Retail Internationalisation
Introduction
Less than thirty years ago, almost every existing retailer in the world, was a pure national firm with an insignificant share in overseas markets. That scenario has evolved dramatically. Today, Internationalisation proves to be one of the most significant trends within retailing and although it is not a new concept altogether, it is a concept that has accelerated tremendously within the last two decades (Hanf and Pall. 2009: 2)
The following paper aims to provide an insightful discussion on the concept of Retail Internationalisation and the factors that retailers need to be wary of when considering global expansion as an option (Corbishley. 2012: 8) This paper will not discuss all of the factors that retailers ought to consider, but will rather focus on three of these, specifically: (1) Motives for internationalising; (2) Methods of market entry; and lastly (3) strategic approaches to internationalisation. After a great deal of research into the international approach to retailing, I have compiled the following paper:
Retail Internationalisation
Moore and Fernie (2004: 3) claim that retailing is a market activity that is principally domestic in nature and is immensely carried out within a single country or within a single region/district but Wiersema et al (2007: 115) points out that “One of the most important evolutions in the world economy over the past two decades has been the growing Internationalisation of retail markets and industries” We no longer operate within an isolated retail environment (Corbishley. 2012: 8) and this therefore has given rise to the concept of Retail Internationalisation.
Definition: “Retail Internationalisation is a process of increasing involvement in cross-national retailing operations, which requires the commitment of resources and the adaptation to international markets, changing the attitude of the firm and influencing the decisions on further internationalisation” (Hanf and Pall. 2009: 3)
There has been minimal
Less than thirty years ago, almost every existing retailer in the world, was a pure national firm with an insignificant share in overseas markets. That scenario has evolved dramatically. Today, Internationalisation proves to be one of the most significant trends within retailing and although it is not a new concept altogether, it is a concept that has accelerated tremendously within the last two decades (Hanf and Pall. 2009: 2)
The following paper aims to provide an insightful discussion on the concept of Retail Internationalisation and the factors that retailers need to be wary of when considering global expansion as an option (Corbishley. 2012: 8) This paper will not discuss all of the factors that retailers ought to consider, but will rather focus on three of these, specifically: (1) Motives for internationalising; (2) Methods of market entry; and lastly (3) strategic approaches to internationalisation. After a great deal of research into the international approach to retailing, I have compiled the following paper:
Retail Internationalisation
Moore and Fernie (2004: 3) claim that retailing is a market activity that is principally domestic in nature and is immensely carried out within a single country or within a single region/district but Wiersema et al (2007: 115) points out that “One of the most important evolutions in the world economy over the past two decades has been the growing Internationalisation of retail markets and industries” We no longer operate within an isolated retail environment (Corbishley. 2012: 8) and this therefore has given rise to the concept of Retail Internationalisation.
Definition: “Retail Internationalisation is a process of increasing involvement in cross-national retailing operations, which requires the commitment of resources and the adaptation to international markets, changing the attitude of the firm and influencing the decisions on further internationalisation” (Hanf and Pall. 2009: 3)
There has been minimal
References: • Corbishley, K.M. 2012. B Tech Retail Business Management Learner Guide. Durban University of Technology, 16 February 2012. • Corbishley, K.M. 2012. Global Business lecture notes. Durban University of Technology, 12 April 2012. • Hanf, J.H and Pall, Z. 2009. Is retailing really unique? Insights into Retail Internationalization Using Business Theories. (Online). Available: www: Google Scholar (Accessed 09 May 2012). • Internationalization Process (Online). 2008. Availablewww:oup.com/uk/orc/bin/9780199212828/iretailing_ch01.pdf (Accessed 4 May 2012). • Kostova, S. 2008. The Retail Internationalization. Economic Alternatives (Online), (1): 42-59. Available www: Google Scholar (Accessed 26 April 2012). • Moore, C.M and Fernie, J. 2004. Perspectives of International Retail: Retailing Within an International Context (Online). Available www: Google Scholar (Accessed 4 May 2012). • Sternquist, B. 2007. International Retailing. 2nd edition. New York: Fairchild Publications. • Pop, N.A and Dabija, D.C. 2008. Tendencies of Internationalization in retailing (online). Available www: http://www.econpapers.repec.org/RePEc:ora:journl:v:4:y:2008:i:1:p:1099-1105