Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles (한국의류학회지)

The Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles (한국의류학회)
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Business Strategies of Successful Rural Retailers in Competition with Large Discount Retailers in the U.S.

대규모 할인점과 경쟁에서 성공한 미국 농촌 소매업자들 경영전략

  • Lee, Sea-Hee (Dept. of Design, Housing & Apparel, University of Minnesota) ;
  • Kim, Johnson K.P. (Dept. of Design, Housing & Apparel, University of Minnesota) ;
  • Gahring, Sherri (Dept. of Design, Housing & Apparel, University of Minnesota) ;
  • Lee, Seung-Eun (Dept. of Human Environmental Studies, Central Michigan University)
  • Published : 2008.06.30
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Abstract

Since community growth and vitality frequently depend on local businesses and community inhabitants depend on local retailers for their daily necessities, studying small businesses in rural areas is important to community sustainability. The purpose of our research was to investigate what marketing, merchandising, customer service, or business operation strategies were being implemented by successful independent rural retailers(i.e., clothing, jewelry, floral, hardware etc.), in competition with large discount stores in the U.S.. In addition, social capital as indicated by community involvement was examined for its use as a business strategy that contributes to the success of small retailers. In-depth interviews were conducted with 27 rural retailers representing three communities within a Midwestern state. Data were content analyzed. Participants were following several of the recommended business strategies but opportunities existed to implement changes. Results are discussed in terms of key practices followed by these successful small business owners.

농촌 지역사회의 지속적인 성장과 활성화는 지역경제에 의해 좌우되고, 마찬가지로 지역주민들의 생필품 공급은 지역소매업자들에게 의해 이루어진다. 이러한 현실에서, 농촌지역의 영세소매업자에 대해 관심을 가지고 이들을 연구하는 것은 지역공동체의 지속적인 성장에 중요할 것이다. 본 연구의 목적은 대규모의 할인점들과의 경쟁에 직면하고 있는 미국 농촌 지역의 영세소매업자들(의류, 보석, 꽃, 철물 등)중에서 대규모의 할인점들과의 치열한 경쟁에 성공을 거둔 영세소매업자들이 어떠한 마케팅, 머천다이징, 고객서비스, 경영전략을 실시하고 있는지를 살펴보는 것이다. 또한, 영세소매업자들의 성공을 가능케 한 사업전략으로 사회적 자본인 지역사회참여가 어떻게 사용되고 있는지도 고찰하고자 한다. 본 연구에서는 미국 중서부 지역의 세 도시를 대표하는 27명의 농촌소매업자들과의 인터뷰 및 내용분석방법을 사용하였다. 연구결과, 이들은 몇 가지 효과적인 경영전략들을 실시하고 있지만, 아직도 미흡한 부분들이 있었다. 결과부분에서는 이들이 사용하고 있는 주요 경영관행들에 대해 논의하였다.

Keywords

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