Editorial

Citation

(2006), "Editorial", International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, Vol. 34 No. 10. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijrdm.2006.08934jaa.001

Editorial

This issue comprises papers from authors based in the US, Sweden and Spain on a variety of topics. Our first paper by Gary Hunter discusses the relationship between shopping centre image and frequency of visit to the shopping centre. Image was measured on a 16 item scale and a mail survey was targeted at over 2000 residents of a Midwestern US city; nearly 20 per cent responded and a second wave of questionnaires were then posted to the respondents to follow-up on how they acted upon their shopping intentions. The findings show that image influences positive anticipated emotions and impacts the frequency of visits to a shopping centre.

Our second paper by Varlander and Yakhlef explores the interplay of the internet and spatial designs of bricks and mortar service companies. Using the travel, banking and bookselling sectors, they investigated how offices/stores were being re-designed to support the services required. Using a variety of data collection techniques, including participant observation, they show that changes in the task environment had promoted changes in the physical environment to maximise the impact of multi-channel services.

Our next papers are from Spanish authors. Oubina, Rubio and Yague discuss the strategic management of store brands from a manufacturer's perspective. The data were collected through a postal questionnaire of consumer goods manufacturers in Spain. The results show clear differences between companies which produce store brands and those that do not in the area of manufacturing/innovation and relationship building. The paper by Mieres, Martin and Gutierrez continues this theme by focusing upon the perceived risk associated with the purchase of store brands. Four product categories – kitchen roll, shampoo, toasted bread and canned fish- were used in that they can be evaluated as store and manufacturers' brands (they were identified from an initial list of 23 categories). Then consumer surveys at supermarkets achieved a total of around 1700 questionnaires. The results show that despite the efforts of retailers to improve the positioning of their own brands, they are still perceived to be riskier purchase alternatives than national brands. Consumers continue to pay higher prices because of the perception of higher quality of manufacturers' brands.

Our final paper by Justo de Jorge Moreno is also from Spain. The research relates to the impact of the 1996 Retail Trade Act on Spanish retailers' efficiency. The dataset used to model efficiency was derived from the SABI database which includes information on 180,000 firms throughout Spain. The results show that efficiency decreases in the post-regulation period although this is more marked for smaller firms and varies according to the levels of regulation by region.

John Fernie