leigh sparks | University of Stirling (original) (raw)
Papers by leigh sparks
British Food Journal, 2003
The financial services sector operates in a turbulent environment. The availability of financial ... more The financial services sector operates in a turbulent environment. The availability of financial services for customers has grown considerably, with providers encompassing retailers through to specialists. Food retailers in particular are the non-financial sector key movers in the market change underway. Within this context, this paper aims to provide a framework to consider the operational,
The paper investigates the influence that customer loyalty towards the private label and towards ... more The paper investigates the influence that customer loyalty towards the private label and towards the retailer exerts on the purchase of non-traditional products and services (NTPS) offered by grocery retailers through their private label. Two-hundred and forty UK retail customers completed a questionnaire. Data were processed applying a binary logistic regression, using the buying of at least one NTPS as the dependent variable (1= buy; 0= No buy). Results show that cognitive loyalty to the private label and behavioural loyalty to the retailer positively predict the buying of NTPS, cognitive loyalty to the retailer brand plays a negative predictive role and behavioural loyalty to the private label is not significant.
Access to healthy food and its marketing have been asserted as limitations on changing behaviour ... more Access to healthy food and its marketing have been asserted as limitations on changing behaviour to improve diet.
Retail companies develop and expand by combining both structural attributes and spatial awareness... more Retail companies develop and expand by combining both structural attributes and spatial awareness. The spatial-structural development and growth of individual retail companies has been neglected in the growing retail literature.
Retail superstores in Great Britain have been the subject of much research and discussion. This a... more Retail superstores in Great Britain have been the subject of much research and discussion. This article examines a neglected facet of superstores, namely employment, and considers some characteristics of superstore employment and their relationship to the size of superstore development. On the basis of the regression analyses undertaken, a predictive model of superstore employment and the scale of store is presented.
Twenty-five years have now passed since the last Census of Distribution was carried out. Since 19... more Twenty-five years have now passed since the last Census of Distribution was carried out. Since 1971, retailing has been thoroughly restructured and at a time of massive change, the data sources for the understanding of the spatial implications of this' retail revolution'are inadequate. Commercial substitutes are incomplete and insufficient. Given the importance of retailing to the economy and to everyday life, this statistical and spatial disaster should be rectified urgently.
Abstract: The financial services sector operates in a turbulent environment. The availability of ... more Abstract: The financial services sector operates in a turbulent environment. The availability of financial services for customers has grown considerably, with providers encompassing retailers through to specialists. Food retailers in particular are the non-financial sector key movers in the market change underway. Within this context, this paper aims to provide a framework to consider the operational, strategic and relational issues concerned with the entry of British food retailers into the financial services sector.
Abstract: British retailers have been at the forefront of logistical changes. By taking control o... more Abstract: British retailers have been at the forefront of logistical changes. By taking control of distribution channels they have transformed their operations. Much of the process by which this has been achieved is well covered in the literature. This paper looks at the macro issues involved and the under-pinning concepts in logistical transformation in retailing, and attempts to synthesize and provide an overview of the literature. The paper concludes by raising a series of questions about the future.
The third edition of Logistics and Retail Management has been substantially updated to take accou... more The third edition of Logistics and Retail Management has been substantially updated to take account of recent developments in retail logistics. Retailers have recognised the need to have more involvement in supply chains and noted that benefits can be achieved in both service levels and cost reduction. Notwithstanding the major strides made, numerous challenges remain, and new issues are constantly emerging.
INTRODUCTION Retailing has become one of the most dynamic sectors of trade worldwide. In the last... more INTRODUCTION Retailing has become one of the most dynamic sectors of trade worldwide. In the last thirty years it has changed rapidly, with economic and social pressures leading to a growth of large multiple chains, a polarisation of operating scale into large and small stores and a shift from established centres to out-of-town and edge-oftown locations (Dawson, 1979; Burt, 1990).
With the exception of Argos, catalogue showroom retailing has not been a major success in Europe.... more With the exception of Argos, catalogue showroom retailing has not been a major success in Europe. Argos, founded in 1973 by the Green Shield stamp entrepreneur, Richard Tompkins, has grown to be one of Britain's leading retailers. Its corporate history, with two periods of independence and two periods as a business unit in a conglomerate, is of interest. Its innovativeness, through its catalogue development and format experimentation, makes Argos important to our understanding of retail change.
Abstract: Reports on an investigation of the buying behaviour of air freight forwarders and tests... more Abstract: Reports on an investigation of the buying behaviour of air freight forwarders and tests the validity of one particular model of buying behaviour. The dominant buyclass in freight forwarding is seen to be a modified rebuy and the model is seen to be appropriate. The significance of service rather than price is again noted as a factor for business exploitation.
Information from 175 superstores, operated by three companies, is used to investigate the importa... more Information from 175 superstores, operated by three companies, is used to investigate the importance of store operator in setting superstore employment levels and types of employment. Store operator is shown to be a significant factor determining employment numbers and types in British superstores.
Livre: The retailing reader DAWSON John, FINDLAY Anne, SPARKS Leigh.
This paper reports a diary study into retail loyalty card effects. Thirty informants—10 cardholde... more This paper reports a diary study into retail loyalty card effects. Thirty informants—10 cardholders matched with 10 non-cardholders using the same retailers, and 10 cardholders within one scheme—were required to record their attitudes towards, their experience of and their usage of the store and the loyalty card (if they had one). The study lasted for four months. Informants were also required to provide background information on attitudes in an initial questionnaire.
British Food Journal, 2003
The financial services sector operates in a turbulent environment. The availability of financial ... more The financial services sector operates in a turbulent environment. The availability of financial services for customers has grown considerably, with providers encompassing retailers through to specialists. Food retailers in particular are the non-financial sector key movers in the market change underway. Within this context, this paper aims to provide a framework to consider the operational,
The paper investigates the influence that customer loyalty towards the private label and towards ... more The paper investigates the influence that customer loyalty towards the private label and towards the retailer exerts on the purchase of non-traditional products and services (NTPS) offered by grocery retailers through their private label. Two-hundred and forty UK retail customers completed a questionnaire. Data were processed applying a binary logistic regression, using the buying of at least one NTPS as the dependent variable (1= buy; 0= No buy). Results show that cognitive loyalty to the private label and behavioural loyalty to the retailer positively predict the buying of NTPS, cognitive loyalty to the retailer brand plays a negative predictive role and behavioural loyalty to the private label is not significant.
Access to healthy food and its marketing have been asserted as limitations on changing behaviour ... more Access to healthy food and its marketing have been asserted as limitations on changing behaviour to improve diet.
Retail companies develop and expand by combining both structural attributes and spatial awareness... more Retail companies develop and expand by combining both structural attributes and spatial awareness. The spatial-structural development and growth of individual retail companies has been neglected in the growing retail literature.
Retail superstores in Great Britain have been the subject of much research and discussion. This a... more Retail superstores in Great Britain have been the subject of much research and discussion. This article examines a neglected facet of superstores, namely employment, and considers some characteristics of superstore employment and their relationship to the size of superstore development. On the basis of the regression analyses undertaken, a predictive model of superstore employment and the scale of store is presented.
Twenty-five years have now passed since the last Census of Distribution was carried out. Since 19... more Twenty-five years have now passed since the last Census of Distribution was carried out. Since 1971, retailing has been thoroughly restructured and at a time of massive change, the data sources for the understanding of the spatial implications of this' retail revolution'are inadequate. Commercial substitutes are incomplete and insufficient. Given the importance of retailing to the economy and to everyday life, this statistical and spatial disaster should be rectified urgently.
Abstract: The financial services sector operates in a turbulent environment. The availability of ... more Abstract: The financial services sector operates in a turbulent environment. The availability of financial services for customers has grown considerably, with providers encompassing retailers through to specialists. Food retailers in particular are the non-financial sector key movers in the market change underway. Within this context, this paper aims to provide a framework to consider the operational, strategic and relational issues concerned with the entry of British food retailers into the financial services sector.
Abstract: British retailers have been at the forefront of logistical changes. By taking control o... more Abstract: British retailers have been at the forefront of logistical changes. By taking control of distribution channels they have transformed their operations. Much of the process by which this has been achieved is well covered in the literature. This paper looks at the macro issues involved and the under-pinning concepts in logistical transformation in retailing, and attempts to synthesize and provide an overview of the literature. The paper concludes by raising a series of questions about the future.
The third edition of Logistics and Retail Management has been substantially updated to take accou... more The third edition of Logistics and Retail Management has been substantially updated to take account of recent developments in retail logistics. Retailers have recognised the need to have more involvement in supply chains and noted that benefits can be achieved in both service levels and cost reduction. Notwithstanding the major strides made, numerous challenges remain, and new issues are constantly emerging.
INTRODUCTION Retailing has become one of the most dynamic sectors of trade worldwide. In the last... more INTRODUCTION Retailing has become one of the most dynamic sectors of trade worldwide. In the last thirty years it has changed rapidly, with economic and social pressures leading to a growth of large multiple chains, a polarisation of operating scale into large and small stores and a shift from established centres to out-of-town and edge-oftown locations (Dawson, 1979; Burt, 1990).
With the exception of Argos, catalogue showroom retailing has not been a major success in Europe.... more With the exception of Argos, catalogue showroom retailing has not been a major success in Europe. Argos, founded in 1973 by the Green Shield stamp entrepreneur, Richard Tompkins, has grown to be one of Britain's leading retailers. Its corporate history, with two periods of independence and two periods as a business unit in a conglomerate, is of interest. Its innovativeness, through its catalogue development and format experimentation, makes Argos important to our understanding of retail change.
Abstract: Reports on an investigation of the buying behaviour of air freight forwarders and tests... more Abstract: Reports on an investigation of the buying behaviour of air freight forwarders and tests the validity of one particular model of buying behaviour. The dominant buyclass in freight forwarding is seen to be a modified rebuy and the model is seen to be appropriate. The significance of service rather than price is again noted as a factor for business exploitation.
Information from 175 superstores, operated by three companies, is used to investigate the importa... more Information from 175 superstores, operated by three companies, is used to investigate the importance of store operator in setting superstore employment levels and types of employment. Store operator is shown to be a significant factor determining employment numbers and types in British superstores.
Livre: The retailing reader DAWSON John, FINDLAY Anne, SPARKS Leigh.
This paper reports a diary study into retail loyalty card effects. Thirty informants—10 cardholde... more This paper reports a diary study into retail loyalty card effects. Thirty informants—10 cardholders matched with 10 non-cardholders using the same retailers, and 10 cardholders within one scheme—were required to record their attitudes towards, their experience of and their usage of the store and the loyalty card (if they had one). The study lasted for four months. Informants were also required to provide background information on attitudes in an initial questionnaire.