• Korean Business Review
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• v.13
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• pp.107-132
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• 2000

The entry of large discount stores such as E-mart, LG mart, Magnet etc. into small cities have had a profound impact on the business of small-sized retailers. Now, it becomes the matter of survival for small-sized retailers and it is almost impossible to reverse those trends. Without satisfying consumers' various needs and wants, retailers can not survive. Therefore, it is extremely important to understand retail competition from the perspective of consumers in order for retailers to survive in the turbulent environment. The previous research studies on retail competition have focused on the comparison among different types of retailers with respect to strategic retail mix variables. However, they do not consider the competitive aspects of consumers' sides. In addition, we do not fully understand the meaning of "shopping." Shopping means hedonic shopping as well as utilitarian shopping. Utilitarian aspects are important but consumers also prefer' hedonic aspects too. That is the reason that traditional retailers such as small-sized retailers can not compete with modem and large retailers. We use three different methods to identify the macro and competitive structure. of retailing with respect to shopping. Factor analysis, multidimensional scaling, and multiple correspondence analysis are used to produce perceptual mapping of retail competition. Department store and large discount store are identified as close competitors but both might have an indirect impact on small-sized retailers through demand shift toward high end retailers.