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The purpose of this paper is to explore the theoretical mechanisms that underlie the negative effects of low customer density on shoppers' emotions and behavioural responses in retail settings.

This study uses three different qualitative techniques to explore the research question: semi‐structured interviews, shopping with consumers, and focus groups.

Three major issues contribute to unfavorable consumer responses to low customer density levels in retail stores: exposure to undesired social influence from sales personnel; loss of social cues and evaluation criteria; and lack of social stimulation.

The findings of this research assist store managers to resolve the problems associated with low customer density in retail stores. For example, the results suggest that the negative effects of low customer density can be mitigated by providing appropriate training for sales staff as well as by actively communicating the quality, price level, and image of the store.

Empirical evidence shows that the effects of customer density on shopper outcomes follow an inverted U‐shaped trend. Previous research has focused on explaining the negative consequences of high customer density, while the explanatory mechanisms for the negative effects of low customer density remain largely unclear. This research partially fills this gap in the literature by identifying the psychological processes that account for the negative effects of low customer density.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the opportunities, implications, and challenges of reusing big box retail stores for library facilities.

The paper's approach is research using the Wal‐Mart Realty database, NCES data on public libraries, and recent research on suburban design issues, as well as first‐hand accounts of successful conversions of big boxes into library facilities.

The research finds: a parallel between the three key objectives in planning a library facility – location, size, and budget – and the measures used by retailers to determine the presences of a big box retail store in a community; the size of big box retail stores often comparatively relates to the target library size of a community; renovating big boxes is an affordable alternative to building new library facilities; and reuse of big boxes for libraries requires reimagining the structure to convey the identity of the library in the community in order to be truly successful.

There are few existing examples of big box conversions into library facilities.

The results encourage communities to explore the option of converting big box retail stores into libraries.

Consideration of converting big boxes into library facilities enhances recycling and sustainable design awareness and brings focus to the concept of libraries as community centers.

The stock of empty big box buildings is increasing, at just a time when libraries are looking for ways to expand to accommodate new uses, service styles and user expectations. To date, very few of these buildings have been transformed into vibrant library buildings. This article examines the suitability of the big box for use as a library.

The paper considers a stochastic inventory control system consisting of a central store (CS) and several lower stores (LS). The demand at each of the lower stores forms a recurrent stochastic flow. To replenish the stock the LS's file orders of fixed quantity with the CS following a two‐level control policy. In its turn, the CS also orders replenishments, and all the lots are delivered to it with some fixed delay. The orders from an LS to the CS are fulfilled in a delivery time if the lot required is in stock at the CS, otherwise the CS must itself wait for replenishment before sending the lot to the LS. The main result obtained is an approximate formula for the probability of the smooth operation of such a system.

The type of search programme we can use depends on the way in which the information is stored within the computer. There are two principle techniques for arranging the files of information about your documents—the item file, in which the record is the document, its identity, its title, etc., and all its descriptors; and the inverted file, in which the record is the descriptor followed by the identities of all the documents to which it applies. Generally speaking, an item file is usually held serially, most commonly on magnetic tape, whereas an inverted file is usually held in a random access device. The reasons for this will become clear later when we discuss the programs.

IN every sector of endeavour, the professions not excluded, progress has been accompanied by fear that it would be followed by unemployment. To some extent it is true and inevitable, of course. The invention of printing made the work of monks and scribes unnecessary. Then that was followed by metal type, that put the carvers of wood type out of work, followed in turn by Linotype machines making much arduous hand setting and subsequent distributing the separate letters back into their cases less in demand. Copying machines meant a virtual end to the need for tracers. Computers cut the requirements of many offices and robots are taking over in factories the more arduous, heavy or unpleasant tasks hitherto done, however reluctantly, by men.

Fake news on social media about COVID-19 pandemic and its associated issues (e.g. lockdown) caused public panic that lead to supply chain (SC) disruptions, which eventually affect firm performance. The purpose of this study is to understand how social media fake news effects firm performance, and how to mitigate such effects.

Grounded on dynamic capability view (DCV), this study suggests that social media fake news effects firm performance via SC disruption (SCD) and SC resilience (SCR). Moreover, the relation between SCD and SCR is contingent upon SC learning (SCL) – a moderated mediation effect. To validate this complex model, the authors suggest effectiveness of using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Using an online survey, the results support the authors’ hypotheses.

The results suggest that social media fake news does not affect firm performance directly. However, the authors’ serial mediation test confirms that SCD and SCR sequentially mediate the relationship between social media fake news and firm performance. In addition, a moderated serial mediation test confirms that a higher level of SCL strengthens the SCD–SCR relationship.

This work offers a new theoretical and managerial perspective to understand the effect of fake news on firm performance, in the context of crises, e.g. COVID-19. In addition, this study offers the advancement of PLS as more robust for real-world applications and more advantageous when models are complex.

Prior studies in the SC and marketing domain suggest different effects of social media fake news on consumer behavior (e.g. panic buying) and SCD, respectively. This current study is a unique effort that investigates the ultimate effect of fake news on firm performance with complex causal relationships via SCD, SCR and SCL.

This paper aims to present the application of a tailored systematic engineering design procedure to the concept design of a small production plant for compostable packaging made by straw fibres and bioplastic. In particular, the obtained boxes are intended to be used for wine bottles.

A systematic procedure has been adopted, which underpins on a comprehensive analysis of the design requirements and the function modelling of the process. By considering well-known models of the engineering design process, the work focuses on the early design stages that precede the embodiment design of the whole components of the plant.

The followed design approach allowed to preliminarily evaluate different alternatives of the process from a functional point of view, thus allowing to identify the preferred conceptual process solution. Based on the identified functional sequence, a first evaluation of the potential productivity and the required human resources has been performed.

The procedure shown in this work has been applied only for the considered case of compostable packaging, and other applications are needed to optimize it. Nevertheless, the adopted systematic approach can be adapted for any context where it is necessary to conceive a new production plant for artefacts made by innovative materials.

The work presented in this paper represents one of the few practical examples available in the literature where systematic conceptual design procedures are presented. More specifically, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the very first application of systematic design methods to compostable packaging production.

This study aims to describe how the Nishimatsuya Chain Company, Ltd has established an innovative business model.

This study examines Nishimatsuya's business model for its value proposition, business processes, internal and external management resources, and profitability.

Establishing simple, clear customer value creates a unique business model.

This study determined that a business model begins with identifying what customers really want. The value proposition innovates a business model by rethinking business processes, management resources, and profitability.

The Nishimatsuya case study suggests that identifying the value proposition underlies establishing a creative business model.

During COVID-19 pandemic, the use of social media enhances information exchange at a global level; therefore, customers are more aware and make backup plans to take optimal decisions. This study explores the customer psychology of impulse buying during COVID-19 pandemic.

The researcher, being a social constructionist, aims at understanding social patterns in impulsive buying strategies during COVID-19 pandemic. Forty UK consumers were participated using the telephonic interview method with the purpose to maintain social distancing practices.

Results revealed that vulnerable group of people, fear of illness, fear of empty shelves, fear of price increase and social inclination to buy extra for staying at home, increased panic impulsive buying behaviour among customers. Many people socially interpreted the evidence of death rate and empty shelves, which led to more disinformation, rumours and sensationalism, which increased customers' impulsive buying behaviour. Finally, risk of going outside, COVID-19 outbreak among employees of local retail stores, and health professionals' recommendations to stay at home, led to impulsive buying behaviour.

This study has constructed a research framework of customer psychology of impulse buying based on the results of this study and fear and perceived risk theories. The study also explains how the fear of fear, risk perception and conformist tendency enhanced impulsive buying during COVID-19 pandemic. This study has discussed specific implications for retailers.

Empty container repositioning is an important issue in the liner shipping industry. Generally stated, two groups of mathematical models have been proposed to tackle this issue. The first group aims to derive time‐dependent origin‐destination matrices that specify the number of empty containers to be repositioned at a decision epoch; the second group aims to develop effective state‐feedback control policies consisting of dynamic decision‐making rules. There is, however, a lack of research into the comparison of these two groups, especially with regard to realistic cases subject to uncertainties. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate and compare the performances of some typical repositioning policies from these two groups and to shed light on their relative merits and suitability in various realistic scenarios.

Based on a literature review, the paper classifies the current empty container repositioning policies into two categories: origin‐destination (OD) based solutions and state‐based dynamic rules. Typical policies are selected from these two categories and then evaluated using a simulation tool. A range of scenarios are designed based on realistic cases considering the stochastic and dynamic nature of liner services. A comprehensive set of simulation experiments are conducted and analysed; and the relative merits and suitability of the repositioning policies are identified.

Through a carefully designed comparative study, several research findings are obtained with regard to how the performances of different types of empty container repositioning policies are affected by various factors such as structure of service route, uncertainty of daily demands, and parametric optimisation methods.

The study makes a good attempt to analyse the suitability of different empty container repositioning policies in different scenarios. This is an area that has lacked investigation. The research findings can help shipping companies and other relevant stakeholders better understand the relative merits of different empty container repositioning policies and better tackle the challenges in operating the container shipping system.