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This paper aims to discuss the effect of Canada’s regulatory framework on the strategies of entrepreneurial businesses during the first phase of legalization of the recreational cannabis industry. Decriminalization of cannabis required a host of regulatory changes at the federal, provincial and municipal levels. Each province developed legal markets independently, differentially impacting entrepreneurial strategies. This paper describes the value chain that emerged in the first phase of the nascent industry, focusing on the actions of the businesses.

The authors develop a qualitative narrative analysis using government publications, press articles (especially from the business press) and personal communications of industry insiders speaking in public settings. The paper includes four short case studies to illustrate the emerging value chain of the nascent industry.

The study’s findings highlight the effect of regulatory frameworks on entrepreneurial strategies. We find that public policies had a significant impact on entrepreneurs and startup strategies. Inter-jurisdictional differences limited expansion into different provinces, with implications for regional economic development. Achieving public policy goals was delayed as a result of regulatory challenges that impacted industry development.

The authors’ findings show enterprises may develop growth strategies that comply with regulations when participating in nascent industries, but they must cope with extra risks, capital costs and uncertainty. The analysis also illustrates the value of engaging in government-industry collaboration to improve emerging regulatory frameworks.

The originality of this research consists of the detailed description of the first phase of Canada’s legalized recreational cannabis industry and the insight gained into the dynamics of nascent industries.

This paper investigates the dual interactive effects of manufacturer encroachment on the supply chain and retailer provision of retail services.

Consider a supply chain dominated by manufacturers, retailers, and e-commerce platforms, with the manufacturers selling the same product online and offline. Utilizing Stackelberg’s game theory, examples of wholesale and retail prices and profits of participants in the supply chain under different channels are analyzed. An effective encroachment strategy for manufacturers facing different retail service investment strategies of traditional retailers is given.

When traditional retailers do not invest in retail services, they will lose more profit due to competition with the manufacturer. At this time, the retailer does not want the manufacturer to encroach. The traditional retailer’s investment in retail services will enhance its and the manufacturer’s profits, incentivizing the manufacturer to pursue an aggressive expansion strategy.

(1) Considers a situation where the selling efficiency of the manufacturer is lower than that of the traditional retailer. (2) The interaction between traditional retailers’ retail service investment strategies and manufacturers’ encroachment strategies is investigated where the manufacturer is the dominant player. The three modes of online direct sales, resale, and third-party platform agency are compared to provide a basis for decision-making on different types of manufacturers’ encroachment. (3) Offline retail services not only directly increase sales in the offline market but also indirectly have a negative effect on the online market.

The case is written based on publicly available data from primary sources like the company’s annual reports and presentations and from secondary sources, as indicated in the references.

Barnes & Noble Inc. (B&N), one of the oldest and largest American retail booksellers founded in 1917, was facing a grim business situation underpinned by a fall in demand, a change in consumer preference and stiff competition. After almost a century of being in the business, B&N was experiencing a fall in market share and weak stock market performance. In 2019, the company was sold to Elliot Advisors – a hedge fund – for US$638m. With the appointment of new chief executive officer (CEO) James Daunt in August 2019, a man known for the turnaround of similar businesses, B&N expected its business’s revival and reorganization strategy to turn profitable. Its long-term strategy of beating competitors with its offerings’ sheer volume and low prices was no longer viable. The turmoil was compounded by top management crises with the repeated changes and ousting of several CEOs in a short span, alongside the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. Daunt was considering how to overcome the crisis and act fast to reposition the company and regain the loyalty of its customers. Was there more that the company could do to improve the company’s position and restore profitability?

The case can be used in strategic management and entrepreneurship classes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The case can be used in an investment analysis and management course to teach students the industry analysis technique using Porter’s five forces model.

This study aims to explore the impact of augmented reality (AR) technologies on consumer information processing and value perceptions in physical stores. Specifically, it investigates how the vividness, novelty and interactivity of AR shape utilitarian and hedonic value perceptions, and influence consumer purchase and continuance behaviour.

The study used the store intercept survey method at 15 retail outlets across four metro cities in India, representing nine prominent retail brands deploying AR technologies. The data collected (n = 650) were subjected to exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis.

Major findings confirm a significant effect of vividness, novelty and interactivity on utilitarian and hedonic value perceptions of in-store AR experiences of customers in physical stores. Hedonic value was found to affect continuance intention but not purchase intention, while utilitarian value was found to affect purchase intention but not continuance.

This study extends the stimulus–organism–response model’s application to AR in physical stores by integrating the impact of vividness, novelty and interaction on both utilitarian and hedonic values and revealing their significance in influencing purchase intentions and continuance.

Major findings advise retailers to increase AR experience adoption in stores and illustrate the process through which purchase and continuance intentions may be influenced.

This is one of the few studies that explore the impact of AR on consumer attitudes and intentions in physical stores. In addition, the study explores the effect of AR tools as a process that passes through value perceptions and then affects the consumer.

Building on technology acceptance and learning transfer theories, this study aims to evaluate the integration of mobile augmented reality (MAR) in omnichannel retailing touchpoints for Generation Z (or Gen Z)'s apparel shopping, assessing how habitual augmented reality (AR) use in nonretailing contexts impacts Gen Z's motivations, acceptance and use of MAR shopping apps.

A total of 562 participants downloaded a footwear MAR app and completed a survey. Data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and multivariate regression to explore moderated mediation effects.

The study reveals a paradigm shift: Gen Z's habitual use of AR in social media (e.g. Snapchat and TikTok face filters) significantly influences their intent to use MAR in shopping, overshadowing hedonic motivations. This marks a transition from AR as a gimmick to a practical utility in omnichannel touchpoints, with performance expectancy emerging as a critical mediator in adopting MAR for utilitarian purposes.

This study highlights how Gen Z consumers’ tech habits influence their pragmatic view of MAR, urging re-exploration of the main constructs of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) model.

Findings suggest Gen Z values practicality over fun in MAR shopping apps, guiding marketers to emphasize tangible benefits for this demographic.

This research underscores the evolving perception of AR in retail among mobile natives, highlighting the shift from novelty to habitual utility. It offers strategic insights for integrating AR into omnichannel strategies, catering to the utilitarian expectations of Gen Z in the digital retail landscape.

This paper aims to explore consumers’ post-pandemic (COVID-19) motivations for an e-retailer preference in an emerging market like India.

This study applied qualitative methodology to explore the research question, and 44 in-depth interviews were conducted with online consumers. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using open, axial and selective coding strategies.

This study identified seven post-pandemic motivations for consumers’ e-retailer preference, and the motivations were classified into: utilitarian (remote location and fast delivery, product choice and availability, comparative price and discounts and customer service), hedonic (aesthetics of the e-retailer store) and both utilitarian and hedonic (mobile-friendliness and user interface and interactivity).

Creating knowledge post-pandemic period is essential. This study communicates empirical evidence to suggest consumers are motivated through both utilitarian and hedonic motivation for an e-retailer preference in an emerging market. Furthermore, the researchers are encouraged to collect data from more developing countries and test the proposed e-retailer preference factors.

The study offers new knowledge to online retail managers to understand how emerging market consumers prefer an e-retailer and strive to attract and retain customers in the market.

Past studies have highlighted the importance of consumer online shopping motivations and channel preferences. However, there is limited literature investigating how consumers prefer an e-retailer over other e-retailers for online shopping. This study addresses the gap in the existing retailing literature and offers fresh insights into how consumers prefer an e-retailer post-pandemic from an emerging market context.

The purpose of this study is to systematically review available state-of-the-art literature on comparative studies on Quick Commerce (Q-commerce) and E-commerce and their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The literature survey methodology is based on the funneling approach of Kitchenham (2004), where results are obtained according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The literature review methodology used for this study covers the period from 2016 to 2022. The areas considered for the survey are operations, logistics and supply chain network design for the distribution of goods in e-business. After deciding on the criteria, a total of 140 articles were extracted from 9 journal articles that study e-commerce and environmental emissions.

The result of this study reveals that GHG emissions from both modes of shopping depend on various parameters such as speed of delivery, last-mile depot locations, logistics and vehicle efficiency, customers’ order patterns and average basket size. Furthermore, the findings also highlight the difference between Q-commerce and E-commerce supply chain networks.

This study only accounts for GHG emissions from logistics activities, but there are other sources of GHG emissions in the overall supply chain that are not taken into consideration. Supply chain/business analysts in Q-commerce companies might refer the findings from this study to measure GHG emissions from their operations.

This is the first study in the Q-commerce field that uses a structured approach to find relevant literature from the years 2016 to 2022 and focuses on GHG emission measurement.

This study differentiates pure impulse buying behaviour from suggestive impulse buying behaviour in using mobile shopping applications (apps). This study aims to assess the moderating effects of instant discount and cashback promotional offers along with the mediating effects of impulse buying intention (IBI) and user satisfaction (US), using the app stimuli (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, layout, atmosphere, privacy and security).

The study was done in three stages: analysis of variance, followed by structural equation modelling (SEM) and paired t-tests.

The results showed that instant discounts and cashback offers are different from each other for the mediating variable IBI. The SEM results for pure impulse buying showed that, except for layout, the remaining variables have a positive relationship with IBI. For suggestive impulse buying, effort expectancy and layout were significantly related to both the mediating variables. Finally, pure and suggestive impulse buying behaviour showed significant differences.

Previous studies have looked into impulse buying in its generic sense and not through the “types” of impulse buying they were measuring. As impulse buying behaviour is a predominant theme for discussion today, marketing professionals and researchers must comprehend the impact of app stimuli in the context of select types of impulse buying behaviour.

Technologies are dramatically reshaping various aspects of the store space, modifying design, services and usage. Accordingly, several studies tackled technology impact on each of these aspects, investigating design, service and usage singularly, but lacking a holistic viewpoint. Thus, this paper aims to identify the different dimensions of the store space (levels) and assess the impact of technology introduction on store space dimensions (levels).

The research employs a qualitative approach based on direct observations of apparel brand stores located in London between March and April 2023. Data collection followed a structured observation protocol covering store information, adopted technologies and their effects across various store space levels, i.e. consumption activities, service environment and customer experience.

Results show that the store space can be defined as the sum of different dimensions consisting of consumption activities, service environment and customer experience. Accordingly, technology introduction holistically influences each of the three store space levels as follows: (1) first, technologies redefine how activities are performed or alters the location where certain activities are consumed; (2) within the service environment, technologies replace traditional elements, fill empty spaces and enhance the atmospherics; finally, (3) customer experience is enhanced in hedonic and/or utilitarian terms due to technology adoption.

This paper defines the space as a dynamic entity, providing a deeper understanding of how the store space is produced, from a holistic point of view and the role of retail technology in this process.

Providing positive and memorable shopping experiences has become essential for retailers. As the retail industry strives to create multisensory experiences for consumers, it is equally important to understand the emotions and pleasure such experiences evoke. The current study aims to investigate how multisensory experiences induce hedonic emotions in retail shoppers. It explores the mediating role of hedonic emotions in between multisensory experiences and shopping mall patronage intention.

The study is descriptive; the data was collected using the mall intercept survey method. A total of 380 shoppers participated in and responded to the survey administered at the mall. The collected responses are analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling.

Our findings support the idea that hedonic emotions play a significant role in the retail environment by influencing retail patronage intentions. Also, the multisensory experiences have a positive effect on patronage intention as well as the hedonic emotions of shoppers.

The present study provides theoretical and managerial implications for academicians and retail marketing.

The present research contributes to the existing literature by introducing the concept of multisensory experiences in the retail context and its impact on hedonic emotions and adding to the concept of inference theory.