Since 1960s, the retail market of the grocery industry in the Europe and the U.S. A. started experiencing the surge in distribution and concentration of private label products. Private label commenced in some grocery shops in the Europe and the U.S. A. Some retailers decided to sell their wares under their own brand names. The process gradually developed into complicated process. Retailer such as Wal-Mart begun to expand their range of brand names to develop into range of products with sub-niches. These involved developing their own products and test them on the market in the same way manufacturers do and later selling them under their own brand names or brand controlled by them. Products for the branding are obtained from manufacturers who supply them under a different brand name. This implies that the brand of the producer is discarded and the brand of retailer appreciated or emphasized. Whoever even if Continue reading
Retail Management Basics
Categorizing Retailers
Categorizing retailers helps in understanding the competition and the frequent changes that occur in retailing. There is no universally accepted method of classifying a retail outlet, although many categorization schemes have been proposed. Some of these include classifying on the basis of Number of outlets Margin Vs Turnover Location Size. The number of outlets operated by a retailer can have a significant impact on the competitiveness of a retail firm. Generally, a greater number of outlets add strength to the firm because it is able to spread fixed costs, such as advertising and managers’ salaries, over a greater number of stores in addition to acquiring economies of purchase. While any retailer operating more than one store can be technically classified as a chain owner, for practical purposes a chain store refers to a retail firm which has more than 11 units. In the United States, for example, chain stores account Continue reading
Key Elements of Retail Displays
A retailer must carefully consider and plan each element of retail displays. Display elements include the merchandise, shelf display areas or window displays, props, colors, background materials, lighting and signs. The retailer is to compare contrast, repetition, motion, harmony, balance, rhythm and proportion of each display to draw the consumer’s attention to it. Display elements must be evaluated to determine how well and if they attract and hold the attention of the passersby. “Contrast” is one way to attract attention. Contrast is achieved by using different colors, lighting, form i.e., size and shape, lettering or textures. “Repetition” attracts consumer attention by duplicating an object to reinforce and strengthen the impression. For instance, by displaying 20 tennis rackets, the image is created of a store with a wide assortment of merchandise in that category. “Physical motion” is a powerful attention getter, as is dominance. If an item is much larger than Continue reading
Traders Oriented Promotion Methods in Retail
With the intention to get the best cooperation from the distribution channel members the companies are using different promotional methods. These methods directed at traders are called traders oriented promotional method. The traders provide the important link between the marketers and the customers. The traders may include dealers, wholesalers and retailers. The company cannot take chance to miss them. Traders oriented promotional methods are applied to strengthen the team work among all concerned parties of sales. Some of the methods for motivation of traders are following; Point of purchase display: This method is targeted at dealers or traders. It means the display facilities are provided by the manufacturers to the traders for display at their showrooms or shops. The types of products sold out at the outlet are displayed at the points. This gives the clear idea to the buyers that the particular type of products are sold at the Continue reading
Location Strategies for Retail Business
Location is the most important ingredient for any business that relies on customers. It is also one of the most difficult to plan for completely. Location decisions can be complex, costs can be quite high, there is often little flexibility once a location has been chosen and the attributes of location have a strong impact on a retailer’s overall strategy. In India, most retailers prefer to own the property rather than avail of the desired property through lease or rental. This makes the location decision even more critical. Choosing the wrong site can lead to poor results and in some cases insolvency and closure. Importance of Location Decision in retail Business The importance of the location decision is due to the following factors. Location is a major cost factor because it Involves large capital investment Affects transportation costs Affects human resources cost, e.g., salaries Location is a major revenue factor Continue reading
Interior Design Considerations in Retail Store Design
The interior design of the retail store determines the way the merchandise is stored and offered for sale. The interior design should allow easy access to merchandise for customer. There are several layout patterns that enhance the customer’s access to goods. The interior also projects an image to the shopper that should be consistent with that conveyed by the store’s promotion, price, and merchandise and with the exterior design. The store interior must make the customer comfortable and encourage shopping. The objective of layout management is to obtain the maximum benefits from the space available. There are issues that retail managers should consider when they make layout decision: 1. Value of Space The value of space, depending on the location within the store, is expressed in sales per square foot of floor space, and sales per cubic foot of cubic space. Sales per square foot is the typical measure for Continue reading