 |
 |
|
We travel all over Asia in this week's review, reflecting how key retail and distribution management is to many Asian economies, and the opportunities it affords for business. Even our other review this week on tourism and hospitality, another major source of revenue for goverments and local business is overshadowed. When givernments total the revenue from tourism in almost every country receipts from shopping outweigh those from tourism and transport operators like airlines, and hotels. The Asia crisis saw a crisis in the retail industry too, sith well known shopping meccas like Singapore and Hong Kong being hit by the double whammy of decreased discretionary income for locals and a downturn in tourist arrivals. Singapore's retail industry in particular met the challenge with major restructuring and new efficiencies in distribution. At the same time, the Internet began to make its prescence felt as an alternative and potentially highly competitive distribution channel. While US and even European retailers are building virtual stores fast, Asian consumers are more cautious, and retailers have been slow to build virtual shop fronts as a consequence. The following articles reflect just some of the changes occuring in this key industry in Asia. Just as a reminder, you should note the Volume and Issue Number of the articles you are interested in before entering the database, as there is no search facility for the Journals of the Week - only browse facilities issue by issue are provided for the free download. Motives of Hong Kong-Japanese international joint ventures in retailing May M.L. Wong International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management; 26: 1 1998; pp. 4-12 , This paper attempts to study the motives behind a Hong Kong-Japanese joint venture between two retailers from the perspectives of firm-specific advantages provided by both partners of the international joint ventures (IJVs). The analysis focuses on the local partner's motives and how the IJVs have provided the opportunity for it to overcome the increasing Japanese competition in the retail sector after the mid-1980s. Finally, the IJVs are evaluated according to the available secondary data in terms of how much the local partner has achieved from the IJVs.
Keywords: Hong Kong, International business, Japan, Joint ventures, Retailing
South Korean retail industry: government's role in retail liberalization The Korean government has played an important role in the development of the domestic retailing industry. Korean manufacturers were nurtured until they were able to compete with manufacturers throughout the world. Korean retailers are now caught in the domestic market between the powerful Korean manufacturers and foreign retail competitors who have themselves learned to be competitive by going head to head with world-class retailers. Manufacturers, rather than retailers, have dominated the Korean distribution industry. Korean retailing is characterized by large department stores owned by the chaebols, and small, inefficient family-centered operations. In contrast to the department store's decline in sales, the growth of discount stores is the strongest trend in Korean retailing. The government has chosen the manufacturing sector for aggressive development. The result has been a world competitive, export intensive manufacturing sector and a weak, inefficient retail sector. We use state as strategist in retailing (SSR) model to explain how dimensions and stages of government involvement affect retailing.
Keywords: Central government, Distribution, Korea, Manufacturing industry, Retailing
Department stores in troubled waters: a Singapore encounter Focuses on the difficulties faced by department stores in Singapore. Losing their prominence as a favourite shopping concept this retail format will need to adapt quickly or further ground will be lost to foreign competitors and new retailing formats. Creative strategies include tighter cost control, more recreational value, better customer service programmes, market expansion and niche marketing.
Keywords: Department stores, Marketing strategy, Shopping, Singapore
Retailing in Thailand Explains that in under 40 years the retailing industry in Thailand has developed from a traditional and backward industry into one that by the turn of the century may be as modern and vibrant as any in the world. However, uneven distribution of economic activity has meant that most of the major developments have taken place in Bangkok which accounts for 50 per cent of gross domestic product, but wealth and retailing activity are now spreading to the rest of the country where more than 80 per cent of the population live. Describes the diversity of Thai retailing. Explains its historical development, and outlines the differences between retailing in provincial Thailand and in Bangkok. Describes the different types of stores now being developed and the recent modernizing trends in the industry. Suggests the likely future trends in retailing over the next few years. Keywords: Department stores, Market segmentation, Retailing, Stores, Thailand Article Type: Comparative/evaluators Content Indicators: Research Implication- **, Practice Implication- **, Originality- *, Readability- **
Vietnamese distribution channels Vietnam has for a long time been ignored by researchers due to the closed nature of the country. Little management research, especially in the marketing field, has been done in this emerging country. Aims, therefore, to describe Vietnamese wholesaling and retailing for consumer products. Distribution channels in Vietnam could be characterized as primitive structures, owing to their level of economic development. The example of Vietnam is interesting because its situation is classical for a less developed country: inadequate transport means; inadequate banking; smuggling; counterfeiting; import restrictions; import taxes; the need to pass through importation companies with little added value to enter the market; the passiveness, even incompetence, of intermediaries; the low income of the population. Therefore, despite huge opportunities in Vietnam, investors should be aware of the unexpected and unstable situations they will have to face, especially in the distribution field. Bases its findings on desk research and face-to-face interviews done by the author during a position as an expatriate in Vietnam, from 1993 to 1994.
Keywords: Consumer goods, Distribution channel, Retail trade, Vietnam, Wholesale trade
Hong Kong Retailers:The Relationship between Environment Hostility, Planning and Performance Examines the environment hostility-planning-performance relationship of Hong Kong retailers. A positive relationship is found between environment hostility and the threats encompassed by the existing labour shortage, rising rents, foreign-based competition, the 1997 return to Chinese governance and Hong Kong's relationship with mainland China. Retailers who perceive less hostility in their environment are more planning-oriented. Short-term planners significantly outperformed non-planners. Formal long-range planning was unrelated to retailer performance.
Keywords: China, Hong Kong, Long-range planning, Planning, Retailing, Samples, Short-term
planning
Strategies of Japanese Supermarkets in Hong Kong Argues that, by the early 1990s, an estimated half of all non-restaurant food sales in Hong Kong went through supermarkets. Local independents and small local chains cater to the lower end of the market. Two large local chains focus on Hong Kong's broad middle class and control over half of packaged food sales. Some Japanese supermarkets also target the local Chinese middle class. They define the two major local chains as their main competition, and make little attempt to maintain their Japanese identities. Other Japanese supermarkets are niche marketers. They maintain their Japanese identities more strongly, and give more weight to Japanese products. These stores are located in major shopping districts rather than in the main residential districts. They target expatriates, who may account for 30 to 40 per cent of customers. Finally, one Japanese store has positioned itself as the top quality supplier for the upper end of the market, and presents an international, not Japanese, image.
Keywords: China, Hong Kong, International business, Japan, Marketing, Marketing strategy,
Quality, Supermarkets
Retailing and the retail space market in Singapore Singapore's retail landscape has undergone much change since the 1960s as a result of its economic growth and social change. Fuelling the transformation is the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) whose policies have resulted in modern one-stop shopping centres. Today's retail market is highly cosmopolitan, complex and sophisticated with nearly every international brand and retailer found there. However, the retail market has been tough in the last few years owing to problems such as an oversupply of retail space, high labour costs and a tight labour market. Describes strategies adopted by retailers and developers to combat the problems in the industry. Among the strategies adopted by retailers are niche marketing and regionalization. They have also forged strategic alliances with other larger retailers. Developers, on the other hand, have recognized the need to find the right tenant mix as opposed to just securing the highest rents. Less competitive shopping centres have also considered converting their retail space to more sought-after office space. The government continues to steer Singapore's urban development with its policies. The URA's long-range vision is presented in its concept plan. The broad policies of the concept plan have been translated into detailed development guide plans for specific areas. Keywords: Marketing planning, Niche marketing, Retail trade, Singapore, Strategic planning Article Type: Comparative/evaluators Content Indicators: Research Implication- **, Practice Implication- **, Originality- *, Readability- **
The impact of the changing marketing environment in the Pacific Rim: four case studies Suggests that, with sound economic growth, a rising population and changing lifestyles, the Asia Pacific Rim offers an attractive trading environment for retailers and manufacturers. Reports that the trading environment in the region is somewhat diverse, so businesses wishing to take advantage of the opportunities on offer must have a flexible marketing approach which allows them to adapt to local needs. Considers a range of wider marketing environment factors which are shaping the trading conditions in the region. Provides case studies of retailer Yaohan, Hongkong Bank, manufacturer and retailer Giordano and food manufacturer Ajinomoto (which distributes its products from a wide range of outlets). Uses these to illustrate the impact of economic, political, cultural and demographic trends and to show how companies in the region are responding to these factors. Keywords: Asia Pacific Rim, Economic growth, Marketing environment Article Type: Case study Content Indicators: Research Implication- **, Practice Implication- **, Originality- *, Readability- **
More than just a name above the shop: a comparison of the branding strategies of two UK fashion retailers UK fashion retailing is characterised by high levels of market concentration, centralisation and outlet standardisation. In the pursuit of market share, the multiple fashion retailers are implementing branding strategies that aim to differentiate their product offer and reinforce their market positioning. Empirical research, via key informant interviews, examined the branding decisions of two multiple fashion retailers and established four main methods of brand differentiation.
Keywords: Brand image, Brands, Fashion, Market position, Market share, Multiple retailers As always we have only skimmed the surface of relevant articles this week and only those that are particularly relevant for Asia-Pacific managers. Many other articles are available as well including those focusing on other countries and international perspectives.
|
| |||
| email updates | email this page | discuss | search | today's asian business strategy news | advertise | about |
| daily asian news, research & commentary for the international business strategy, market research & strategic management professional |