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• 13 May 2024
• Research & Ideas

Picture This: Why Online Image Searches Drive Purchases

Smaller sellers' products often get lost on large online marketplaces. However, harnessing images in search can help consumers find these products faster, increasing sales and customer satisfaction, finds research by Chiara Farronato and colleagues.

• 01 Apr 2024
• In Practice

Navigating the Mood of Customers Weary of Price Hikes

Price increases might be tempering after historic surges, but companies continue to wrestle with pinched consumers. Alexander MacKay, Chiara Farronato, and Emily Williams make sense of the economic whiplash of inflation and offer insights for business leaders trying to find equilibrium.

• 17 Jan 2024

Psychological Pricing Tactics to Fight the Inflation Blues

Inflation has slowed from the epic rates of 2021 and 2022, but many consumers still feel pinched. What will it take to encourage them to spend? Thoughtful pricing strategies that empower customers as they make purchasing decisions, says research by Elie Ofek.

• 05 Dec 2023
• Cold Call Podcast

Tommy Hilfiger’s Adaptive Clothing Line: Making Fashion Inclusive

In 2017, Tommy Hilfiger launched its adaptive fashion line to provide fashion apparel that aims to make dressing easier. By 2020, it was still a relatively unknown line in the U.S. and the Tommy Hilfiger team was continuing to learn more about how to serve these new customers. Should the team make adaptive clothing available beyond the U.S., or is a global expansion premature? Assistant Professor Elizabeth Keenan discusses the opportunities and challenges that accompanied the introduction of a new product line that effectively serves an entirely new customer while simultaneously starting a movement to provide fashion for all in the case, “Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive: Fashion for All.”

• 05 Jul 2023

How Unilever Is Preparing for the Future of Work

Launched in 2016, Unilever’s Future of Work initiative aimed to accelerate the speed of change throughout the organization and prepare its workforce for a digitalized and highly automated era. But despite its success over the last three years, the program still faces significant challenges in its implementation. How should Unilever, one of the world's largest consumer goods companies, best prepare and upscale its workforce for the future? How should Unilever adapt and accelerate the speed of change throughout the organization? Is it even possible to lead a systematic, agile workforce transformation across several geographies while accounting for local context? Harvard Business School professor and faculty co-chair of the Managing the Future of Work Project William Kerr and Patrick Hull, Unilever’s vice president of global learning and future of work, discuss how rapid advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation are changing the nature of work in the case, “Unilever's Response to the Future of Work.”

• 25 Apr 2023

How SHEIN and Temu Conquered Fast Fashion—and Forged a New Business Model

The platforms SHEIN and Temu match consumer demand and factory output, bringing Chinese production to the rest of the world. The companies have remade fast fashion, but their pioneering approach has the potential to go far beyond retail, says John Deighton.

• 11 Apr 2023

Is Amazon a Retailer, a Tech Firm, or a Media Company? How AI Can Help Investors Decide

More companies are bringing seemingly unrelated businesses together in new ways, challenging traditional stock categories. MarcAntonio Awada and Suraj Srinivasan discuss how applying machine learning to regulatory data could reveal new opportunities for investors.

• 04 Apr 2023

Two Centuries of Business Leaders Who Took a Stand on Social Issues

Executives going back to George Cadbury and J. N. Tata have been trying to improve life for their workers and communities, according to the book Deeply Responsible Business: A Global History of Values-Driven Leadership by Geoffrey Jones. He highlights three practices that deeply responsible companies share.

• 03 Mar 2023

When Showing Know-How Backfires for Women Managers

Women managers might think they need to roll up their sleeves and work alongside their teams to show their mettle. But research by Alexandra Feldberg shows how this strategy can work against them. How can employers provide more support?

• 27 Feb 2023

How One Late Employee Can Hurt Your Business: Data from 25 Million Timecards

Employees who clock in a few minutes late—or not at all—often dampen sales and productivity, says a study of 100,000 workers by Ananth Raman and Caleb Kwon. What can managers do to address chronic tardiness and absenteeism?

• 06 Dec 2022

Latest Isn’t Always Greatest: Why Product Updates Capture Consumers

Consumers can't pass up a product update—even if there's no improvement. Research by Leslie John, Michael Norton, and Ximena Garcia-Rada illustrates the powerful allure of change. Are we really that naïve?

• 29 Nov 2022

How Much More Would Holiday Shoppers Pay to Wear Something Rare?

Economic worries will make pricing strategy even more critical this holiday season. Research by Chiara Farronato reveals the value that hip consumers see in hard-to-find products. Are companies simply making too many goods?

• 21 Nov 2022

Buy Now, Pay Later: How Retail's Hot Feature Hurts Low-Income Shoppers

More consumers may opt to "buy now, pay later" this holiday season, but what happens if they can't make that last payment? Research by Marco Di Maggio and Emily Williams highlights the risks of these financing services, especially for lower-income shoppers.

• 18 Oct 2022

Chewy.com’s Make-or-Break Logistics Dilemma

In late 2013, Ryan Cohen, cofounder and then-CEO of online pet products retailer Chewy.com, was facing a decision that could determine his company’s future. Should he stay with a third-party logistics provider (3PL) for all of Chewy.com’s e-commerce fulfillment or take that function in house? Cohen was convinced that achieving scale would be essential to making the business work and he worried that the company’s current 3PL may not be able to scale with Chewy.com’s projected growth or maintain the company’s performance standards for service quality and fulfillment. But neither he nor his cofounders had any experience managing logistics, and the company’s board members were pressuring him to leave order fulfillment to the 3PL. They worried that any changes could destabilize the existing 3PL relationship and endanger the viability of the fast-growing business. What should Cohen do? Senior Lecturer Jeffrey Rayport discusses the options in his case, “Chewy.com (A).”

• 06 Sep 2022

Reinventing an Iconic Independent Bookstore

In 2020, Kwame Spearman (MBA 2011) made the career-shifting decision to leave a New York City-based consulting job to return to his hometown of Denver, Colorado, and take over an iconic independent bookstore, The Tattered Cover. Spearman saw an opportunity to reinvent the local business to build a sense of community after the pandemic. But he also had to find a way to meet the big challenges facing independent booksellers amid technological change and shifting business models. Professor Ryan Raffaelli and Spearman discuss Spearman’s vision for reinventing The Tattered Cover, as well as larger insights around how local businesses can successfully compete with online and big box retailers in the case, “Kwame Spearman at Tattered Cover: Reinventing Brick-and-Mortar Retail.”

• 26 Jul 2022

Burgers with Bugs? What Happens When Restaurants Ignore Online Reviews

Negative Yelp reviews hold more sway with consumers than restaurateurs might think. A machine learning study by Chiara Farronato reveals how online platforms amplify the customer voice, and why business owners should listen.

• 22 Mar 2022

How Etsy Found Its Purpose and Crafted a Turnaround

Etsy, the online seller of handmade goods, was founded in 2005 as an alternative to companies that sold mass-manufactured products. The company grew substantially, but remained unprofitable under the leadership of two early CEOs. Ten years later, Etsy went public and was forced into a new arena, where it was beholden to stakeholders who demanded financial success and accountability. Unable to contain costs, the company was almost bought out by private equity firms in 2017—until CEO Josh Silverman arrived with a mission to save the company financially and, in the process, save its soul. Harvard Business School professor Ranjay Gulati discusses the purpose-driven turnaround Silverman and his team led at Etsy—to make the company profitable and improve its social and environmental impact—in the case, “Etsy: Crafting a Turnaround to Save the Business and Its Soul.” Open for comment; 0 Comments.

• 05 Nov 2021

Is the Business World Finally Ready for the Wisdom of Shibusawa?

Legendary financier Eiichi Shibusawa advocated for business prosperity that would also benefit society. One hundred years after his death, his message is resonating with a new generation of leaders, say Geoffrey Jones and Rei Morimoto. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

• 19 Oct 2021

Fed Up Workers and Supply Woes: What's Next for Dollar Stores?

Willy Shih discusses how higher costs, shipping delays, and worker shortages are putting the dollar store business model to the test ahead of the critical holiday shopping season. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

• 13 Jul 2021

Strategies for Underdogs: How Alibaba’s Taobao Beat eBay in China

In 2007, Alibaba’s Taobao became China’s leading consumer e-commerce marketplace, displacing the once dominant eBay. How did underdog Taobao do it? And will it be able to find a way to monetize its marketplace and ensure future success? Professor Felix Oberholzer-Gee discusses his case, “Alibaba’s Taobao,” and related strategy lessons from his new book, Better, Simpler Strategy: A Value-Based Guide to Exceptional Performance. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Retail Market Research: The Ultimate Guide (2024)

When it comes to retail market research, more data doesn’t mean better decisions.

In fact, excess data can muddle important signals and lead to poor investment decisions.

So to simplify the market research process and make it easy to identify only the important data you need, we'll walk you through a step-by-step guide to market research for retail.

You'll learn which key metrics you need to track, how to find those metrics, and tools you can use to extract the data.

What is Market Research for Retail?

Retail market research is the process of analyzing a retail product or market's potential for future investment opportunities. Market research in a retail setting often aids in launching a new product, expanding your existing products to a new demographic, or improving a company's marketing efforts.

From a tactical standpoint, market research typically involves assessing both quantitative metrics like consumer spend, foot traffic, keyword search volume, and competitor growth rates, as well as qualitative metrics like consumer pain points mentioned in reviews.

Why Is Market Research Important For Retailers?

Here are just a few reasons why market research is especially important for retail businesses.

Identify New Investment Opportunities

Most failed product launches are unsuccessful for one of the following reasons:

• There wasn't enough demand for the product
• The product wasn't profitable
• The competition was too stiff

The good news is that a solid market research process can help you identify all three of these fatal issues and reduce launch risk. In fact, the step-by-step process we'll detail below shows you exactly how to safeguard against these three common challenges.

Set Attainable Goals and Accurate Projections

Market research is a great way to help you set realistic goals and make more accurate projections.

Keep a Pulse on Competitor and Industry Trends

If you don't stay at the forefront of industry trends, your competitors will pounce on new opportunities and quickly take your market share.

So even if you aren't planning to launch a new product or expand to a new demographic, market research is critical to stay up to date with consumer trends and your competitor's movements.

For example, if your competitors are targeting a new demographic or marketing on a new platform, you can quickly jump on that opportunity to stay ahead of the game.

Improve Marketing Messaging and Customer Relationships

Market research also helps you stay up-to-date with consumer behavior so that you can shift your product, messaging, and customer service to better serve them.

For example, if you notice your target market discussing a particular pain point regarding a product category you offer, use that insight to inform your new marketing campaigns or even tweak your product.

Step-by-Step Market Research Process For Retailers

Now let's walk through exactly how to execute a market research process that will help you confidently make data-driven decisions.

Step 1: Identify Industry Trends

One of the hardest aspects of market research is uncovering up-and-coming industry trends that you're not aware of. 

If you can identify these trends in their infancy, you'll have the first-mover advantage, which will give you an edge over the competition.

So how can you identify key market trends before your competitors? 

While most people rely on their network, social media, and industry publications to identify trends, this manual research is time-consuming and the trends suggested aren't always supported by reliable data.

So to solve this problem and make it easy to identify trends based on solid data, we built Exploding Topics. The flagship product is the Trends Database, which offers nearly 1M total trends.

Each trend is a product, company, or industry keyword relevant to business topics. You'll also see a graph that represents its Google searches history over time (the default time frame shown is five years, though you can adjust this to as far back as 15 years or as recent as the past three months).

So to get started with the market research process, you can jump into the free Exploding Topics database and sort by your company's category (e.g., "pets," "fashion," "design," etc.).

You can also filter just by brands to zero-in on trending companies in that space.

If you're using Exploding Topics Pro , you can easily track any interesting topic by clicking "Track Topic" and creating a project for products, keywords, and companies.

So if you're in the pet space, you might have three Projects that look like this:

​​By using the Trends Database, you no longer have to spend hours scanning industry publications or scrolling through social media in hopes of finding an occasional promising new trend.

So how do I know that the topics in the Trends Database are reliable trends versus fads that will quickly disappear ?

First, Exploding Topics uses Google search volume to determine the status of each trend, as we've found it's the most reliable method to determine interest in a topic over time.

In addition, our trend discovery and vetting process involve s both AI and human analysts to ensure each trend in the database is signal – not noise .

Specifically, Exploding Topics uses AI to scrape websites like Reddit, YouTube, Twitter, and even podcasts. Then, a human analyst manually vets each trend to ensure it has business value before adding it to the database.

This strategy ensures every topic inside the Trends Database is a golden nugget – not noise.

While the Trends Database is excellent for uncovering new trends, we realize you might already have a topic in mind (for example, a product category you're looking to get into) and just want to check its trend status. To do that, you can use the Trend Search feature to generate a trend report for any topic on the fly.

Simply type in the keyword and it automatically creates a report with the keyword’s search volume history and related search terms:

Step 2: Gather Quantitative Data on Trends

Now that you’ve identified a handful of interesting trends, you can collect quantitative data to identify which markets or niches are most promising.

So let’s go through a few quantitative metrics you should find for each of the following categories we identified in the first step.

For Competing Companies:

• Hiring : If a company is actively hiring, there's a good chance that there's substantial demand for that company's products. To see if the company is hiring, you can do a quick Google Search for the brand name and "hiring" as that usually pulls up any listings from Indeed , ZipRecruiter , and other hiring platforms. Alternatively, you can look on the company's LinkedIn page and check the "Jobs" tab to see if there are any open positions.
• Funding : While investors aren't always right, they dedicate all their resources to tracking industry trends. So if you see that a particular company in the niche you're researching has raised a lot of money, that's definitely a good sign. You can use a tool like Crunchbase to identify funding data for most companies.
• Revenue : If the company you're tracking is publicly traded, you should be able to see its revenue. However, try to find the revenue trend , as that is often a better indicator of the market's future than the revenue number itself. To find revenue data, you can just do a Google search for the brand name and revenue, or you can use a tool like Owler to estimate the revenue.

Here’s a quick video of how I’d find the above information for “Hero Cosmetics.”

For Topics/Markets:

• Market spend : Many research companies provide free market reports on various industries with data like estimated market size, compounding annual growth rate (CAGR), and other critical retail market research statistics. A few of the most popular ones include Allied Market Research and Grand View Research , though the easiest ways to uncover these reports is usually a quick Google Search for the retail industry you're searching for and the keyword "market size."
• Related keyword data : While the initial topics you found in Exploding Topics can help you uncover new trends, you can uncover more opportunities by searching for related terms and similar products. For example, if you found that Hero Cosmetics is taking off, you can look at what their top organic keywords are in Ahrefs or Semrush . Alternatively, you can search a product keyword in Google, scroll down to the suggested search results, and then find a list of related keywords.
• Geographic market size : Given that most retail businesses have brick-and-mortar stores, you should also research the market size and consumer spending trends of the geographic region where you're considering opening a retail store. The Census Business Builder is excellent for finding regional consumer insights like detailed consumer spending breakdowns, income, and other helpful data.

To see how to uncover all of this information, here’s a quick screen recording of researching the anti-acne market research.

For Products:

• Profitability : Before launching a new product, it's critical to understand if it will be profitable to sell. To estimate profitability, you can use an ecommerce research tool like Jungle Scout to view an item's approximate wholesale and retail price. While your products might be slightly different, and you'll probably use different manufacturers, it's a great place to start with profitability estimations.
• Demand/sale history : Once you've estimated the profitability of a product, you can estimate the demand for it by looking at Amazon sales with a tool like Jungle Scout or track sales on other ecommerce sites with a tool like Grips .
• SEO difficulty : A company like Nike has significant domain authority in the shoe and athletic wear space, so it will immediately have an advantage in ranking for keywords in that space. However, it might be much more difficult to capture organic SEO traffic if you're a newer brand.
• PPC cost : Another method to estimate the difficulty of attracting traffic is to look up the cost per click for paid keywords. For example, if you want to sell work gloves, you'll see that the CPC for that is about $3.50, so that's useful information to determine whether or not you'll have the budget to be competitive for that product.

Here’s a quick video of how I’d find the above information for the product “Migraine Hat.”

Step 3: Execute Competitive Market Analysis

When you launch your product, don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Instead, look at the top players in the space and duplicate the aspects of their strategies that are working.

To get started, do a quick Google Search for the core product keyword and create a list of the top competitors. Ideally, find niche brands as it will be easier to copy their marketing strategy than a global conglomerate's marketing strategy.

For example, if you plan to sell dog leashes, write down niche companies like Wilderdog, Fable Pets, and Atlas Pet Company rather than billion-plus dollar retailers like Walmart or PetSmart.

Once you've created a list of these companies, you can use a tool like Similarweb to uncover the following metrics:

• Total traffic and traffic trends : Ideally, see how the traffic has increased or decreased over the past 12 months.
• Traffic region : This will tell you which demographics likely drive the majority of the company's revenue.
• Gender and age distribution : This will help you with marketing messaging and copywriting.
• Top marketing channels : Simiarweb also shows you what percentage of traffic comes from organic search, social media (you can also break this down by social media platform), email, and display advertising. This data makes it easy to identify which marketing channels you should analyze in more detail.

Here’s an example of how I uncovered the above information for Wilderdog:

To help you get started, you can use this free spreadsheet to fill out the metrics above.

Once you have general data on which marketing channels your competitors are using, do a thorough analysis of their strategy for each channel.

• Facebook Ads : You can use the Facebook Ads Library to dive into your competitors' ads and see which ones are running the longest, what aspects they've A/B tested, and more.
• SEO : You can use Ahrefs or SEMrush to identify the top-performing pages, keywords, and approximate difficulty to rank for the same keywords.
• Google Ads : You can use Ahrefs or SEMrush to identify the keywords your competitors are targeting, the exact ad copy they're using, and the approximate traffic to those landing pages.
• Email : Sign up for your competitor's email list and then note how often they send emails, the general messaging, and promotional offers.
• Organic Social : To determine what type of content resonates best with the target persona and which platforms are most effective, just search your competitors' brand name on all popular social media platforms. Then identify the platforms they are most active on and take notes of what kind of content performs the best.
• Influencer Marketing : There are two ways to track your competitors' influencer marketing campaigns. First, you can do a Google Search for the competitor's brand name and "reviews." This will show you approximately what influencer demographics they use to promote their products. Alternatively, you can use a tool like Hype Auditor to give you a more detailed breakdown of all the influencers your competitors are using and even ROI estimations.

Step 4: Qualitative Customer Research

Once you have advanced intel on your competitors and the market, collect qualitative data. This is key to identifying how you'll position your brand and build high-quality products to solve pain points associated with competitors' products.

So here are a few different ways to collect qualitative customer data.

Customer Surveys

If you already have an email list, you can simply survey your existing customers about the new product. Here are some great questions to ask in your survey:

• What other retailers do you shop at?
• What related products do you also purchase?
• What's your biggest pain point with (pain point your new product solves)?

Even if you don't yet have a store or product, start building an email list today. This list will allow you to build your product with your potential customers, and it will give you more momentum when the product is ready to launch.

To see an example of a pre-launch website, check out Dreema’s website from 2022.

However, if you're still not sure you want to launch a new product line or which audience you want to target, here are some other ways to find relevant survey respondents.

First, you can partner with influencers who already have your target audience and pay them to run a survey on your behalf. For example, you could use a platform like Upfluence and hire an influencer to run a survey for you.

Another option is to use a tool like SurveyMonkey or Pollfish which enables you to run surveys to a specific audience.

For example, you can target female consumers between the ages of 25 and 30 in the United States and these survey platforms will run a custom survey to that audience. Pollfish also allows you to include screening questions like, "Did you buy a supplement for your dog in the past 12 months?"

The average cost to run these surveys ranges, though you can typically get started for as low as $1 per response.

If you're running a survey for a retail product that you're about to launch, here are a few different questions you can ask:

• What brands do you currently use?
• What pain point prompted you to purchase this product?
• If you could change something about this product, what would you change?
• What were your top concerns when purchasing this product?
• How did you evaluate different products in this market?
• What made you choose this brand in particular?
• What do you love most about this product?
• What aspects of the purchase experience was excellent?
• What about the purchase experience could have been better?

This makes it easy to collect qualitative data for a reasonable price without owning an audience.

Customer Interviews

While customer surveys make obtaining a high volume of qualitative data easy, you might not uncover the golden nuggets of information that a one-on-one conversation can reveal.

If you already have a target audience, you can simply send an email to your list and offer an Amazon gift card for getting on a call with your team for ten minutes.

If you don't have access to the target audience yet, you can always join groups on social media for that target audience.

For example, if you're planning to launch a baby monitor product, you could join a Facebook group for Moms and ask any of them if they've purchased a baby monitor. For those who respond, you can ask if they'd consider getting on a call with you in exchange for a gift card.

Once you’re on the call, be sure to record it so that you can later analyze all of the recordings for trends.

Once you're on the call, record it so you can later analyze all of the recordings for trends.

You can use a tool like Discuss.io to record the call, as it compiles all of your call recordings and performs sentiment analysis to help you zero in on customer pain points. It also allows you to save key moments, and its theme finder automatically generates video clips based on pre-selected or new keyword tags.

Customer Reviews

Finally, an easy way to quickly gather qualitative customer data is to read reviews of competing products and identify what people liked and disliked about the product.

You can hire a VA to read through reviews and take notes for you, or you can use a tool like Bright Scraper's Amazon review scraper to find trends in reviews.

As you comb through reviews, look at not only what they liked and disliked about the product, but also details about the customer experience, what caused people to look for the product, and other more detailed aspects of the buyer's journey.

Amazon also shows you a list of other products each reviewer purchased, so use that information to identify parallel products and niches that the target audience uses.

Create a Focus Group

While researching competitive products is a great way to gauge how you can create a better product, the best way to see if your product is actually the best for that customer segment is to test it out.

However, launching a new product to your entire audience is risky as there will inevitably be some trial and error with the first version.

So to improve the quality of your product (before it launches) and generate high-quality customer feedback, create a focus group to test the product for you.

For example, when Nordstrom decided to focus on improving customer satisfaction, they launched Project 18 . This project was a focus group of their 800 most engaged customers in Los Angeles to provide feedback on a new shopping app and a new line of clothing they would launch in local department stores.

The focus group helped them identify key customer pain points and fix them before launching to their entire audience.

Step 5: Collect Pre-Sales

Now that you've thoroughly researched the target audience, the only way to tell if the product will actually perform well is to try to sell it.

So rather than developing a product and then hoping you can sell it, consider collecting pre-sales before creating the product.

Then, if you don't receive as many sales as you projected, you can cancel the launch and refund the customers (or only charge their cards when you ship the product). This way, you never waste time and resources manufacturing a product that nobody wants.

Endless Blading is an excellent example of how retailers can leverage pre-sales to validate products.

On the website, select products are available for pre-sales, and here's how they've laid out their pre-sale terms :

By collecting pre-sales, you significantly increase the likelihood that your product launch will be a success and add anticipation to the product's release.

Start The Market Research Process Today

There are plenty of different research methods to identify new products and markets, though it’s easy to get lost in a mountain of data and fail to identify key signals to guide your investment and marketing decision-making process.

To get started with the first step, identifying industry trends, you can browse the free Exploding Topics Trends Database , or sign up for Exploding Topics Pro to unlock premium trends, generate trend data for specific topics, create and save projects, and more .

Find Thousands of Trending Topics With Our Platform

Retail Market Research: Benefits, Trends & 5 Real-Life Examples

Cem is the principal analyst at AIMultiple since 2017. AIMultiple informs hundreds of thousands of businesses (as per Similarweb) including 60% of Fortune 500 every month.

Cem's work has been cited by leading global publications including Business Insider, Forbes, Washington Post, global firms like Deloitte, HPE, NGOs like World Economic Forum and supranational organizations like European Commission. You can see more reputable companies and media that referenced AIMultiple.

Figure 1. Popularity of retail market research on Google search engine in the US between 2016-2023

A recent McKinsey report highlights a dramatic shift in customer behavior, with 50% of customers changing their brand preferences in 2022, and 90% indicating they’ll continue to switch brands. 1 This trend points to a volatile retail market, where some brands may decline while others rise, underlining the importance for retailers to adapt and innovate to maintain customer loyalty. With evolving consumer preferences, conducting market research through customer surveys becomes increasingly critical.

This article highlights the importance of market research for retail business, methods, trends, and some real-life examples.

If you wish to use a market research tool, here is a guide comparing the top tools on the market .

Why is market research important for retail companies?

1- better understand your target market and customers.

Market research provides retailers with insights into customer behavior, enabling them to adapt their products, services, and marketing to align with market trends. This knowledge is essential for everything from product development to pricing and even store design, ensuring that retailers can create an experience that truly connects with their customers.

Real-life example

Source: Statista 2

Figure 2. Crocs YoY revenue growth between 2017-2022

Crocs has experienced a nearly 200% increase in sales since 2019, outperforming other brands that peaked during quarantine. 3 Emphasizing digital marketing, market research, and celebrity endorsements, Crocs continues to adapt to consumer preferences, moving towards a more fashion-forward market and maintaining relevance despite changing trends.

2- Increase product launch success

Introducing a new product to the market is a high-stakes endeavor, often accompanied by considerable financial risk. Conducting thorough market research is key to mitigating these risks. By delving into consumer desires, market trends, and unmet needs, retailers can gain valuable insights that guide product development.

A recent survey by the Toy Association found that more than 40% of adult parents are buying toys for themselves. 4 This trend, known as the “kidult” market, has seen growth, particularly during the pandemic. Retailers like Walmart are responding by marketing toys and games directly to adults, tapping into this nostalgic consumer segment.

3- Stay informed about and ahead of competitors & retail industry trends

Staying abreast of industry trends and understanding what rivals are doing is crucial in retail. Retailers must be aware of their competitors’ offerings and identify areas where they can differentiate themselves, be it in product characteristics, customer experience, or communication strategies.

Home Depot identified a trend towards convenient and seamless shopping experiences and responded by integrating advanced technologies. 5 They developed a versatile mobile app that facilitates price comparison and in-store pickups, augmented reality for visualizing products in a space, and location-based services within the app to enhance in-store navigation and offer real-time deals to customers.

4- Improve marketing messaging and customer relationships

Through market research, retailers can gain insights into consumer behaviors, preferences, and purchasing motivations. This information is invaluable for developing targeted marketing campaigns that resonate with consumers, enhancing the overall customer experience, and building lasting relationships. Understanding customer needs and preferences allows retailers to communicate more effectively, personalize their marketing efforts, and align their products and services with consumer expectations, thereby fostering customer loyalty and driving sales.

McDonald’s responded to customer feedback about the lack of healthy and organic options on its menu. 6 As a result, McDonald’s introduced healthier items like apple slices and launched an advertising campaign to highlight the real meat content in its chicken nuggets and patties, demonstrating its commitment to addressing customer concerns​.

5- Validate product idea(s)

Market research helps in understanding whether there is a real demand for the product and if it meets the needs and expectations of potential customers. By effectively analyzing market trends, consumer behaviors, and preferences, retailers can reduce the risk of introducing products that may not resonate with the market.

Quibi, a mobile-focused streaming service, shut down after just six months due to its failure to attract a significant audience, despite raising $1.8 billion and being positioned as the next big service company in modern entertainment. 7 The company’s leaders later acknowledged that the idea behind Quibi wasn’t strong enough to justify a stand-alone streaming service. This highlights how even well-funded ventures can falter without adequate market research to validate the product’s fit and demand in the market.

Primary vs. secondary research

In retail market research, primary and secondary research serve distinct yet complementary purposes. This distinction ensures a holistic approach to the market research process to understand both the micro (customer-specific) and macro (industry-wide) aspects of the retail market.

Primary research

Primary research is essential for obtaining fresh, direct feedback from customers. Through methods like surveys and interviews, retailers can gain valuable insights into consumer preferences, purchasing habits, and attitudes. This firsthand information is crucial for grasping customer behavior nuances and shaping product and marketing strategies accordingly.

Secondary research

Secondary research plays a key role in comprehensively understanding the retail sector. By analyzing existing data from sources like trade journals, government reports, and consumer studies, retailers can identify current trends, challenges, and potential opportunities for growth within the industry.

Market research methods for the retail industry

1- customer surveys.

These are questionnaires designed to collect feedback from customers about their experiences, preferences, and opinions. Surveys can be conducted online, in-store, or via email and are useful for collecting quantitative data. They help retailers understand customer satisfaction, product preferences, and areas for improvement.

2- Sentiment analysis

Sentiment analysis often uses natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning to categorize opinions as positive, negative, or neutral. This method is particularly useful in understanding how customers feel about a brand or product and can be instrumental in identifying areas for improvement, gauging customer satisfaction, and monitoring the impact of marketing campaigns or new product launches.

Check out our research on retail sentiment analysis for more information.

3- In-depth customer interviews

This method involves conducting one-on-one interviews to gain detailed insights into customer attitudes, experiences, and behaviors. These interviews can uncover deeper insights than surveys, as they allow for more nuanced discussions and exploration of topics.

4- Social media monitoring

By observing and analyzing conversations and trends on social media platforms, retailers can gauge public sentiment about their brand, competitors, and the industry at large. This method provides real-time feedback and insight into emerging trends and customer preferences.

5- Focus groups

Focus groups involve gathering a small, diverse group of people to discuss and provide feedback on products, services, or marketing campaigns. This method allows for interactive discussions and can provide rich qualitative data about consumer attitudes and behaviors.

6- Sales records

Reviewing and analyzing sales data helps retailers understand which products are selling well and which are not. This method provides concrete evidence of consumer purchasing patterns and preferences, helping retailers make informed decisions about inventory, pricing, and promotions.

Retail market trends

Retail market trends are currently shaped by several factors that companies should keep in mind when they conduct market research Here are a few:

Use of AI and technology

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing inventory management , customer service (through chatbots ), and personalized shopping experiences (through NLP). Retailers are also experimenting with augmented reality (AR/VR) to enhance product visualization online.

Omnichannel retailing practices

The line between online and offline shopping is blurring in the digitalized age. For instance, 70% of millennials and Gen Z customers rely on social channels for shopping. 8 Besides, 500+ million people engage with Nike through the apps.g. 9 Retailers are integrating their online and physical stores to provide a cohesive customer experience. This trend includes features like buy-online-pick-up-in-store (BOPIS) and the use of digital tools in physical stores.

Sustainable products & ethical practices

Increasingly, consumers are gravitating towards brands that demonstrate environmental responsibility and ethical business practices. This shift is leading retailers to adopt more sustainable practices , from sourcing to packaging, and transparently communicate their efforts to consumers.

Personalized products & services

With access to more customer data, retailers are tailoring shopping experiences to individual preferences. This trend involves using data analytics to offer personalized product recommendations, targeted marketing, and customized shopping experiences.

If interested, here is our data-driven list of survey participant recruitment services and survey tools .

For those interested, here is also our data driven list of market research tools .

If you need guidance in vendor selection, feel free to reach us:

External Links

• 1. “ Retail reset: A new playbook for retail leaders “. McKinsey . July 10, 2023. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
• 2. “ Year-on-year revenue growth of Crocs worldwide from 2017 to 2022 “. Statista . February, 2023. Retrieved December 2,2023.
• 3. “ People Started Buying Crocs During the Pandemic. They Can’t Stop “. The New York Times . March 27, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
• 4. “ Halloween Is for Kids. ‘Kidults’ Too. “. The New York Times . Retrieved December 2, 2023.
• 5. “ The Meaning of Digital Transformation in the Retail Industry: Examples, Benefits & Trends “. ionic . Retrieved December 2, 2023.
• 6. “ 6 Famous Brands That Depend on Market Research “. DriveResearch . September 14, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
• 7. “ Testing Business Ideas With Market Validation “. Antler . April 18, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
• 8. “ Turning consumer and retail companies into software-driven innovators “. McKinsey . September 6, 2023. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
• 9. “ NIKE, INC. Reports Fiscal 2023 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results “. NIKE . September 29, 2023. Retrieved December 3, 2023.

Throughout his career, Cem served as a tech consultant, tech buyer and tech entrepreneur. He advised enterprises on their technology decisions at McKinsey & Company and Altman Solon for more than a decade. He also published a McKinsey report on digitalization.

He led technology strategy and procurement of a telco while reporting to the CEO. He has also led commercial growth of deep tech company Hypatos that reached a 7 digit annual recurring revenue and a 9 digit valuation from 0 within 2 years. Cem's work in Hypatos was covered by leading technology publications like TechCrunch and Business Insider.

Cem regularly speaks at international technology conferences. He graduated from Bogazici University as a computer engineer and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.

AIMultiple.com Traffic Analytics, Ranking & Audience , Similarweb. Why Microsoft, IBM, and Google Are Ramping up Efforts on AI Ethics , Business Insider. Microsoft invests $1 billion in OpenAI to pursue artificial intelligence that’s smarter than we are , Washington Post. Data management barriers to AI success , Deloitte. Empowering AI Leadership: AI C-Suite Toolkit , World Economic Forum. Science, Research and Innovation Performance of the EU , European Commission. Public-sector digitization: The trillion-dollar challenge , McKinsey & Company. Hypatos gets $11.8M for a deep learning approach to document processing , TechCrunch. We got an exclusive look at the pitch deck AI startup Hypatos used to raise $11 million , Business Insider.

To stay up-to-date on B2B tech & accelerate your enterprise:

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NRF Research

NRF conducts research throughout the year, staying on the pulse of the retail industry and consumer behavior as they evolve. In addition, NRF gathers member-submitted research from within our network to provide a closer look at the future of retail as well as research specific to the consumers themselves.

NRF produces consumer research throughout the course of the year, dissecting everything from what consumers are buying to how they are shopping for those items and more.

NRF's annual lists of the nation’s — and the world’s — largest and fastest-growing retailers. The largest and fastest-growing retailers in the U.S. and across the globe are listed in NRF's annual Top 100 Retailers, Hot 100 Retailers and Top 50 Global Retailers lists.

The retail industry is undergoing an enormous transformation, leaving many asking, “What’s the future of retail?”. Retail has been undergoing an enormous transformation during and post-pandemic, as it accelerated digital offerings and adapted quickly to new customer needs.

Americans are engaging with the retail industry on a nearly daily basis. The retail industry powers the economy as the nation’s largest private-sector employer, contributing $5.3 trillion to annual GDP and supporting one in four U.S. jobs – 55 million working Americans.

Learn more about the current state of retail and the role it plays in supporting the U.S. economy, including retail sales, monthly economic reports and more data from the National Retail Federation.

Industry partners can submit industry white papers, research and reports for retail members to access and utilize. NRF welcomes members to submit research and white papers for consideration.

The Carbon Footprint of Retail Products

The Retail Employee Value Proposition: What Really Matters in 2022

• National Retail Security and Organized Retail Crime Survey  

Customer Returns in the Retail Industry

State of Retail Payments

Boston Consulting Group Technology Benchmark

Retailers Reaching for Net Zero

IBM Automation Study

Cyber Risk Resources

Future of Retail Workforce Study

Future of Retail Workforce Study – Holiday 2023

2023 Consumer Returns in the Retail Industry

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The Library will be closed Dec. 21, 2023, through Jan. 3, 2024. Online resources remain available.

Retail & eCommerce Industry

Introduction, industry & market reports, consumer discovery, more sources of industry info.

• Companies, Investments, & Founders
• Industry Publications & Related Resources

While these resources are generally the most relevant, there may be other resources available. If you are looking for something in particular or cannot find a lot of information about a niche segment, please Ask Us .

These databases contain market & industry reports. They provide overviews of the industry as well as the intended market or end consumer.

Additional Resources

• Market Size & Market Share Data
• Market & Industry Reports @ Stanford

The following databases contain demographic profiles such as age, gender, income etc., and also offer data on consumer behavioral characteristics towards purchasing (e.g. brand preference, expenditure habits, popularity trends, etc.). By using the suggested resources, you can identify your target markets and create socio-demographic profiles of your target consumers.

• Consumer Attitudes, Perceptions, & Behaviors
• Consumer Demographics

In addition to industry and market reports, there are many other ways to analyze an industry, gain insights, and find relevant statistics and data.

Statistics Databases

These databases contain industry statistical data in tables or charts. They're a good place to start as they collect information from many sources.

• RKMA Market Research Handbook Series This link opens in a new window Use these market research handbooks for quick facts and to find more sources. Covers U.S. industries like restaurants, healthcare, sports, and travel. For : Current Stanford faculty, staff, and students. Temporarily unavailable. For updates, please check System Status -->

U.S. Government Statistical Resources

• U.S. Census Bureau | Monthly Retail Trade Data Monthly sales data by industry, including an experimental quarterly e-commerce report.
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retail Trade. Current and historical statistics on workforce in retail trade as a whole and in its 12 individual subsectors, e.g. gasoline stations, Food and Beverage Stores, etc.

Industry Associations 

Industry associations often have great information. Look for sections on their websites like "Resources", "Publications", or "Data," but note some resources may be restricted to members.

• American Apparel and Footwear Association Industry research available to non-members, includes latest hot-topic reports, industry norms and guidellines. From the top menu on right, select Solutions > Tools & Research .
• International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) The content of interest available to non-members is Industry Benchmark Report, which is a latest month statistics on the state of marketplace industry. Form the top menu, go to News & Views > Industry Insights .
• Find Industry Associations
• Specialized Resources
• Retail Technology
• Retailers Ranking

These resources focus on a specific industry which includes a retail component, or analyse the retail industry for specific markets.

• WWD.com (Women's Wear Daily) This link opens in a new window Online site that provides information and news about the fashion industry. Subscription covers recent 12 months only. Includes access to the Digital Daily newsletter . For : Current Stanford faculty, staff, and students. Access : 3 simultaneous users. Temporarily unavailable. For updates, please check System Status -->
• Sourcing Journal This link opens in a new window Global apparel and textile industry news and analysis. For : Current Stanford faculty, staff, and students. Remote access temporarily unavailable. For updates, please check System Status -->
• EMIS Intelligence This link opens in a new window If you can't connect and see "Inquire about additional products", use an incognito/private browser. -->Global and emerging market information and market reports for countries or regions worldwide. For : Current Stanford faculty, staff, and students. Remote access temporarily unavailable. For updates, please check System Status -->

These databases focus on the technological aspects of the retail business, such as creating digital infrastructure, using AI, automating store activities both in-store and online, business analytics, and more.

For research on retail industry, from the top tabs select Solutions > Industry Insights > IDC Retail Insights .

• Top 100 Retailers Annual list of top 100 retailers by sales from the National Retail Association.
• Hot 25 Retailers Annual list of the 25 fastest growing retail companies from the National Retail Federaion.
• DSN: Direct Selling News The notable feature is Digital Momentum Index that represents a quarterly ranking of top direct selling companies based on their social media and online presence. Find it under the Research tab.
• Create a List of Companies
• Next: Companies, Investments, & Founders >>
• Last Updated: May 1, 2024 10:35 AM
• URL: https://libguides.stanford.edu/library/retail-industry

The Candid Voice in Retail Technology: Objective Insights, Pragmatic Advice

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Home » 500+ Business Research Topics

500+ Business Research Topics

Business research is an essential component of any successful organization, as it allows companies to make informed decisions based on data-driven insights. Whether it’s market research to identify new opportunities, or analyzing internal processes to improve efficiency, there are a vast array of business research topics that companies can explore. With the constantly evolving business landscape, it’s critical for organizations to stay up-to-date with the latest research trends and best practices to remain competitive. In this post, we’ll explore some of the most compelling business research topics that are currently being studied, providing insights and actionable recommendations for businesses of all sizes.

Business Research Topics

Business Research Topics are as follows:

• The impact of social media on consumer behavior
• Strategies for enhancing customer satisfaction in the service industry
• The effectiveness of mobile marketing campaigns
• Exploring the factors influencing employee turnover
• The role of leadership in organizational culture
• Investigating the relationship between corporate social responsibility and financial performance
• Assessing the impact of employee engagement on organizational performance
• The challenges and opportunities of global supply chain management
• Analyzing the effectiveness of e-commerce platforms
• Investigating the impact of organizational culture on employee motivation
• The role of corporate governance in ensuring ethical business practices
• Examining the impact of digital marketing on brand equity
• Strategies for managing diversity and inclusion in the workplace
• Exploring the effects of employee empowerment on job satisfaction
• The role of innovation in business growth
• Analyzing the impact of mergers and acquisitions on company performance
• Investigating the impact of workplace design on employee productivity
• The challenges and opportunities of international business expansion
• Strategies for managing talent in the knowledge economy
• The role of artificial intelligence in transforming business operations
• Examining the impact of customer loyalty programs on retention and revenue
• Investigating the relationship between corporate social responsibility and brand reputation
• The role of emotional intelligence in effective leadership
• The impact of digital transformation on small and medium-sized enterprises
• Analyzing the effectiveness of green marketing strategies
• The role of entrepreneurship in economic development
• Investigating the impact of employee training and development on organizational performance
• The challenges and opportunities of omnichannel retailing
• Examining the impact of organizational change on employee morale and productivity
• The role of corporate social responsibility in attracting and retaining millennial talent
• Analyzing the impact of employee motivation on organizational culture
• Investigating the impact of workplace diversity on team performance
• The challenges and opportunities of blockchain technology in business operations
• Strategies for managing cross-functional teams
• The role of big data analytics in business decision-making
• Examining the impact of corporate social responsibility on customer loyalty
• Investigating the relationship between corporate social responsibility and employee engagement
• The impact of social media marketing on customer engagement and brand loyalty.
• The effectiveness of AI in improving customer service and satisfaction.
• The role of entrepreneurship in economic development and job creation.
• The impact of the gig economy on the labor market.
• The effects of corporate social responsibility on company profitability.
• The role of data analytics in predicting consumer behavior and market trends.
• The effects of globalization on the competitiveness of small businesses.
• The impact of e-commerce on traditional brick-and-mortar retail.
• The role of emotional intelligence in leadership and team management.
• The effects of workplace diversity on employee productivity and satisfaction.
• The role of corporate culture in employee retention and satisfaction.
• The impact of employee training and development on company performance.
• The effectiveness of performance-based pay structures on employee motivation.
• The impact of sustainability practices on company reputation and profitability.
• The effects of artificial intelligence on job displacement and the future of work.
• The role of innovation in the growth and success of small businesses.
• The impact of government regulations on business operations and profitability.
• The effects of organizational structure on company performance and efficiency.
• The role of emotional labor in service industries.
• The impact of employee empowerment on job satisfaction and retention.
• The effects of workplace flexibility on employee productivity and well-being.
• The role of emotional intelligence in negotiation and conflict resolution.
• The impact of branding on consumer behavior and purchase decisions.
• The effects of customer experience on brand loyalty and advocacy.
• The role of storytelling in marketing and advertising.
• The impact of consumer psychology on pricing strategies and sales.
• The effects of influencer marketing on consumer behavior and brand loyalty.
• The role of trust in online transactions and e-commerce.
• The impact of product design on consumer perception and purchasing decisions.
• The effects of customer satisfaction on company profitability and growth.
• The role of social entrepreneurship in addressing societal problems and creating value.
• The impact of corporate governance on company performance and stakeholder relations.
• The effects of workplace harassment on employee well-being and company culture.
• The role of strategic planning in the success of small businesses.
• The impact of technology on supply chain management and logistics.
• The effects of customer segmentation on marketing strategies and sales.
• The role of corporate philanthropy in building brand reputation and loyalty.
• The impact of intellectual property protection on innovation and creativity.
• The effects of trade policies on international business operations and profitability.
• The role of strategic partnerships in business growth and expansion.
• The impact of digital transformation on organizational structure and operations.
• The effects of leadership styles on employee motivation and performance.
• The role of corporate social activism in shaping public opinion and brand reputation.
• The impact of mergers and acquisitions on company performance and stakeholder value.
• The effects of workplace automation on job displacement and re-skilling.
• The role of cross-cultural communication in international business operations.
• The impact of workplace stress on employee health and productivity.
• The effects of customer reviews and ratings on online sales and reputation.
• The role of competitive intelligence in market research and strategy development.
• The impact of brand identity on consumer trust and loyalty.
• The impact of organizational structure on innovation and creativity
• Analyzing the effectiveness of virtual teams in global organizations
• The role of corporate social responsibility in crisis management
• The challenges and opportunities of online marketplaces
• Strategies for managing cultural diversity in multinational corporations
• The impact of employer branding on employee retention
• Investigating the impact of corporate social responsibility on investor behavior
• The role of technology in enhancing customer experience
• Analyzing the impact of social responsibility initiatives on customer satisfaction
• Investigating the impact of supply chain disruptions on business performance
• The role of business ethics in organizational decision-making
• The challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence in customer service
• Strategies for managing employee burnout and stress in the workplace.
• Impact of social media on consumer behavior and its implications for businesses.
• The impact of corporate social responsibility on company performance.
• An analysis of the relationship between employee satisfaction and customer loyalty.
• The effect of advertising on consumer behavior.
• A study on the effectiveness of social media marketing in building brand image.
• The impact of technological innovations on business strategy and operations.
• The relationship between leadership style and employee motivation.
• A study of the effects of corporate culture on employee engagement.
• An analysis of the factors influencing consumer buying behavior.
• The effectiveness of training and development programs in enhancing employee performance.
• The impact of global economic factors on business decision-making.
• The role of organizational communication in achieving business goals.
• The relationship between customer satisfaction and business success.
• A study of the challenges and opportunities in international business.
• The effectiveness of supply chain management in improving business performance.
• An analysis of the factors influencing customer loyalty in the hospitality industry.
• The impact of employee turnover on organizational performance.
• A study of the impact of corporate governance on company performance.
• The role of innovation in business growth and success.
• An analysis of the relationship between marketing and sales performance.
• The effect of organizational structure on employee behavior.
• A study of the impact of cultural differences on business negotiations.
• The effectiveness of pricing strategies in increasing sales revenue.
• The impact of customer service on customer loyalty.
• A study of the role of human resource management in business success.
• The impact of e-commerce on traditional brick-and-mortar businesses.
• An analysis of the relationship between employee empowerment and job satisfaction.
• The effectiveness of customer relationship management in building brand loyalty.
• The role of business ethics in corporate decision-making.
• A study of the impact of digital marketing on consumer behavior.
• The effect of organizational culture on employee turnover.
• An analysis of the factors influencing employee engagement in the workplace.
• The impact of social media on business communication and marketing.
• A study of the relationship between customer service and customer loyalty in the airline industry.
• The role of diversity and inclusion in business success.
• The effectiveness of performance management systems in improving employee performance.
• The impact of corporate social responsibility on employee engagement.
• A study of the factors influencing business expansion into new markets.
• The role of brand identity in customer loyalty and retention.
• The effectiveness of change management strategies in organizational change.
• The impact of organizational structure on organizational performance.
• A study of the impact of technology on the future of work.
• The relationship between innovation and competitive advantage in the marketplace.
• The effect of employee training on organizational performance.
• An analysis of the impact of online reviews on consumer behavior.
• The role of leadership in shaping organizational culture.
• The effectiveness of talent management strategies in retaining top talent.
• The impact of globalization on small and medium-sized enterprises.
• A study of the relationship between corporate social responsibility and brand reputation.
• The effectiveness of employee retention strategies in reducing turnover rates.
• The role of emotional intelligence in leadership and employee engagement.
• The impact of digital marketing on customer behavior
• The role of organizational culture in employee engagement and retention
• The effects of employee training and development on organizational performance
• The relationship between corporate social responsibility and financial performance
• The impact of globalization on business strategy
• The importance of supply chain management in achieving competitive advantage
• The role of innovation in business growth and sustainability
• The impact of e-commerce on traditional retail businesses
• The role of leadership in managing change in organizations
• The effects of workplace diversity on organizational performance
• The impact of social media on brand image and reputation
• The relationship between employee motivation and productivity
• The role of organizational structure in promoting innovation
• The effects of customer service on customer loyalty
• The impact of globalization on small businesses
• The role of corporate governance in preventing unethical behavior
• The effects of technology on job design and work organization
• The relationship between employee satisfaction and turnover
• The impact of mergers and acquisitions on organizational culture
• The effects of employee benefits on job satisfaction
• The impact of cultural differences on international business negotiations
• The role of strategic planning in organizational success
• The effects of organizational change on employee stress and burnout
• The impact of business ethics on customer trust and loyalty
• The role of human resource management in achieving competitive advantage
• The effects of outsourcing on organizational performance
• The impact of diversity and inclusion on team performance
• The role of corporate social responsibility in brand differentiation
• The effects of leadership style on organizational culture
• The Impact of Digital Marketing on Brand Equity: A Study of E-commerce Businesses
• Investigating the Relationship between Employee Engagement and Organizational Performance
• Analyzing the Effects of Corporate Social Responsibility on Customer Loyalty and Firm Performance
• An Empirical Study of the Factors Affecting Entrepreneurial Success in the Technology Sector
• The Influence of Organizational Culture on Employee Motivation and Job Satisfaction: A Case Study of a Service Industry
• Investigating the Impact of Organizational Change on Employee Resistance: A Comparative Study of Two Organizations
• An Exploration of the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Supply Chain Management
• Examining the Relationship between Leadership Styles and Employee Creativity in Innovative Organizations
• Investigating the Effectiveness of Performance Appraisal Systems in Improving Employee Performance
• Analyzing the Role of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership Effectiveness: A Study of Senior Managers
• The Impact of Transformational Leadership on Employee Motivation and Job Satisfaction in the Healthcare Sector
• Evaluating the Effectiveness of Talent Management Strategies in Enhancing Organizational Performance
• A Study of the Effects of Customer Relationship Management on Customer Retention and Loyalty
• Investigating the Impact of Corporate Governance on Firm Performance: Evidence from Emerging Markets
• The Relationship between Intellectual Capital and Firm Performance: A Case Study of Technology Firms
• Analyzing the Effectiveness of Diversity Management in Improving Organizational Performance
• The Impact of Internationalization on the Performance of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises: A Comparative Study of Developed and Developing Countries
• Examining the Relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility and Financial Performance: A Study of Listed Firms
• Investigating the Influence of Entrepreneurial Orientation on Firm Performance in Emerging Markets
• Analyzing the Impact of E-commerce on Traditional Retail Business Models: A Study of Brick-and-Mortar Stores
• The Effect of Corporate Reputation on Customer Loyalty and Firm Performance: A Study of the Banking Sector
• Investigating the Factors Affecting Consumer Adoption of Mobile Payment Systems
• The Role of Corporate Social Responsibility in Attracting and Retaining Millennial Employees
• Analyzing the Impact of Social Media Marketing on Brand Awareness and Consumer Purchase Intentions
• A Study of the Effects of Employee Training and Development on Job Performance
• Investigating the Relationship between Corporate Culture and Employee Turnover: A Study of Multinational Companies
• The Impact of Business Process Reengineering on Organizational Performance: A Study of Service Industries
• An Empirical Study of the Factors Affecting Internationalization Strategies of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
• The Effect of Strategic Human Resource Management on Firm Performance: A Study of Manufacturing Firms
• Investigating the Influence of Leadership on Organizational Culture: A Comparative Study of Two Organizations
• The Impact of Technology Adoption on Organizational Productivity: A Study of the Healthcare Sector
• Analyzing the Effects of Brand Personality on Consumer Purchase Intentions: A Study of Luxury Brands
• The Relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility and Customer Perceptions of Product Quality: A Study of the Food and Beverage Industry
• Investigating the Effectiveness of Performance Management Systems in Improving Employee Performance: A Study of a Public Sector Organization
• The Impact of Business Ethics on Firm Performance: A Study of the Banking Industry
• Examining the Relationship between Employee Engagement and Customer Satisfaction in the Service Industry
• Investigating the Influence of Entrepreneurial Networking on Firm Performance: A Study of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
• The Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility on Employee Retention: A Study of High-tech Firms
• The impact of workplace communication on employee engagement
• The role of customer feedback in improving service quality
• The effects of employee empowerment on job satisfaction
• The impact of innovation on customer satisfaction
• The role of knowledge management in organizational learning
• The effects of product innovation on market share
• The impact of business location on customer behavior
• The role of financial management in business success
• The effects of corporate social responsibility on employee engagement
• The impact of cultural intelligence on cross-cultural communication
• The role of social media in crisis management
• The effects of corporate branding on customer loyalty
• The impact of globalization on consumer behavior
• The role of emotional intelligence in leadership effectiveness
• The effects of employee involvement in decision-making on job satisfaction
• The impact of business strategy on market share
• The role of corporate culture in promoting ethical behavior
• The effects of corporate social responsibility on investor behavior
• The impact of sustainability on brand image and reputation
• The role of corporate social responsibility in reducing carbon emissions.
• The effectiveness of loyalty programs on customer retention
• The benefits of remote work for employee productivity
• The impact of environmental sustainability on consumer purchasing decisions
• The role of brand identity in consumer loyalty
• The relationship between employee satisfaction and customer satisfaction
• The impact of e-commerce on traditional brick-and-mortar stores
• The effectiveness of online advertising on consumer behavior
• The impact of leadership styles on employee motivation
• The role of corporate social responsibility in brand perception
• The impact of workplace diversity on organizational performance
• The effectiveness of gamification in employee training programs
• The impact of pricing strategies on consumer behavior
• The effectiveness of mobile marketing on consumer engagement
• The impact of emotional intelligence on leadership effectiveness
• The role of customer service in consumer loyalty
• The impact of technology on supply chain management
• The effectiveness of employee training programs on job performance
• The impact of culture on consumer behavior
• The effectiveness of performance appraisal systems on employee motivation
• The impact of social responsibility on organizational performance
• The role of innovation in business success
• The impact of ethical leadership on organizational culture
• The effectiveness of cross-functional teams in project management
• The impact of government regulations on business operations
• The role of strategic planning in business growth
• The impact of emotional intelligence on team dynamics
• The effectiveness of supply chain management on customer satisfaction
• The impact of workplace culture on employee satisfaction
• The role of employee engagement in organizational success
• The impact of globalization on organizational culture
• The effectiveness of virtual teams in project management
• The impact of employee turnover on organizational performance
• The role of corporate social responsibility in talent acquisition
• The impact of technology on employee training and development
• The effectiveness of knowledge management on organizational learning
• The impact of organizational structure on employee motivation
• The role of innovation in organizational change
• The impact of cultural intelligence on global business operations
• The effectiveness of marketing strategies on brand perception
• The impact of change management on organizational culture
• The role of leadership in organizational transformation
• The impact of employee empowerment on job satisfaction
• The effectiveness of project management methodologies on project success
• The impact of workplace communication on team performance
• The role of emotional intelligence in conflict resolution
• The impact of employee motivation on job performance
• The effectiveness of diversity and inclusion initiatives on organizational performance.
• The impact of social media on consumer behavior and buying decisions
• The role of diversity and inclusion in corporate culture and its effects on employee retention and productivity
• The effectiveness of remote work policies on job satisfaction and work-life balance
• The impact of customer experience on brand loyalty and revenue growth
• The effects of environmental sustainability practices on corporate reputation and financial performance
• The role of corporate social responsibility in consumer purchasing decisions
• The effectiveness of leadership styles on team performance and productivity
• The effects of employee motivation on job performance and turnover
• The impact of technology on supply chain management and logistics efficiency
• The role of emotional intelligence in effective leadership and team dynamics
• The impact of artificial intelligence and automation on job displacement and workforce trends
• The effects of brand image on consumer perception and purchasing decisions
• The role of corporate culture in promoting innovation and creativity
• The impact of e-commerce on traditional brick-and-mortar retail businesses
• The effects of corporate governance on financial reporting and transparency
• The effectiveness of performance-based compensation on employee motivation and productivity
• The impact of online reviews and ratings on consumer trust and brand reputation
• The effects of workplace diversity on innovation and creativity
• The impact of mobile technology on marketing strategies and consumer behavior
• The role of emotional intelligence in customer service and satisfaction
• The effects of corporate reputation on financial performance and stakeholder trust
• The impact of artificial intelligence on customer service and support
• The role of organizational culture in promoting ethical behavior and decision-making
• The effects of corporate social responsibility on employee engagement and satisfaction
• The impact of employee turnover on organizational performance and profitability
• The role of customer satisfaction in promoting brand loyalty and advocacy
• The effects of workplace flexibility on employee morale and productivity
• The impact of employee wellness programs on absenteeism and healthcare costs
• The role of data analytics in business decision-making and strategy formulation
• The effects of brand personality on consumer behavior and perception
• The impact of social media marketing on brand awareness and customer engagement
• The role of organizational justice in promoting employee satisfaction and retention
• The effects of corporate branding on employee motivation and loyalty
• The impact of online advertising on consumer behavior and purchasing decisions
• The role of corporate entrepreneurship in promoting innovation and growth
• The effects of cultural intelligence on cross-cultural communication and business success
• The impact of workplace diversity on customer satisfaction and loyalty
• The role of ethical leadership in promoting employee trust and commitment
• The effects of job stress on employee health and well-being
• The impact of supply chain disruptions on business operations and financial performance
• The role of organizational learning in promoting continuous improvement and innovation
• The effects of employee engagement on customer satisfaction and loyalty
• The impact of brand extensions on brand equity and consumer behavior
• The role of strategic alliances in promoting business growth and competitiveness
• The effects of corporate transparency on stakeholder trust and loyalty
• The impact of digital transformation on business models and competitiveness
• The role of business ethics in promoting corporate social responsibility and sustainability
• The effects of employee empowerment on job satisfaction and organizational performance.
• The role of corporate governance in mitigating unethical behavior in multinational corporations.
• The effects of cultural diversity on team performance in multinational corporations.
• The impact of corporate social responsibility on consumer loyalty and brand reputation.
• The relationship between organizational culture and employee engagement in service industries.
• The impact of globalization on the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
• The effectiveness of performance-based pay systems on employee motivation and productivity.
• The relationship between innovation and corporate performance in the pharmaceutical industry.
• The impact of digital marketing on the traditional marketing mix.
• The role of emotional intelligence in leadership effectiveness in cross-cultural teams.
• The relationship between corporate social responsibility and financial performance in the banking sector.
• The impact of diversity management on employee satisfaction and retention in multinational corporations.
• The relationship between leadership style and organizational culture in family-owned businesses.
• The impact of e-commerce on supply chain management.
• The effectiveness of training and development programs on employee performance in the retail sector.
• The impact of global economic trends on strategic decision-making in multinational corporations.
• The relationship between ethical leadership and employee job satisfaction in the healthcare industry.
• The impact of employee empowerment on organizational performance in the manufacturing sector.
• The relationship between corporate social responsibility and employee well-being in the hospitality industry.
• The impact of artificial intelligence on customer service in the banking industry.
• The relationship between emotional intelligence and employee creativity in the technology industry.
• The impact of big data analytics on customer relationship management in the telecommunications industry.
• The relationship between organizational culture and innovation in the automotive industry.
• The impact of internationalization on the performance of SMEs in emerging markets.
• The effectiveness of performance appraisal systems on employee motivation and retention in the public sector.
• The relationship between diversity management and innovation in the pharmaceutical industry.
• The impact of social entrepreneurship on economic development in developing countries.
• The relationship between transformational leadership and organizational change in the energy sector.
• The impact of online customer reviews on brand reputation in the hospitality industry.
• The effectiveness of leadership development programs on employee engagement in the finance industry.
• The relationship between corporate social responsibility and employee turnover in the retail sector.
• The impact of artificial intelligence on the recruitment and selection process in the technology industry.
• The relationship between organizational culture and employee creativity in the fashion industry.
• The impact of digital transformation on business models in the insurance industry.
• The relationship between employee engagement and customer satisfaction in the service industry.
• The impact of mergers and acquisitions on organizational culture and employee morale.
• The effectiveness of knowledge management systems on organizational performance in the consulting industry.
• The impact of social media marketing on brand loyalty in the food and beverage industry.
• The relationship between emotional intelligence and customer satisfaction in the airline industry.
• The impact of blockchain technology on supply chain management in the logistics industry.
• The relationship between corporate social responsibility and employee engagement in the technology industry.
• The impact of digitalization on talent management practices in the hospitality industry.
• The effectiveness of reward and recognition programs on employee motivation in the manufacturing industry.
• The impact of industry 4.0 on organizational structure and culture in the aerospace industry.
• The relationship between leadership style and team performance in the construction industry.
• The impact of artificial intelligence on financial forecasting and decision-making in the banking sector.
• The relationship between corporate social responsibility and customer loyalty in the automotive industry.
• The impact of virtual teams on employee communication and collaboration in the pharmaceutical industry.
• The impact of remote work on employee productivity and job satisfaction
• The effects of social media marketing on customer engagement and brand loyalty
• The role of artificial intelligence in streamlining supply chain management
• The effectiveness of employee training and development programs on organizational performance
• The impact of diversity and inclusion initiatives on organizational culture and employee satisfaction
• The role of corporate social responsibility in enhancing brand reputation and customer loyalty
• The effects of e-commerce on small businesses and local economies
• The impact of big data analytics on marketing strategies and customer insights
• The effects of employee empowerment on organizational innovation and performance
• The impact of globalization on the hospitality industry
• The effects of corporate governance on organizational performance and financial outcomes
• The role of customer satisfaction in driving business growth and profitability
• The impact of artificial intelligence on financial forecasting and risk management
• The effects of corporate culture on employee engagement and retention
• The role of green marketing in promoting environmental sustainability and brand reputation
• The impact of digital transformation on the retail industry
• The effects of employee motivation on job performance and organizational productivity
• The role of customer experience in enhancing brand loyalty and advocacy
• The impact of international trade agreements on global business practices
• The effects of artificial intelligence on customer service and support
• The role of organizational communication in facilitating teamwork and collaboration
• The impact of corporate social responsibility on employee motivation and retention
• The effects of global economic instability on business decision-making
• The role of leadership styles in organizational change management
• The impact of social media influencers on consumer behavior and purchasing decisions
• The effects of employee well-being on organizational productivity and profitability
• The role of innovation in driving business growth and competitive advantage
• The impact of digital marketing on consumer behavior and brand perception
• The role of strategic planning in organizational success and sustainability
• The impact of e-commerce on consumer privacy and data security
• The effects of corporate reputation on customer acquisition and retention
• The role of diversity and inclusion in organizational creativity and innovation
• The impact of artificial intelligence on customer relationship management
• The effects of customer feedback on product development and innovation
• The role of employee job satisfaction in reducing turnover and absenteeism
• The impact of global competition on business strategy and innovation
• The effects of corporate branding on customer loyalty and advocacy
• The role of digital transformation in enhancing organizational agility and responsiveness
• The effects of employee empowerment on customer satisfaction and loyalty
• The role of entrepreneurial leadership in driving business innovation and growth
• The impact of digital disruption on traditional business models
• The effects of organizational culture on innovation and creativity
• The role of marketing research in developing effective marketing strategies
• The impact of social media on customer relationship management
• The effects of employee engagement on organizational innovation and competitiveness
• The role of strategic partnerships in promoting business growth and expansion
• The impact of global trends on business innovation and entrepreneurship

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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• Retail & Trade ›

Retail Technology

Retail technology worldwide - statistics & facts

Automation, automation, automation, what technologies retailers are planning and prioritizing for investment, are consumers ready for ar-shopping, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Retail automation: global forecast market size 2030

Share of global retail technology deals made in Q3 2022, by region

Online e-commerce retail technology deal financing worldwide Q1 2018-Q3 2022

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Global AI in retail market size 2020-2028

Immersive technology use among consumer and retail companies 2022

Financing of retail technology deals worldwide 2018-2022

Further recommended statistics

• Basic Statistic Retail automation: global forecast market size 2030
• Premium Statistic Self-checkout systems market size worldwide 2021
• Basic Statistic Warehouse robotics market size worldwide 2022-2030
• Premium Statistic Global AI in retail market size 2020-2028
• Premium Statistic Global virtual fitting room market size 2021-2028
• Premium Statistic Business benefits of AI to retail worldwide 2023
• Premium Statistic Leading retail companies that applied for IoT related patents in 2022

Global retail automation market size in 2021, with a forecast from 2022 to 2030 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Self-checkout systems market size worldwide 2021

Estimated value of the global self-checkout systems market size in 2021, with a forecast from 2022 to 2030 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Warehouse robotics market size worldwide 2022-2030

Size of the warehouse robotics market worldwide from 2022 to 2030 (in million U.S. dollars)

Size of the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) market in the retail industry in 2020, with a forecast from 2021 to 2028 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Global virtual fitting room market size 2021-2028

Global virtual fitting room market size in 2021, with a forecast from 2022 to 2028 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Business benefits of AI to retail worldwide 2023

Business benefits of AI according to retail executives worldwide in 2023

Leading retail companies that applied for IoT related patents in 2022

Leading retail companies that applied for Internet of Things (IoT) related patents in the three months up to May 2022

Retail technology funding

• Premium Statistic Financing of retail technology deals worldwide 2018-2022
• Premium Statistic Value of in-store retail technology deals financing worldwide Q1 2018-Q3 2022
• Premium Statistic Share of global retail technology deals made in Q3 2022, by region
• Premium Statistic Online e-commerce retail technology deal financing worldwide Q1 2018-Q3 2022
• Premium Statistic Supply chain and logistics retail technology deal financing worldwide Q1 2018-2022

Retail technology financing deals worldwide from 2018 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Value of in-store retail technology deals financing worldwide Q1 2018-Q3 2022

Quarterly in-store retail technology deal financing worldwide from Q1 2018 to Q3 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Share of retail technology financing deals undertaken worldwide in 3rd quarter 2022, by region

Quarterly e-commerce retail technology deal financing worldwide from Q1 2018 to Q3 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Supply chain and logistics retail technology deal financing worldwide Q1 2018-2022

Supply chain and logistics retail technology deal financing worldwide from Q1 2018 to Q3 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Tech capabilities and strategies of retailers

• Premium Statistic Immersive technology use among consumer and retail companies 2022
• Premium Statistic Importance of AI in retail store operation optimization worldwide 2022
• Premium Statistic Brick and mortar retail technology investments increase plans for 2023
• Premium Statistic Main reasons for using smart devices in retail stores EMEA 2022
• Premium Statistic Tech priorities of retailers in the U.S. 2023
• Premium Statistic Technology areas planned or innovated by UK retailers 2022

Immersive technology use among consumer goods and retail companies worldwide in 2022, by use case and stage

Importance of AI in retail store operation optimization worldwide 2022

Importance of AI use in optimizing store operations according to retailers worldwide as of November 2022

Brick and mortar retail technology investments increase plans for 2023

Main product verticals worldwide retailers planning to increase brick and mortar technology investment for 2023

Main reasons for using smart devices in retail stores EMEA 2022

Leading reasons for using smart devices for retail operations according to executives in the EMEA region in 2022

Tech priorities of retailers in the U.S. 2023

Leading technologies prioritized by retailers in the United States in 2023

Technology areas planned or innovated by UK retailers 2022

Technology areas planned or being innovated by UK retailers over the next three years as of 2022

U.S. consumer spotlight: retail tech engagement

• Premium Statistic Awareness of retail technologies in the U.S. 2022
• Premium Statistic Retail technology impact on shopping experience in the U.S. 2022
• Premium Statistic Impact of retail technologies on consumer visits to physical store in the U.S. 2022
• Premium Statistic Virtual fitting room usage interest among consumers in the U.S. 2022
• Premium Statistic VR and AR shopping tools: consumer concerns in the U.S. 2022
• Premium Statistic Gen X consumers' expectations for AR apps when shopping U.S. 2022
• Premium Statistic Metaverse: Importance of various factors for shoppers in the U.S. 2022

Awareness of retail technologies in the U.S. 2022

Retail technology awareness among consumers in the United States in 2022, by technology

Retail technology impact on shopping experience in the U.S. 2022

Impact of retail technologies on shopping experience of consumers in the United States in 2022, by technology

Impact of retail technologies on consumer visits to physical store in the U.S. 2022

Share of fashion consumers who say the following retail technologies would increase the likelihood of visiting a physical store in the United States in 2022

Virtual fitting room usage interest among consumers in the U.S. 2022

Consumer likelihood to try on fashion items virtually with an AR app in the United States in 2022

VR and AR shopping tools: consumer concerns in the U.S. 2022

Consumer concerns about using VR or AR tools while viewing and buying goods in the United States in 2022

Gen X consumers' expectations for AR apps when shopping U.S. 2022

Expectations of Gen X consumers for AR apps when shopping in the United States in 2022

Metaverse: Importance of various factors for shoppers in the U.S. 2022

When it comes to shopping in the metaverse, how important are the following?

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First Look: New Research Unpacks the Differences Between Subscriptions and Memberships

• May 16, 2024 at 11:03 AM EDT
• By Alicia Esposito

The terms “membership” and “subscription” are often used interchangeably in retail. However, new research from CI&T , developed in partnership with Retail TouchPoints , reveals that most consumers ( 64% ) believe there is a distinct difference between these two types of programs. Although the report won’t be released until next month, we’re offering you a first look at some of the findings.    Based on a survey of 1,000+ consumers across all age segments, the most notable differences are connected to the value each program provides. While subscriptions are largely associated with convenience, memberships feel more exclusive and are often tied to more perks, such as services, community access and more robust personalization.     “A membership is like being a part of a group,” said one respondent. “Membership is the key to friendship and [with] subscription, you’re just a user,” said another.    However, there are some notable commonalities between subscriptions and memberships, especially in the categories consumers most commonly gravitate toward. The categories consumers were most open to or already had memberships with included: grocery , pet supplies , household goods , personal care and beauty retailers .     “What was really interesting about this research was that consumers could define differences between subscriptions and memberships conceptually, but their attitudes and behaviors towards them were very similar,” said Melissa Minkow, Director of Retail Strategy at CI&T, in an interview with Retail TouchPoints . “Unsurprisingly, 74% of consumers agreed that the economy impacts how interested they are in memberships, so brands and retailers offering these programs need to be mindful of how they balance the financial benefits with more high-value offerings.”  

Influencing the Membership Journey  

Because memberships are more closely tied to long-term relationship building, CI&T and Retail TouchPoints sought to understand the key benefits that influence the membership journey. Specifically, we wanted to understand what motivates consumers to register, stay loyal to and re-engage with a membership program.     While financial benefits such as discounts and lower prices were very much a motivator for consumers to initially register for a program, they often seek perks that make the shopping experience easier and more enjoyable as they further engage with a membership program.    Minkow will explore these aspects in greater detail during a fireside chat with Rashi Maskara, Senior Director of Growth for Member Engagement at Ipsy, during the Retail Innovation Conference & Expo , taking place June 4-6 in Chicago. Register now to dig deeper into the research and learn how Ipsy is elevating its membership model to address some of these findings. 

• Posted In: Consumer Trends , Customer Experience , Digital Commerce , Digital Marketing , Loyalty , Omnichannel Alignment , Personalization
• Tagged With: ci&t , ipsy , membership programs , retail research , subscription programs
• This post has been read by 85 executives in the retail industry.
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Feeling down? Retail therapy helps beat the blues

• [email protected]

No prior research has experimentally examined whether retail therapy can bring emotional benefits. Research from marketing professors Scott Rick and Katherine Burson and doctoral candidate Beatriz Pereira suggests that one component of retail therapy—making buying decisions—can help to restore a sense of control and reduce sadness.

In one study of 45 female undergraduates, 44 percent chose to buy a snack after viewing a movie clip that portrays a bullying incident. Participants rated their emotions at the beginning and end of the experiment. At the end of the study, the sadness scores of buyers were significantly lower than those of nonbuyers.

“Previous critiques of sadness and shopping pointed to how terrible it was. No one stopped to see if people actually felt better or if buying a candy bar helped to cure negative emotions,” Burson said.

Then, in a second study, 100 adults who participated online viewed a movie clip that portrayed the death of a boy’s mentor (previous research has shown that the clip reliably induces sadness). Then the participants were randomly assigned to either choosing or browsing conditions.

Choosers were told to imagine buying $100 worth of products by placing them in a shopping cart. They were then presented with 12 products, each priced at $25, and asked to select four by dragging them into a shopping cart.

Browsers were presented with the same 12 products and asked to judge which four would be the most useful when traveling, by clicking on four products and dragging them into a box labeled travel items.

Because only some products were appropriate for travel, but all may be desirable when shopping, choosers had more of an opportunity to implement their preferences and experience a sense of control. As a result, at the end of the study, the sadness scores of choosers were significantly lower than those of browsers.

“We think there are benefits to buying something new and showing it off. But when it comes to alleviating sadness, actively choosing between products is essential, even if those choices are hypothetical,” Rick said. “Shopping is a natural, easy vehicle for choice. There are other situations that afford opportunities to choose and restore personal control, but they may be less tempting and harder to find than the mall.”

Burson said that if you’re on a budget and want to realize the benefits of retail therapy, there’s a way.

“The people who simply imagine that they are buying have less sadness at the end of the experiment, suggesting that imaginary shopping may have some of the restorative benefits we see in real shopping, which might be the ultimate solution,” she said.

The study also identified boundary conditions to the benefits of retail therapy. The researchers found that making buying choices did not help to reduce anger. Unlike sadness, anger is a high-control emotion, and making choices does not address the main source of anger.

Pereira said the studies contribute to research on emotion and decision-making. Most work in this area has focused on how specific emotions influence decision-making and consumption. By contrast, the current paper joins a growing stream of research examining how decision-making influences the experience of specific emotions. An important limitation of the current research is the relatively mild nature of both the induced emotions and the shopping contexts utilized.

“I think it is the tip of the iceberg. We are currently dealing with small transactions and fleeting emotions. I am interested in larger purchases and chronic conditions,” Rick said. “How far can the healing go?”

Related Links:

• Study: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2119576
• Scott Rick: www.bus.umich.edu/FacultyBios/FacultyBio.asp?id=001011356
• Katherine Burson: www.bus.umich.edu/FacultyBios/FacultyBio.asp?id=000641247
• Beatriz Pereira: http://sitemaker.umich.edu/beatrizpereira/home

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100 best marketing research topics for all.

Because of the many aspects of marketing, choosing marketing topics to write about may put one in a dicey situation. This article provides some hot topics in marketing that will help you select an area of focus and select relevant topics from that niche. From marketing research topics for college students to social issues in marketing, we have got you covered! So sit down and relax as we take you through the list of marketing research topics our professional writers prepared just for you!

Marketing Thesis Topics

Are you in need of well-thought-out marketing thesis topics and marketing dissertation topics? Then you’re in the right place! This list of marketing paper topics presented will give you a distinct thesis/dissertation.

• Analysis and determination of consumer buying behavior for Coca-Cola
• A study on famous well-marketed brands that got away with selling substandard quality products
• A study showing the impact of advertising on consumer behavior
• Brand advertising and political campaigns: a possible interwoven impact?
• A review of the outcomes of advertising in a recession
• Exhaustive research on how brands exploit impulsive buying
• A study of how celebrity endorsements on ROI affect CPG brands
• A survey of the impact of augmented reality on marketing experiences
• Critical research on how AI will help make better marketing decisions
• A study of the perspective and reception of Americans to targeted ads based on their browser history

Current Marketing Issues

There are numerous marketing issues around the world today. These global marketing issues threaten the survival of many businesses and the economy at large. Here is a list of current marketing issues!

• A decline in organic reach on social media platforms
• Difficulty in building a well-recognized brand name
• Getting readers to see content
• Understanding marketing results
• Marketing budgets included by BREXIT
• Optimizing business for voice search
• Bridging the technology gap
• Ensuring compliance with GDPR
• Overdependence of potential customers on amazon
• The effect of COVID-19 on the global economy

Marketing Research Topics

Getting marketing topics for research has been made considerably more comfortable with this list of marketing research paper topics. Ready to explore the marketing research topics we have, let’s delve right in!

• Exploring how organizations use corporate social responsibility (CSR) to reinforce brand equity
• The effect of social media on buying choices
• Online purchasing: a study of the product characteristics buyers look for
• An exploration of the differences in marketing strategies across cultures
• Manipulation tactics: how brands can get more customers
• A study of how customer loyalty is affected by brand image
• Analyzing how TV advertising affects the top of mind awareness
• Do people appreciate being click baited into sponsored posts?
• A study on how to make customers purchase goods and services in the luxury category

Digital Marketing Blog Topics

Digital marketing remains a very important aspect of marketing in the world today. Here are some very juicy digital marketing topics you can write a great blog on!

• 10 insightful differences between paid search and organic search
• Tips for promoting content on Pinterest
• SEO tactics to avoid like the plague
• How to increase your followers on social media
• Best tips to help you grow your paid social ROAS
• Why should you follow your competitors on social media?
• Dos and don’ts of social media marketing
• How to create content your audience will be eager to share

Marketing Essay Topics

• What is the most effective form of marketing?
• Internet marketing trends to expect in the future
• What important brand attributes lead to an increase in customer loyalty?
• A look into marketing approaches that broke through strong market monopoly
• The impact of social media on consumer buying behavior
• Comparison of advertising versus building brand equity
• Rebuilding trust in influencer marketing
• How to generate leads effectively

Content Marketing Topics

• 10 biggest graphic design mistakes companies make in their marketing pieces
• How to create captivating e-newsletters that people will pay attention to
• Repurposing marketing content for small businesses
• Working more micro-content into marketing efforts
• Multi-step versus one-step content marketing campaigns
• The five Cs when creating content marketing copy
• Creating compelling content marketing campaigns in 10 steps
• Content marketing: how to generate more leads and close sales

Strategic Marketing Problems

There are many marketing problems in companies and businesses that threaten to cripple the advancement of the industry. Here is a list of some marketing problems you may be willing to proffer solutions to.

• Inability to explain products or services delivered
• Not clearly defining a company’s market segment
• Lack of innovating commercial department
• Lack of business visibility
• Missing links between sales and marketing departments
• Lack of marketing plan
• Lack of personal branding, brand image, and professional reputation
• Thinking the company or business can survive without marketing

Marketing Blog Topics

• Facebook advertising: pros and cons
• 10 benefits of inbound marketing
• The most frustrating problems faced in inbound marketing
• How to generate subscribers for your blog faster than ever!
• 10 benefits of content marketing lead magnets
• Five video content marketing myths you must discard
• 30 social media campaign ideas from big brands

Controversial Marketing Topics

• Does google give preferential treatment to big brands?
• Does social media affect SEO ranking?
• Are grey SEO techniques safe?
• Are YouTube videos more engaging than TV ads?
• Are building e-mail lists still one of the best ways to sell?
• Will immersion marketing through VR technology to be accepted?

Sport Marketing Research Topics

Sports marketing continues to remain a significant source of revenue. Hence, research in this area will continue to stay relevant. Here are some sport marketing topics you could consider working on.

• How the extraordinary content offered by intelligent chatbots can help sports teams strengthen fan loyalty
• Emerging opportunities in sports marketing and how to capitalize on them
• How to effectively capitalize on the wearables market
• Should more women and children get into sports?
• Should seniors be allowed to participate in some games?

Marketing Presentation Topics

• Mastering in-house SEO
• The path to gaining and building customers trust
• Brand awareness versus ROI
• Effectively personalizing customer communications
• The best SEO strategies that increase site traffic

International Marketing Topics

Marketing connects the global world, and this is why it is essential to marketing development. Here are some international marketing topics to consider!

• The effect of globalization on consumer behavior
• How do international brands compare to local brands?
• Do international brands always have advantages over a local brand?
• Creating brand awareness by utilizing global event marketing
• How to market products on an international level

Marketing Plan Topics

• The importance of a marketing plan to the success of a business or product launch
• Building a tactical marketing plan
• How is a marketing strategy different from a marketing plan?
• Indispensable parts in writing a marketing plan

Ethical Issues In Marketing

• Targeted Ads based on browser history
• Immersion marketing through virtual reality
• The exploitation of impulsive buying
• Click baiting into sponsored posts

Affiliate Marketing Topics

• How to find profitable niches in affiliate marketing
• How to get readers interested in what you market
• How to build a personal website: the ultimate guide

Congratulations! We hope you have been able to guide you in choosing your desired topic in marketing successfully. Alo, you can check out our business topics. We wish you the best in your research!

67 Retailing Essay Topics

🏆 best essay topics on retailing, 👍 good retailing research topics & essay examples, 🎓 most interesting retailing research titles.

• Asda in the Retail Market and Its Marketing Strategies
• Retail Management: Home Depot, Strategic Analysis
• Marketing Strategies of Asda Company in Retail Market
• Shoppers Drug Mart Company’s Retail Networks
• Walmart Retail Corporation’s Project Management
• The HR Business Partner Role in the Retail Industry
• “Retail Marketing: A Critical Analysis” by Pandey
• Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation’s Retail and Services Shoppers Drug Mart pays significant attention to the development of an efficient retail network that makes the business attractive to customers.
• High-End Retail Strategy Mix for a Shoe Store Location, operating procedures, goods and services offered, pricing tactics, and various promotional methods are very essential factors for the development of a company.
• Marketing. A Major Trend in Retailing Sales have been proven to be resilient in the past year and, consumers opted to shop online majorly serving as an acceleration of the preceding trends.
• Retail Management: Discussion Problems Traditional grocery stores face competitive pressures from drug stores, convenience stores, extreme-value retailers, warehouse clubs, and supercenters.
• Apple Inc. in the Retailing of Consumer Electronics Apple is a quickly developed brand that focuses on improving the peculiarities of the company’s support of the customers and on providing an effective price policy.
• Researching Retail Pharmacy Retail pharmacies are on the leading edge of rendering health care services to patients after the pharmacist has filled the consumer’s drug.
• The Concept of Omnichannel Retailing The functioning of omnichannel marketing implies the creation of a seamless message adjusted through the company’s sales funnel to its customers on the basis of their behavior.
• Working in a Sphere of Retail Working in a sphere of retail has always been a questionable endeavor in terms of employee engagement in the work process and inner motivation.
• The Competitive Advantage in the Aero-Engine and Global Retailing Markets This paper, on the example of four enterprises, analyzes aero-engine and global retailing markets with the intention of comparing their competitive advantages.
• The Importance of Sustainable Development in the Food Retail Sector The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are discussed from the perspective of their relevance to the Canadian business in general and the food retail sector in particular.
• Retail Inventory Control Project Management This project ensures that the organization will save money and time thereby reducing the cost that the company is incurring while maximizing profits.
• Retail and Supply Chain in the Pharmaceutical Industry Retail is the result of work to optimize B2B strategy and logistics. The pharmaceutical industry has become a classic business that increases sales and revenue from customers.
• Retail Trends of the Millennial Generation The Millennial generation tends to be active on the Internet, which is suitable for retailers as it brings various advantages to their businesses.
• Ben Sherman: Retail Marketing and Logistics Issues This report observes the current positioning strategy of Ben Sherman company and illustrates the current competitive environment, as well as recommends future strategies.
• Retail: Bower’s Case Study Analysis Bower’s case study focuses on the measures that the management of Marcs & Spencer took to restore the company’s image as a retail power.
• Amazon’s Online Marketing Strategy and Brick & Mortar Retail This paper discusses online firms such as Amazon and brick-and-mortar retail stores. The paper looks at the specific advantages of Amazon over brick-and-mortar retail stores.
• Three New Original Future Retails Forms or Retail Combinations The article analyzes new forms of retail stores and combinations as one of the nowadays major trends in retailing.
• Retail Objectives for the New Company The company should focus on Marketing and Advertising and Sell-up strategies. To raise the sales volume the company can focus on advertising.
• E-Commerce: The Utility of Internet Retail The paper states e-commerce has no space restrictions, and websites can carry various products. It helps customers to get what they need.
• Apple’s Decision to Open Retail Stores There are several reasons why Apple decided to open its own retail stores all around the world, which now accounts for slightly more than 500 physical establishments.
• Retail Stores as Cultural Phenomenon in Cities The paper states that retail stores are a cultural and urban phenomenon in large cities with developed economies, so one cannot criticize them.
• Researching of Excess Retail Marketing The existence of retail now affects the structure of the main concept in the future and the need for retail space.
• Smart Cities’ Response to the Aftermath of COVID-19 in the Retail Sector Since smart cities are designed to provide real time response to demands, they may be in a better place to provide solutions to the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Analysis of Structure of Copious Online Retail Company Copious is an online retail company that employs virtual teams in its management which common in today’s workforce as more organizations move to a management-by-projects approach.
• Nine West: Retail Environment This paper discusses the retail environment of Nine West: Choosing a store location, the main weakness of the location, and channels of retail.
• Retail Online System Management This paper presents an information system project – retail online system management, which describes instructions with step-by-step description.
• Overhaul of the Retail Industry Retail is one of the industries that has undergone the most dramatic transformation in the last couple of decades.
• Bibliography: Logistics, Retail and HR Management This article describes three sources about logistics, retail, and human resource management, its types of problems in difficult conditions, etc.
• Media in Retail Business This paper examines the context of media in a hypermarket business: How to maximize media revenue and create the greatest brand experience.
• JS Sainbury and Its Non-store Retailing Business J.Sainsbury is based in the UK and its main business is in retailing sector while it has also diversified into providing financial services.
• Supervalu Retail Chain of Stores’ Market Analysis Currently, the chain stores are grappling with the effects of current recessions and inroads by discounters such as Wal-Mart, Target, and Sam’s Club.
• TNCs Contribution to Globalization of Retail Industry Transnational corporations make a great contribution to globalization issues and development of the global industry structure.
• Retail Environment: Employee Relationship, Channel Strengths and Weaknesses The most of the developed retail industry developed enough loyalty and incentive programs for customers to obtain the general reward. This forms their vital growth instrument.
• Bonobos: Digital Economy in the Fashion Retail Sector This paper will discuss the organization’s digital initiatives and their success, and the financial effect of the online strategies the company has adopted.
• Information Technology-Based Data Management in Retail The following paper discusses the specificities of data management and identifies the most apparent ethical considerations using retail as an example.
• Small and Medium-Sized Fashion Retail Enterprises The current dissertation proposal offers to investigate several success factors for small and medium-sized enterprises in fashion retail business in the UK.
• Retailing Strategies and Multichannel Marketing Retailing is a process that encompasses all the activities that sellers use to add value to the products that they sell to customers for personal use.
• Customer Perception of Advertisements in Organised Retail This article is ideal in comprehending the impact of customer perception towards floor ads in retail stores in Oman.
• Bellevue Mall: Successful Retail in the Digital Age Bellevue Mall is an outlier in the retail space owned by a person and not a conglomerate corporation. This paper discusses the success of the mall.
• Carrefour Company: Retail Chain Configuration Updating To move the retail chain configuration of Carrefour up can be carried out by reconsidering the current location of its stores and the quality standards adopted in the organization.
• Regulation of Retailing Through Parking Taxation
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• Online Book Retailing: Amazon and Its Competitors
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• Business Ethics and Manners in Retailing Sector
• Retailing Public Goods: The Economics of Corporate Social Responsibility
• Price Rigidity and Market Power in German Retailing
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• Jewelry, Watches, and Accessories Retailing in South Korea
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• Home and Garden Products Retailing in Denmark
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• Crafting Integrated Multichannel Retailing Strategies
• Luggage and Leather Goods Retailing in Japan
• Business: Retailing and Low Price Guarantee
• Global Retailing and Civil Aero-Engine Manufacturing
• India Pakistan Apparel Retailing Operations Roadmap
• Environmental Implications for Online Retailing
• How Artificial Intelligence Affects the Retail Industry

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Analysis of retail sector research evolution and trends during COVID-19

Brij b. gupta.

a International Center for AI and Cyber Security Research and Innovations & Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, Asia University, Taiching, Taiwan

b Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Korea

c Lebanese American University, Beirut, 1102, Lebanon

d Symbiosis Centre for Information Technology (SCIT), Symbiosis International University, Pune, India

e Center for Interdisciplinary Research at University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), Dehradun, India

Akshat Gaurav

f Ronin Institute, Montclair, NJ, USA

g University Center for Research & Development (UCRD), Chandigarh University, Chandigarh 140413, India

Prabin Kumar Panigrahi

h Indian Institute of Management Indore, India

Associated Data

Data will be made available on request.

The purpose of this study is to analysis the evolution of the retail sector during the COVID-19 period and to identify future research issues. Scopus databases were searched for articles published in English between 2020 and 2022 to discover current trends and concerns in the retail industry. A total of 1071 empirical and nonempirical studies were compiled as a result of the evaluation process. During the study period, the number of articles published in scientific journals increased exponentially, indicating that the research topic is still in the developmental phase. It also highlights the most important research trends, allowing numerous new research lines to be proposed via visual mapping of Thematic Maps. This study makes an important contribution to the field of the retail sector, providing a comprehensive overview of the field’s evolution and current status, as well as a comprehensive, synthesized, and organized summary of the various perspectives, definitions, and trends in the field.

1. Introduction

Societies and economies should take note of the COVID-19 virus as a warning, since both were caught off guard and now face serious consequences ( Lopes and Reis, 2021 , Chopra et al., 2022 , Srour et al., 2022 , Narayan et al., 2022 , Alowibdi et al., 2021 ). Globally, the current pandemic has had severe health, social, political, and economic consequences. To survive in this new reality, countries will need to implement new measures, policies, and habits ( Hall et al., 2021 , Bouncken et al., 2022 , Lee and Suh, 2022 ). As a result of increased food demand and the resulting strain on the supply chain, the retail sector has been forced to focus more on employee safety and health, improve hygiene in physical spaces, and better manage its workforce to ensure the well-being of the civilian population ( Trapp et al., 2022 , Rasmusen et al., 2022 , Vassiliades et al., 2022 ). In light of the fact that pandemics are likely to persist, this study aims is to determine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the retail sector. It is also meant to serve as a pre-planning guide so that the industry can respond permanently to these scenarios and avert service closures. In this research, our main aim is to find the answer to the following questions:

• RQ1 What are the recent research themes, topics, and keywords related to the retail sector.
• RQ2 : Which countries are working to develop new theories and techniques for the retail sector.
• RQ3 : Who are the key researchers in the creation of novel approaches to the retail sector?

The rest of the paper is organized as follows: Section 2 documents the recent literature surveys. Section 3 explains the methodology; Section 4 analyzes the results. Section 5 presents the theoretical implications, and the conclusion is presented in Section 6 .

2. Literature review

This subsection discusses details about the latest survey conducted in the retail sector. Taking into account the proliferation of COVID-19 and the likely repercussions of its propagation, the authors in the review article ( Artemyeva et al., 2022 ) examine the process of e-commerce.

The author examines international online trade during COVID-19 ( Kofi Mensah and Simon Mwakapesa, 2021 ). In another review, the author says that the primary criterion for speeding up the performance of supply chains is ”Collaboration Efficiency”. In addition, ”Order Fulfillment” and ”Digital RSCs” are the most suitable resilient business methods to reduce long-term consequences ( Sharma et al., 2021 ).

The banking industry has long been seen as a leader in the use of new information and communication technologies in business operations. In this context, the authors of the paper ( Saprikis et al., 2022 ) try to answer the question “Why do people use mobile banking applications?” via an empirical investigation. For this study, the researchers looked at two groups of people: those who use m-banking applications, and those who don’t, and discover whether there are any differences or similarities in the variables that influence their decision to use or not use this sort of service.

According to our knowledge, none of the current evaluations have covered the retail sector under COVID-19 to its fullest extent. It is thus necessary for researchers to undertake a bibliometric analysis to evaluate the field’s state, identify the primary academic agents who are continually growing in this area, determine the important issues from present research as well as define future challenges for this field of study.

2.1. Latest business models for the retail sector

Recently many researchers proposed something different to improve the retail sector from the impact of COVID-19 ( Yu et al., 2020 , Tarhini et al., 2022 , Tan et al., 2021 , Chopra et al., 2022 ) using different techniques such as blockchain Martínez et al., 2022 , Stergiou et al., 2021 , Deveci et al., 2022 and machine learning ( Lv et al., 2022 , Gaurav et al., 2022 ). Some of the novel modes are as follows: The authors ( Vizuete-Luciano et al., 2022 ) propose a decision assistance system for grocery shop operators in Barcelona based on the Forgotten Effects Theory of the City’s 701 establishments. There are indirect impacts that can be determined by conducting an experiment like this one. Varied districts have different approaches to evaluating the study’s variables, as seen by these findings.

In recent years, there has been a surge in the use of the Omnichannel business model in recent years. In this investigation ( Piskunova, 2022 ) author analyze the omnichannel operations of merchants to propose a short-term omnichannel business strategy under the pressure of this economic crisis. Research shows that the COVID-19 situation has pushed the omnichannel retail paradigm forward. The researchers have outlined numerous step-by-step metrics in their study of the implementation process of the omnichannel strategy ( Mouawad et al., 2021 , Saab et al., 2021 ). The study includes retailers’ thoughts on new ways of doing business, which proposes how the concept of omnichannel development may be influenced by external influences, as well as offering opportunities for additional research in the development of the concept of omnichannel. This study provides a step-by-step strategy to implement an omnichannel business model for retail company managers.

Using FAHP and WASPAS methodologies, this research proposes a fuzzy MCDM-based solution to the problem ( Kao et al., 2022 ). We want to design a tool that may help a decision maker in a garment sector dealing with fuzzy environments choose a good supplier. In this case study, the suggested MCDM model is put into practice to illustrate its usefulness and viability. Due to the help of the model in achieving its desired results, an ideal garment industry supplier was found.

Cognitive similarity is a notion that the authors propose as the basis for the product recommendation system ( Krishnan and Nair, 2022 ). Collaborative filtering serves as the foundation for this hybrid recommendation approach. To ensure that the new approach is better than the old, it is compared to both the old and the new. In an additional study of research, the authors use a novel lifecycle data science approach. With the use of user behavior analytics and an RFM analysis technique, the suggested model predicts product sales and makes product suggestions to consumers ( Zhao and Keikhosrokiani, 2022 ). The suggested recommendation model gives excellent suggestions and sales combinations to increase sales and market response. New clients may also receive product recommendations from it. This study provide a highly practical and valuable case study of a company through a change in business model and provides guidance to others in a similar scenario.

Based on the constantly developing concept of “curbside pickup”, Ponis et al. Ponis et al. (2022) proposes a solution that is further strengthened using a Wi-Fi system and Augmented Reality. Retailers will be equipped with an easy-to-implement solution and will use one that will help them overcome the problems posed by COVID-19, a pandemic that has ravaged much of the world.

In another study, the authors address the issue of determining low-cost delivery routes in metropolitan regions for online purchases ( Cerrone et al., 2021 , Al Sobbahi and Tekli, 2022 ). The proposed system places the realistic 3D model and provides a virtual test experience using marker-based and marker-less methodologies ( Chavan et al., 2021 ). Despite the difficulties posed by COVID-19, companies will benefit from using this technology ( Koweyes et al., 2021 , Yang et al., 2022 ). Therefore, people will be able to keep their own space while yet interacting with one another via Augmented Reality (AR). The authors also proposed a similar concept in the proposed approach using cloud computing ( Van Ngoc and Xuan Canh, 2021 ).

2.2. Behavior analysis in retail sector

Many scholars employed state-of-the-art methodologies to examine consumer behavior with the aim of enhancing the retail industry. Several contemporary and inventive methods are currently available ( Paiva et al., 2022 , Mourad et al., 2020 , Haldma et al., 2021 ). Retailers may consider COVID-19 as an opportunity to build bike lanes and other forms of active transportation infrastructure to counteract the fact that fewer people are using public transit out of fear of infection.

The urban landscapes in London, Manchester, Newcastle and Liverpool are examined in this research article ( Cavada, 2022 ). This study uses case studies to investigate the effects of geographical isolation due to COVID-19. Some of the limitations of the metropolitan area, changes in sharing behavior, and gamification potential may be seen using this study’s data. The expected results will provide evidence-based scenarios for gamification systems.

3. Research methodology

A detailed literature study was conducted to determine the effect of COVID-19 on the retail sector. The PRISMA review method ( Page et al., 2021 ) was used to guide the review process. The following are the steps used in writing this paper: Selection of the database, modification of research criteria, coding of recovered material and evaluation of the information. Because the Web-of-Science database contains fewer indexed journals than Scopus ( Mongeon and Paul-Hus, 2014 ), this study uses the Scopus database as a sample to limit the chance of missing important articles throughout the search process.

3.1. Eligibility criteria

This research examined the evolution and trends in the retail industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Publications published between 2019 and 2022 in English were included in the map to show the current state of research around the world.

3.2. Restrictions

Few papers were disqualified because they were irrelevant to the study’s fundamental objectives. For example, we restrict ourselves to researching articles written in English.

3.3. Data source

Using the Scopus bibliographic database, the data was gathered in December 2022. The following two keywords were included in the search strategy to answer the research question.

• • Retail
• • COVID-19

3.4. Search query selection

In order to get the information from Scopus database, we used the following query at different screening levels:

”(TITLE-ABS-KEY(retail) AND TITLE-ABS-KEY(”COVID-19”)) AND (LIMIT-TO (LANGUAGE,”English”))”

( TITLE-ABS-KEY ( retail ) AND TITLE-ABS-KEY (“COVID-19”)) AND (LIMIT-TO (LANGUAGE, “English”)) AND (LIMIT-TO (DOCTYPE, “cp”) OR LIMIT-TO (DOCTYPE, “ar”))

3.5. Tools used

R language was used to analyze the data. Science mapping research can be carried out using R language, which is based on the ( Cobo et al., 2011 ) science mapping analytic technique that allows longitudinal investigations. Another benefit of using this method is that it helps researchers discover connections and interactions between previously studied topics and new areas of study.

4. Results and discussion

Studies of an area’s bibliography may provide light on how the topic has developed and point to potential directions for future study. It provides a bird’s eye perspective of several facets of an area. This section is separated into two sub-sections for the sake of a more thorough study. An overview of scientific output over time is provided, as well as a breakdown by topic area and publication venue of the most widely cited publications, institutes, and authors. Furthermore, we examine the content findings to identify the most important trends in the growth of the retail sector.

The impact of COVID-19 on the retail industry is a significant field of study, as shown by Fig. 1 . The details of our database are represented in Fig. 2 . As represented in Fig. 2 , our dataset includes 1071 articles. Furthermore, more than 3735 unique authors published papers during this time; therefore, we can say that the impact of COVID-19 on the retail sector is an interesting topic because many authors were working on it.

Variation of Number of Papers.

Overview of Dataset.

In addition to the number of papers and authors, citations are also a good criteria for representing the productivity and importance of the topic. Since, this indicates that the research area is still fresh, and there is a scope of research in this area.

4.1. Analysis of source distribution

In this subsection, we give an analysis of the publication sources. To represent the productivity and impact of sources, we use the number of citations, the number of documents published, the h index, the g index and the m index as comparative variables. Therefore, the top 10 productive sources are represented in Table 1 . From Table 1 it is clear that the most productive source is JOURNAL OF RETAILING AND CONSUMER SERVICES with the highest number of citations. Other more popular and quantity-based journals are as follows: CANADIAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH, JOURNAL OF BUSINESS RESEARCH, TIJDSCHRIFT VOOR ECONOMISCHE EN SOCIALE GEOGRAFIE, SUSTAINABILITY (SWITZERLAND), TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH INTERDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVES, PLOS ONE, SAFETY SCIENCE, JOURNAL OF SERVICE MANAGEMENT, JAMA NETWORK OPEN, and JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS .

Local source impact details.

Other than quality and quantity, the topic of interest is also a good criterion for the identification of the importance of a source. Fig. 3 represents this criterion using Sankey diagrams ( Riehmann et al., 2005 ). Visualizing the movement of energy or materials in networks and processes has historically been done with the use of Sankey diagrams. They depict quantitative information about flows, their interactions, and their transformations. Each node in a Sankey diagram is connected to other nodes through a weighted network, and each weighted node’s incoming weight is equal to its outgoing weights. The first, second map third row in Fig. 3 represents countries, keywords, and source, respectively. Therefore, this Sankey diagram representation can easily represent the core topics in which the respective source is publishing papers. From Fig. 3 , it is clear that sustainability is one of the most versatile journals because it covers a variety of topics. Fig. 4 represents the number of publications with respect to the source. Hence, it is clear from Fig. 4 that most of the articles related to the retail sectors are published in the MPDI journal followed by the LNCS springer.

Source and Keyword Plot.

Source variation according to total publication.

4.2. Analysis of authors and country distribution

In this subsection, we give statistical details about the authors who are actively working to study the impact of COVID-19 on the retail sector. There are many ways through which we can find the most productive authors in the respective field. One method is the classification of authors by the number of citations. The Fig. 5 represents the statics of the author. In Fig. 5(a) the authors are represented through the frequency of article factorization, and in Fig. 5(b) the authors most cited are represented. Therefore, from Fig. 5 , Fig. 5 it is clear that WANG J , KUMAR A , and LI Y , are the authors who actively work in the field of analyzing the effect of COVID-19 on the retail sector.

Authors Stastics.

Apart from the number of citations, frequency and reverence are also the variables via which the most renowned authors in a particular subject may be determined. This analysis is presented in Fig. 5 , Fig. 5 . Fig. 5(c) indicates a positive correlation between the progression of time and the level of interest in the respective research area. In 2020, only nine researchers were working in the field, but in 2021, more than 15 researchers started their research to analysis the effect of COVID-19 on the retail sector. This also shows that this research topic is still developing and there is a scope of research in this domain. Finally, Fig. 5(d) represents the working area of the authors, and this figure is constructed on the principles of Sankey diagrams. From Fig. 5(d) provides evidence that a majority of the authors have conducted research on various factors influencing the performance of the retail industry amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The distribution of researchers by nations is also a significant and beneficial component. This metric indicates the effectiveness of a country’s researchers. Fig. 6 represents the distribution of countries according to the total number of publications in the paper and the corresponding authors. From Fig. 6(a) the top countries according to the paper publication frequency the countries with the most published articles are:

Countries’ Scientific Production.

• • USA (913)
• • CHINA (297)
• • INDIA (279)
• • UK (270)
• • CANADA (171)
• • INDONESIA (113)
• • MALAYSIA (111)
• • ITALY (102)

Therefore, from Fig. 6(a) , we can say that USA researchers have been actively working in the field of the development of concepts for the retail sector for the past two years. The next important factor is the collaboration among the authors from different countries, which represents the productivity of a country. Fig. 6(b) represents the distribution of the corresponding authors and the nature of the paper (ie, single author (SCP) or multiauthor (MCP) paper).

4.3. Analysis of document distribution

In this subsection, we give details about the scientific distribution of the research papers. In the Scopus database, there are 1071 articles related to our study. However, not all the published papers are important and provide valuable information about the subject area. Therefore, to obtain the information of the article, we find highly cited articles related to the development of the retail sector during COVID-19 times. The details of this type of paper are presented in Table 2 . In Table 2 the papers are arranged according to total citations, average citations, and normalized citations.

Highly cited papers.

4.4. Analysis of trending research topics

We analyze the current research directions and trends in this subsection. First of all, we examine the distribution of the keywords of the paper. Keywords are a representation of the paper’s principal subject matter. Fig. 7(a) represents the frequency of keywords in our research database; In this figure, the frequency of the keyword dictates its size. According to the analysis, the most frequent keywords with occurrence frequency are

Trending Research Topic Identification.

• • COVID-19 (389)
• • human (213)
• • pandemic (191)
• • humans (182)
• • united states (126)
• • pandemics (110)
• • sales (110)
• • retailing (76)
• • epidemic (63)
• • electronic commerce (59)
• • workplace (58)
• • commerce (51)
• • public health (50)

These trending keywords give us an idea of the directions in which scholars are doing research. Therefore, we can say that ’ sales , retails stores ’ is the most common topic in the paper, and most researchers are doing research in this direction. IoT , sustainable development , AI , deep learning are some of the fields that are developing. This will help future researchers to find the direction of their research.

The next important technique for finding the trending topic is to group similar keywords using clustering and collaboration. Keyword collaboration is a technique for analyzing the relationship between different keywords. Fig. 7(b) represents the result of the clustering and collaboration among different keywords. Keyword collaboration is an important technique through which the relationship between different keywords can be analyzed. According to Fig. 7(b) there are four different clusters that contain the keywords:

• • Cluster 1: This cluster belongs to sales terms. These terms are: sales , commerce , decision making , and forecasting .
• • Cluster 2: This cluster belongs to the development in the retail sector. Important keywords in this cluster are: AI , COVID-19 , retail stores , deep learning , IoT , pandemic , supply chains , viruses , and sustainable development .
• • Cluster 3: This cluster represents the e-commerce industry. Important terms in this cluster are: e-commerce and COVID-19 pandemic
• • Cluster 4: This cluster represents the service sector terms. The important terms of this cluster are: service industry , consumer behavior , and digital transformation .

4.4.1. Thematic map of keywords

We used Co-word analyze to build the thematic diagrams for the keywords. Thematic map helps the user analyze the behavior of different topics in the research field ( Muñoz-Leiva et al., 2012 ). There are two parameters through which thematic maps are built ( Callon et al., 1991 ):

• • Centrality: This metric measures the degree of interconnectivity of a network. A concept’s centrality may be gauged by looking at how closely it is linked to other ideas. This number may be interpreted as an indicator of the relevance of a particular topic in the growth of the overall area of study under consideration. It is given by the following equations: C e n t r a l i t y ( c ) = 10 ∑ e h k (1) C e n t r a l i t y R a n k = r i c N (2) where, k a keyword belonging to the theme and h a keyword belonging to other themes. r is the r i c is the place of theme i in the theme cluster, and N is the total themes,
• • Density: It determines the inherent strength of the network. Density enables you to determine the degree to which all of the keywords in your subject are connected to one another. This variable may be used to track the theme’s progression. It is calculated by the following equations: D e n s i t y ( D ) = 100 ∑ e i j w (3) D e n s i t y R a n k = r i D N (4)

i and j denote the keyword of the theme, while w denotes the total number of keywords of the theme. r is the r i c is the place of the theme i in the theme group, and N is the total theme(see Fig. 7 ). The thematic diagram is created with the help of density rank and the centrality rank, as represented in Fig. 7(c) , Fig. 7(d) , and Fig. 7(e) . The thematic diagram is divided into four quadrants:

• • Motor Themes: In the thematic plot, these themes can be found in the upper right quadrant. All topics that are well established and vital to the organization of a study area are included in this quadrant.
• • Niche Themes: These themes are located in the thematic plot’s upper-left quadrant. All of these subjects have established internal connections but have insignificant outward connections and hence are of only minor relevance to the area.
• • Emerging Themes: The lower left quadrant of the diagram shows these themes. The themes of this quadrant have low density and low centrality, and they mostly reflect new or fading concepts.
• • Basic Themes: The lower right quadrant of the diagram shows these themes. Each and every one of the potential study topics that has been raised but has not yet been explored. As a result, this section focuses on universal and cross-cutting topics.

We break the time period into two subperiods to better understand the current trends and the progress of the study field. The details of the themes for each period are as follows:

• • First Period: In this period, there are three motor themes, two basic themes, and one emerging theme. The size of each circle depends on the citation values. From Fig. 7(d) , it is clear that in this period, sales is the main topic of research or in the development phase. Also, ’ service industry ’ and ’ IoT ’ are well-developed fields. Therefore, we can say that in the first phase, researchers are trying to develop new concepts to improve sales in the retail sector using the concepts of IoT and other smart devices.
• • Second Period: In this period, there are four basic themes, one motor theme, and two peripheral themes. It is represented by Fig. 7(e) . ’ Sales ’, ’ e-commerce ’, ’ behavioral analysis ’, and ’ sustainable development ’ are the basic themes. ’ COVID-19 ’ and ’ retail ’ are the motor themes with high centrality and density. Therefore, from the analysis of Fig. 7(e) , we can say that researchers are developing new concepts in the field of sales , e-commerce , sustainable development and behavioral analysis in the COVID-19 scenario for the retail sector.
• • Combine Analysis: Fig. 7(c) represents the general development of the research terms for the respective theme. There are three motor themes, three basic themes, and one niche theme. As can be seen in Fig. 7(c) , academics are using principles from artificial intelligence, deep learning, forecasting, the Internet of Things (IoT), and sustainable development to the study of e-Commerce, consumer behavior, the supply chain, and social networking.

In addition to the thematic map of keywords, research trends can also be analyzed by evaluating different keywords; Fig. 7(f) represents the keyword evaluation during the research period. The following facts can be determined from the evaluation of the keywords:

• • Researchers are using deep learning methods to address issues in the retail industry.
• • All of the anomaly-based approaches that were previously used to detect virus activity are now being used to analyze customer behavior.
• • Smart device ideas such as IoT are used in the e-commerce, retail, and sales sectors.
• • The retail business places a premium on the creation of ideas to increase sales.

5. Theoretical and practical implications

This section describes the observations made during the analysis. This paper’s primary objective is to document the research development in the retail sector due to COVID-19. Additionally, this research seeks to discover the most recent trends in the retail sector. We examine the work of experts from across the globe to assess the most recent research subjects and trends. From our research, we get the following observations:

• • The papers suggest that the pandemic has had a significant impact on online retail sales. Hwang et al. (2020) found that omnichannel retailers experienced an increase in online sales due to the closure of physical stores and the acquisition of new customers. Fihartini et al. (2021) found that consumers’ perceived health risk and positive perceptions of online retail ethics influenced their online shopping behavior during the pandemic. Dannenberg et al. (2020) found that the pandemic led to a general upswing in grocery trade, with disproportionately high growth in online grocery trade. Sayyida et al. (2021) found that webrooming and pure online shopping were the dominant shopping trends during the pandemic, with retail sales in physical stores exceeding 70% of total retail sales and retail e-commerce sales being less than 30% of total retail sales. Overall, the papers suggest that the pandemic has accelerated the shift towards online retail sales, but physical stores still play a significant role in retail sales.
• • The papers suggest that the pandemic has had a significant impact on retail employment. Kramer and Kramer (2020) discusses how the pandemic may change perceptions of the value and status of different occupations, resulting in changes in occupational supply and demand. Mack et al. (2021) found that workers in the transportation sector, which includes retail workers, were more likely to be unemployed due to the pandemic than workers in non-transportation industries. Izguttiyeva et al. (2021) notes that the pandemic has led to an increasing number of employers’ requirements for soft skills, which may affect the demand for retail workers. del Rio-Chanona et al. (2020) predicts that the pandemic will threaten a significant portion of the US economy’s GDP and jobs, with sectors such as entertainment, restaurants, and tourism facing large supply and demand shocks, which may affect retail employment.
• • The papers suggest that the pandemic has had a significant impact on the retail industry, with some sectors being affected more than others. Nanda et al. (2021) argues that the pandemic has accelerated the shift towards e-commerce and digitalization, which has led to changes in consumer behavior and the retail landscape. Lashgari and Shahab (2022) notes that the pandemic has intensified changes in customer preferences and the role of city centers, leading to more retailers adopting multichannel retailing and repositioning strategies. Sayyida et al. (2021) found that during the pandemic, consumers tended to use online channels to reduce face-to-face contact with marketers or other consumers, but physical stores still accounted for over 70% of total retail sales. Yang 2020 suggests that the pandemic has brought both challenges and opportunities to the retail industry. Overall, the papers suggest that the pandemic has accelerated changes in the retail industry, with e-commerce and digitalization becoming increasingly important, while physical stores are still relevant but may need to adapt to new consumer behaviors.
• • Based on the examination of scholarly articles, it can be posited that the global pandemic has exerted a substantial influence on consumer conduct. The study conducted by the authors ( Cox et al., 2020 ) revealed that households belonging to various income brackets reduced their expenditures during the initial months of the pandemic. However, it was observed that low-income households exhibited a more rapid recovery in their spending patterns. There were also large increases in liquid asset balances for households throughout the income distribution, with lower-income households contributing disproportionately to the aggregate increase in balances. Hesham et al. (2021) found that the pandemic increased the intention to buy among consumers of healthy foods, with women being more anxious about the pandemic than men and taking more precautions to avoid contamination. Finally, Baker et al. (2020) found that household consumption responded to the pandemic by radically altering typical spending across a number of major categories, with spending decreasing in the latter part of March except for food delivery and grocery spending.
• • It is also found that the pandemic has affected different demographics of consumers differently. Lee and Worthy (2021) found that age and race were related to changes in wellness-related behavior and lifestyle choices, with older respondents experiencing less change than younger respondents, and Whites and Asians reporting less change than Blacks or Hispanics. Crosta et al. (2021) found that changes in spending levels were associated with changes in consumer behavior, with necessities being predicted by anxiety and COVID-related fear, and non-necessities being predicted by depression. Bareja-Wawryszuk et al. (2022) found that there were clear differences in the nature of changes in consumer behavior between respondents from Turkey and Poland, with the purchasing habits of respondents in Turkey changing to a greater extent. Argyropoulou et al. (2023) found that the pandemic has impacted various aspects of consumer behavior in Greece, with online shopping and social media usage increasing during this period.
• • The papers suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on online shopping behavior. Alaimo et al. (2020) found that people who were already familiar with online grocery shopping and had a higher education level were more satisfied with the experience during the pandemic. Ecola et al. (2020) found that more Americans are shopping online and spending more money on online purchases, while those who lost employment during the pandemic spent less. Moon et al. (2021) analyzed the characteristics of consumers who used offline shopping channels during the pandemic and found that many aspects of daily life, including shopping, are now conducted online. Pollák and Konečný (2021) used Facebook data to analyze e-consumer behavior during the pandemic and found that the pandemic has caused changes in consumer behavior that are suitable for further research. Overall, the papers suggest that the pandemic has accelerated the shift towards online shopping and that this trend is likely to continue even after the pandemic ends.
• • According to the papers, the COVID-19 pandemic has exerted a substantial influence on the retail labor force. The research conducted by Khaled et al. (2020) revealed that the well-being of employees is positively associated with the performance of retailers. On the other hand, Alflayyeh et al. (2020) observed a significant surge in e-retailing during the pandemic, which has resulted in a change in customer preferences and purchasing patterns. Naseri et al. (2021) highlighted that the pandemic has caused a decrease in demand and business volume for the retail industry, leading to downsizing and a need for new approaches to shopping. Sayyida et al. (2021) found that consumers have shifted towards webrooming and pure online shopping during the pandemic, leading to changes in retail marketing strategies. Overall, the papers suggest that the pandemic has caused significant changes in the retail industry, with a shift towards online shopping and a need for retailers to prioritize employee well-being and adapt to new approaches to shopping.

6. Conclusion

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, retail was in the midst of unprecedented change, largely driven by the effects of technology on customer behavior and retail processes. In this context, this paper aimed to analyze the change and development in the research field related to the retail sector. We statically compared and analyze different Scopus index papers. With the increase in the publication from 2020 to 2022 it is evident that many researchers are working to develop new technologies and theories to counter COVID-19 effects on the retail sector. The interest in retail is also visible in the contributions made by nations and institutions (the United States, China and India) of diverse origin. Additionally, the number of articles and citations has grown exponentially in the last two years, leading us to believe that retail research is a growing trend. Future research can include data from databases other than Scopus.

CRediT authorship contribution statement

Brij B. Gupta: Conceptualization, Formal analysis, writing, Supervision. Akshat Gaurav: Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Writing. Prabin Kumar Panigrahi: Conceptualization, writing, Supervision.

Biographies

Brij B. Gupta received the PhD degree from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, India. In more than 16 years of his professional experience, he published over 400 papers in journals/conferences including 25 books and 09 Patents with over 15000citations. He has received numerous national and international awards including Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship (2009), Faculty Research Fellowship Award(2017), MeitY, GoI, IEEE GCCE outstanding and WIE paper awards and Best Faculty Award (2018 & 2019), NIT Kurukshetra, respectively. He is also selected in the 2021 and 2020 Stanford University’s ranking of the world’s top 2 also a visiting/adjunct professor with several universities worldwide. He is also an IEEE Senior Member (2017) and also selected as 2021 Distinguished Lecturer in IEEE CTSoc. Dr Gupta is also serving as Member-in-Large, Board of Governors, IEEE Consumer Technology Society (2022-204). Prof. Gupta is also leading IJSWIS, IJSSCI and IJCAC as Editor-in-Chief. Moreover, he is also serving as lead-editor of a Book Series with CRC and IET press. He also served as TPC members in more than 150 international conferences. Dr Gupta is also serving/served as Associate/Guest Editor of various journals and transactions. At present, Prof. Gupta is working as Director, International Center for AI and Cyber Security Research, Incubation and Innovations, and Full Professor with the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering (CSIE), Asia University, Taiwan. His research interests include information security, Cyber physical systems, cloud computing, blockchain technologies, intrusion detection, AI, social media and networking.

Akshat Gaurav received the M.Tech degree in Computer Engineering (cyber security) from NIT Kurukshetra, India. His research interests include information security, cyber security, cloud computing, web security, intrusion detection, and computer network.

Prabin Kumar Panigrahi is a professor of Information Systems department at the Indian Institute of Management Indore, India. He earned his Ph.D. from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. His research interests include Emerging Technologies, Machine Learning, Text Mining of Vernacular Languages, Technology Adoption, e-Governance, e-Learning, e-Participation, Social Inclusion in Information Systems, and Business Value of Information Systems.

Data availability

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103 Online Shopping Topic Ideas & Essay Examples

🏆 best online shopping topic ideas & essay examples, 👍 good online shopping topic ideas to research, 📌 most interesting online shopping topics to write about, ❓ research question about online shopping.

When it comes to choosing an essay topic, online shopping has plenty ideas to offer. That’s why we present to you our online shopping topic list! Here, you will find best hand-picked essay titles and research ideas.

But that’s not all of it! In addition to our shopping essay topics, we also offer free sample papers. Check them out!

• Online Shopping vs. Traditional Shopping The advent of internet shopping in the late nineties created a revolution in the retail industry. It is possible to know about the sizes, features, and costs of products in online and traditional shopping.
• Traditional vs. Online Shopping Traditional shopping involves shoppers physically entering a brick-and-mortar store or shopping mall to select items of their choice, pay for them in cash or by credit card, and either take delivery personally or have them […]
• Influence of Online Shopping Apps on Impulsive Buying Olsen et al.go further and confirms that online shopping apps have increased impulse buying due to the wealth of information they provide the consumer.
• Advantages of Online Shopping In addition to this, the number of people adapting to online shopping is expected to grow, due to the numerous benefits associated with it.
• International Students Attitudes Towards Online Shopping The researcher strived to answer three key questions, which sought to find out students’ attitudes towards online shopping, the nationality of students who make the largest number of online purchases, and the barriers that prevent […]
• Drawbacks and Benefits of Online Shopping One of the benefits of online shopping is that it makes the customer have quick access to items that are identical regardless of where he or she does the shopping for them.
• Consumer Behavior in Online Shopping On the one hand, earlier studies argue that purchase intention is the key motivator for the consumers. Qualitative method is based upon judgment and intuition of the experts in the matter and consumers.
• Product Reviews in Online Shopping The paper will discuss strategies used by online retailers in their product reviews as well as describe a research study that can be used to explore the relationship between customer comments and their buying habits.
• How Motivation Influences Online Shopping The Balanced Buyer: In this cluster, about a third of the sample was moderately driven by the desire to seek variety.
• Online Shopping Characteristics and Effectiveness Background information on online shopping will be presented, and the way on how to succeed in online shopping will be discussed. What are the details of online shopping DMC students should be aware of?
• Online Shopping as a Method of Supply Online shopping is the method of selling goods and services that allows individuals to sell goods directly over the internet. This mode of operation is better than the use of door-to-door sales people who can […]
• The Era of Online Shopping Today, online shopping has become a great phenomenon thanks to the rapid development of internet security technologies and a similar pace in the penetration of the World Wide Web.
• Amazon’s Success: Online Shopping Psychology One of the many factors contributing to Amazon’s success is its thorough understanding of its consumers, which is shown in the layout of its website and the numerous innovations it has brought to online retail.
• Saudi Women’s Perspective on Online Shopping Owing to the existence of different sites, the researcher examined the growth and expansion of the e-commerce segment in the nation.
• Consumer Behavior in Online Shopping: A Study of Aizawl The article shows the effective use of credibility of the authors, appropriate structure and organization, regional relevance of the cited literature, and functional illustrative material.
• The Effects of Online Shopping on Customer Loyalty For example, the study by Afrashteh, Azad, and Tabatabaei Hanzayy is dedicated to the concept of online shopping and the use of this electronic marketing technique to influence customer loyalty in conditions of the state […]
• Jordan’s Furniture Company and Online Shopping First of all, I would like to point out that Jordan’s Furniture is a furniture retailer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the U.S.A.
• Survey Analysis: Phones vs. PC in Online Shopping The findings of the survey indicate that the majority of female online shoppers prefer using mobile phones to make purchases; both computer and mobile apps are used to shop online.
• Online Shopping and Its Advantages The decision of a customer to buy a product from a specific website depends on the reputation of the company and brand, which owns it.
• Amazon’s Online Shopping and Innovative Delivery The company started as an online seller of books, but later, Amazon became the platform for a variety of goods and services to sell.
• UK Consumer Attitudes Towards Online Shopping It means that delivery represents a vital component of the overall purchasing or service reception experience and contributes to the development of customer loyalty.
• Online Shopping Impact on the Global Retail Industry While the significance and the convenience of e-commerce are indisputable, it is important to study its impact on the traditional retail industry around the world to identify the challenges, which it has to withstand.
• Secure Online Shopping System Integration Therefore, the new service called SOSS, which is proposed in the management of the online ticketing business, will form part of the actual customer safety guarantee service.
• Peacock Fashion Company’s Online Shops The purpose of the paper will be to determine the characteristics and feelings of online shoppers as related to online fashion shopping in United Kingdom market.
• Online Shopping Impact on the Fashion & Design Industry In this report, the aim will be to determine the impact of online shopping on the fashion and design industry. The increased profitability of this industry means that the individual firms have the capacity to […]
• Consumer Science: Online Shopping in the United Arab Emirates In an attempt to identify these factors, the present study uses a mixed-methods methodology to show the importance of online shopping and how this concept has changed consumer habits on shopping in the UAE. The […]
• Online Shopping: Benefits and Drawbacks Essay The last major advantage of online shopping is that it assists the customer to find the best deal on a product.
• Online Shopping Platform for La Donna Boutique By using online services, La Donna cost of production will be reduced because it will be selling goods directly to the customers and this will make producers to get rid of costly intermediaries. The e-commerce […]
• Secure Online Shopping System Model on Customer Behavior The aim is to find respondents who are the potential, if not actual customers of our online products who fall within the category of youths and young adults described in the introduction.
• Service Marketing: Online Shopping Competition Their website allows customers to register with them and be able to do their shopping from the comfort of their homes.
• Online Shopping and Purchase Decision The above is a detailed explanation of the buying process for an online product specifically E-reader from Kindle. The customer will then evaluate the alternatives and make a purchase decision.
• Online Shop Business Plan One of the major aims of a supply chain management is to ensure that the goods used in manufacture are of the right quality and quantity; this goes ahead as it is reflected in the […]
• Consumer Attitudes Towards Online Shopping Since the online environment gives consumer a wider choice of products and product platforms from where to make their purchases, this study seeks to establish the exact consumer behaviour portrayed in an e-commerce environment and […]
• Online Shopping vs. Brick-And-Mortar Shopping
• The Need for Accelerated Knowledge Management Within Internet Banking and Online Shopping
• Using Online Shopping Codes to Save Money
• Online Shopping Increases Consumption Rate
• The Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Shopping
• The Consumer Society: Advertising and Online Shopping
• Understanding Egyptian Consumers’ Intentions in Online Shopping
• Online Shopping Services for Consumers and Businesses
• Online Shopping Will Replace Traditional Shopping
• Visiting Malls While Online Shopping Is Fun
• The Relationship Between Marketing Mix and Buying Decision Process on the Online Shopping in Thailand
• The Advantages and Risks of Online Shopping
• Walmart Online Shopping Information System
• The Most Famous Online Shopping Website In China
• Perceived Risk and Online Shopping Intention: A Study Across Gender and Product Type
• The Benefits and Disadvantages of Online Shopping
• Online Shopping Reviewers Are Not All That They Seem
• Analyzing Customer Satisfaction: Users Perspective Towards Online Shopping
• Australian Customers and Online Shopping
• Antique Motorcycle Online Shopping Options
• Relationship Between Convenience, Perceived Value, and Repurchase Intention in Online Shopping in Vietnam
• The Development and Validation of the Online Shopping Addiction Scale
• Television Advertising and Online Shopping
• Assessing Benefits and Risks of Online Shopping in Spain and Scotland
• Online Shopping: Effectiveness and Convenience
• The Legal Issues Surrounding Online Shopping
• Taobao Established Shopping From Home With Online Shopping
• The Pros and Cons of Online Shopping vs. Brick and Mortar Stores
• Why People Like Online Shopping
• Online Shopping Lifts Aramex Profits by 4% and Rent Cap Removal Hits Abu Dhabi
• What Influences Online Shopping Of Individuals From European Countries
• Perceived Value, Transaction Cost, and Repurchase-Intention in Online Shopping: A Relational Exchange Perspective
• Online Shopping Unexpected Impacts Are We Gaining More or Less
• Differentiation Between Traditional and Online Shopping
• Popular Websites For Online Shopping
• The Online Shopping Industry Has Changed The World
• Online Shopping: Product Availability and Logistics
• The Interactions Between Online Shopping and Personal Activity Travel Behavior: An Analysis With a Gps-Based Activity Travel Diary
• Statistics and Facts About Online Shopping
• Analysing Online Shopping Behaviour of Google Merchandising Store Customers
• How Effect of Freight Insurance on Consumers’ Attitudes Toward Online Shopping?
• Does Online Shopping Cause Us to Spend More Money?
• Does Freight Insurance Work in Online Shopping?
• What Are the Pros and Cons of Online Shopping?
• How Do E-Servicescapes Affect Customers’ Online Shopping Intention?
• What Are the Moderating Effects of Gender and Online Shopping Experience?
• How Online Shopping Behaviour Is a Priority Issue for Many?
• How Does Online Shopping Cause You to Spend More Money?
• How Has Online Shopping Become a Convenient and Efficient Time?
• What Effects Repurchase Intention of Online Shopping?
• What Influences Online Shopping of Individuals From European Countries?
• Why Are More Customers Switching to Online Shopping From Traditional Coursework?
• Why Do People Like Online Shopping?
• What Is the Cheapest Online Shopping Site?
• What Is Called Online Shopping?
• How Many Types of Online Shopping Are There?
• Is Online Shopping Cheaper Than In-Store?
• What Are the Disadvantages of Online Shopping?
• What Is the Advantage and Disadvantage of Online Shopping?
• Why Is Online Shopping Better?
• What Is the Importance of Online Shopping?
• How Is Online Shopping Helpful?
• What Are the Factors Influencing Online Shopping?
• Do Consumers Prefer Online Shopping?
• How Does COVID Affect Online Shopping?
• What Are the Benefits of Online Shopping?
• How Does Online Shopping Affect the Consumer?
• What Is the Theory of Online Shopping?
• How Has Online Shopping Changed the Way We Shop?
• How Does Online Shopping Affect the Economy?
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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Do E-Cigarette Retail Licensure Laws Reduce Tobacco Use?

E-cigarette licensure laws (ELLs) require retailers to obtain a state license to sell e-cigarettes over the counter. This study is the first to comprehensively explore the effect of ELL adoption on youth and adult tobacco product use. Using data from the State Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) and a difference-in-differences approach, we find no evidence that ELL adoption reduces overall youth ENDS use. The precision of our estimates allows us to rule out, with 95 percent confidence, ELL-induced prior-month youth ENDS use declines of more than 3.4 percent. The pattern of null findings persists when we examine ELLs that impose (1) higher penalties for retailer non-compliance, (2) higher renewable licensure fees, and (3) criminal as compared to civil penalties. However, we do uncover evidence that adoption of ELLs with higher penalties associated with a modest reduction in ENDS use among Black teens. We conclude that ELLs have only limited success in curbing access to ENDS.

Dr. Sabia acknowledges research support for this work from the Center for Health Economics & Policy Studies (CHEPS) at San Diego State University (SDSU), which has received grants from the Charles Koch Foundation. This study was funded, in part, with a grant from the Foundation for a Smoke- Free World, Inc. ("FSFW'), a U.S. nonprofit 501(c)(3) private foundation. This study is, under the terms of the grant agreement with FSFW, editorially independent of FSFW. The contents, selection and presentation of facts, as well as any opinions expressed herein, are the sole responsibility of the authors and under no circumstances should they be regarded as reflecting the positions of FSFW. FSFW's mission is to end smoking in this generation. Dr. Sabia also acknowledges research support from a subcontract by Georgia State University in 2023 – via a grant received from the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01DA045016 – to support exploratory work on this project. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Institutes of Health. We thank Erik Nesson and Chad Cotti for sharing their ENDS tax data with us. We thank Anthony Chuo and Christian Pryfogle for outstanding research assistance. All errors are the authors’. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Bureau of Economic Research.

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• About Program Portfolio

Wholesale and Retail Trade Program

• The Wholesale and Retail Trade Program provides leadership to prevent diseases, injuries, and fatalities in wholesale and retail trade workers.
• Through partnerships and research efforts, the Program works to address the injuries and illnesses affecting wholesale and retail trade workers, especially among workers who are economically and socially marginalized.

To Learn More‎

The NIOSH Wholesale and Retail Trade sector program is focused on the prevention of occupational fatal and nonfatal injuries and illnesses for nearly 19 million workers and includes all jobs under NAICS code 42 & 44-45 . WRT subsectors includes the nondurable and durable goods merchant wholesalers, building material and garden equipment and supply stores, food and beverage stores, furniture and home furnishing stores, general merchandise stores, and motor vehicle and parts dealers.

Program priorities

The WRT program has selected research priorities on the basis of burden, need, and impact and collaborated with other NIOSH research programs to write the research goals in the NIOSH Strategic Plan for FYs 2019-2026 . Priority areas include (but are not limited to):

• Reducing ergonomic injuries and illnesses, especially among aging workers.
• Preventing violence.
• Reducing motor vehicle related injuries and fatalities.

What we've accomplished

In 2022-2023, the Program:

• Published Worker Safety and Health in U.S. Scrap Waste – Electronics Recycling in the November 2022 Waste Advantage magazine (pages 50-53). The article highlights the hazards facing workers in this industry and steps to keep workers safe while performing tasks associated with recycling electronic waste.
• Published NIOSH Science Blog Driving Safety Tips To Keep Your Employees Safe This Holiday Season to encourage employers to develop a Motor Vehicle Safety Program.
• Collaborated with the Loss Prevention Foundation and the Loss Prevention Center to review workplace violence policies and procedures and develop workplace violence prevention strategies.
• Collaborated with Loss Prevention Magazine to publish COVID-19, Omicron, and Pandemic Response: What's Next for Retail? that provided answers to retail-specific COVID-19 questions.

What's ahead

In the future, the Program aims to:

• Publish a review of both scientific literature and Bureau of Labor Statistics data to determine fatal and nonfatal injuries within the WRT sector between 2017 and 2021.
• Produce violence prevention materials including a Workplace Solutions online publication for WRT workers.
• Develop a blog with the NIOSH Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (TWU) program on safety and health-related issues of WRT and TWU drivers.
• Develop Retail Safety and Health Resource materials providing information for employees about workplace safety, health, and well-being.
• Develop a CDC/NIOSH Workplace Multi-Sector Violence Prevention group to address current and ongoing concerns with workplace violence.
• Develop and distribute a poster on the safe use of disinfectants in WRT workplaces.

Contact the Wholesale and Retail Trade program with any questions at [email protected] .

More information on specific workplace safety and health topics and useful resources can be found on the following pages:

• Young Worker Safety and Health
• Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal Disorders
• Motor Vehicle Safety at Work
• Productive Aging and Work
• Occupational Violence
• Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities

NORA Council

The WRT program helps lead the NORA Wholesale and Retail Trade Sector Council , which brings together individuals and organizations to share information, form partnerships, and promote adoption and dissemination of solutions that work.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 established NIOSH as a research agency focused on the study of worker safety and health, and empowering employers and workers to create safe and healthy workplaces.

NIOSH Research Programs

Retailbiz covers every aspect of Australia’s retail sector with a focus on the innovations and technologies that are driving the industry forward.

Small business owners’ mental health impacted during cost-of-living crisis

Small business owners are taking a hit to their mental health during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, according to new PayPal research, which shows that 91% of small business owners or decision makers felt work-related stress in the past 12 months.

In the study, a lack of sales (34%), time pressures (33%), poor work life balance (28%), keeping up with technology (28%) and managing cash flow (28%) were cited as top contributors.

This stress is taking a toll on wellbeing, with one-third of business owners saying they lack time for relaxation and exercise (34%), or to spend with family or friends (27%), and one-quarter (23%) are suffering from insomnia or poor sleep.

One-in-five say the stress of business is causing strain on their relationships (22%), and that they are feeling depressed about business (20%). Two-in-five (38%) say taking time off to relieve their burnout was not possible due to work pressures.

While many factors are beyond their control, there are steps small business owners can take to help protect themselves to reduce the risk of harm.

Health and community psychologist, Dr Marny Lishman (pictured), works with many startups and small business owners to help them reach their potential and overcome psychological challenges, including burnout.

“Small business owners are susceptible to burnout because of their excessive workloads, financial pressures, lack of resources and lack of time allocated to looking after their own physical and mental wellbeing,” Dr Lishman said.

“Owning a small business is inherently stressful, right from the development phase, so it’s important that business owners make sure they have adequate support in place from the beginning. It’s crucial that they make time for their own self-care to mitigate the stress they are likely to feel. This means making time for physical activity, socialising, sleeping, resting, and relaxing, spending time with family or doing hobbies, and delegating work-related duties to other people when they can.”

Dr Lishman said that while it can seem impossible to take time away from the demands of running a business, good mental health is a prerequisite for business success, not a nice-to-have.

“It’s also important to have a psychologist, coach, mentor or trusted friend to debrief with throughout the challenges of owning a business.”

A range of mental health and wellbeing resources are available at business.gov.au including free and confidential coaching, tools, resources, and communities. Help with financial stress can be accessed by calling the Small Business Debt Helpline: 1800 413 828.

A list of mental health helplines, including crisis support, are available at healthdirect.gov.au , including Lifeline on 13 11 14, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Study reveals consumers value animal welfare more than environmental sustainability when buying meat and dairy products

The treatment of animals rates higher than green issues when consumers choose meat and dairy products.

That's according to a new study, which suggests that while consumers consider sustainability important, other factors such as taste, quality, and animal welfare take precedence in their purchasing decisions.

On product labels, consumers valued information regarding animal welfare, food safety, and health and nutrition. The results can help producers to market particularly sustainably produced food products in a more targeted way and make them more attractive to consumers.

The study was conducted across five European countries -- Czechia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK to identify the attributes that are most important to consumers buying meat or dairy products.

Taking part in an online survey, 3,192 participants were asked to rate the importance of 18 different factors when shopping for meat and dairy products on a scale from 1 (not at all important) to 5 (extremely important):

· Attributes -- freshness, quality/taste, healthy eating, nutrition, price, processing, special offers, convenience of use/preparation, and familiarity of brand.

· Animal welfare attributes -- animal welfare, outdoor-reared/free range, and pasture-fed.

· Attributes related to environmental sustainability -- locally produced, sustainable packaging, food miles, carbon footprint, and organic.

· Social sustainability -- Fair trade or producer/farmer fairly paid.

Across all surveyed countries, consumers consistently prioritised freshness, quality/taste, and animal welfare as the most important attributes. In contrast, environmental factors such as food miles, carbon footprint, and organic production were deemed less important in influencing purchasing decisions. However, sustainability labels were perceived as helpful among consumers.

Study co-author Dr Andy Jin, Senior Lecturer in Risk Management in the Faculty of Business and Law at the University of Portsmouth, said: "Our study highlights the complex interplay of factors that influence consumer behaviour when buying meat and dairy products. Consumers indicated that information related to animal welfare, food safety, and health and nutrition was considered more important than environmental sustainability when making food choices.

"The findings demonstrate the importance of labelling strategies that encompass multiple aspects of product attributes, beyond environmental considerations alone."

The implications of the research extend further than consumers to policymakers, producers, and retailers in the food industry who are striving to meet evolving consumer demands for more sustainable products.

Dr Jin added: "Labels on their own are not enough to change behaviour, especially for consumers who have low or no behavioural intention to buy sustainable meat or dairy products.

"These results should be translated into additional policy measures, such as nudges or behavioural interventions, helping individuals translate their attitudes into behaviour and facilitating the choice of sustainably produced products."

The research, published in the journal Food Quality and Preference , was conducted by the universities of Portsmouth and Newcastle in the UK, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, University of Córdoba in Spain, Mendel University in Czech Republic and Agroscope from Switzerland.

• Agriculture and Food
• Food and Agriculture
• Sustainability
• Environmental Issues
• Environmental Policy
• Consumerism
• Retail and Services
• Environmental Policies
• Vegetarianism
• Veterinary medicine
• Conservation ethic
• Dairy cattle
• Animal rights
• Slaughterhouse

Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Portsmouth . Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference :

• Jeanine Ammann, Gabriele Mack, Nadja El Benni, Shan Jin, Paul Newell-Price, Sophie Tindale, Erik Hunter, Victoria Vicario-Modroño, Rosa Gallardo-Cobos, Pedro Sánchez-Zamora, Simona Miškolci, Lynn J. Frewer. Consumers across five European countries prioritise animal welfare above environmental sustainability when buying meat and dairy products . Food Quality and Preference , 2024; 117: 105179 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2024.105179

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