17-07-2012, 02:24 PM
A STUDY ON LOGISTICS, BIG BAZAAR
A STUDY ON LOGISTICS AT BIG BAZAAR.doc (Size: 700 KB / Downloads: 122)
What is retailing?
The word "Retail" originates from a French-Italian word. Retailer-someone who cuts off or sheds a small piece from something. Retailing is the set of activities that markets products or services to final consumers for their own personal or household use. It does this by organizing their availability on a relatively large scale and supplying them to customers on a relatively small scale. Retailer is a Person or Agent or Agency or Company or Organization who is instrumental
in reaching the Goods or Merchandise or Services to the End User or Ultimate Consumer
TYPES OF RETAILING
Retailing can be classified under two heads:
1. Store Retailing
2. Non-store Retailing
Store Retailing
Retail stores come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and new retail types keep emerging.
They can be classified by one or more of several characteristics:
• Amount of service
• Product line
• Relative prices
• Control of outlets
• Type of store cluster
1) AMOUNT OF SERVICE
Different products require different amounts of service, and customer service preferences vary:
Self-service retailers
Customers are willing to perform their own "locate-compare-select" process to save money. Today, self-service is the basis of all discount operations, and typically is used by sellers of convenience goods (such as supermarkets) and nationally branded, fast moving shopping goods (such as catalog showrooms).
Limited service retailers
Retailers such as Sears and J. C. Penney, provide more sales assistance because they carry more shopping goods about which consumers need information. Their increased operating costs result in higher prices.
Full service retailers
Like specialty stores and first-class department stores, have salespeople to assist customers in every phase of the shopping process. Full service stores usually carry more specialty goods for which customers like to be waited on. They provide more liberal return policies, various credit plans, free delivery, home servicing, and extras such as lounges and restaurants.
PRODUCT LINE:
Retailers can also be classified by the depth and breadth of their product assortments. The depth of a product assortment refers to the number of different versions of each product that are offered for sale. The breadth of the assortment refers to the number of different products that the store carries.
Specialty stores carry a narrow product line with a deep assortment within that line.
Examples include stores selling sporting goods, books, furniture, electronics, flowers, or toys. Today, specialty stores are flourishing, due to the increasing use of market segmentation, market targeting, and product specialization.