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Asks how consumers are responding to the diverse array of retail choices as new formats continue to emerge in US retailing and increasingly in overseas markets. Through the collection of interview data, analyses penetration levels and patronage movement as well as market change push and pull factors. Studies ten retail formats including department stores, speciality stores, mass merchandisers, discount stores, mail order catalogues, off‐price stores, manufacturers’ outlets, warehouse clubs, used stores and television home shopping channels. Consumers evidenced high levels of cross‐shopping between formats. Discusses the means by which various formats deliver value to the consumer in light of current market strategies.

Store names are perhaps the most visible aspect of the store entity, and are one of the main features used by consumers to specify and identify a store. Also, store names are often used as clues for consumers' store choice decisions. It is, therefore, not surprising that store names are a most frequently used item in store advertisements and that many stores regard achieving consumers' familiarity with their names as one of the most desired objectives of their store promotion programmes. Do consumers actually use store names as their main clue for the identification of stores ? The results of a study reported in this article indicate that the issue is not as simple as it seems. When consumers are asked to recall and identify the stores where, say, they have made their most recent furniture purchase, they do indeed recall many of these stores by their names. In a sizeable proportion of the cases, store names cannot, however, be remembered and stores are identified in “area” type terms‐the street or general area where they are located. The focus of the present article is the store recall issue. The magnitude of the phenomenon of stores recalled in “area” type terms is first studied, the importance of this phenomenon is demonstrated and some possible explanations for it are suggested. These explanations are then empirically tested and, finally, the implications of the analysis for store promotion strategy are discussed.

Significant number of consumers in Australia patronizes non‐scanning stores in spite of not being issued itemized receipts for the goods they purchase. In order to understand the attitude of consumers to receipts that give only limited information, shoppers exiting non‐scanning stores were surveyed for their use of purchase receipts. This study compares consumers' use of purchase receipts issued by non‐price scanning stores and those issued by price scanning stores. It appears that shoppers are largely indifferent to the details on the purchase receipt except when they are concerned with returning or exchanging the item(s) purchased.

Consumer perceptions of retail store attributes for a set of particular stores were examined to determine their effect on store preference. Respondents rated 13 stores. Four variables were found to affect store preference using forward stepwise logistic regression: type of clothing desired in stock, outside store appearance, shopping hours, and advertising. Significance of the effect of store attributes on store preference varied by store type. In addition, associations between customer perception of store attributes, education and age were observed. Implications for researchers and practitioners are discussed.

Past research has shown that consumers believe there is a strong relationship between price and quality; they also believe there is a strong relationship between brand and quality. Therefore, when comparing similar pieces of apparel, items with a designer brand or a higher price are perceived, by most customers, to be of higher quality. The purpose of this study was to compare the pricing and quality of identical designer merchandise sold in department stores and manufacturers’ outlet stores. The researchers found no significant differences in the quality of apparel sold in the two retail formats; however, there was a significant difference in the price. The department store merchandise was 31 per cent higher in price than the outlet store merchandise.

Generation Z will be the leading consumer group in the future. Using convenience stores, the study provides an in-depth analysis on Gen Z’s current experience and future expectations from retail stores. The study further highlights the differences between Gen Z’s perception of convenience stores across three different regions – the USA, South Korea and Japan.

This study conducted a series of in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 36 Gen Z participants from the USA (12), South Korea (11) and Japan (13). All interviews were first coded based on a preselected list of themes and were further coded with new themes that emerged from exploratory coding.

Each regional cohort varied in terms of how they experienced and what they expected from convenience stores. US participants showed negative or utilitarian attitudes toward convenience stores, whereas South Korean participants had a positive, personal attachment to them. In comparison, Japanese participants had a relatively neutral attitude. However, all three groups showed a common preference for smart technology and health concerns surrounding convenience store foods.

Convenience store chains should consider the cultural nuances when designing future services. The chains should further strive to remove the health concerns about the foods provided at the stores and design smart technologies that enhance user experience.

The present study broadens the knowledge in this budding consumer segment where current research is limited. It further sheds light on the variance among Gen Zers across different cultural contexts.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the emergence and development of experience stores and to consider their potential role in fostering consumer brand relationships and their impact on the retail landscape.

The paper begins by outlining the characteristics of experience stores before moving on to discuss the ways in which a number of electronics and mobile phone retailers have developed experience store formats.

While recognizing that experience stores are a small but potentially significant addition to the retail marketplace, the paper discusses four principal issues. The need for continuing innovation to maintain competitive advantage; the changing relationship between manufacturer and retailer brands; the challenges involved in maintaining consistency in the brand experience; and the possible extension of the concept of experience stores to other sectors of the retail marketplace.

The paper provides an accessible review of the emergence of experience stores and their role in developing relationships between brands and consumers and as such it will be of interest to academics and students who are interested in retailing and in brands.

The dynamic convenience store industry began in Oakcliff, Texas in 1927. Today there are 84,500 stores with sales of $103.5 billion. There may be 95,200 stores with sales of $150.7 billion (1990 dollars) by 1995. The cost‐margin squeeze will create significant adjustments. Stores will be designed to “feel good” instead of “cookie cutter” designs. Suppliers will have to adjust product mix and pack sizes for more flexible stores. New formats may not resemble current stores. Strip centres may be replaced with convenience centres. Petroleum companies will dominate the industry in the 1990s. They have locations and other advantages. Management information systems will be expanded along with scanning and applications such as space management. Attracting talented people to manage stores will be the highest priority. Training, recognition, and reward are keys.

The Institute of Grocery Distribution published last month a report on “The Physical Characteristics of Supermarkets opened during 1973”. It is reviewed here by T.W. Cynog‐Jones, formerly Research Officer to the IGD.

Purpose – This chapter seeks to understand what occurred with five different types of crime among eight retail sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020–2021 to allow retailers to respond to crime, risk, and loss.

Methodology/Approach – Data as reported by police in seven major US cities during the first six months of 2019, 2020, and 2021 were analyzed from a Routine Activities perspective.

Findings – The study results show that crime varied by type and location during COVID-19.

Originality/Value – This analysis provides the first examination of crime across several types and eight retail sectors.