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Issues arising with social media and its influence on women entrepreneurs trigged this investigation. The research will examine the impact of social media on online small businesses owned and run by women entrepreneurs with reference to London-based female e-entrepreneurs. The work is a proposal for a PhD research and while waiting for the University for confirmation to conduct this area of investigation, I have decided to present this paper as part of my initial investigation on the issues around social media online on small businesses run by women entrepreneurs. Work used mixed research methods to investigate the impact of social media online on female entrepreneurs, their experiences and perceptions on their business activities and performance. The growth of social media as part of innovative technological development has enabled entrepreneurs to effectively carry out their business activities online, and an increasing number of female business owners are taking their businesses online and abandoning traditional, brink and mortar business model. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snap chat, YouTube and LinkedIn along with other websites are incorporated into the businesses of modern-day women entrepreneurs. This research will examine, analyse and evaluate relevant theoretical framework on female entrepreneurship and social media engagement and impact on business performance. The research will develop a framework for best practice that can be used by women e-entrepreneurs across Greater London.

As of 2015, millennials (born in the 1990's) became the largest population in the workplace -- and are still growing. Studies indicate millennials are tech savvy but are lagging in the exercise of digital responsibility. In addition, they are passive towards environmental sustainability and fail to grasp the importance of social responsibility. This paper provides a review of such findings relating to business communications educators in their classrooms. The literature should enable the development of millennials as excellent global citizens through business communications curricula that emphasize: digital citizenship, environmental sustainability and social responsibility. The impetus for this work is to provide guidance in the development of courses and teaching strategies customized to the development of millennials as digital, environmental and socially responsible global citizens.

This volume presents 64 abstracts of keynote and parallel paper presentations of the Irish National Academy for Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning's (NAIRTL) conference on the theme of flexible learning. The Flexible Learning conference was a joint initiative by NAIRTL and the Learning Innovation Network. The keynote presentations can be accessed via hyperlinks as video recordings. Authors were encouraged to have their papers peer-reviewed. The 64 abstracts are: (1) Keynote Speech: The Open Education Revolution (Richard Baraniuk); (2) Keynote Speech: Flexible Learning: The European Context (Michael Horig); (3) The Use of Information and Communication Technology in Irish Language Learning and Teaching: WIMBA Voice Tools as Gaeilge (Riona Ni Fhrighil); (4) A Framework for the Comparison of Virtual Classroom Systems (Daniel McSweeney); (5) E-Portfolio for Language and Intercultural Learning: The Lolipop Experience (Fionnuala Kennedy); (6) Review of Common Synchronous, Live Online-Classroom Tools (Arnold Hensman); (7) Getting There from Here: Learning to Use Readily Available Technologies to Engage Learners and Enhance Learning (Liam Boyle); (8) The Perceived Impact of Peer Education on an Occupational Therapy Student Cohort (Clodagh Nolan, Carmel Lalor, and Paula Lynch); (9) A Student-Led Approach to Personal and Professional Development--A Case Study of a Level 9 Module in Professional Development for Graduate Engineers (Carol O'Byrne); (10) Interdisciplinary Study and Integrative Learning--A Search for Evidence (Aileen Malone); (11) Linking Assessment Methods with Innovative Teaching and Learning Strategies in Postgraduate Nursing Education (Lorraine Murphy and Frances Finn); (12) Making Connections: The Use of Ethnographic Fieldwork to Facilitate a Model of Integrative Learning (Michelle Finnerty); (13) Guiding Student Learning Using Programmed Research Projects (Oisin Keely, Michael Carty, Iain MacLabhrainn, and Andrew Flaus); (14) Social Work within a Community Discourse; Integrating Research, Teaching and Learning on the Master of Social Work (MSW) Programme (Catherine Forde and Deborah Lynch); (15) The Building Expertise in Science Teaching (BEST) Project (Cliona Murphy, Janet Varley and Paula Kilfeather); (16) Developing Teaching in an Institute of Technology (Marion Palmer); (17) The Effects of an Innovative Peer Learning Programme on Undergraduate Science Students (Jennifer Johnston and George McClelland); (18) The Merits of Blogging; Its Usefulness as a Pedagogical Tool (Siobhan O'Sullivan and Hugh McGlynn); (19) Flexible Learning or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Technology (Laura Widger); (20) The Establishment and Evaluation of a National Online Clinical Testing Repository for Surgical Trainees and Students (Seamus McHugh, Mark Corrigan, Athar Sheikh, Arnold Hill, Elaine Lehane, Conor Shields, Paul Redmond, and Michael Kerin); (21) Operations Management Online at Dundalk Institute to Technology (Angela Short); (22) Integrative Learning: What Is It--and Why Is It More Important Than Ever? (Bettie Higgs, Shane Kilcommins, Tony Ryan, Alan Booth and Angela Smallwood); (23) The Development of a Theoretical Model of Integrative Learning for Use in Professional Programmes (Irene Hartigan, Siobhan Murphy, Nuala Walshe, and Terry Barrett); (24) Teaching Teachers How to Teach: Implementing Research in the Science Classroom (Sarah Hayes and Peter E. Childs); (25) Promoting Healthy Behaviour Choices: Understanding Patient Challenges By Undertaking a Personal Behaviour Change Task (Frank Doyle, Anne Hickey, Karen Morgan, Ian Grey, Eva Doherty, and Hannah McGee); (26) Integration of Technology in Mathematics and Science Teaching and Learning (Teresa Bradley, Leah Wallace and Liam Boyle); (27) Learning from Engagement of Cross-Disciplinary Lesson (Dolores Corcoran, Sinead Breen, Maurice O'Reilly and Therese Dooley); (28) Using Blogs to Foster Reflective Practice for Professional Development of Teaching Staff in Higher Education (Martina Crehan and Muireann O'Keeffe); (29) Towards a Standardised, Student-Centred Approach to Continuous Assessment: A Case History of GMIT Letterfrack (Kate Dunne, Pauline Logue-Collins and Angelika Rauch); (30) Virtually There (Michael Goldrick); (31) Art Works! (Marian McCarthy); (32) Moving Laboratory Work into the Cognitive Domain (Maeve Scott); (33) Learning Enhancement through Peer Support (Carina Ginty and Nuala Harding); (34) Designing Research Posters: A Workshop (Imogen Bertin); (35) Flexible Learning and Online Language Portfolios (Houssaine Afoullouss); (36) Blended Not Scrambled: Pedagogic Design for the 21st Century College Student (Leo Casey); (37) The Role of the WEBINAR in Flexible Continuous Professional Development (Brian Mulligan); (38) Student Ownership of Assessment as Integrative Learning (Kevin Howard); (39) Approaches to Learning of Postgraduate Healthcare Professionals in an Outcomes-Based Curriculum (Pauline Joyce); (40) The Use of Learning Journals in Legal Education as a Means of Fostering Integrative Learning through Pedagogy and Assessment (Shane Kilcommins); (41) Innovative Teaching through Video Games: Literature Review and Best Practice (Patrick Felicia); (42) Universal Design for Learning--The Benefits of Technology Enhanced Learning for Students with Disabilities (Patricia Kearney and Elaine O'Leary); (43) Promoting Flexible Learning through Negotiation (Lorraine McGinty); (44) Technology Based Teaching and Learning: E-Law Summer Institute, UCC (Fidelma White and Louise Crowley); (45) Evaluation of Interactive Video Based Scenario to Teach Professionalism to Medical Interns (Bryan Butler and Michelle McEvoy); (46) Flexible Learning Opportunities for Teachers in the 21st Century (Michael Hallissey); (47) Group Projects in the Information Technology Curriculum: Towards Best Practice (Brendan Lyng and Catherine Lowry O'Neill); (48) A Multidisciplinary Approach for Science Learning (Eilish McLoughlin and Odilla Finlayson); (49) Integrative Learning and Technoculture: What's at Stake? (James Cronin, Daniel Blackshields, and Julianne Nyhan); (50) Exploring the Synergy between Pedagogical Research, Teaching and Learning in Introductory Physics (Leah Wallace); (51) The Impact of Education Level and Type on Cognitive Ethical Development (Elaine Doyle and Joanne O'Flaherty); (52) A "Whole Discipline" Approach to Enhancing Research in the Undergraduate Geography Curriculum (Niamh Moore-Cherry, Susan Hegarty, Ruth McManus, Kay MacKeogh, and Shelagh Waddington); (53) Instructional Videocasts: Facilitating Learning in a Mobile World (Robert Hickey); (54) What Do Students Think About Technology? (Shelagh Waddington, Una Crowley, and Conor McCaffery); (55) Chance Favours the Prepared Mind: Strategies to Enhance Educational Research Experiences (Etain Kiely, Gail Cummins, Rowan Watson, Margaret Savage, and Orla Walsh); (56) Essential Considerations in Implementing an E-Learning Strategy at Institutional Level (John Dallat and Brendan Ryder); (57) The Experiences of Engineering Students Working in Multidisciplinary Project Teams (Sivakumar Ramachandran, Timm Jeschawitz, and Denis Cullinane); (58) Integrated, Interprofessional Education for First Year Undergraduate Medical, Physiotherapy and Pharmacy Students (Judith Strawbridge, Celine Marmion, and John Kelly); (59) Preparing for Success: A Study of How Targeted Skills-Based Workshops Can Effectively Aid First Year Students to Bridge the Gap between Second and Third Level Learning (Natasha Underhill, Lyndsey EL Amoud and Seamus O'Tuama); (60) Using Learning Agreements to Facilitate Integrated Learning (Jane Creaner-Glen and Mary Creaner); (61) Development of a Patient Safety Online Programme for Doctors (Siobhan McCarthy, Ciaran O'Boyle, Dermot O'Flynn, Alf Nicholson, Ann O'Shaughnessy, Irene O'Byrne-Maguire, and Ailis Quinlan); (62) Student Services, a Key Aspect of the Provision of Flexible Learning in Higher Education Institutions (Josephine O'Donovan and Terry Maguire); (63) Use of Laboratory-Scale Wastewater Treatment Plants for Undergraduate Research, Training and Teaching (William Fitzgerald and Lil Rudden); and (64) Building Bridges Instead of Walls: Academic Professional Development through Inter-Institutional Collaboration (Nuala Harding and Marion Palmer). This document also includes 71 "Poster Abstracts." (Individual papers contain figures, tables, and references.)

This document contains 14 research paper presentations and 5 "mini-tips" from the 1998 American Vocational Education Research Association (AVERA) annual meeting. The first section includes three papers on international and distance education: "Determining Success of Vocational Students Enrolled in Distance Education Courses" (Michael K. Swan, Diane H. Jackman); "The Use of Applied Communications in Developing Critical Thinking Skills of Tech Prep Students" (Don R. Gelven, Bob R. Stewart); and "Using Delphi Technique to Create a Definition of Internationalization" (Barbara G. Ludwig). Three papers on school-to-work transition issues are included in the second section: "School-to-Work Curricula in the Middle Schools: Benefits, Issues, and Concerns" (Curtis Finch, Marianne Mooney);"Comparing Three Automotive Partnership Programs at the Community College Level with the School-to-Work Model" (Michael L Klyde, Leonard Albright); and "Stages of Concern of Administrators and Teachers in the Implementation of the School to Work Transition Initiative in North Carolina" (Barbara M. Kirby, Wilbur Smith). Two papers on university instruction in agriculture make up the third section: "Attitudes of College of Agriculture Freshmen Toward Agriculture" (Lisa Breja, James E. Dyer, Randall J. Andreasen); and "Safety Issues in Agriculture Education Laboratories" (James E. Dyer and Randall Andreasen). The fourth section contains papers on recent doctoral research in vocational education: "Factors Influencing Females Choosing Nontraditional Vocational-Technical Occupations" (Susan Deege); "Work Values and Leadership Styles of Manufacturing Employees in the U.S. and Germany: A Cross Cultural Comparison" (K. Peter Kuchinke); "Technical and Occupational Education Instructors' Perceived Uses of Student Assessment Information in Making Educational Decisions" (Greg Belcher); and "The Education of Retail Managers through Management Training Programs in Apparel Retail Organizations" (Irene M. Foster, William L. Theummel). In the fifth section, two papers explore assessment in vocational education: "Assessment of Work-Based Learning Programs in Georgia" (Clifton Smith); and "Assessment in the Vocational Education Classroom: Using Information for Instructional Decisions" (Howard R. D. Gordon, Richard J. Yocke). Following the papers are "mini-tips" on issues in vocational educational research: "Using Qualitative Research to Frame the Examination of an Alternative Vocational Teacher Education Program" (Gloria Heberly); "Characteristics of a Conceptual Framework Addressing the Environment of Instructional Space" (Lennie Scott-Webber); "Strengths and Weaknesses of E-mail as a Survey Research Method" (Allen D. Truell); "A Redesigned Program for the Preparation of Teachers" (Bob R. Stewart, Martin Bergee); and "Exploratory Style of Vocational Educators" (Helen C. Hall, Bettye P. Smith). Individual papers contain references. (KC)

The following papers are included: "Concepts on Marketing Issues in the Czech Republic" (Anne Mills); "Requiring More of Teacher Preparation: Authentic Assessment as a Vehicle to Reform" (Laura J. Wyant); "A Delphi Study of Professional Competencies for the Secondary Marketing Educator" (Trellys A. Morris); "The Status of Business and Marketing Teacher Education in North Carolina" (Stephen R. Lucas); "The Kentucky Model for Educating Bed and Breakfast Owner/Operators: An Educational Experience in Entrepreneurship" (Allan J. Worms, Carolyn L. Worms, Patty Rai Smith); "How Students in Business and Education Learn" (Donna R. Everett); "Implications of Site-Based Management for the Preparation of Public School Teachers and Administrators by Colleges of Education" (Terrance P. O'Brien, Rebecca R. Reed); "Improving Pricing Accuracy in Retail Stores through More Effective Employee Training" (G. Richard Clodfelter); "Cognitive Style of International and Domestic Graduate Students at Marshall University" (Laura J. Wyant); "Leadership in Retailing: Implications for Marketing Education" (Harriet Griggs); "Florida's School-to-Work Readiness Questionnaire: The Preliminary Data" (Frank T. Hammons, Catherine L. Redson); "The Program for Applied Academics Technical Studies" (Mary J. Thompson); "A Look at Survey Research Methods" (Thomas H. Arcy); "Restructuring Middle School Programs: Implications for Marketing Educators" (Wally S. Holmes Bouchillon); "Up-Date: DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) Membership and Winners' Comparison" (Marcella McComas Norwood); and "Integrating Education: Changes Needed in Marketing Education" (Wally S. Holmes Bouchillon). (MN)

This conference provided a forum for presenting research findings to educators and other audiences interested in marketing education. The following papers were presented: "Application and Utilization of the Marketing Education Baccalaureate Degree in the Public School--Training and Development Arenas" (Wyant, Prey); "The Impact of Alternative Scheduling on Marketing Education Programs" (Lucas, Greaven, Miles); "Virginia Secondary School Counselors' Perceptions of Virginia's Marketing Education Programs" (Goins); "Academic Achievement of 1993 Vocational Graduates in Florida" (Thompson); "A Survey of Computer Usage by High School Marketing Education Teachers in South Carolina" (Clodfelter); "Triangulation: Expanding the Definition in Research" (Heath-Camp, Camp); "Marketing Education Philosophy and Objectives 1979 to 1989: A Decade of Research Influence" (Littman); "Motorcoach Tourists: A Market Profile" (Worms, Worms, Cremeans); "A Study of the Frequency and Criticality of Job Tasks and Competencies Performed in Fashion Retailing" (Woloszyk); "The Relationship of Entrepreneurship/Self-Employment to Career Guidance and Career Education in Kansas Schools, 1993" (Hoffman, Christy); "Enhancing Education through Cooperative Learning" (Cooper, Cornick, Malone); "Implications of the Global Economy for International Marketing Education" (O'Brien, Ning); "College Recruitment Survey for Marketing Education" (Searle); "Marketing Education--The Future" (Norwood). Many papers contain bibliographies. (MN)

This conference provided a forum for presenting research findings to educators and other audiences interested in marketing education. The following papers were presented: "Issues and Trends in Wisconsin Marketing Education" (Searle); "Competencies Necessary for Student Teachers" (Littman); "A Report of a Study of More than 1,000 Executives and the Implications of Their Views of Education on Tech Prep and the University" (Lucas et al.); "Work Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment of Marketing Education Teachers" (O'Brien, Akroyd, Richards); "The Conceptualization of a Professional Development Program for Beginning Vocational Teachers" (Heath-Camp, Camp); "Retail Sale Customers: Preparation and In-Store Behaviors" (Stewart); "Determining Specific Outcomes for a Curriculum" (Griggs, Stewart); "Restructuring Marketing Education in Florida: A Model for the Future" (Holmes); and "Comparison of DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) Winners and Membership at the National Level" (Norwood). Many papers contain bibliographies. (MN)

This paper examines the development of the Merchandising Management Program at Michigan State University and the development of a teaching module which focuses on the shifting economies in eastern Europe, particularly Poland, as they change from command to market economies. An overview of Polish retail trade required the development of a study to gain baseline data for the module because of the lack of current information. Also, a step-by-step process is given on how this baseline information was collected and processed, including trips to Moscow, Warsaw, and Katowice (Poland) to conduct interviews with retail owners/managers/directors and government officials. The interviews assisted in comparing retailing under the new economic approach with that of the old. Creation of the module also involved summarization of the data collected and the creation of visual materials for classroom presentation. Appendices include the questionnaire used in data collection, and the pretest used to determine the student's existing knowledge of Poland and the former Soviet Union. Contains 12 references. (GLR)

Four hundred eight female users of cosmetics in Madison, Wisconsin, responded to questionnaires which sought to discover correlations among the goal of the purchaser and the type and source of information sought in the buying decision. Two goals were identified: rational (cost, functional benefits of product, or possible undesirable consequences from use of the product) and social (conformity to perceived expectations of others). Users who have specific goals seek evaluative information of one sort or another. For instance, those who have social goals tend to depend on others' opinions for information and are apt to rely on the mass media. Consumers with economic goals are apt to prefer print advertisements, and those who perceive performance risk are likely to view salespeople as important information sources. The more important the buying situation is perceived to be by the consumer, the more apt she is to take the initiative to seek information and to evaluate alternatives. (TJ)

After pointing out the problems women face as they try to enter the ranks of corporate management (popular issues for discussion in the business press), this paper argues for better career planning for women in public relations. The paper considers the model of the structured retail career path which has contributed to the rise of women to executive retail positions, and discusses how the field of public relations can learn from the retail occupations and their experiences with feminization. The topic is explored in the paper through a review of textbooks, articles, and industry association publications. The paper concludes that women in public relations rarely have a structured career path to follow and suggests that women in public relations should actively seek their employers' career guidelines and determine whether public relations is considered to be part of the "path to the top." (Four diagrams are included, and 44 references are appended.) (Author/MS)

This document contains papers presented at a seminar to explore how the U.S. economy has created 30 million jobs since the early 1970s, while most European countries have barely managed to keep their labor force employed. The following papers are included: "Job Creation in the United States: Some Facts and Figures" (Sibille); "Unanswered Questions" (Dommergues); "The Unstable Balance between Macro- and Micro-Economic Factors" (Dommergues); "Local Initiatives and the Spirit of Entrepreneurship" (Howell, Daignault); "The Impact of Technology" (Fusfeld); "Measuring Development Progress at State Level" (Friedman); "The Grand Illusion?" (Bluestone); "For the Good of One and All" (Sibille); "Why Partnerships? Massachusetts' Experience" (Stratton); "Economic Development in Michigan" (Plastrik); "Philadelphia's Partnership's for Economic Renewal" (Widner); "Baltimore's Economic Development Partnerships" (Berkowitz); "The Logic of Innovation" (Dommergues); "University, Industry, and Regional Development" (Fusfeld); "Technology Transfers: Carnegie Mellon University" (Jordan); "Centers for Advanced Technology Transfer: The Ben Franklin Partnership" (Singerman); "Evaluating the Ben Franklin Partnership" (Osborne); "Entrepreneurship in the University: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology" (Bloomquist); "Venture Capital and Community Renewal" (Sibille); "The Michigan Strategic Fund" (Plastrik); "Venture Capital: The Engine of Economic Growth" (Lamond); "Informal Venture Capital: Business Angels" (Wetzel); "Banks and Community Renewal: Chicago's South Shore Bank" (Grzywinski); "An Entrepreneurial Approach to the Social Sector" (Sibille); "Economic Development and the New Service Sector" (Kennedy); "Kenilworth Parkside's Resident Managers" (Gray); "Home Health Care in New York" (Surpin); "The Long-Term Unemployed" (Wilson); "Changes in Trade and Distribution" (Dommergues); "Creating Jobs in Retailing: Toys 'R' Us" (Baczko); "The Distribution Sector: Evolution and Perspectives" (Loeb); "Between Fascination and Rejection: Reflections on American Success" (Tordjman); and "What Can We Learn from the Americans?" (Seguin). (CML)

Competition among companies has intensified in several industries. Most companies decline if they do not develop new business models. Innovation management research has examined companies' change behavior as business model innovation. Although previous studies have indicated that customer experience plays a role in business model innovation, few empirical studies have focused on a specific company. Therefore, the mechanism through which customer-centric business model innovation occurs remains unclear. To address this research gap, this study conducted a case study of the Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores, which developed a business model innovation based on customer experience. Through seven interviews in different stores, it was demonstrated that customer-centric business model innovation can occur when retailers with brick-and-mortar stores and high-quality services simultaneously pursue new customer needs, low-cost operations, and a customer-delight experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on developing a typology of virtual reality (VR) experiences in retail settings using construal level theory and the heuristic-systematic model of information processing. Topics include categorizing VR experiences based on purpose and temporality, the impact of construal mindset on information processing, and offering a framework for future research in VR retail applications.

The article focuses on investigating the role of organic products in driving private label share outcomes, specifically in the yogurt product category in the United States from 2008-2011. The topics include the impact of organic products on private label share, empirical analysis of assortment strategy, interactions between variables, and the importance of considering nuanced effects when making changes to private label assortments.

The article focuses on investigating the impact of customer usage of self-service technology on employee outcomes in the retail industry, with a particular emphasis on different self-service platforms and their influence on employee job satisfaction and service encounters. The study highlights how various types of self-service platforms, such as mobile and kiosk-based, affect employee commitment, satisfaction, and productivity.

The employee scheduling problem is crucial for increasing profits in the retail business as labor costs are among the largest costs to companies. We propose a general analytic approach to solve a real-life motivated employee scheduling problem and apply our approach for a large retail store in Turkey. There are multiple product categories in the retail store and sales of each product category are affected whether there is an employee(s) responsible for the product category at that period. Our approach provides a suggestion engine for a multi-period employee scheduling problem where the objective is to maximize the profit while generating a shift schedule for part-time and full-time employees. We start solving this problem by analyzing the past 12 months of sales data for a total of nine categories, taken from a large retail store company in Turkey. Then, we generate a contribution matrix for each category and each period via Arena capturing the stochasticity of both demand values and sales probabilities, conditional on the number and types of the employees working at that category and period. Following these, a deterministic integer linear programming model (ILP) is proposed to decide how many part-time and full-time employees should work at each category and each period to maximize the total profit. The ILP uses the contribution matrix generated by Arena, and also checks for legal working requirements, and it is solved by IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio version 20.1.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acceleration of online grocery shopping in recent years shows the widening acceptance of this way of shopping for grocery. Despite the fact that millennials are among the largest customer segment in this area, companies should not only focus on them, but also start strategically targeting the emerging generation of shoppers known as Generation Z. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to explore the potential of online grocery shopping among Generation Z and identify the most significant factors influencing the online retailer choice of these potential customers. To obtain primary data, an experiment was conducted in which 66 Generation Z individuals participated. It was found that as many as 77.2% of the experiment participants would purchase groceries online for their household in the future. The three most important decision factors influencing the implementation of online grocery shopping within Generation Z are price, WOM (family, friends and acquaintances) and service quality. Based on our research, it can be said that the potential of Generation Z in online grocery shopping is high and companies should start paying attention to this customer segment in the near future. Moreover, it is important that companies tailor their offerings to the wishes of this researched generation, and of course not only in terms of the identified decisive factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The level of female participation among Croatian entrepreneurs has been growing steadily. The highest percentage of female-owned companies is evident in the retailing and service industry. Although there are many support systems available for Croatian women to start businesses today, they are still lagging behind their male colleagues. This paper focuses on social media as the fastest-growing global cultural phenomenon in strengthening the participation of women in business as entrepreneurs. Within the context of entrepreneurship among women, this article addresses the main characteristics of female entrepreneurship, such as motivations, personal characteristics, problems, expectations, etc. Moreover, social media as an innovative way of how entrepreneurs carry out their day-to-day activities is discussed. As the main goal of this paper is to answer the research question (RQ): How social media supports female entrepreneurship activities in Croatia, a two-phase research study was conducted. The research methodology consists of a qualitative and quantitative approach. The qualitative approach consists of four face-to-face interviews, where successful Croatian female entrepreneurs explain the positive aspects of their business, obstacles that they were faced with, as well as the benefits they have had using innovations in retailing (especially social networks, innovations, etc.). The quantitative approach includes a study of a sample of 62 female entrepreneurs - owners of companies operating in retailing. The results point out that social media has been recognized by female entrepreneurs as the best channel to market their products/services as well as to interact and network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retailers have prevailing power in most of contemporary supply chains. While this power stems primarily from the dependence of other supply chain members on them, retailers manifest their power by imposing and carrying out numerous activities in the supply chain in collaboration with their partners, that is, other members of the supply chain. In this case it is possible to talk about retail supply chain management. The paper describes and analyzes contemporary retail supply chain management activities, highlighting its specificities with respect to traditional manufacturer-led supply chain management. For this purpose analysis of relevant secondary sources has been conducted. The work aims to clarify the role and significance of retail supply chain management in contemporary supply chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cash based transactions are increasing in Nigerian economic sphere and are draining public funds in terms of cost of cash management. Hence the government introduced the cashless policy to drain the economy of the excess cash. This shift in payment process is in line with scholars' consensus on the need for strategic change in business processes. A number of factors triggered business process change, which includes technological developments such as payment process, vis-à-vis Point of Sale Terminal (POS). Change Sense of Urgency has been linked to behavioral intention (BI), thus researchers have used several theories to explain user BI. These theories were consolidated to form a Unified Theory of acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). UTAUT is widely applied and extended to explain the phenomenon; however, 'Customers' Concern (CC) was neglected, despite importance of customers to business. This study aims to simultaneously examine the influence of CC along with UTAUT construct on BI. 321 valid data were collected from owners/managers of retail businesses in Nigeria, in a cross-sectional survey and were analyzed using Partial Least Square - Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) technique in SmartPLS software. Result of the analyses shows that CC, Performance Expectancy, Social Influence, and Facilitating Conditions significantly influences BI to use POS, while Effort Expectancy is not. Overall, the extended model was able to explain about 46% of variance in BI. Based on the result, managers' decision is therefore influenced by their concern for their customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Purpose of this research was to examine the attributes students use when evaluating a Malls or Retail store from which to buy. Students are the biggest spenders when it comes to technology, and food and other items. The students spending power also exceed those of their parents. As Shopping Malls face competition, an understanding of the shopping mall attributes students seek when selecting a Shopping malls would give them a competitive advantage. This requires that Shopping malls understand the attributes students consider when make a choice of a Shopping malls. A survey was conducted among 200 students. Convenience sampling method was adopted for the study. Statistical analysis included the descriptive stats, factor analysis, t-test and the ANOVA. The findings of the study revealed that majority of students buy from Pick ‗n Pay. Research limitations - The convenience sample used probably was not representative of all young consumers. The study also found that attributes most important to students differed across gender, age and level of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "Internet of Things" (IoT) is rapidly becoming one of the most popular emerging technologies in business and society. One of the major verticals that has recently begun to effectively utilize IoT technologies is the retail industry. Given the unpreceded opportunities IoT generates for brands and retailers, it is important to glean timely insights regarding the demand effects of IoT and understand whether the adoption of an IoT technology as an alternative purchase channel for consumers affects the sales of physical products. In this paper, using empirical data from an online retailer who adopted an IoT technology that largely automates the consumers' purchases and utilizing a quasi-experimental framework, we study the effect of the adoption of the IoT channel on product sales. Our analyses reveal a statistically and economically significant increase in sales as the result of adopting an IoT technology and demonstrate the business value of IoT for retailers and brands. Besides, we delve into the effect heterogeneity by examining the impact of IoT for products in different price ranges and different product categories (i.e., search versus experience goods). Our analyses reveal that less expensive products as well as experience goods, rather than search goods, can accrue higher benefits leveraging more effectively novel IoT technologies. We validate the robustness of our findings using an extensive set of robustness checks and falsification tests. This is the first paper to study the impact of an IoT technology on product sales, drawing important managerial implications and future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Society is facing new challenges as the population of the world is ageing and the number of people aged 60+years is increasing. Advancing age brings about changes in consumers preferences for products, especially for services. As the most crucial link between suppliers and consumers, retailers have recognized the value of this fastest-growing segment and have adapted their merchandise, in-store design, pricing policy, etc. Due to the fact that elderly people have feelings of insecurity and loneliness, and need for assistance in some activities, the focus of this paper is on the retailers' front office, i.e. staff which is responsible for direct communication with consumers. However, implementing such practices requires high-quality staff while retailers face a human resource environment characterized by a large number of inexperienced workers, long working hours, highly visible employees, a diverse workforce, and many part-time workers. The main purpose of this paper is to shed light on the interrelationships between consumers' ageing and the challenges they cause for human resource management in retailing. It has been explored in a qualitative study among grocery retailers in Croatia which revealed that they failed to fully understand the potential of this market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current sale of goods and services is distinctly different from the past and it is largely influenced by the use of online marketing as a powerful tool for building a competitive advantage. The difference is that consumers are more sophisticated, and they are better oriented on the Internet where they search for product information and references from other consumers. The overall product sales cycle is prolonged significantly. Traditional sales techniques have no longer such an impact on the consumer as they did in the past. Sales companies in Slovakia have started using social networks because more than 50% of Slovaks use the Internet every day. Social networks, especially Facebook, are a significant phenomenon that affects the whole society. In Slovakia, social networks are used by seven out of ten adults at least once a month and daily usage is on 45% level. This fact is also acknowledged by retailing, which communicates with its potential clients through social networks. According to statistics, young people are the most frequent users, although up to 36% of seniors declare that they use social networks at least once a month. Therefore, it is necessary for retailing to use this form of marketing to influence consumers' behavior. Based on the primary results, we can claim that social networking sites are being liked more by women than men. This can also be due to the fact that in most cases women are the ones who make purchases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trade is one of the leading sectors of the Croatian economy, which has undergone significant changes under the influence of globalization over the last decade. According to Central Bureau of Statistics in Croatia about 16 % of all employees work in trade business, and more than a quarter of business entities are registered in this sector. Therefore the trade has a significant share in Croatian GDP creation. Globalization is considered an important factor of economic development around the world. Through development of communication technology the world has become integrated into the "global village" and a business contact itself can be accomplished in a matter of minutes. The effects of globalization on retailing in Croatia are mostly reflected in the introduction of new retailing forms, development of e-commerce, consumer protection, the introduction of space management, changes in consumer habits and the arrival of multinational trading companies on the market of Croatia. In this way, the Croatian market has become a part of a single system. Globalization has a negative effect on trade in the Republic of Croatia too, because the domestic production and retail sales of small neighborhood stores are threatened in this way. Retailing in Croatia should make an attempt to adapt to the global trends in the world and to new changes taking into account the domestic production by the principle of comparative advantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Retailing is a distribution channel function where one organization buys products from supplying firms or manufactures the product themselves, and then sells these directly to consumers. A retailer is a reseller (i.e., obtains product from one party in order to sell to another) from which a consumer purchases products[2-3]. As a reseller, retailers offer many benefits to suppliers and customers as we discussed in the Distribution tutorial. For consumers the most important benefits relate to the ability to purchase small quantities of a wide assortment of products at prices that are considered reasonably affordable. International retailers often arrive in emergent markets because their home retailing market is saturated, and growth requires stealing market share from the competition. That's not typically the case in emergent markets, which is part of their appeal. In emergent markets, growth depends primarily on attracting both occasional shoppers and repeat customers for whom contemporary malls and stores are a relatively new experience. The key challenges involve reaching these customers, educating them about organized retailing, and helping them smoothly transition to what for them is a new way of shopping. In Turkey, there is no scientific method that can be applied during making an investment in retailing industry. It is really a big deficiency that these investments cannot be based on strong fundamentals. In this study, a model is built, in order to help an investor to decide on whether to make an investment or not in a specific location. As a result of the study, the organized food retailing rates and volumes for each city is found. In other words, the behaviour of people to meet their needs by organized retailing is modeled. In this model, five factors are determined, that affect the organized retailing rates for each city. These are gross domestic product per catia, education level, urbanization level, number of vehicles and number of firms in each city. A model is built after making various analysis on these factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retailing industry in Malaysia has been transforming from traditional grocery retail shops to supermarkets and expanded into hypermarkets. Hypermarket retailing is a common industry to everyone regardless of social status, income and even background. The emergence of hypermarket retailing in Malaysia since 1993 has changed the whole retailing industry to be more efficient and effective. The five main hypermarket players in Malaysia are Carrefour, Econsave, Giant, Mydin and Tesco. There are 296 hypermarket outlets throughout Malaysia. 40.88% of the total hypermarket outlets are located in Selangor which is one of the highest population growth states. Continuous strong pushes that have been given by the consumer have influenced the hypermarket retailers to continuously move ahead through high intense competitions to compete and sustain in the industry. This research is suggesting a potential path that has never been practiced and studied in Malaysia which is electronic hypermarket as an upcoming transformation in this industry. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Although the benefits of the Internet as an additional sales channel to traditional retailers are clear, there are significant variations in the scope and depth of online channel use among retailers. Drawing data from listed retail companies in China, this study examines the impact of online channel use on retailers' performance using event study. The results show that the online channel provides significant improvements in sales, cost, inventory, and return on investments. In addition, we find that the timing of online channel adoption does not have a significant impact on performance improvement, but having a higher local store presence does. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article presents several conference paper abstracts on technology and innovation management, including and examination of whether varieties of capitalism theory properly describes the empirical world of technological innovation, a framework for exploring why industry incumbents lose their leadership positions to attackers in the face of seemingly innocuous technological changes, and empirical research into the nature of business relationships, knowing and learning in the British and Italian motorsport industries.

The emergence of the Internet and its increasing commercial use has been currently affecting a number of areas in the business world. Although there is a great deal of uncertainty regarding the potential opportunities of the Internet, the rapid growth of the e-commerce justifies the need for undertaking research in this area. Applying a quantitative approach (see Walczuch et al., 2000), this study looks at the Portuguese book retailers' perceptions with regard to the Internet adoption benefits and obstacles as well as its potential for business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among women arrested for petty shoplifting in Texas, blacks are more likely than whites to face a more serious charge of organized retail theft instead of property theft, with the racial disparity being greater for police departments serving more affluent cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examines the complex interplay of a retailer's low versus high price image and CSR reputation with customers' attributions of the retailer's pricing and CSR motives and their effects on customers' perceived price fairness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Question A growing buy locavore movement has sparked interest from academicians and industry practitioners alike. Does local product status serve as a market liability or strength? Local products may be able to better fill consumer needs and might even provide better quality in certain market conditions. However, local status may also limit distributional capabilities, product awareness, among other potential deficiencies when compared to national products. Three interesting research questions with direct relevance to practice are addressed in this article: • How do market level distribution intensities of locally distributed products compare to nationally distributed products? • How does the baseline sales performance of locally distributed products compare to nationally distributed products? • How should product managers tactically approach the marketing of local and national products, respectively? Method and Data This research empirically investigates how local market status affects distribution and sales performance of 2,914 new products across 31 fast moving consumer goods categories in 50 U.S. markets. Panel data regressions are estimated that include market level and category fixed effects to account for unobserved heterogeneity. A random effect is also estimated for each specific product to account for differences among products. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) estimation is reported at first and then these initial findings are validated with two separate approaches to account for potential endogeneity: a Hausman and Taylor (1981) random effect panel model to the control function approach (Petrin and Train, 2010) to endogeneity correction. Summary of Findings The findings indicate that local products suffer from significant in market distribution challenges. Due to lack of crossmarket retail trade agreements, local products struggle to get on the shelves of many retail outlets in their market of operation. By contrast, many nationally distributed products enjoy almost universal and automatic distribution in each store per market that they choose to enter. Despite this significant distributional hurdle, locally distributed products are actually found to possess real and significant market advantages. In comparison to nationally distributed products, locally distributed products sell more per unit of distribution, sell particularly well in perishable goods markets, enjoy lower price sensitivity levels overall, and experience higher returns to promotional support activities. Key Contributions The findings provide clear implications for the current nature of local product sales performance and demonstrate what factors have served to inhibit its potential to grow further. Despite growing evidence from anecdotal locations such as popular press coverage, very limited academic research has addressed the growth of local product markets. This research synthesizes existing studies to form predictions about whether local product status may serve as a liability or an advantage in the marketplace. In general, the evidence indicates that local product managers should focus attention on gaining retail distribution, as this serves as their largest liability to growth prospects. By contrast, national product managers should focus on improving consumer perceptions of their products. Retailers also may benefit from the findings by considering local products as potentially beneficial additions to their category assortments. This work also serves to build on a nascent, yet growing body of academic literature (see: Marquis and Battilana, 2009) which notes that local status is a real and viable product market position that can be successfully leveraged by firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Question Little research has examined physical privacy while shopping in a retail store. This study examines the impact of visual privacy in a store and the consequences the retailer sees when visual privacy is violated. Reactance theory suggests control is equivalent to a behavior being threatened (Brehm 1966), making them simultaneous and interchangeable. This research hypothesizes that they are in fact not equivalent, but sequential variables in a process; a threat to behavior results in a threat to feelings of control, a finding that contributes to our understanding of reactance theory. Through this understanding of the theory, reactance is actually increased due to the increased loss of control a particular behavior reduction causes. In summation, this research aims to answer three research questions: 1. What are the consequences to a store when employees visually contact shoppers and how important are feelings of control to the relationship? 2. Does frequency of a purchase reduce the loss of control, even for embarrassing products? 3. Does visual contact cause a reduction in feelings of control for non-embarrassing products? Method and Data A field experiment was conducted to test the impact of visual contact on shopper behavior. The researcher either made eye contact or did not make eye contact with shoppers looking at embarrassing products. A total of 48 participants were observed. A chi-square test determined the results were significant (x2 = 6.68, p < .01) showing that when eye contact was made, people were significantly less likely to leave the area with the product (n = 8) than without it (n = 15). Similarly, when eye contact was not made, participants were significantly more likely to leave the area with the product (n = 18) than without it (n = 7). A second study was a scenario-based experiment with 69 participants and examined mediation by feelings of control and moderation by purchase frequency onto permanent and temporary abandonment and purchase intentions. The main effects of visual invasion and purchase frequency (β = -1.13, t = -2.17, p < .05) were negative and significant. The interaction of purchase frequency by visual contact was significant (β = .74, t = 2.27, p < .05). Feelings of control had a significant relationship to temporary abandonment (β = -.30, t = -1.98, p < .05), permanent abandonment (β = -.46, t = -2.95, p < .01), and purchase intentions (β = .59, t = 4.57, p < .001). Direct effects of visual invasion on the three dependent variables intentions were non-significant. Study 3 examined the same relationships, but utilized a nonembarrassing product. Main effects and interactions for visual invasion and purchase frequency were non-significant. Summary of Findings Studies 1 and 2 showed a negative relationship between visual contact and purchase intentions. Study 2 added a mediator of feelings of control and more specific shopper behavior variables of temporary and permanent abandonment along with purchase intentions. Study 2 showed that visual contact decreases a shopper's feelings of control which results in less likelihood to purchase the product and an increased likelihood to leave the area for embarrassing products. Study 3 confirmed that lower feelings of control result in increased likelihood to abandon the area, temporarily or permanently, and lower purchase intentions, even in the purchase of non-embarassing products. However, visual contact does not decrease feelings of control in the purchase of non-embarrassing products. The results indicate that feelings of control fully mediate the relationship between visual contact and temporary and permanent abandonment, as well as purchase intentions. Further, we find that purchase frequency moderates the relationship between visual contact and feelings of control such increased purchase frequency will weaken the relationship. The more often a person purchases a product, the more in control of the situation they feel. Key Contributions This research shows that threats to behavior are not equivalent to control, but rather they are related variables. Feelings of control act as a mediator between the realized threat to behavior and the resulting reactance. This seemingly subtle difference in the interpretation of reactance theory has major implications to researchers and managers alike. If behavior and control are different, then the person could be acting in ways to regain control, not the behavior itself. From a managerial perspective, this means a store can find ways to give control back to the shopper. For example, store layout can be arranged to decrease the visual exposure shoppers feel for embarrassing products. Managers can add training to their employees so that they do not make unnecessary eye contact with shoppers who are browsing for embarrassing or unfamiliar products. To increase feelings of control, stores can add call buttons that alert an employee that assistance is needed, put embarrassing products in vending, add self-checkout aisles, or make available privacy bags that shoppers can carry their products in. Visual privacy does have implications for the store and an employee making eye contact with a shopper can decrease feelings of control, especially if the product is embarrassing and not often purchased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research focuses on consumers who are considered to be at risk of poverty (this threshold is defined by the European Commission to be at 60% of the national median income (Eurostat, 2013) and their experiences in a typical consumption context, namely shopping for grocery products. More specifically, we explore the notion of consumption for a group of people that are threatened by poverty but still have sufficient resources to sustain basic pillars of their lives such as housing and the purchase of basic consumer goods. The majority of their purchases is conducted in a very specific retail environment, namely social supermarkets (SSMs). As consumers drift back and forth between regular consumption environments and the specific venues of social supermarkets, the current research allows to explore and bridge two seemingly opposing ends: contemporary mainstream consumer behavior and impoverished consumers' understandings of consumption. Research Question Literature on people in poverty has provided important insights into how poverty impacts consumers' lives as well as their attitudes, behaviors and emotions (see, e.g., Hill 2001; Klein and Hill 2008; Poppendieck 1998). A common basis of this literature stream is the acceptance of consumption as integral component in identity formation as our sense of self is often closely connected to our ability to consume and to our identity as consumers (Hamilton and Catterall, 2005). Against this background, we aim to extend research on impoverished consumers by exploring how consumption experiences in social supermarkets as well as the transition between two concurrent consumption realities (i.e. the standard supermarket and the social supermarkets) influence self-identity formation of consumers. To this end, the present research focuses on consumers who live below the so called at-risk-of-poverty line, defined as 60% of the national median income across European countries (Eurostat, 2013). This threshold is used to establish eligibility and access to a unique consumption setting: social supermarkets (SSMs). Social supermarkets provide products at a much lower price and are increasingly widespread even in developed societies (Holweg and Lienbacher 2011). Method and Data To better understand the behavior of impoverished consumers in the context of grocery shopping, we follow an ethnographic approach: At first, we conducted three focus groups amongst customers of three different social supermarkets. The groups included between 3 and 6 people who were mixed in terms of gender, age, profession, and family status. The initial rounds of focus groups were purposefully chosen so that participants were able to discuss their personal situation and emotions with individuals who made similar experiences. Next, we interviewed three senior store managers to get a broader picture of different types of SSM customers, in particular of customers who would not be available for personal interviews for reasons of language skills or other personal resentments. All interviews were led by two experienced moderators who work as volunteers at a SSM, which generated further trust among the respondents. The initial analysis included the reading of transcripts, field notes and additional documents. We then inductively coded existing data along emergent categories and, in a subsequent step, grouped them into more abstract conceptual classes that reflect the transformation consumers go through when transcending from the normal consumer landscape to the at-risk-of-poverty population found in social supermarkets (Spiggle, 1994). Summary of Findings We find evidence of a step-wise process, in which consumers depart from their "old" consumerist lifestyle to a reality in which they need additional (financial) support: The first step of the transition process begins with consumers' realization that they need help. It seems that consumers can ignore the precariousness of their situation up to a certain point but ultimately have to surrender, which typically means they apply for access to a SSM. Once officially registered, consumers need time to get accustomed to the consumption experience and their new identity as "social supermarket consumer." This struggle of acceptance marks the second step of the transition process. Third, re-negotiating one's identity is characterized by increasing familiarization with a new set of rules, such as queuing up to be served instead of helping oneself; or their insight that they won't be able to change their fate, as it often happens among retired people. A new self-concept results as a last step. Consumers show a sense of pride for being able to manage their lives, and display a shared identity with other SSM customers. However, this step also goes in hand with signs of increasing alienation from traditional consumer outlets. Key Contributions Consumers resort to the marketplace to forge a sense of self and to construct their identities. We find that our interviewees, as regular customers of social supermarkets, re-negotiate their identity as consumers but, at the same time, clearly dissociate themselves from "normal" consumers. Our insights thereby extend the understanding that "normality is equated with the ability to consume" (Hamilton and Catterall, 2005, p. 627). Even more than the ability per se, we find that normality, as experienced by our interviewees, is about the boundaries of this ability to consume. To this end, the adaptation process we witness among our consumers--from normal to impoverished consumers--is different to the modifications of habitual frameworks of interpretation found by Hill and Stamey (1990). Within these initial phases of our ethnography, we experienced the paradoxical nature of SSMs: They are a place where consumers with financial restrictions feel appreciated and among kindred, yet at the same time reinforce a pattern of self-stigmatization and a notion of not being normal consumers. Given the rise of SSMs across Europe, a better understanding of SSM consumers is needed to support their self-empowerment by reinforcing and promoting the "normalcy" of shopping within financially restricted conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we take an in-depth look at the connections between religiosity, CSR attitudes, and retail visits by constructing a two-level, mediated model of religiosity, CSR attitudes, and shopping trips. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]