A sol-gel solution formed of inorganic precursors of tin chloride and antimony trichloride in the presence of ATO nanoparticles was mixed with a surfactant to improve the structure and wettability of applied films. Polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene (20)cetylether, sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate and polyvinylpyrrolidone were used as templating agents. Thin layers of these compositions were applied by the spin-coating method. Characterized parameters were resistivity, thickness and turbidity. A resul compositions showed relatively good electrical properties and high transparency and a potencial to be used for material printing.

No description available.

No description available.

There is a significant transformation taking place in today’s retail landscape with the increasing adoption of digital technologies in society. Customers are finding new purchasing habits and retailers are exploring different channels to serve customers in. Observations indicate that the industry is heading towards an omni-channel landscape where retailers aim to provide customers with a unified shopping experience across channels and touchpoints as e-commerce rapidly penetrates the market. Currently, all growth for durable goods is attributable to online sales in Sweden, yet Swedish online grocery retailing has been lagging and still only constitute 2 percent of the total market share. A qualitative study was conducted to map out the challenges and levers for Swedish grocery retailers in distribution . Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 18 store managers from the three largest grocery store chains in Sweden. The study elicits a framework for firm controlled factors which define customer experience: price, promotion, merchandise, supply chain and location. / Det sker en betydande omvandling i dagens detaljhandelslandskap. Konsumenter hittar nya köpvanor och återförsäljare undersöker olika kanaler för att betjäna kunder i. Iakttagelser indikerar att branschen är på väg mot ett omni-kanal landskap där återförsäljare söker att ge kunderna en enhetlig shoppingupplevelse genom alla försäljningskanaler. Idag är all tillväxt för sällanköpsvaror hänförlig till onlineförsäljning i Sverige, men den svenska dagligvaruhandeln på nätet har legat efter och utgör fortfarande bara 2 procent av den totala marknadsandelen. En kvalitativ studie genomfördes för att kartlägga utmaningar och möjligheter i distribution för svenska dagligvaruhandlare. Semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med 18 butikschefer från de tre största livsmedelskedjorna i Sverige. Studien använder ett ramverk som kapslar in faktorer som kan kontrolleras av företaget och som tillsammans formar kundupplevelsen: pris, kampanjer, sortiment, logistikkedja och plats.

Bakgrund och problemdiskussion: Det råder en allmän oro rörande den fysiska butikens framtid. Ett paradigmskifte inom detaljhandeln innebär att den fysiska butiken, för att upprätthålla effektiva och lönsamma affärer, inte längre kan förlita sig på historiskt framgångsrika affärsmodeller och praxis. Istället anses teknik tillsammans med exceptionell service vara två av de viktigaste strategiska faktorerna, vilka kan komma att rädda den fysiska butikens existens. De företag som framgångsrikt lyckas konkurrera via tekniskt levererad service, kommer också långsiktigt att möta efterfrågan hos den digitala kunden. Syfte: Denna masteruppsats syftar till att undersöka vilken effekt som integrering av digitala tekniker i fysisk butik har på kundens upplevelse av butik. Studien ämnar även undersöka vilka faktorer som påverkar förhållandet mellan kundens upplevelse av butik och digital teknik. Metod: Syftet uppfylls genom att studera en faktisk butik, där en digital teknik, Near Field Communication (NFC), integrerats. Studien är i den bemärkelsen en fallstudie. Vidare har en experimentell forskningsdesign av kvalitativ karaktär anammats, där den empiriska datan huvudsakligen grundar sig i semistrukturerade konsumentintervjuer. Slutsats: En stor majoritet av respondenterna ansåg att den testade tekniken kunde få dem att handla i fysisk butik oftare. Följaktligen påvisar integrering av digital teknik i fysisk butik en positiv effekt på kundens upplevelse av butik, där integrering och användning av NFC-tekniken möjliggör en höjning av kundens upplevelse. Resultatet påvisar vidare att faktorer som flexibilitet, effektivitet, tillgänglighet, valmöjligheter, bekvämlighet, upplevd tid och energi samt generationstillhörighet påverkar förhållandet mellan kundens upplevelse av butik och digital teknik. / Background and problem discussion: There is a general concern about the future of the physical store. A paradigm shift in retail means that the physical store, in order to maintain efficient and profitable business, can no longer rely on historically successful business models and practices. Instead, technology together with exceptional service is considered to be two of the most important strategic factors, which may save the physical store's existence. Purpose: This master thesis aims to investigate the effect that integration of digital technologies in the physical store have on the customer’s experience of the store. The study also aims to investigate which factors affect the relationship between the customer's experience of the store and digital technology. Method: The purpose is fulfilled by studying one actual store, where one digital technology, Near Field Communication (NFC), has been integrated. In this sense, the study is a case study. Furthermore, an experimental research design of a qualitative nature has been adopted, where the empirical data is mainly based on semi-structured consumer interviews. Conclusion: A large majority of respondents felt that the tested technology could make them shop in a physical store more often. Consequently, the integration of digital technology into the physical store demonstrates a positive effect on the customer's experience of the store, where integration and use of the NFC technology enables an increase in the customer's experience. The result also shows that factors such as flexibility, efficiency, availability, IV choice, convenience, perceived time and energy and generation affiliation affect the relationship between the customer's experience and digital technology.