• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.77-96
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• 2017

Purpose - This study aims to develop correspondence strategies to the environment change in domestic retail store types. Recently, new types of retails have emerged in retail industries. Therefore, trade area platform has developed focusing on the speed of data, no longer trade area from district border. Besides, 'trade area smart' brings about change in retail types with the development of giga internet. Thus, context shopping is changing the way of consumers' purchase pattern through data capture, technology capability, and algorithm development. For these reasons, the sales estimation model has been shown to be flawed using the notion of former scale and time, and it is necessary to construct a new model. Research design, data, and methodology - This study focuses on measuring retail change in large multi-shopping mall for the outlook for retail industry and competition for trade area with the theoretical background understanding of retail store types and overall domestic retail conditions. The competition among retail store types are strong, whereas the borders among them are fading. There is a greater need to analyze on a new model because sales expectation can be hard to get with business area competition. For comprehensive research, therefore, the research method based on the statistical analysis was excluded, and field survey and literature investigation method were used to identify problems and propose an alternative. In research material, research fidelity has improved with complementing research data related with retail specialists' as well as department stores. Results - This study analyzed trade area survival and its pattern through sales estimation and empirical studies on trade areas. The sales estimation, based on Huff model system, counts the number of households shopping absorption expectation from trade areas. Based on the results, this paper estimated sales scale, and then deducted modified probability model. Conclusions - In times of retail store chain destruction and off-line store reorganization, modified Huff model has problems in estimating sales. Transformation probability model, supplemented by the existing problems, was analyzed to be more effective in competitiveness business condition. This study offers a viable alternative to figure out related trade areas' sale estimation by reconstructing new-modified probability model. As a result, the future task is to enlarge the borders from IT infrastructure with data and evidence based business into DT infrastructure.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.91-101
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• 2018

Purpose - This study compares the management efficiency of retailers in China, Korea and other global countries. China's retail industry is experiencing a recession. In order to strengthen the competitiveness of retailers, it is necessary to manage the efficiency. Therefore, we analyzed the management efficiency of Chinese retailers as well as Korea and global retailers who are competing with Chinese retailers. Research design, data, and methodology - The DEA(Data Envelopment Analysis) carried out for evaluating the relative efficiency of multiple DMUs (decision making units) with homogeneity. Data were collected from the American Retail Trade Association (2017). In those distributors' data, 5 of China and 5 of Korea and 10 of other global countries' analyzed. CCR and BCC analysis were performed to determine the cause of the inefficiency of DMUs by measuring the technical efficiency, pure technology efficiency and scale efficiency. Result - Among the 20 retail distributors, Costco, Kroger (Global), Eland World, BGF(Korea) are operating efficiently. Chinese retailers are operating inefficiently. Retailers' CRS status means the growth rate of input is equal to the growth rate of output. In the case of DRS status, the ratio of output to input variable is much smaller. In order to improve inefficiency, reducing input variables can be a solution. For the firms in IRS status, the rate of increase in output is relative greater than the input. That means efficiency is good condition. The analysis result shows that most retailers are showing DRS status especially Chinese retailers. Scale efficiency is a major cause of inefficiency rather than pure technology efficiency. It is recommended for ineffective retailers to reduce inputs to become efficient retailers. Otherwise, retrain existing employees or introducing advanced technologies to increase the output. Conclusions - Most of Chinese retailers are operating inefficiently which caused by the excessive investment in the inputs. On the other hand, Other global retailers are analyzed to be efficient by DEA. In this study, benchmarking targets of some retailers' suggested to improve the management efficiency especially in inputs.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.317-326
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• 2021

This study examines factors influencing the corporate identity (CI) of pharmacy retail stores (PRSs) in Thailand as a means to construct a unique corporate identity to represent their strengths and image abroad. An exploratory sequential design was applied. A pilot study involving interviews with four pharmacists was conducted to obtain the variables, and then a questionnaire was designed and administered to 392 respondents. The collected data was analyzed to examine correlations via descriptive analysis, Pearson's correlation, and multiple linear regression (MLR). The results show that wisdom and pharmaceutical care explain 44% of the variance in defining Thai PRSs identity. There is a 61% chance that Thai PRSs should consider wisdom as the most important factor. These findings provide useful insights for pharmacists, pharmaceutical entrepreneurs, and owners of PRSs to enhance competitiveness by devising strategies to create their corporate identity. For the qualitative analysis, Thai PRSs should encourage pharmacists to gain real working experience to develop their wisdom, experience, and skills. Besides, PRSs that build identities as knowledgeable, sincere, and compassionate health providers can successfully expand their operations to other ASEAN countries, as end-consumers will be confident in the reliability of their services.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.113-125
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• 2023

Purpose: Support policies for small and medium-sized retailers (SMSRs) have been promoted in various ways over the past 20 years, but they are generally regarded as unsuccessful. The purpose of this study is to analyze the process and impact of policy changes, identify the reasons for the lack of success, and explore policy alternatives. Research design, data and methodology: This study explored major policies in various categories such as the retail industry, traditional markets, and Micro-Enterprises from the mid-1990s to the present. It also analyzed the short- and long-term impacts of major policies at the retail format level like SMSRs, using data from Statistics Korea's service industry survey. Results: This research found that sudden shifts in policy philosophy conflicted with the existing market structure and reduced the effectiveness of policies. It also found that policies aimed at improving competitiveness at the SMSRs-level had some effect, while polices aimed at supporting expenses at the individual store-level were difficult to achieve their intended purpose. Conclusions: The failure of the policy to support SMSRs is fundamentally due to the late response and conflicts between policies. It was also not successful due to the policy's focus on individual store-level expenses and maintaining employment rather than structural improvements of SMSRs format.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.91-102
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• 2017

This paper discusses how urban regeneration can be used to drive economic competitiveness using the case study of Liverpool One, in Liverpool, United Kingdom. With a process which began in 1999, Liverpool One resulted in over 42 hectares of land being redeveloped as part of a wholesale rejuvenation of Liverpool City Centre. This contributed to Liverpool becoming the fastest growing UK region outside of London. In discussing Liverpool One, the paper outlines some of the planning challenges faced during its construction and what this successful regeneration project now means for those seeking to develop within the city centre, whilst drawing out some of the lessons international planners and developers might learn from Liverpool.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.21-40
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• 2000

The retail trades in many countries have changed recently according to the high quality, diversification, and marked individuality of consumer needs. Under the continually competing system of the WTO agreement, corporations based in the USA and the EU try to raise their market share in other countries so it is inevitable for Korean retail enterprises to compete with them. This paper is aimed at contributing to the efficient growth for Korean retail trade from the analysis of the development process in retail trade and its changing locations comparing Korea and the USA. Retailers in the USA have practiced diversified marketing strategies considerably in order to survive in a rapidly changing retailing environment. American retailing, which has the most advanced marketing system in the world, has been of growing concern to marketing strategies in Korea. The following is a brief summary of this study. 1. Speedy and higher quality consumption is needed in accordance with the great increase in the single-family household and the female labor force participation both in Korea and in the USA. Senior citizens have become a new consumer group due to the aging population. In the future the retail trade will switch over to diversified retail formats and internet shopping as countries are transformed into information and communication societies. 2. In Korea, the former retail system characterized by markets and department stores has been greatly changed since the late 1980s with emphasis on high quality and convenience in consumption behaviors, with large domestic enterprises and foreign distribution corporations participating in Korean retailing. In the USA, retailing mergers and takeovers by major retails, bankruptcies, and extra-large shopping centers have emerged since the late 1980s. Recently, the USA retailing formats have been changed from the lower price-oriented discount types to the large scale theme parks. Much emphasis was put on entertainment, resorts, and convention centers. On the other hand, non-store types, such as the internet shopping, the CATV shopping, as well as catalog and mail-order sales are drastically increasing, although the proportion of their sales is low up to now. 3. In Korea, most of the retail facilities are concentrated in Seoul and the Metropolitan Region, and the distribution ratio of facilities came to 52% in 1997. The periodic markets, traditional markets which open on a periodic basis, are located mainly in Chollanam-do and Kyungsangbuk-do. The large-sized discount stores have expanded their locations to the over-crowded apartment complexes in new towns, located in the Metropolitan Region, and the large provincial cities, unlike the suburban locations in the USA. Therefore we needed to give attention to the locational relations in retail facilities between Seoul & the Metropolitan Region and rural settlement areas. In the USA, urban areas grew quickly with the development of the automobile in the 1920s, and the location of stores changed from a dispersed style centering around rural areas to a centralized one in urban areas. There is an accelerated growth for suburban areas, which have grown rapidly since 1950. As the membership warehouse clubs were introduced in the 1970s, the decentralization of location was more intensified. On the other hand, inner cities were revitalized by rearranging existing facilities to cope with suburban areas. And the location-free virtual retailing & TV shopping are also growing every year. 4. In view of the above, the continuous and desirable development devices in Korean retail trade are summarized as follows: First, the countermeasures against economies of scale, increase in retailing sales, and rise of a employment percentage in retailing are in need. Second, a scheme of lowering the proportion of food retail sales, and increasing a ratio of durable goods sales need to be worked out. Third, the original ideas are needed to apply positively information, communication and technology to retailing, to graft the traditional types on modem ones based on the social culture. Fourth, strategies are needed to strengthen the competitiveness of our retail trade through cooperation and chains of smaller retailers, the large enterprises participating in the distribution industry. Fifth, in order to realize the above, the retail industry, the administration, and the academic world should support the retail segment with concern and a practical strategy plan.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.219-243
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• 2004

Generally, electricity market has monopoly market structure because of need of enormous investment for infrastructure. However, the introduction of competition in network industry as electricity is a tendency of the world with decreasing the effects of economy of scale due to the advancement of technology. Now, electricity industry restructuring is in progress but the competition in electricity retail market is not in force yet in Korea. Whether a effective competition exist or not is very important to policy decision maker who drive restructuring, but there are small numbers of quantitative researches on that. In this study, we estimated the effectiveness of competition in the electricity retail market through switching costs. If switching costs are high, consumers actually can be locked in incumbent firm in spite of introduction of competition. Therefore switching is a critical factor to determine effectiveness of competition and to estimate the size of switching costs quantitatively can proffer the information about whether the competition in the electricity retail market is effective or not in the future. We estimated switching costs using consumer' stated-preference data by conjoint analysis. In according to estimation results, the cost of switching process is not so high, but the relative brand loyalty of an incumbent company is significantly high. And the price is considered as the most important factor choosing an electric service commodity. Based on the empirical results, it is possible to analyze the relationship between suppliers' competitiveness resulted from management efficiency and customers' switching possibilities. The paper therefore provides guidance for suppliers in deciding to enter into retail competition and for policy makers in introducing retail competition. And it has a significance of estimating the switching costs directly.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.9
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• pp.43-49
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• 2013

Purpose - The competitiveness of small- and medium-sized distribution companies has weakened with the entry of large distribution companies and Super Super Markets (SSMs). These companies have nationwide distribution networks and capital to take over street markets, thereby threatening the very survival of small merchants. In order to help these small- and medium-sized merchants, the government has recently reinforced distribution regulations for large distribution companies. Research design, data, methodology - The purpose of this study is to review domestic and foreign distribution regulations and to provide direction for establishing domestic distribution policies in the future. Results - The government must fully reassess its assistance policy for small and medium distribution companies to enable them to engage in differentiated competition with large retailers, based on their own strengths. This will allow all interested parties to coexist. Conclusions - Government assistance policies for small and medium distributors such as traditional markets must be reorganized. The objective is to ultimately protect small and medium distributors and allow them to coexist on their own strengths, rather than have regulations for large retail stores.

• Journal of the Korean Regional Science Association
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-20
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• 1995

This paper studies the comparative advantage of competitive and specialized regional industries which are manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, servies in the metropolitan area-Seoul, Inchun, Kyunggi-do of Korea, For the analysis of industries, the coefficient of specialization, the indices of competitiveness of labor and value-added, the growth rate are simultaneously examined under the criteria of the number of workers, value of shipment, value-added, This comperative synthetic analysis is different from the traditional approaches. This paper shows that the perfectly competitive advantage of specialized industries satisfying all of three criteria are 'other business related activities', 'recreational, cultural and sporting activities' in Seoul, 'machinery and outfits, n.e.c', 'retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles, repair of personal and household goods' in Inchun. We conclude that each should strategically develop the region-oriented specialized industry which has the comparative advantage. It is the reason why the concentration of industry in necessary for the leading of regional industry under the weaken local public finance. Moreover, such an industy should provide the increase of employment and income from the viewpoint of the activation of regional economy. The potential-specialized competitive industry requires the advanced structure of production under the criteria of value-added. For the development of the metropolitan area's economy, the highly advanced technology industry including computer and electronics should be induced through the loosening of metropolitan regulation. Research center(science park) supported by th private-public sector should be built for the increase of technology sector should be built for the increase of technology power of the small and medium enterprises, Also it is necessary that the small and medium enterprises strategically make the cooperative-large group in order to avoid the disadvantage from the size.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.107-116
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• 2013

Purpose - Eggs are nutritionally complete and one of the most popular natural foods. Moreover, the poultry industry is one of the important food industries. However, early industrialization of the poultry industry on its own did not lead to further development compared to other livestock industries. In this study, we investigate what factors influence consumers' behavior and how consumers' understanding of retail business affects their propensity to consume. This study is different from other studies as it analyzes how the brand names of manufacturers and distribution companies affect the purchasing characteristics or actual purchase behavior of consumers in order to suggest how these manufacturers and distribution companies can increase their competitiveness. Research design, data, methodology - This study conducted a survey of 250 randomly selected egg purchasers in discount stores from January to April 2013. Consumers' purchase tendencies were calculated through frequency analysis. This result was then utilized using cluster analysis to draw a conclusion about which purchase tendency influenced consumers buying three different brands of eggs or whether this tendency really affected consumers. As a result, the outcomes of Hypotheses 2 and 3 were not clear so we drew a conclusion with our analysis of Hypothesis 1. Results - While the outcomes of Hypotheses 2 and 3 did not clearly indicate whether purchasing tendencies affected consumers when buying eggs, our analysis of Hypothesis 1 indicated that consumers were affected by the quality of the eggs rather than exterior factors such as the brand name. Thus, we concluded that it is important to promote the excellence of the quality of the eggs. Usually firms buy eggs from farms and repackage them in order to sell them. In this sense, if consumers were aware of this egg production process, and eggs were fairly distributed to retailers, large retail PB businesses would also be able to enhance their competitiveness. Conclusions - The brand, packaging, retail outlet, and other external features influenced the purchase of eggs to a certain degree, while shelf life, grade of the eggs, cleanliness, and other intrinsic characteristics had more influence. In particular, shelf life was the most important factor influencing purchase. Consumers were influenced not only by intrinsic characteristics of the eggs but also by large-scale producers' brands. Consumers relied upon the brand despite reduced competition because they found it difficult to identify shelf life and/or cleanliness. Small businesses and/or large-scale retailers can remain competitive by maintaining the freshness and cleanliness of the eggs. Further studies need to investigate areas in which consumers' cognition of the product is poor and/or the purchase inclination with regard to less developed industries such as eggs. In this study, the greatest problem was that consumers did not consume in accordance with the current situation as consumers have preferred fresh and clean eggs for a long time compared to purchase decisions based on external brands and/or packaging.