Business Commons^™

An Exploration Of The Gaps Between Theory And Practice In Fashion Retail Segmentation: A Developmental Paper., Amanda Ratcliffe

Conference proceedings

This developmental paper reviews the literature on market segmentation in the context of the fashion retail sector with specific regard to the mature female consumer of fashion. The paper identifies two gaps between the academic theory and marketing practice: The first gap relates to the prevalence of developing complex, statistical models of segmentation in the literature, while there is a paucity of guidelines for practitioners to implement segmentation projects in practice.

The second gap exists in relation to the segmentation and targeting practices of fashion retailers who are still practising an “only youth = fashion” approach (Jackson and Shaw, 2009). …

Are Mature Female Consumers Well Served By The Fashion Retail Sector?, Amanda Ratcliffe

Conference proceedings

The fashion retail sector is going through extremely challenging times with continuing globalisation and the ongoing impact of the recent global recession in many markets. Markets are highly competitive and companies must strive to craft strategies which will deliver competitive advantage. Across the developed and the developing world, populations are ageing. The trend is so marked as to have been termed an ‘Agequake’ by A.T. Kearney, (2011, 1) in terms of its predicted impact on economies, companies and most particularly, retailers. Women aged 50 and over are now one of the most powerful consumer groups in the UK, spending more …

Internal Branding And Brand Commitment: A Quantitative Investigation Into Corporate Brand Building In A Retail Store Network, Edmund O'Callaghan

Conference proceedings

The aim of this quantitative study was to investigate the relationship between the perceived effectiveness of internal branding activities on brand commitment among owner managers within a retail store network of previously independent retailers. Brand commitment was hypothesized as essential for coherent and consistent corporate brand building within this context. Two new scales were developed and tested to measure internal branding and brand commitment. Perceived clarity of vision, core values and brand communications were highly correlated with strong brand commitment, while lack of perceived business supports and adequate reward systems were potential inhibitors. Interalia, findings validate the significance of internal …

Fathers: A Contemporary Perspective On Their Role In Child-Driven Materialism, Catriona Nash, Serge Basini

Conference proceedings

This paper explores the contemporary role of fathers in child-driven materialistic consumption, a little explored territory. Commencing with an exploration of the child consumer and their influence in personal and family spending, both of which have grown considerably over that last number of decades, followed by an analysis of changes in families and the role fathers now play in the aforementioned. It is also acknowledged that fathers have previously been ignored to a large extent in the majority of research studies concerning parent-child consumption and purchases. As such, valuable insights emerged through an interpretative framework utilised to explore this area. …

Towards A Conceptual Framework Of Corporate Branding In Retailing, Edmund O'Callaghan

Conference proceedings

The view that corporate brand building in retailing is different to any other context (Burt and Sparks, 2002) is predicated in the belief that ‘goods’ retailers need to manage a range of corporate components, its multiple relationships with customers and its dependence on employees to personify and deliver much of the corporate identity. These differences in operations are perceived as adding a degree of complexity to an already challenging process of corporate brand development. This paper proposes a conceptual framework for the corporate brand building process within an SME retail context. It develops on the work of Hatch & Schultz’s …

Child Targeted Tv Advertising And Its Influence On The Child- Parent Purchase Relationship:, Catriona Nash, Serge Basini

Conference proceedings

Since the 1970s an argument has raged over the influence child targeted advertising has on its young audiences (Lawlor & Prothero 2003). An area of particular interest is the effect of child targeted advertising on the parent-child purchase relationship, commonly referred to as ‘pester-power’. In recent years, harnessing its power has become a Holy Grail for those who believe it to be the key to parent’s purse strings (Harding 2004). Industry spending on advertising to children has significantly increased in the past decade, from $100 million in 1990 to more than $2 billion in 2000 (www.media-awareness.ca). This paper outlines preliminary …

Superquinn Alive And Kicking: An Illustration Of Innovation In The Irish Grocery Market, Edmund O'Callaghan, Mary Wilcox

Conference proceedings

Superquinn is one of Ireland’s most successful indigenous retailers operating in an intensely competitive grocery market. Despite the arrival of large overseas retailers and an increased level of acquisition and alliance activity, it has survived and thrived. The company attributes its success to its innovation strategy. The practice of innovation now permeates all facets and functions of the Irish grocery sector and consequently is a pre-requisite for maintaining competitive advantage and ensuring business success. This paper illustrates many Superquinn innovations, and relates its strategy to themes within innovation literature. Based on an in-depth interview with its managing director, Feargal Quinn, …