Journal of Retailing

?? Retailing in Metaverse: Cryptocurrency and Consumer Payment Choices in Virtual Reality Environments ?? ?As retailers expand into the metaverse, payment methods are evolving. While cryptocurrency is widely used in virtual environments (80% adoption in some cases!), digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay continue to dominate traditional retail. As the metaverse grows, seamless payment experiences will be critical. Are businesses ready for this shift? ??New research examines why customers hesitate to adopt cryptocurrency in VR shopping and how factors like trust, security, volatility, and familiarity influence payment choices. ?? The article shows that: ??The immersive VR experience itself does not drive crypto adoption; ??What matters more is security reassurance and trust in payment providers. ?? So, what can retailers do? Bridge the gap by: ??Educating consumers; ??Integrating blockchain-enabled digital wallets ??Collaborating with payment providers and regulators. ???Stablecoins could also play a key role in easing the transition. Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/eTd-CKbH Out now “Retailing in metaverse: Cryptocurrency and consumer payment choices in virtual reality environments”, by Nandini Nim (Colorado State University, USA), Yoonsun Jeong (Woody L. Hunt College of Business, USA), Jessica Felix Martinez (University of Southern Indiana, USA) and Leah Warfield Smith (University of Arkansas, USA) #JournalofRetailing #MetaversePayments #CryptoAdoption #RetailInnovation #VR #VRRetail

Read the latest issue of the Journal of Retailing! - Paving the way for responsible retailing (by Niels Holtrop, Lara Lobschat, Anne ter Braak), https://lnkd.in/di4AnxwS - Understanding surprise: Toward a theory of surprise marketing (Wenjun (Emma) Guo, Beibei Dong, Robert Palmatier), ?https://lnkd.in/e7fRttqA - A potential win-win-win strategy when pruning the direct channel: Motivating retailers to migrate to a designated intermediary (Divya Anand, Andrew Crecelius, Justin Lawrence, Ph.D., Lisa Scheer), https://lnkd.in/epeUjMvc - Too assertive to recommend: The effect of assertive tone on referral behavior (Huixin Deng, Shaoguang Yang, LiYing Liu Jin), https://lnkd.in/ezJTpqGD - Pricing cues and retail competition (Anand Krishnamoorthy, Preethika Sainam), https://lnkd.in/eTzi3RMP - Lost in translation? How multilingual packaging influences product evaluations by impeding consumers’ processing fluency (Verena Hüttl-Maack, Rafael Munz), https://lnkd.in/eHMbUsKt - Friends or Enemies? The impact of partial competitor referral on consumer purchase (Haichuan Zhao, Mingyue Zhang, Haipeng (Allan) Chen), https://lnkd.in/e498UdaD - The influence of the buy-now-pay-later payment mode on consumer spending decisions (Rhys Ashby, PhD, Shahin Sharifi, Jun Yao, Lawrence Ang), https://lnkd.in/ehgmQBk6 - Optimal exclusivity strategy for digital service on competing platforms with different installed bases (Zheng Chai, Nan Feng, Harry Jiannan Wang, Haiyang Feng), https://lnkd.in/e3MtehYE - Lessons learned from the Kroger-Albertsons merger case (Ed Fox, Joe Bourdage, Justin LaTorraca, Laura O'Laughlin, Marcello Santana), https://lnkd.in/df6h68DX #retailing #research #journalofretailing #datasources #retailingdata

?? Editorial: Paving the way for responsible retailing?? In the most recent editorial, Katrijn Gielens invited Niels Holtrop, Lara Lobschat and Anne ter Braak, the founding scholars of the Center for Responsible Retailing at Maastricht University's School of Business and Economics, to offer their insights on responsible retailing. Responsible retailers commit to an ethical obligation to act responsibly, embedding this principle into the retailer’s culture, operations, and stakeholder relationships. In their editorial, they discuss: ?? Why should retailers care about responsible retailing? ?? The challenges on the path to responsibility (balancing doing good with economic consequences, how to measure, balancing being reactive versus pro-active) ?? The scope of responsible retailing (global and local) ?? The need to team up to engage in responsible retailing (with manufacturers, other retailers and the larger set of stakeholders) ?? The challenge of communicating about responsible retailing initiatives ?? The issue of measuring the impact of responsible retailing This guest editorial not only clarify misconceptions but also serve as a catalyst for further scholarly exploration. More research at Journal of Retailing is needed to shape the future of this critical debate! Read the editorial here: https://lnkd.in/di4AnxwS Out now “Editorial: Paving the way for responsible retailing”, by Niels Holtrop (Maastricht University, The Netherlands), Lara Lobschat (Maastricht University, The Netherlands) and Anne ter Braak (Maastricht University, The Netherlands) #JournalofRetailing #ResponsibleRetailing

?? Lessons Learned from the Kroger-Albertsons Merger Case ?? ?? The high-profile ruling blocking the Kroger-Albertsons merger changed how we think about supermarket competition. ?? In a new article, retailing expert and SMU marketing professor Ed and Analysis Group coauthors discuss the Kroger-Albertsons case and drivers of supermarket competition. The authors use the court’s ruling as a guide to discuss significant changes in the food retailing landscape, from the expansion of Walmart and Costco into the grocery space to evolutions in digital technologies that have fundamentally changed the way supermarkets engage with their customers. ?? Lessons learned: ??E-commerce makes prices more visible to both shoppers and competitors. ??Digital devices leads to discounts and promotions on retailer websites and enables personalized ads and promotions. ??Retail media networks represent a compelling new source of incremental revenue and profits for supermarket retailers. ?? Supermarket retailers rely on suppliers to fund retail promotions (and retail media networks). ?? Retailers’ brands and private label programs are fundamental to supermarket customer retention. Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/df6h68DX Out now “Lessons Learned from the Kroger-Albertsons Merger Case?”, by Ed Fox (Southern Methodist University, US), Joe Bourdage (Analysis Group, US), Justin LaTorraca (Analysis Group, US), Laura O'Laughlin (Analysis Group, US) and Marcello Santana (Analysis Group, US) #JournalofRetailing #krogeralbertsonsmerger #Supermarket #Competition

?? The Impact of Assortment Size and Population Density on Product Evaluation ?? “Everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things.” – Waldo Tobler’s First Law of Geography ?? How does population density (the geographical area where consumers are) impact product evaluation in large versus small assortments? Are e-commerce firms overlooking subtle location-based nuances in consumer evaluations of products chosen from varied assortment sizes? ?? Geographic region is one of the most common segmentation variables. For managers, factors such as population density are readily actionable through consumer location data collected via websites, apps, or shipping information. Yet, little is known about how to leverage these factors in new ways. Recent research suggests that ??Consumers in densely (vs. sparsely) populated areas evaluate products chosen from large assortments more positively. ??But, the effects diminish as time between choice and evaluation increases. ?? This insight has significant implications for e-commerce giants like Amazon, eBay, and JD.com, which rely on extensive product selections as a core competitive advantage. ??Leveraging advanced algorithms, these online retailers can tailor assortments to local characteristics while streamlining offerings in other areas to reduce operational expenses. ??Also situational population density changes (e.g., rush-hour crowds in train stations vs. off-peak times) can be leveraged so that assortments can be dynamically tailored to consumers’ real-time movements across locations. Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/ekFJybwn Out now “The Impact of Assortment Size and Population Density on Product Evaluation Who are the authors?”, by Thuy "Rosie" Pham, PhD (University of Western Australia, Australia), Frank Mathmann, Ph.D. (Queensland University of Technology, Australia), Felix Septianto (University of Queensland, Australia) and Mathew Chylinski (University of New South Wales, Australia) #JournalofRetailing #AssortmentSize #PopulationDensity #ProductEvaluation

?? Usage Complementarity vs. Basket Co-Occurrence: Discount Depth Reliance in Digitally Personalized Product Recommendations ?? ?? How Do Product Recommendations Influence Price Perception? Online retailers increasingly personalize product recommendations, utilizing customer data, such as browsing history, purchase behavior, reviews, ratings, and demographics. Think of “frequently bought together”, “more to consider,” or “related items” suggested while customers browse products or proceed to checkout. Do they change the way consumers evaluate prices? ?? Recent research compares two common product recommendation strategies used by digital retailers: ?? Basket Co-Occurrence – suggesting items based on browsing history or purchase cycles (even if they aren’t used together). ?? Usage Complementarity – recommending products that are functionally related and typically used together. ?? Across seven studies, the research finds that ??Basket co-occurrence recommendations lead consumers to focus primarily on discount depth, often neglecting base prices. ??Usage complementarity encourages a more balanced evaluation, where shoppers consider both base prices and discounts. ??This happens because complementary products activate a more comprehensive, analytical evaluation approach, reducing biases like base price neglect. ??Usage complementarity also removes biases associated with motivation to justify hedonic (vs. utilitarian) purchases. ?? For retailers, these insights highlight the power of strategic personalization. By leveraging usage complementarity, retailers can guide consumers toward more informed, value-driven decisions—enhancing both customer experience and pricing strategies. Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/eDJa7Vsb Out now “Usage Complementarity vs. Basket Co-Occurrence: Discount Depth Reliance in Digitally Personalized Product Recommendations”, by Jungsil Choi (Cleveland State University, US) and Hyun Young Park (China Europe International Business School, China) #JournalofRetailing #ProductRecommendation #DigitalCustomization #ProductComplementarity

Great news! ?? The CiteScore for #JournalofRetailing has increased to 17.3, up from 15.9 last year! ? #CiteScore is an annual measure of a journal’s citation impact, reflecting how widely research is read and utilized. This achievement highlights the influence of your work published in our journal and its contribution to the academic discourse. ? A huge thank you to all our contributors, authors, and, of course, our readers. Your dedication and engagement drive the impact of our journal. We remain committed to publishing high-quality research on all evolutions in the retail landscape. ? Here’s to another year of advancing knowledge in our field! ?? #AcademicPublishing #CiteScore #RetailResearch

?? The Impact of Brand Equity on Vertical Integration in Franchise Systems ?? ?? How does brand equity shape vertical integration decisions in franchise systems? Should franchisors with strong brands operate a higher or lower proportion of company-owned stores within their franchise chains? ?? Recent research sheds new light on the intricate dynamics and contingencies of this debated effect. Evidence from a Bayesian Panel Vector Autoregressive model applied to a large dataset reveals that: ?? As brand equity increases, franchisors increasingly rely on their brand equity - rather than direct ownership of stores - to govern their franchise systems. ?? An increase in a franchisor’s brand equity takes time to reduce the degree of forward vertical integration in the franchise system but exerts a lasting effect. ?? Reverse causality analyses identify a less pronounced but present reverse effect in the relationship. ?? The negative effect of brand equity on vertical integration is weaker in franchise systems with international presence and in retail-focused (vs. service-focused) franchises. The negative effect of brand equity on vertical integration is stronger in franchise systems with more financial resources. ?? For retailers and marketers, this research shows that it is interesting to: ?? Reassess vertical integration strategies. Despite the resurgence in interest in vertical integration amongst retailing practitioners, research findings advise against unnecessary vertical integration especially when brand equity is solid. ?? See brand equity is a channel governance tool, not just a market-based asset. A company’s brand equity functions as a “safeguarding asset” that effectively mitigates many distribution channel governance problems through contractual self-enforcement, reducing the need for costly vertical integration. ?? Consider brand investments as dual investments. Brand investments can be viewed as long-term “dual investments”, directly in the brand (to influence consumers) and indirectly in the distribution channel (to influence channel partners). Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/dCsPSFRd Out now “The Impact of Brand Equity on Vertical Integration in Franchise Systems”, by Dr. Mohammad Kayed (Bishop’s University, Canada), Manish K. (McMaster University, Canada), Ruhai Wu (McMaster University, Canada) and Farhad Sadeh (Eastern Illinois University, US) #JournalofRetailing #BrandEquity #VerticalIntegration #Franchising

?? From My Standpoint: How Visual Perspective Affects Visual Experiences ?? Considered the next iteration of the internet, the metaverse is where the digital and physical worlds converge. Metaverse retail allows for the interaction between retailers and customers’ digital representations (e.g. avatars). However, an individual’s digital representation may be portrayed from different visual perspectives (first-person vs. third-person). ?? How to implement visual strategies in digitized retail contexts? What is the effect of visual perspective on visual experiences? ?? Recent research shows that a “one-size-fits-all” approach may be counterproductive. The research shows that: ?? In transactional interactions, customers prefer a first-person perspective ?? Perceived immersion helps explain this preference ?? Quality evaluation and product perceptions would be facilitated for search (experiential) offerings when presented from a first-person (third-person) perspective ?? Product choice is easier for large assortments when the offerings are presented from a first-person perspective. ?? For retailers and marketers, this research shows that the implementation of visual strategies in digitized retail contexts should be carefully planned. Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/ea3fJxge Out now “From My Standpoint: How Visual Perspective Affects Visual Experiences”, by Carlos Bauer (University of Alabama, US), Kevin L. Sample (University of South Carolina, US) and Julio Sevilla (University of Georgia, US) #JournalofRetailing #RetailMetaverse, #Avatars, #VisualPerspectives

?? Non-fungible tokens in retailing: Sources of value and strategic implications ?? ?? How can non-fungible tokens (NFTs) create value in retailing? ?? Recent research explores how NFTs can create real value in retail. ?? Building on their technological foundations, the research highlights new ways in leveraging the value NFTs have. ??By identifying three key technical features of NFTs—decentralization, immutable encryption, and automated execution— the research links them to three valuable business applications: transcendence, dynamic contingencies, and flexible identification. ??A survey study shows that retail managers recognize the potential of these capabilities but have yet to associate them with NFTs. ??To bridge this gap, the research provides real-world examples to demonstrate how NFTs can integrate these value propositions into a unified marketing tool. ?? For retailers and marketers, this research helps to show the potential of NFTs for businesses and consumers. Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/e-T56n6s Out now “Non-fungible tokens in retailing: Sources of value and strategic implications”, by Martin Paul Fritze (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit?t München, Germany), Cait Lamberton (University of Pennsylvania, US) and Stefano Puntoni (University of Pennsylvania, US) #JournalofRetailing #NonFungibleTokens #Blockchain #Crypto