Antje Cockrill

Going global-remaining local: the impact of e-commerce on small retail firms in Wales

This research paper outlines the findings of a multiple research study among 25 small and micro retail companies throughout Wales regarding e-commerce usage. The key aim of the research has been to establish the level of e-commerce usage among these companies, in accordance with the Connectivity Indicator and E-commerce Adoption Model, developed by the UK Department of Trade and Industry. Moreover, an assessment of the strategies used to implement e-commerce by these companies has been made, which includes an examination of the question whether these businesses, through their use of e-commerce, are focusing on global, local or other markets. This research has focused only on retailers who are new channel experimenters, i.e. companies augmenting their main business with experimental electronic commerce. Transactional e-commerce is emphasised, since significant growth in this arena is anticipated in the next 5 years. The authors conclude that the Welsh retail sector is partially failing to capitalise on the opportunities that e-commerce presents, which in turn may lead to future job losses, and prosperity being eroded by e-commerce competition from overseas. The authors also note that there appears to be a conflict between business structures aimed at supplying local markets and attempts of reaching global markets with inadequate means.

Servicescape matters – or does it? The special case of betting shops

Purpose – The concept of servicescape and its effect on consumer behaviour has been studied extensively in numerous areas of retailing. However, the role of servicescape in non‐traditional service settings has received comparatively little attention. The aim of this paper is to fill in some of this research gap by testing the effects of servicescape (ambience, layout and functionality) on consumer behaviour within UK betting shops, as part of the wider UK gambling industry.Design/methodology/approach – In order to achieve this objective an exploratory research methodology was chosen. Firstly, three betting shops in the same metropolitan area were chosen as the base for interviews with managers and structured observations. This was complemented by fifty semi‐structured customer interviews from the same three betting shops. The use of these different methods allowed triangulation and validation of the results.Findings – The key finding of this paper are that customers in betting shops appear to be unaffecte...

The Critical Role of Perceived Risk and Trust in Determining Customer Satisfaction with Automated Banking Channels

Comparatively little attention has been paid to the role played by trust and perceived risk in determining satisfaction within the banking sector and in particular Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). Here, the key variables in determining satisfaction with ATMs are determined. Based on a literature review, a number of hypotheses have been developed. A linear regression model is used to predict the overall level of consumer satisfaction with ATMs. The final model uses five direct input factors and seven moderated factors, of which the most important were found to be perceived value, trust, and perceived risk. Finally, the managerial and research implications of these results are discussed.

Perceived price fairness and price decay in the DVD market

Purpose – This study aims to examine perceived price fairness, actual pricing and price decay in a short‐life cycle market; namely DVD films.Design/methodology/approach – The prices of six UK retailers for a range of films released over the last 18 months were examined and compared with the perceived perception of fair price of a questionnaire sample of over 500 UK adults.Findings – Consumers perceive a DVD to lose value of more than 50 per cent in the first year, but this price decay is not reflected in the actual pricing of the DVDs. Prices for newer DVDs are relatively consistent between retailers of the same channel type, but there are large price differentials for older and/or more specialised items.Research limitations/implications – This study is exploratory in nature, and a larger scale study of the phenomenon of price decay of digital short‐life cycle products such as DVDs is desirable.Practical implications – The findings suggest that there is a considerable gap between actual prices and perceiv...

The Bluetooth Enigma: Practicalities Impair Potential: Awareness is High. Can Usage Be Higher?

ABSTRACT This article analyzes young peoples attitudes toward Bluetooth Proximity Marketing, their intention to use it, and the barriers that deter consumers from using this technology. Awareness and knowledge of this technology are very high; key barriers to use appear to be that Bluetooth uses up battery power too quickly and that consumers distrust the technology owing to privacy concerns. Positive attitude, which includes peer influence and fun/excitement, also is an important factor governing the future intention to use the technology. Significant gender differences in adaptation and intention also were discovered. Managerial implications and suggestions for further research are discussed at the end of this study.

The Policy Implications of a Regional Case Study: Skills Shortages and Provision in the Welsh Automotive and Electronics Industries.

Abstract This article is based on a survey of small automotive and electronics companies in Wales. Issues investigated included skills requirements and provision, recruitment, and training activities. The results of this survey are compared to a similar study carried out in 1996. In the intervening time, a number of government initiatives were launched or became established, such as NVQs, Modern Apprenticeships, National Traineeships, Skill Build and the New Deal programme. This article examines whether these initiatives have had an impact on the type of small to medium size enterprises (SMEs) studied. The author concludes that the impact of these initiatives appears to have been limited, for example, the introduction of the Modern Apprenticeship scheme does not seem to have addressed a reported lack of apprenticeship-trained staff. Another major issue was barriers to training. Cost and staff time were identified as key barriers, but for many respondents employee motivation was also a problem. This, in turn, implies that the equation available training scheme = output = skilled workforce is too simplistic, and that more appropriate regional training structures and policies have to be developed.

Shocking people into action – does it still work? An empirical analysis of emotional appeals in charity advertising

ABSTRACT How effective is shock advertising for charities? To address this question, the current researchers used an experimental design based on a cross-sectional sample of three groups of adults. Respondents were exposed to an advertisement with a shock, neutral, or positive emotional appeal for a charity and indicated their intention to donate to the charity, volunteer for the charity, agree to the charitable cause, and talk about the advertisement with family and friends. Key findings include that shock advertising does work, but not by shocking. Surprise, interest, and compassion are key emotions when it comes to engaging with a charity.

The UK as an Educational Tourist Destination: Young Chinese’ Experiences of the UK

The growing number of Chinese students is a significant contributor to the UK economy in general and higher education in particular. These students do not simply come to the UK to obtain a degree; they also wish to gain experience of life in the UK. In many ways, their objectives are comparable to those of long stay tourists - whilst they have an educational goal, they also visit the UK as a tourist destination. The academic experiences of international students have been extensively studied, but much less is known about their perceptions of the UK as a study and living destination, and how their experiences match up against their initial expectations.

The Influence of Servicescape on Counterfeit Purchasing: An Exploratory Study

For a growing number of consumers, purchasing ‘fake’ or counterfeit products is part of their everyday lives, with 25% of consumers readily admitting that they buy counterfeit products. (Hardy 2010). The easy availability of such products both through various retail environments and particularly the Internet encourages this buying behaviour. Bosworth (2006, p2) highlights this issue by maintaining that “while branded firms complain bitterly about the scale and impact of counterfeiting and piracy, the feeling invoked amongst individuals and even governments tends to be more ambiguous, at least for certain types of goods.”