scholarly journals Retail Format Competition: The Case of Grocery Discount Stores and Why They Haven’t Conquered the Chinese Market (Yet)

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 220-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sina Hardaker
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Competitive Advantages ◽  
International Expansion ◽  
Chinese Market ◽  
Private Brands ◽  
Grocery Retailing ◽  
Significant Disagreement ◽  
Discount Stores ◽  
Retail Format ◽  
First Time

Abstract The international expansion of the German discounters Aldi and Lidl in recent years has been a large success in grocery retailing. In China, the world’s largest grocery retail market, however, grocery discounters have not (yet) established a physical store presence. In 2017 Aldi Süd and Lidl for the first time entered a new market without the help of a physical store, implementing an online shop in China. As to the format’s future, significant disagreement amongst retail experts exists. This paper, which is based on qualitative interviews with high-ranking senior executives of international retailers, argues for three major reasons as to why the discount format has not hitherto gained a foothold in the Chinese market. Firstly, due to the characteristics and challenges of China’s market, such as high fragmentation as well as the need for strong localisation, a high standardisation of the format is not possible. Secondly, the extremely low-margin operation of discounters faces a price level in China that is already very low, limiting one of the discounter’s major competitive advantages. Thirdly, the discount format is facing a lack of consumer acceptance, toughening the establishment of private brands, which represents one of the major characteristics of the discount format.

scholarly journals The Process of Retail Internationalization in the Chinese Market: A Case of Japanese Fashion Company

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miao Miao
Keyword(s):  
Customer Relationship Management ◽  
Dynamic Capabilities ◽  
Customer Relationship ◽  
International Expansion ◽  
Chinese Market ◽  
Second Stage ◽  
Third Stage ◽  
Japanese Companies ◽  
Retail Format

Since China’s ingress into the World Trade Organization (WTO), to a greater extent, multinational business enterprises have entered the market. Fashion industries, for instance, led by European and American apparel retailers, including many Japanese companies, have begun to pay attention to the Chinese market. This is embodied in diverse formats of retailing outlets with international expansions. The intent of this paper is to present an empirical study for improving the framework of retail internationalization processes in the Chinese market, and to provide a perception of the interface between retailing and building customer relationship. Case studies approach is employed in this study to build theories. The objectives of this research are (1) to investigate the processes and barriers of entering the Chinese market by looking at a case study of a Japanese fashion retailer; (2) to clarify the characteristics of each stage of international expansion by applying dynamic capabilities based on a framework that makes a distinction between a firm’s first stage, second stage and third stage; and (3) to indicate the emergence of a new retail format, called a “house brand store,” and its important role in retail internationalization and customer relationship management.

scholarly journals The Death of May’s Law: Intra- and Inter-Party Value Differences in Britain’s Labour and Conservative Parties

2021 ◽  
pp. 003232172199563
Author(s):  
Alan Wager ◽  
Tim Bale ◽  
Philip Cowley ◽  
Anand Menon
Keyword(s):  
Great Britain ◽  
Party Competition ◽  
Cultural Issues ◽  
Value Differences ◽  
Economic Issues ◽  
Members Of Parliament ◽  
Significant Disagreement ◽  
Party Members ◽  
First Time

Party competition in Great Britain increasingly revolves around social or ‘cultural’ issues as much as it does around the economic issues that took centre stage when class was assumed to be dominant. We use data from surveys of members of parliament, party members and voters to explore how this shift has affected the internal coalitions of the Labour and Conservative Parties – and to provide a fresh test of ‘May’s Law’. We find a considerable disconnect between ‘neoliberal’ Conservative members of parliament and their more centrist voters on economic issues and similarly significant disagreement on cultural issues between socially liberal Labour members of parliament and their more authoritarian voters. We also find differences in both parties between parliamentarians and their grassroots members, albeit that these are much less pronounced. May’s Law, not for the first time, appears not to be borne out in reality.

scholarly journals Sustainability, Store Equity, and Satisfaction: The Moderating Effect of Gender in Retailing

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 1010
Author(s):  
Antonio Marín-García ◽  
Irene Gil-Saura ◽  
María Eugenia Ruiz-Molina ◽  
Gloria Berenguer-Contrí
Keyword(s):  
Brand Equity ◽  
Consumer Satisfaction ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Retail Sector ◽  
Competitive Advantages ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Sustainable Business Models ◽  
Discount Stores

Currently, sustainability emerges as a key element on which the development of competitive advantages for businesses is based. In the dynamic and turbulent environment in which retail companies operate, sustainable practices are posited as an opportunity for their progress and survival. Through this article, it is intended to advance the nature and dimensions of this construct and examine its influence on store equity and consumer satisfaction. Furthermore, this work analyses the moderating effect of gender on these variables and the mediating nature of brand equity in the development of consumer satisfaction. All this is developed through a quantitative study carried out on a sample of 510 consumers of different food retail commercial formats (hypermarkets, supermarkets, and discount stores) in Spain. The technique used for data analysis is partial least squares (PLS) regression. The results show the importance of sustainability and brand equity in the development of consumer satisfaction in the retail sector, with the intensity of its effects being a gender issue. On the other hand, brand equity is positioned as a key element thanks to its mediating effect between sustainability and satisfaction. All of this points to the need to move towards more sustainable business models.

scholarly journals Institutional thoughtlessness and the needs of older probation clients

2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-136
Author(s):  
Nichola Cadet
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Freedom Of Information ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Daily Experiences ◽  
Information Request ◽  
Older Prisoners ◽  
Probation Service ◽  
First Time

This article explores the increase in the number of older people on probation caseloads. ‘Older’ clients are defined as those aged 50 and over, in line with the use of this definition by Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service. Drawing upon a Freedom of Information request submitted to the Ministry of Justice, the data show increases in the age of probation clients across community orders, suspended sentences, and supervision on licence. One in five residents in Approved Premises are over 50. Despite the increase, there is a dearth of research relating to the needs of older people on probation and how well probation services and staff are equipped to meet their needs. Consequently, this article utilises research relating to older prisoners, drawing inferences to probation experiences. This prompts the question of whether probation is ‘institutionally thoughtless’, a term coined relating to the daily experiences of older prisoners. This article depicts findings from qualitative interviews with older prisoners in prison for the first time. The findings highlight ambivalence towards completing accredited programmes, which may be applicable to probation settings. This article concludes that action to tackle discrimination requires a commitment to justice, self-awareness, and knowledge via policy and practice.

scholarly journals Strategic Responses to New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement: A Case Study of New Zealand Natural Health Products Industry

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Jiang Chang
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Free Trade Agreement ◽  
Trade Agreement ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Natural Health Products ◽  
Competitive Advantages ◽  
Chinese Market ◽  
Natural Health ◽  
Health Products ◽  
Resources And Capabilities

<p>The rise of global consumption, as well as technological innovation in transportation and telecommunications, have increased international exchange of goods, services and factors of production. Economic globalization in terms of production and markets has been accompanied by an unprecedented intensification of economic and financial linkages within geographic regions. The world economy is shifting towards greater regional economic integration. As open and dynamic economies, New Zealand and China heavily rely on international trade and investment to stimulate economic growth. Strengthened international linkages and improved access to markets are major economic strategies for both countries. As they have been committed to building up longstanding and healthy bilateral trade and economic partnerships, these two countries signed a free trade agreement (FTA) that aims to liberalize and facilitate trade in goods, services and investment, and improve the business environment and strengthen cooperation in a wide range of economic areas. From the perspective of New Zealand's businesses, the FTA will not only improve the business environment, and open up market access opportunities, but it will also pose threats. To take advantage of these opportunities, neutralize threats, and consequently achieve a stronger market position in the Chinese marketplace, New Zealand's businesses must strategically respond to the fast-changing environment arising from the FTA. Due to the special meaning of the FTA to New Zealand's economic growth and the significance of the Chinese market to New Zealand's businesses operating in China, it is important to explore how New Zealand's firms perceive the New Zealand-China FTA; and what strategic decisions and adjustments they have made or they are going to make in response to shifts in the business environment arising from the FTA. Besides several studies with limited empirical evidence were conducted at the macro-economic level by some of interested groups such as New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade during the FTA negotiations, little research has been conducted to examine the impact of the New Zealand-China FTA on New Zealand individual companies' business strategic performance. Building on case studies of two representative companies in the New Zealand natural health products industry, this study aims to discover the nature of salient companies under the New Zealand-China FTA and to ascertain what particular patterns of strategy and performance these companies will adopt in response to trade liberalization. The findings of this study suggest that: 1) With the New Zealand-China FTA, the Chinese fast-growing market is typical of the mix of the opportunities and challenges facing New Zealand's businesses. The FTA provides them with a strong incentive to undertake strategic adjustments for further development in the Chinese market. 2) Strategic adjustments made by a firm depend upon the nature of its firm-specific advantages and country-specific advantages, as well as its existing competitive advantages. Firms that are able to secure their resources and capabilities necessary to exploit opportunities and counter threats are more likely to gain international competitive advantages; 3) Small firms with limited resources and capabilities are more likely to engage in the formation of strategic alliances in order to strengthen their competitive positions both domestically and internationally.</p>

scholarly journals M38. PATIENT-PERSPECTIVE: NEED FOR CARE AFTER A FIRST PSYCHOSIS

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S148-S149
Author(s):  
Inge Heijden-Hobus ◽  
Inge van der Heijden-Hobus ◽  
Bram-Sieben Rosema ◽  
Jacob Vorstman ◽  
Martien Kas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Family Support ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Psychotic Episode ◽  
Need For Care ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
First Psychotic Episode ◽  
Basic Set ◽  
Near Future ◽  
First Time ◽  
Clear Information

Abstract Background Only little is information is available about the needs and preferences regarding care and treatment of people who are going through a psychosis for the first time. A first psychotic episode is often an intense experience, which may not directly be recognized as a mental health problem. Given the unfamiliarity with the available options of care, it probably differs from subsequent psychoses. In order to design first psychosis programs to optimally meet patients preferences, we need to learn the care needs of these usually young people. Furthermore, peoples’ needs during the first psychosis, and the need for care after a psychotic episode have to be explored, in order to be able picking up life again after complete or incomplete remission. Methods Qualitative interviews were conducted with people (n = 20) who are in complete or partial remission after their first psychosis about their personal care needs. Interviews were conducted by an experience expert and a researcher together and lasted between 1 and 3 hours. Interviews were non-structured, but a basic set of 5 topics was used. Results Preliminary results of the interviews conducted so far (n = 14) show that people with a first psychosis have a great need for information about the symptoms they are suffering from. In addition, they believe that medication is an important ‘cornerstone’ to get rid of their symptoms. Furthermore, nearly all participants hope to be able to stop medication in the near future. Admission to a ward is in most cases experienced as frightening. One person indicated that the tranquility during admission was very welcome. At this stage, experience experts are not being reached out to yet, nor is there a clear need for social work in this stage of the disease. During and shortly after their first psychosis, the interviewees especially appreciate the support of family and close friends. Discussion Clear information about a first psychosis was mentioned as the first need. Family and close friends are most appreciated as “auxiliary troops”. Family support is therefore an important contributor in care for patients suffering from psychosis. Medication was appreciated as an important cornerstone, but only to induce remission, not as a mean for maintenance treatment. Admission was by most patients experienced as stressful. Additional research is recommended to further map what information this should be exactly, and how to bring it to the patient and his relatives.

M-Tour: A new socio-technological design application for destination competitiveness in Egypt

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseck Nyaboro ◽  
Kwangsoo Park ◽  
Jaehyun Park
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Competitive Advantages ◽  
Tourism Destination ◽  
Technical Design ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Destination Competitiveness ◽  
Flow Of Information ◽  
Smart Tourism

PurposeThe study explores how the comparative tourism destination could incorporate the merits of the competitive tourism destination by implementing a socio-technical design application for smart tourism.Design/methodology/approachTo address this issue researchers have conducted a case study in Egypt, because Egypt is one of the most popular tourism comparative destination. It includes two field studies and qualitative interviews conducted in Cairo and Alexandria in Egypt.FindingsEgypt has diverse comparative advantages in terms of touristic features; however, the dysfunctional flow of information among the stakeholders was a hindrance to be a competitive destination. Based on this problem statement, the researchers synthesized “M-Tour” as a new socio-technical design application, moving toward the competitive destination from the comparative ones.Originality/valueThe present study makes two contributions. First, it theoretically conceptualizes an integrated model of how a tourism comparative destination can incorporate the competitive advantages by a socio-technical design application called M-Tour. Second, it empirically explores the tourists' latent requirements in Egypt by two field studies in order to develop a smart tourism design application as a new socio-technology.

scholarly journals Accessing vaping products when underage: A qualitative study of young adults in Southern California

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara J Schiff ◽  
Afton Kechter ◽  
Kelsey A Simpson ◽  
Rachel C Ceasar ◽  
Jessica L Braymiller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Los Angeles ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
School Setting ◽  
Multiple Strategies ◽  
Online Retailers ◽  
Youth And Young Adults ◽  
Continued Use ◽  
Age Verification ◽  
First Time

Abstract Introduction California implemented multiple strategies, such as a Tobacco 21 law and compliance checks, to reduce high rates of youth e-cigarette use. However, the prevalence of use among underage youth and young adults continues rising. Little is known about how underage individuals obtain e-cigarettes. Methods We conducted structured qualitative interviews with 61 young adult (18-25 years old) vapers in the Los Angeles, CA area between June 2018 and June 2019. Interviews were comprehensive and designed to elicit information on participants’ thoughts, feelings, and experiences related to vaping. We queried participants on where and how they obtained vaping products, and participants discussed their experiences accessing products while under the legal age for sale. Directed content analysis was used to analyze interviews. Results Four concepts emerged: (1) Early experimentation of e-cigarettes with peers often occurred in a school setting, (2) Continued use of e-cigarettes commonly obtained through peer sales, (3) Inconsistent implementation of age restrictions at in-person retailers and (4) at online retailers. Participants had peers purchase products on their behalf and frequented in-person and online retailers with few to no age verification processes. Few participants faced challenges when purchasing products from retailers. Conclusions The current study’s findings offer insight into where and how underage individuals obtain vaping products despite restrictions to prevent them from doing so. Participant accounts of mixed ease of underage purchasing in person and online suggest retailer education is needed, along with additional research to inform more effective policies to reduce underage access to vaping products. Implications Despite legal age restrictions, e-cigarettes remain accessible to underage individuals, but specific strategies that underage youth utilize to evade legal age restrictions are largely unknown. We found that participants often accessed vaping products for the first time at school. Sales between peers were common, and participants also reported frequenting in-person retailers that inconsistently enforced age restrictions. Many participants reported little to no age verification online, though some believed online age verification measures were increasingly difficult to surpass. Knowledge of strategies underage youth utilize to access e-cigarettes can inform enforcement efforts.

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