Retail Supply Chain: Challenges and Prospects

Abstract

A supply chain is incomplete if there is no proper distribution channel that delivers goods to the end users. It is equally underperforming of the supply chain if the retail link is missing to satisfy demand. The effect of this will be felt by the final consumers because of the ease of buying off the shelf rather than directly from the distributors. The popular saying, ‘the world is a global village’ shows that internationalization is increasingly becoming a past debate of governments and is seen as a platform of opportunities and competitiveness. This new trend implies that clusters of cultures and ethnicities are finding themselves far away from home. It requires effective retailing and logistics to deliver familiar groceries to these displaced people in their newly adopted countries. It is therefore increasingly interesting to see how a small retail business can respond to changes in consumer demands.

Retail supply chain; challenges and prospects aims to holistically review the retail supply chain, the challenges and emerging trends, with a particular focus on the supply chain for small business owners. Retailing tasks, retail classification, differences in grocery and fashion retailing, challenges and opportunities for prospective retailers, supply chain management and small businesses are discussed amongst others. The feasibility for supply chain for the small retail business and results that help make the case company edge competitors are also part of the discussion. Theories, opinions and recommendations used in this research work were based on extensive use of primary and secondary research methods which include interview, textbook, dictionaries, case studies and internet media. At the end recommendations on inventory management, formation of buying group and extensive use of niche merchandise are put forward in this project work. The contents of this thesis will come in handy for prospective retail entrepreneurs and researchers. There is also a possibility for further research into the transformations in retail supply chain like the Quick Response, Factory Gate Pricing, Efficient Consumer Response, Agile, Lean and leagile Supply Chains.