Late Movers' MarketEntry Strategies in the Chinese Retail Market: The Case of a Korean Company

Purpose - This study aimed to analyze the strategy of late domestic entrants into the Chinese retail market, focusing on the case of Lotte-Mart, given that there are few studies on market entry strategies of domestic retail companies in China. Research Design, data, methodology - The methodology of this paper is a case study approach, focusing on literature reviews and a few interviews. We conducted a survey by disseminating questionnaires and conducting interviews focusing on the Chinese retail market, and analyzed Lotte-Mart's market entry strategy in China. Results - Lotte-Mart chose M&A as the mode of entry, pursuing quick market entry and rapid expansion. It chose small to medium size cities with relatively less competition. Subsequently, Lotte-Mart devoted significant effort towards localization, attempting to organize stores and assorting products to fit the Chinese consumers' preferences. It operated CSR programs to increase its brand awareness and to create a favorable brand image. Conclusions - Lotte-Mart now needs to devise alternative corporate strategies for business expansion and growth. An understanding of the Chinese retail market and the case study analysis of Lotte-Mart's market entry strategy offers significant insights for domestic retail companies looking to expand into China.