James R. Lumpkin

Shopping orientation segmentation of the elderly consumer

Elderly consumers are generally acknowledged as a growing force in the marketplace. Research on the elderly, to date, has been rather narrow in focus and considers this group as homogeneous. This research extends earlier research and identifies distinct sub-segments of elderly consumers, based on their shopping orientations. These segments are then profiled with respect to other aspects of their marketplace behavior. The results indicate a viable segment which should not be ignored by retailers.

Shopping patterns of the rural consumer: Exploring the relationship between shopping orientations and outshopping

Much attention has been devoted to the taxonomic analysis of the shopping orientations, behavior, and other characteristics of urban and suburban consumers. To a great extent, however, rural consumers have escaped the attention of researchers. Research focusing on this sector is needed because recent studies of outshopping suggest that rural consumers represent a significant force in some retail markets. This article examines rural consumers by developing a taxonomy of shopping-orientation groups. Differences among these groups are analyzed with respect to outshopping behavior, and the strategic implications of the research are discussed.

Functioning Modeling Corporate Entrepreneurship: An Empirical Integrative Analysis

Research on entrepreneurship and especially corporate entrepreneurship has been fragmented and lacks accepted definitions. This study develops an objective definition of corporate entrepreneurship from two areas of entrepreneurial research. Using a statewide sample of savings and loans, this research classifies organizations as entrepreneurial and conservative and empirically tests hypotheses relating to the notion of corporate entrepreneurship. MANOCOVA analysis, controlling for size, supported the hypotheses that in entrepreneurial organizations, (a) decision making is more participative, (b) decision making relies more on specialized personnel, (c) performance objectives are developed from shared participation, and (d) managers will not be penalized if risky projects fail. It was not found that managers of entrepreneurial organizations rely less on integration processes to assist in implementing decisions.

Screening Practices of New Business Incubators: The Evaluation of Critical Success Factors:

New firms are an important mechanism through which new jobs are created. However, the new venture failure rate is greater than the rate of creation. Business incubators have been organized to bring new businesses together to increase the probability of success. Incubators do not guarantee success; however, evaluating potential clients on Critical Success Factors can minimize failures once the firm joins an incubator. This research investigates the screening practices of incubators and identifies unique groups of incubators. The screening practices were found to relate to sponsorship but not to physical characteristics or objectives.

Understanding the outshopper

What type of consumer foregoes the convenience of hometown shopping and travels to out-of-town markets to purchase goods? This question continues to be the subject of much interest to marketers. The research reported in this article replicates and extends the growing body of intermarket patronage literature. Specifically, this article analyzes the demographic and psychographic profiles of inshoppers, occasional outshoppers, and frquent outshoppers. In addition, the importance of eight shopping area attributes are compared across the three intermarket patronage segments.

Validity of a Brief Locus of Control Scale for Survey Research

Of the numerous scales proposed to measure locus of control, most are too long to use efficiently in survey research in which locus of control is not the major focus. This research reports the validation of a 6-item sub-scale from Rotter but using the Likert format. A national probability sample of 3,009 was used to overcome the limitations of previous samples. Based on the alpha coefficient and replicating the relationship. to several correlates established in prior research, the brief measure appears to be valid.

Psychological climate in franchising system channels and franchisor-franchisee solidarity

Abstract The ability of franchisors to preserve long-term, mutually committed relationships with their franchisees likely exercises a crucial influence on the success of franchised retailing systems. Solidarity is the general contracting norm that binds channel relationships. The degree to which the psychological climates of franchising channel systems influences the level of solidarity that exists between franchisors and franchisees is investigated in this study. Low-solidarity and high-solidarity franchisees were distinguished by their significantly differing perceptions of the recognition, fairness, cohesion, innovation, and autonomy associated with their franchising systems psychological climate. The psychological climate perceptions held by franchisees that frame their exchange relations with their franchisors likely affect the level of commitment (above and beyond contractually-obligated commitment) that franchisees are willing to invest in this relationship, and thus, toward the franchisors themselves. Consequently, recommendations regarding how franchisors might act to foster solidarity-facilitating psychological climates are offered.

Mobility as an Influence on Retail Patronage Behavior of the Elderly: Testing Conventional Wisdom

While the marketplace potential of the elderly segment is tremendous, research with regard to what influences the elderly’s patronage behavior has, to date, been inconclusive. This article attempts to determine the effect lack of transportation mobility has on various patronage behaviors. The research reported here is based on a large national smaple of the elderly and incorporates the factors suggested by previous research. The study shows mobility is not a significant influence on the type of retail store frequented, but can influence switching patronage between stores of a given type. Additionally, it was found that mobility is related to the elderly’s psychographic profiles, convenience needs, and information source usage.

Perceived Risk as a Factor in Buying Foreign Clothes

The notion of perceived risk as an influence on consumer behaviour and the influence of knowledge of country of origin on the decision process have been well documented. Little research, however, has investigated the nature of risk associated with foreign products. This study uses Bettmans concept of inherent/handled risk to isolate the risk attributable to specific countries and relates the risk to willingness to buy clothing from the countries and the importance of the country of origin in the decision process.

Relating Television Preference Viewing to Shopping Orientations, Life Styles, and Demographics: The Examination of Perceptual and Preference Dimensions of Television Programming

Abstract Matching advertising to the appropriate segment is especially critical for television advertising which reaches many diverse segments. This problem has received much attention from researchers over the years. Attempts have been made to develop a television program typology based on the programs most salient feature rather than the dimensions perceived by the audience. However, little research has related preference for these program types to market related variables. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceived dimensions underlying the television programs and the similarity of the programs along the dimensions, and if various program preference groups differ with respect to life styles, shopping orientations, and demographics. The results of this research suggest that consumers prefer distinct sets of programs rather than one specific type. The preference groups were found to differ with respect to life styles and demographics but not shopping orientations.