Search results

Explores and compares the strategic development of Spain’s two most important retail organisations, El Corte Inglés and Galerías Preciados. Both department stores were established in the 1930s, but while the former has gone from strength to strength, Galerías Preciados changed hands several times before going into receivership in 1994, when it was bought up by El Corte Inglés. A comparative case study approach which focuses on outlet growth, diversification, financial control and continuity is used to identify the factors which appear to account for the contrasting fates of the organisations. Concludes that careful planning, vertical integration and continuity of ownership and positioning within the context of the macro‐environment contributed to El Corte Inglés’ success and longevity.

This paper provides insight into the behaviour and attitudes of an under‐researched group of consumers, and identifies some useful pointers for future research on consumer disadvantage. More specifically, the paper explores the relationships between the potential causes of consumer disadvantage, forms of consumer disadvantage and accessibility. The exploratory study consisted of a combination of quantitative (diary survey) and qualitative (semi‐structured interviews) methods. The diary survey data were used to measure grocery retailing accessibility for each participant, while the semi‐structured interviews captured participants’ attitudes, preferences and expectations with regard to grocery shopping, which were then used to construct a context for the accessibility findings. The findings suggest a way in which consumer disadvantage can be conceptualised, recommend the use of qualitative methods when researching this area, and highlight issues of interest (such as identifying whether an individual shops through choice or constraint) which could be considered by future research designs.