Electronic retailing: Market dynamics and entrepreneurial opportunities

Abstract

The retailing industry has provided significant entrepreneurial opportunities that are growing even greater with the development of electronic retailing. Sales by electronic retail entrepreneurs have substantial growth potential. However, the growth of electronic retailing depends on whether or not electronic retailers provide superior benefits over existing retail formats. Some critical resources needed to successfully sell merchandise and services electronically are: (1) strong brand name and image, (2) customer information, (3) complementary merchandise and services, (4) unique merchandise, (5) presentation of information on web pages, and (6) distribution system to efficiently ship merchandise to homes and receive return. The long-term prospective for electronic retail entrepreneurs rests on their ability to exploit their advantages in designing web sites and collecting information about their visitors and the degree to which they can develop critical resources in brand name recognition and distribution systems.

Citation

Weitz, B. (2000), "Electronic retailing: Market dynamics and entrepreneurial opportunities", Libecap, G.D. (Ed.) Entrepreneurship and economic growth in the American economy (Advances in the Study of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Economic Growth, Vol. 12), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 209-232. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1048-4736(00)12008-9