It’s the Weather: Quantifying the Impact of Weather on Retail Sales

AbstractThe weather is considered as an influential factor on consumer purchasing behaviours and plays a significant role in many aspects of retail sector decision making. As a result, better understanding of the magnitude and nature of the influence of variable UK weather conditions can be beneficial to many retailers and other stakeholders. This study addresses the dearth of research in this area by quantifying the relationship between different weather conditions and trading outcomes. By employing comprehensive daily sales data for a major high street retailer with over 2000 stores across England and adopting a random forest methodology, the study quantifies the influence of various weather conditions on daily retail sales. Results indicate that weather impact is greatest in the summer and spring months and that wind is consistently found to be the most influential weather condition. The top five most weather-dependent categories cover a range of different product types, with health foods emerging as the most susceptible to the weather. Also, sales from out-of-town stores show a far more complex relationship with the weather than those from traditional high street stores with the regions London and the South East experiencing the greatest levels of influence. Various implications of these findings for retail stakeholders are discussed and the scope for further research outlined.

Weather Prediction using Advanced Machine Learning Techniques

Journal of Physics Conference Series ◽

10.1088/1742-6596/2089/1/012059 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2089 (1) ◽

pp. 012059

Author(s):

G. Hemalatha ◽

K. Srinivasa Rao ◽

D. Arun Kumar

Keyword(s):

Linear Relationship ◽

Weather Prediction ◽

Weather Condition ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Machine Learning Techniques ◽

Weather Data ◽

Learning Techniques ◽

Proposed Model ◽

Non Linear ◽

Abstract Prediction of weather condition is important to take efficient decisions. In general, the relationship between the input weather parameters and the output weather condition is non linear and predicting the weather conditions in non linear relationship posses challenging task. The traditional methods of weather prediction sometimes deviate in predicting the weather conditions due to non linear relationship between the input features and output condition. Motivated with this factor, we propose a neural networks based model for weather prediction. The superiority of the proposed model is tested with the weather data collected from Indian metrological Department (IMD). The performance of model is tested with various metrics..

Impact of Relationship Marketing Variables on Brand Resonance: Mediating Role of Brand Attitude

International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology - Regular Issue ◽

10.35940/ijeat.b3405.129219 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 2084-2089

Keyword(s):

Relationship Marketing ◽

Brand Loyalty ◽

Main Tool ◽

Brand Attitude ◽

Influential Factor ◽

Conflict Handling ◽

Marketing Variables ◽

Brand Resonance ◽

The Impact ◽

Relationship Marketing has got its values strongly rooted in business and market place right from the year 1983. It is the core sphere of operation for all kinds of trade and no organization overlooks this concept. Holding this importance of Relationship Marketing as a core idea, the study aims at discerning the impact of Relationship Marketing Variables on Brand Resonance. Brand Resonance is yet another dominant state of psychological connect which every company would like to establish with the customers. The Relationship Marketing Variables Trust, conflict handling, empathy and Satisfaction are considered for the analysis. Brand Loyalty, Brand Community, Brand Engagement and Brand Attachment are the variables of Brand Resonance. Focusing on the relationship marketing variables that contributes towards high brand resonance would enable companies to contemplate on these profit enabling areas that eventually leads to a sustenance growth for the organization. Indian Shopping Websites has been given the prime importance in this study and data has been collected from 515 users of these websites. Multiple regression is employed as a main tool to examine the influential effect and for mediation analysis. The mediating effects of brand attitude over brand resonance is also examined in this study. Drifting from the traditional view of customer satisfaction influencing Brand Loyalty, this study has found Empathy as the most influential factor on Brand Resonance followed by Conflict handling and Trust. Brand Attitude strongly mediates the relationship between relationship marketing dimensions and Brand Resonance.

Productivity Analysis of Micro-Trenching Using Simphony Simulation Modeling

Civil Engineering Journal ◽

10.28991/cej-2020-03091607 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (11) ◽

pp. 2131-2142

Author(s):

Hediyeh Vaseli ◽

Leila Hashemian ◽

Alireza Bayat

Keyword(s):

Simulation Model ◽

Weather Condition ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Cold Weather ◽

Productivity Analysis ◽

Residential Areas ◽

Productivity Improvement ◽

Project Duration ◽

Installation Depth ◽

Micro-trenching is an innovative method for installing fiber optic cable in residential areas and business districts which minimizes surface scarring and potential negative social and environmental impacts. This method has three major steps including cutting a narrow trench in the pavement, cable installation and trench backfilling. This paper discusses a Simphony simulation model of the micro-trenching procedure and analyzes its productivity. Brief descriptions of the micro-trenching method and two field installations used to validate the model are included. A simulation model was developed for two different installation depths of 7.6 and 23 cm using two different methods. To provide an estimation of project duration, the impact of weather conditions on micro-trenching productivity was also considered. The developed model can be used for what if scenarios and for predicting the outcomes, which may be useful for studying the procedure and verifying if any productivity improvement can be achieved. The results indicate that the influence of installation depth is more significant than the impact of weather conditions. Reducing installation depth from 23 cm to 7.6 could improve productivity up to 50% while cold weather condition can reduce productivity by 18.8%. The simulation model demonstrates that the productivity can be improved up to 16% by overlapping two steps during the installation process: starting the cleaning procedure when a portion of cutting is completed. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2020-03091607 Full Text: PDF

Retaining talent by enhancing organizational prestige

Personnel Review ◽

10.1108/pr-05-2013-0070 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 44 (4) ◽

pp. 454-469 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Neerpal Rathi ◽

Kidong Lee

Keyword(s):

Affective Commitment ◽

Turnover Intentions ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Mediating Effect ◽

Retail Sector ◽

Theoretical Understanding ◽

Content Type ◽

Perceived External Prestige ◽

The Impact ◽

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of perceived external prestige on turnover intentions among retail employees in India. Moreover, this study aims to explore the mediating effect of affective commitment on the relationship between perceived external prestige and turnover intentions. Design/methodology/approach – This study is quantitative in nature. The data for the present study were collected from 186 employees working in various retail stores. Existing, established scales were used to measure the research constructs. Findings – The results of the study indicate a negative relationship between perceived external prestige and turnover intentions. A negative relationship was observed between affective commitment and turnover intentions. Moreover, affective commitment was observed to partially mediate the relationship between perceived external prestige and turnover intentions. Practical implications – This study provides valuable insights into understanding the significance of perceived external prestige in retaining employees working in the retail sector. Findings of the study indicate that adoption of non-conventional human resource strategies, like a focus on enhancing external prestige of the organization may be one of the ways to enhance employee commitment and reduce turnover intentions, and thus to retain employees in economies with highly mobile workforce. Originality/value – This research has investigated the significance of perceived external prestige in retaining employees in a context which is different, in several ways, from contexts where most of the previous research has been conducted. It, thus, contributes to current theoretical understanding about perceived external prestige and it impact on work attitudes.

Simulation modeling of weather-sensitive tunnelling construction activities subject to cold weather

Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering ◽

10.1139/cjce-2013-0087 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 41 (1) ◽

pp. 48-55 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

A. Shahin ◽

S.M. AbouRizk ◽

Y. Mohamed ◽

S. Fernando

Keyword(s):

Construction Projects ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Project Planning ◽

Cold Weather ◽

Project Schedule ◽

Cold Regions ◽

Weather Impact ◽

Weather Events ◽

Weather Uncertainty ◽

In cold regions, weather introduces a great deal of uncertainty to weather-sensitive construction activities, resulting in project schedules that deviate from plans. To maximize construction process productivity, decisions regarding process execution planning and sequence of work need to be made, based on reliable plans and schedules. Faced with winter weather uncertainty in cold regions, this task becomes quite challenging. This paper follows the framework that was proposed in the literature for simulating weather-sensitive construction projects executed under cold weather conditions. In the literature, the authors applied the framework steps to enable simulating and planning pipeline construction activities under severe cold weather. The proposed framework sets out a work breakdown structure of activities to account for and quantify weather impact on the project schedule. The steps outlined in the framework are followed to enable simulating and planning tunnelling construction activities executed under severe cold weather conditions. Relevant simulation findings, which clarify the impact of cold weather events on construction projects and can assist in project planning and decision support, are reported.

Assessment of Long-term Groundwater Abstraction and Forest Growth Impacts on Watershed Hydrology Using SWAT

10.22541/au.162134111.13768818/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Wonjin Kim ◽

Jinuk Kim ◽

Soyoung Woo ◽

Jiwan Lee ◽

Sehoon Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Assessment Tool ◽

Weather Condition ◽

Forest Growth ◽

Influential Factor ◽

Coefficient Of Determination ◽

Observation Data ◽

Watershed Hydrology ◽

Groundwater Abstraction ◽

Total Runoff ◽

This study used Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to investigate the impacts of groundwater abstraction and forest growth on the watershed hydrology of Geum River basin (9,645.5 km2), South Korea. Groundwater abstraction (GA) and forest growth (FG) data from 1976 to 2015 (1980s;1976~1985, 1990s; 1986~1995, 2000s; 1996~2005, 2010s;2006~2015) were prepared with 10-year interval as SWAT input data, respectively. SWAT was calibrated (2006~2015) using daily observation data from two multipurpose dams and three multifunction weirs. The dam and weir calibration result showed coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.78, 0.81, Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) of 0.79, 0.76, root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.96 mm/day, 0.55 mm/day, and PBIAS of -5.48%, 8.56%, respectively. The SWAT ran at each decade using corresponding GA and FG information under the same weather condition of the 2010s to evaluate the impact of GA and FG on hydrologic cycle. Influenced by both GA and FG, the streamflow at the watershed outlet showed the decrease of 1.3% (10.1 mm/year), 4.4% (34.2 mm/year), and 7.8% (60.3 mm/year) in the 1990s, the 2000s, and the 2010s, respectively. The hydrologic response of surface runoff, lateral flow, groundwater flow, and soil moisture showed decreasing trend while evapotranspiration and groundwater recharge showed increasing trend. GA imposed bigger influence on the spatial and temporal loss of streamflow than FG. Especially, it was discovered that the agricultural water use from groundwater was the most influential factor that has decreased total runoff in the target watershed for the last four decades.

A Weather Index for Analysing Grain Yield Instability in China, 1952–81

The China Quarterly ◽

10.1017/s030574100000850x ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 97 ◽

pp. 68-83 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Y. Y. Kueh

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Water Control ◽

Weather Impact ◽

Adverse Weather Conditions ◽

Adverse Weather ◽

Regression Techniques ◽

Long Term Trends ◽

This article applies standard regression techniques to examine the impact of adverse weather conditions on average grain yield per sown hectare in contemporary China. By isolating the weather impact I hope (a) to quantify the possible influence of frequent policy and organizational changes which have been so characteristic of Chinese agriculture since 1949; and (b) to show to what extent grain production in China has become more “weather-proof” after three decades of massive investment in water control and other modern inputs. I shall deal mainly with the long-term trends from 1952 to 1981, with special reference to the extraordinary 1959–61 period, during which total grain output and yield declined by an average of 21 and 12 per cent respectively (or 25 and 18 per cent for the two trough years of 1960 and 1961), measured against the benchmark year of 1957.

The Impact of the Buy Zimbabwe Campaign on Performance of Zimbabwean Companies in the Retail Sector

Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies ◽

10.22610/jebs.v8i6(j).1496 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 (6(J)) ◽

pp. 227-236

Author(s):

Ndlovu N. ◽

Mafumbate J. ◽

Mafuka A. ◽

Brena M

Keyword(s):

Linear Relationship ◽

Performance Comparison ◽

Influential Factors ◽

Retail Sector ◽

Company Performance ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Descriptive Research ◽

The Government ◽

The Impact ◽

Abstract: The majority of the Zimbabwean retail companies were in the collapsing mode over the past ten years. This miserable predicament necessitated the government to craft locally-driven remedies, and one of them was the Buy Zimbabwe campaign. This prompted the researcher to assess the impact of the â€œBuy Zimbabweâ€ campaign on the performance of the Zimbabwean firms. The study objectives were to establish the impact of â€œbuy Zimbabweâ€ campaign on demand for local products and factors affecting demand for local products. Furthermore to establish if a company participating in the â€œbuy Zimbabweâ€ campaign performs better than non-participating firms, earnings per Share was used in the inter-firm performance comparison. The descriptive research design was employed, although the research was both quantitative and qualitative in nature. The classical linear multiple regression analysis was used to establish and explain the relationship between company performances. The results indicated a positive linear relationship between â€œbuy Zimbabweâ€ campaign and company performance in case of those that adopted Buy Zimbabwe, whereas in case of those that did not adopt Buy Zimbabwe there was a negative linear relationship. The results also discloses that quality and affordability of the product are the most influential factors affect demand for local products and buy Zimbabwe campaign was regarded as the least factor to be considered by consumers. Results from this study point towards the need to put in place supportive policies for the â€œbuy Zimbabweâ€ campaign to be effective. Keywords: Buy Zimbabwe, retail sector, local products, competitiveness, customer loyalty

Effect of ambient temperature on outpatient admission for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in a subtropical Chinese city

10.21203/rs.3.rs-34830/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Desheng Zhao ◽

Jian Cheng ◽

Ping Bao ◽

Yanwu Zhang ◽

Fengjuan Liang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Ambient Temperature ◽

Meteorological Data ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Individual Characteristics ◽

Effect Of Temperature ◽

Temperature Decrease ◽

Distributed Lag ◽

The Impact ◽

Abstract Background Current findings on the impact of weather conditions on osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are sparse and not conclusive. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between temperature change and OA/RA admission. Methods Daily OA/RA admission and meteorological data from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2017 in Hefei, China, were collected. We quantified the relationship between ambient temperature and OA/RA admission using a distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM). The effect modifications by gender and age were also examined. Results Sudden temperature decrease was significantly associated with RA admission (25th percentile of temperature versus 50th percentile of temperature), with the acute and largest effect at current days lag (RR: 1.063, 95%CI: 1.010–1.118). However, no association between temperature and OA admission was observed. When conducting subgroup analyses by individual characteristics, we found that females and patients aged 41–65 years were more vulnerable to temperature decrease than males, patients aged 0–40 and ≧ 66 years, respectively. Conclusions This study suggested that sudden temperature decrease was a risk factor for increase RA admission. Females and patients aged 41–65 years were particularly vulnerable to the effect of temperature decrease.

Board characteristics and real performance in Malaysian state-owned enterprises (SOEs)

International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management ◽

10.1108/ijppm-12-2015-0188 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 66 (8) ◽

pp. 1064-1086 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Fekri Ali Shawtari ◽

Muslim Har Sani Mohamad ◽

Hafiz Majdi Abdul Rashid ◽

Abdullah Moh’d Ayedh

Keyword(s):

Quantile Regression ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Performance Measure ◽

Influential Factor ◽

New Developments ◽

Content Type ◽

Board Characteristics ◽

Real Performance ◽

The Impact ◽

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between board characteristics and real performance among state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Malaysia in a longitudinal period following the introduction of transformation policy. Design/methodology/approach The study deviates from prior research in utilising a real performance measure rather than traditional measures of performance. The authors adopt the quantile regression approach to examine the impact of board characteristics on real performance in a comparison using ordinary least squares. Findings The results of quantile regression reveal that the impact of board mechanisms on real performance was not as expected. Specifically, board size and duality had a bearing on real performance. Board independence also is considered as influential factor through the time. However, such effects were not homogenous across different quantiles. The dummy year variable to compare the period pre- and post-transformation policy reveals that the dummy year is not significant, indicating that performance post-transformation is indifferent compared to the pre-transformation policy period. Practical implications It is important for government to reconsider the policies embedded in the transformation policy. This study provides insights on the enhancement of board effectiveness and new developments regarding GLCs. Originality/value This is an early to attempt to measure real performance and its link to board characteristics in SOEs post-transformation policy.