European Retail Research European Retail Research

Fifteen years after its commercial launching, the Internet has become the second most imp- tant distribution channel (after high street retailing) and a major source of customer infor- tion and empowerment (Urban 2003, 2005; Constantinides/Fountain 2008). A number of - cent developments in this field threaten to further weaken the role of traditional retailing in a number of sectors where retailers and intermediaries have always played an important role. Music, entertainment, press, printing/publishing and traditional travel agents are some of the branches that have already felt the negative effects of Internet-enabled disintermediation. The web has made possible the direct contact between producers and consumers, making the physical retailer of information-based products or intangibles redundant. These developments are widely seen as effects of the Internet evolution and have been ext- sively discussed and debated. However, over the last three years, a new generation of online tools, applications and approaches such as blogs, wikis, online communities and virtual worlds, commonly referred to as Web 2. 0 or Social Media, are increasingly attracting the - tention of practitioners and, recently, of academics. As often happens when revolutionary - novations become booming business, research and theoretical underpinning on the Web 2. 0 issue is still very limited and there is not even a generally accepted definition. What most people would agree though is that a fundamental element of Web 2.

The aim of EUROPEAN RETAIL RESEARCH is to publish interesting manuscripts of high quality and innovativeness with a focus on retail researchers, retail lecturers, retail students and retail executives. As it has always been, retail executives are part of the target group and the knowledge transfer between retail research and retail management remains a part of the publication's concept. EUROPEAN RETAIL RESEARCH welcomes manuscripts on original theoretical or conceptual contributions as well as empirical research - based either on large-scale empirical data or on the case-study method. Following the state of the art in retail research, articles on any major issues that concern the general field of retailing and distribution are welcome.The review process will support the authors in enhancing the quality of their work and will offer the authors a reviewed publication outlet. Part of the concept of EUROPEAN RETAIL RESEARCH is an only short delay between manuscript submission and final publication, so it is intended to become a quick publication platform.

Social Media: A New Frontier for Retailers?.- International Retail Divestment: Reviews, Case Studies and (E)merging Agenda.- Exploring the Power of Adaptive Selling Techniques on Consumers' Buying Behaviour.- Measurement of Attitude Toward Private Labels: A Replication and Extension.- Determinants of Relationship Continuity between Fashion Retailers and Suppliers in Brazil.- The Impact of Communication on Satisfaction and Loyalty in the Franchise System: Subjective Viewpoints of Franchisees.- Multinationals in Central and Eastern Europe: A Case Study of International Expansion by a Slovenian Retailer.- Potentials of RFID Application in Retailing: A Conjoint-based Preference Analysis.- Retailing in France: Overview and Key Trends / What's up?.- The Austrian Retail Market: A Profile.