Illustrated Handbook of Retail Operations Management

Retailing includes all the activities involved in selling products and/or services to the final consumer. It covers diverse products such as apparels, footwear, financial services and leisure. Operating a retail business is not concerned to opening and closing the shop every day. The smooth running of a shop entails many aspects of retail operations. Retail operations are those activities that support the buying, selling, promotion and control functions of a retail business. The retailer must pay attention to the day-to-day requirements of running a retail outlet.

Illustrated Handbook of Retail Operations Management provides an insightful look into Retail Management. It definitely offers invaluable guidance to meet the future challenges in retail industry. It aims to identify the operational challenges faced by retailers and the relevance of those challenges to senior retail managers and researchers in operations management. It summarizes areas of research in retail operations that have evolved recently and are likely to be important in the future.

The retail sector is going through a transformation and this emerging market is witnessing a significant change in its growth and investment pattern. Both existing and new players are experimenting with new retail formats. There is increased sophistication in the shopping pattern of customers, which has resulted to the emergence of big retail chains in most metros; mini metros and towns being the next target. Customer taste and preferences are changing leading to radical transformation in lifestyles and spending patterns which in turn is giving rise to new business opportunities. The generic growth is likely to be driven by changing lifestyles and by strong surge in income, which in turn will be supported by favorable demographic patterns. Digital technology has had a major impact for retailers online, but it is now reshaping the modern in-store retail experience as well. New innovations in retail technology are helping customers get the information they need to make smarter, faster purchase decisions, as well as empowering retail employees to provide better customer support.

Readers will find this book immense beneficial for its coverage of the concept and role of retailing marketing management, the retail customer and market segmentation, product and brand management strategies for those progressing into management levels of retailing.