Editorial

Citation

Fernie, J. (2008), "Editorial", International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, Vol. 36 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijrdm.2008.08936eaa.001

Editorial

Article Type: Editorial From: International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, Volume 36, Issue 5.

Our first paper in this issue is by Marguerite Moore and Jason Carpenter who explore the use of price cues in a discount-retailing environment. They undertook a survey of discount shoppers who predominantly shop at Wal-Mart and Target to identify four segments which indicate that consumers seek more than low prices in such discount environments.

The next paper is from Qin Su and colleagues from Jiaotong University in China. They explore the concept of customer perceived quality in online shopping. Using the methodology of concept mapping, the authors were able to generate quality statements from two sets of focus groups. The data were then analysed using MDS and found that online consumers attribute more importance to quality and service than web transactions.

We “switch” back to Scotland with a paper from Anne Findlay and Leigh Sparks on store-switching behaviours in the wake of Morrisons' takeover of Safeway in 2004. The researchers carried out a two-phase random sample household survey on main food shopping behaviour in late 2004 (pre-changeover to the Morrisons brand) and late 2005 once the re-branding was well established. The data allowed matching of two sets of subjects who remained at the same postal address (348 or 48 per cent of the sample) during the survey period. The level of switching was much higher (27 per cent) than previous research and can be attributed to a change in patronage of professional occupational groups who have switched loyalty with the demise of the Safeway brand.

The penultimate paper by Chee Yew Wong and John Johansen discusses a framework to develop theoretical development in inter-organisational relations. Using a case study approach of one toy manufacturer and three different European retailers, they show how greater efficiency could be achieved in co-ordinating the supply chain. Much focus was on the lack of accurate information and the desire by retailers to be risk averse and push costs back to the supplier.

In our final paper, the theme of supply chain relations is also discussed by S. Umit Kucuk as he asks if distribution can explain double jeopardy (DJ) patterns. DJ in this case is the notion that strong brands are stocked by retailers so shelf space prominence ensures that loyalty by consumers is maintained to the detriment of weaker brands. Kucuk used a practical simulation to test these hypotheses and concluded that distribution might explain the DJ phenomenon.

John Fernie