scholarly journals Feasibility of using mobile point-of-sale technology in Baltimore City corner stores tracking sales: A brief report

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma C. Lewis ◽  
Kaitlyn M. Harper ◽  
Lisa K. Poirier ◽  
Joel Gittelsohn
Keyword(s):  
Ethnically Diverse ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Electronic Records ◽  
Baltimore City ◽  
Language Differences ◽  
Point Of Sale ◽  
Program Impact ◽  
Corner Store ◽  
Corner Stores ◽  
Willingness To Use

Small food retail stores in many underserved urban settings keep no electronic records, making documentation of program impact on sales difficult to obtain. We examined the feasibility of introducing a point-of-sale tablet (POST) application to track sales of foods and beverages in Baltimore City corner stores. A sample of four geographically and ethnically diverse corner store owners were trained to use POST to track sales of 14 items for eleven days. Feasibility was documented via a structured survey and open-ended interviews. POST had high economic and cultural acceptability, operability, and perceived sustainability, regardless of language differences or familiarity with mobile technology. All store owners reported willingness to use POST again. It is feasible to train corner store owners to use a point-of-sale application for sales monitoring. An upcoming trial will help to ensure that POST provides sufficient value added for corner store owners.

scholarly journals Feasibility of Introducing Mobile Point-of-Sale Technology into Urban Corner Stores for Evaluation of Sales

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 716-716
Author(s):  
Emma Lewis ◽  
Kaitlyn Harper ◽  
Joel Gittelsohn
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mobile Application ◽  
Electronic Record ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Public Health Interventions ◽  
Baltimore City ◽  
Point Of Sale ◽  
Record Keeping ◽  
Corner Store ◽  
Corner Stores

Abstract Objectives Small urban corner stores are a common venue for public health interventions, but evaluation of these initiatives is hampered by lack of formal electronic record-keeping. Previous research in Baltimore City, Maryland found that corner store owners would be interested in having access to a mobile application which offers point-of-sale features. The objective of this study was to examine the feasibility of using a simple mobile point-of-sale tablet (POST) application to track sales of healthy foods and beverages in Baltimore City corner stores. Methods POST is an interactive Android tablet mobile application developed for use by small corner store owners to track unit sales of 14 foods and beverages. Selected items were chosen to represent a balance of healthy and unhealthy options. POST is designed to be intuitive and can be adapted for use in multiple languages. A sample of four geographically and ethnically diverse corner store owners located in Baltimore City were trained to use POST during transactions in which they sold any of the selected items over an 11-day period. The research team elicited user feedback on acceptability, operability, and perceived sustainability. Results Training on the use of POST took five minutes, on average, regardless of store owners’ language differences or familiarity with mobile technology. POST was found to have moderate acceptability, high operability, and moderately high perceived sustainability by corner store owners. All store owners that completed the study reported that POST was easy to use and that they would use it again. Conclusions It is feasible to train corner store owners in low-income areas to use a simplified point-of-sale mobile application for sales monitoring. Future research should explore the value added of POST for public health interventions which rely on formal electronic record-keeping. Funding Sources No funding was received for this research.

scholarly journals Access to food source and food source use are associated with healthy and unhealthy food-purchasing behaviours among low-income African-American adults in Baltimore City

2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 1632-1639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather D'Angelo ◽  
Sonali Suratkar ◽  
Hee-Jung Song ◽  
Elizabeth Stauffer ◽  
Joel Gittelsohn
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Food Source ◽  
Healthy Food ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Baltimore City ◽  
Food Purchasing ◽  
Corner Store ◽  
Corner Stores ◽  
Source Use ◽  
Purchasing Patterns

AbstractObjectiveAlthough previous research has shown limited availability of healthy food in low-income urban neighbourhoods, the association between food source use and food-purchasing patterns has not yet been examined. We explored food-purchasing patterns in the context of food source use and food source access factors in low-income areas of Baltimore City.DesignCross-sectional survey.SettingPredominantly low-income neighbourhoods in East and West Baltimore City.SubjectsA total of 175 low-income African-American adult residents.ResultsSupermarkets and corner stores were the most frequently used food sources. Walking was the main form of transportation used by 57 % of all respondents, 97 % of corner-store shoppers and 49 % of supermarket shoppers. Multiple linear regression models adjusting for demographic factors, type of food source used and transportation type found that corner-store use was associated with obtaining more unhealthy food (P = 0·005), whereas driving to the food source was associated with obtaining more healthy food (P = 0·012).ConclusionsThe large number of corner stores compared with supermarkets in low-income neighbourhoods makes them an easily accessible and frequently used food source for many people. Interventions to increase the availability and promotion of healthy food in highly accessed corner stores in low-income neighbourhoods are needed. Increased access to transportation may also lead to the use of food sources beyond the corner store, and to increased healthy food purchasing.

scholarly journals A corner store intervention in a low-income urban community is associated with increased availability and sales of some healthy foods

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 2060-2067 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hee-Jung Song ◽  
Joel Gittelsohn ◽  
Miyong Kim ◽  
Sonali Suratkar ◽  
Sangita Sharma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Urban Community ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Healthy Foods ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Baltimore City ◽  
Corner Store ◽  
Corner Stores ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Potential Strategy

AbstractObjectiveWhile corner store-based nutrition interventions have emerged as a potential strategy to increase healthy food availability in low-income communities, few evaluation studies exist. We present the results of a trial in Baltimore City to increase the availability and sales of healthier food options in local stores.DesignQuasi-experimental study.SettingCorner stores owned by Korean-Americans and supermarkets located in East and West Baltimore.SubjectsSeven corner stores and two supermarkets in East Baltimore received a 10-month intervention and six corner stores and two supermarkets in West Baltimore served as comparison.ResultsDuring and post-intervention, stocking of healthy foods and weekly reported sales of some promoted foods increased significantly in intervention stores compared with comparison stores. Also, intervention storeowners showed significantly higher self-efficacy for stocking some healthy foods in comparison to West Baltimore storeowners.ConclusionsFindings of the study demonstrated that increases in the stocking and promotion of healthy foods can result in increased sales. Working in small corner stores may be a feasible means of improving the availability of healthy foods and their sales in a low-income urban community.

Around the Corner to Better Health: A Milwaukee Corner Store Initiative

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1353-1356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Staci Young ◽  
Melissa DeNomie ◽  
JoAnne Sabir ◽  
Eric Gass ◽  
Jessie Tobin
Keyword(s):  
Fresh Produce ◽  
Evaluation Research ◽  
Community Outreach ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Food Justice ◽  
Food Storage ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Corner Store ◽  
Corner Stores

Purpose: To discuss successes and challenges of a collaborative pilot project to increase healthy food availability in corner stores in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Lindsay Heights Healthy Corner Store Initiative aimed to help corner stores sell high-quality produce by increasing supply of healthy foods and funding minor store upgrades to facilitate change. Design: Evaluation research. Setting: Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Participants: Corner stores; youth and adult community members. Intervention: (1) Supporting businesses in purchasing equipment to stock fresh produce, (2) connecting stores with produce sources, and (3) community outreach and marketing. Measures: Partnership capacity, youth engagement in food justice, and community members’ usage of corner stores. Analysis: Qualitative analysis; descriptive statistics. Results: Storeowners reported more sold produce items per week and increased noticeable fresh produce upon entrance into the store. There was increased or improved store redesign, fresh produce signage, in-store cooking demonstrations, and small business development resources. Conclusion: Youth learned about new vegetables, increased kitchen skills and proper food storage, and the effects of obesity on overall health. Similar interventions must address infrastructure costs, cooperation with property owners, and local policies and regulations affecting business practices.

scholarly journals Process Evaluation of Baltimore Healthy Stores: A Pilot Health Intervention Program With Supermarkets and Corner Stores in Baltimore City

2009 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 723-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel Gittelsohn ◽  
Sonali Suratkar ◽  
Hee-Jung Song ◽  
Suzanne Sacher ◽  
Radha Rajan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Process Evaluation ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Health Intervention ◽  
Baltimore City ◽  
Corner Stores

A Method for Estimating Treatment Effects When Individuals are Growing

1980 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony S. Bryk ◽  
Judith F. Strenio ◽  
Herbert I. Weisberg
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Present Article ◽  
Growth Process ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Estimation Procedure ◽  
Educational Programs ◽  
Natural Growth ◽  
Analytic Model ◽  
Growth Processes ◽  
Program Impact

In an earlier paper (Bryk & Weisberg, 1976) , we introduced the value-added analysis. This approach built on the notion that many educational programs are dynamic interventions in natural growth processes. In particular, by modeling the natural growth process, we developed an analytic model and estimation procedure for assessing program impact on these growth processes. The present article extends the theory and applications of value-added analysis in several important directions. We present here for practitioners and researchers a coherent overview of the method that emphasizes intuitive rationale and simple data analysis procedures.

scholarly journals Local Farmer Perspectives on Improving Produce Distribution Networks in Low-Income Urban Settings

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 149-149
Author(s):  
Kelley Koeppen ◽  
Dahiany Zayas-Toro ◽  
Nina Martin ◽  
Lisa Poirier ◽  
Emma Lewis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Fresh Produce ◽  
Distribution Networks ◽  
Food Distribution ◽  
Urban Settings ◽  
Market Expansion ◽  
Corner Store ◽  
Corner Stores ◽  
The City ◽  
Local Farmers

Abstract Objectives The Baltimore food system includes small hyper-local urban farms within city limits, larger local farms surrounding the city, and ubiquitous corner stores particularly in low-income neighborhoods of the city. In this system, farmers mainly reach consumers through farmer's markets that are only open for a limited number of hours per week, seasonally, and may not be adequate for meeting the needs of low-income households with low access to fresh produce. To address this gap, our team is working to develop a mobile application (app), called the Baltimore Urban food Distribution (BUD) app, that will provide a platform for farmers to sell their produce directly to corner stores for resale. Our present aims were to: (1) understand farmer's current interactions with corner stores; (2) explore perceived challenges that the BUD app may pose to farmers; and (3) pinpoint how the BUD app can sustainably expand farmers’ market base to include corner stores. Methods After designing a BUD app prototype based on formative research, 1-hour in-depth interviews were conducted with hyper-local and local farmers. Farmers were asked about their current distribution practices within Baltimore and perceived challenges in adopting the app. Farmers were then shown the prototype and asked to provide input on user-friendliness, and interest level in future use of the app. Results Local farmers currently have little to no interaction with corner stores. Interviews revealed that local farmers did not want the responsibility of delivering produce to corner stores due to long travel times. Choosing a central location for pickup by corner store owners, such as a farmer's market, could address this. Farmers liked app features such as product info pages and alerts for deals to support market expansion to corner stores. Social networking opportunities within the app can help foster sustainable relationships among local farmers and corner store owners. Conclusions A stronger distribution network is needed to facilitate increased access to fresh produce in low-income urban settings and strengthen connections between local farmers, corner stores, and consumers. Mobile technology offers a promising approach to improve food distribution between local farmers and corner stores and should be further explored. Funding Sources NHLBI, NIH, award number R34HL145368.

scholarly journals Public Ethnocentrism. An Obstacle of Worldwide Economic Development: Concept and a Preliminary Research

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-147
Author(s):  
Zbysław Dobrowolski ◽  
Tomasz Szejner
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Preliminary Test ◽  
The Public ◽  
Contextual Understanding ◽  
Formal And Informal Institutions ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Research Gap ◽  
New Research ◽  
Willingness To Use

Abstract Objective: The phenomenon of ethnocentrism in the public sector has not been well recognized. The study was aimed at initiating an effort to fill the research gap by introducing the concept of “public ethnocentrism” and presenting empirical evidence from a preliminary test of the concept. Methodology: while analysing and seeking full contextual understanding of the public ethnocentrism the ethnographic public representative’s observation and open-ended interviews have been chosen. Study of public ethnocentrism in Poland have been supplemented by interviews with 11 representatives of public sector from the USA, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Indonesia, Malaysia, Tanzania, Namibia and Mexico. Findings: Studies have shown a scale of willingness to use an ethnocentric attitude when making decisions in a public organization. It was found that public ethnocentrism restricts innovation by disrupting public choice. Value Added: Two new research questions are identified. Recommendations: There is a need to create an Ethnocentrism Perception Index (EPI). The tendency for ethnocentric behaviour should be taken into accounts when determining whether formal and informal institutions are conducive to running a business in a given country.

scholarly journals Influence of marketing communication tools on customer’s purchase processes of erotic products in the Czech Republic

2021 ◽  
Vol 129 ◽  
pp. 02012
Author(s):  
František Milichovský ◽  
Pavel Mráček ◽  
Lucie Prokopová
Keyword(s):  
Value Added ◽  
Customer Behavior ◽  
Purchase Behavior ◽  
Marketing Communication ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Point Of Sale ◽  
Qualitative Survey ◽  
Questionnaire Form ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Potential Customers

Research background: Even today, part of society considers shops with erotic goods as something completely controversial, which should not be talked about, or used in any case. Erotic tools have been used by people for thousands of years (30,000 years ago, people in caves painted the first erotic aids). In the case of material finds, various tools from the period of 2,500 BC were discovered. Due to the understanding of erotic tools and the presentation of conservative to negative opinions of people, it is important to create effective communication and effectively influence the information of potential customers. Purpose of the article: The main goal of the work is a description of customer behavior, analysis of the point of sale, and marketing communication in the market of erotic tools. The primary research was realized in questionnaire form in focus on the definition of a typical customer and his characteristics within their purchase habits with the support of interviews. Methods: The description of customer behavior is based on the analysis of their behavior based on a quantitative questionnaire survey. We asked 870 people and received 463 fulfilled sheets. The results of the questionnaires will be extended by a qualitative survey in the form of personal interviews with 10 respondents. Findings & Value added: We find out four different customer types which have different purchase behavior, and on which is necessary to use a different type of communication. According to our types, sellers of erotic tools could improve their communication channels to become more effective.

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