Retail has been considered national, or even local in character. In the 1990s a different environment emerged. The increasing dominance of distribution channels by large retailers, the emergence of global regional trading areas such as the single European market, and the convergence of international consumer tastes have led to a shift in perspectives. The large retail enterprise which does not think on an international basis faces marginalization by those competitors who are building international operations. This work brings together management researchers in the areas of international...

This volume considers the emergence and development of modern retailing from an historical and management perspective in the period 1750-1950. The history of retail business development is an under researched area and these studies address the need for further research and provide examples of current research activity. The book considers the early emergence of retail forms in the late 18th century, the evolution of retail forms in the 19th century and the late adaptation of retail innovation in the early 20th century.

Based on the successful international retailing textbook by Nicholas Alexander, this new textbook has been designed to deliver a clear understanding of the retail internationalisation process, considering the supporting theoretical frameworks, international retail activity, and the management of international operations.
Structured around four parts, the text guides students through the internationalisation process, considering international markets and how retail enterprises operate within them, before ending with a concluding section that considers future trends. The authors discuss...