Luxury retailers’ entry and expansion strategies in China

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine internationalising luxury fashion retailers’ entry and post-entry expansion strategies in mainland China. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts a pragmatic mixed-methods research approach, including a quantitative mail survey and qualitative face-to-face in-depth executive interviews. Findings Different from initial single entry methods, multiple methods are increasingly popular for luxury fashion retailers’ post-entry expansion in mainland China. Although directly controlled expansion strategies have become significant, local partnerships are still important and omnichannel distribution strategies are rapidly growing. Research limitations/implications The findings were generated in mainland China only. Originality/value This work provides an understanding of luxury fashion retailers’ activities in the Chinese market from both macro and micro perspectives. It examines luxury fashion retailers’ initial entry strategies, as well as their post-entry expansion strategies in mainland China. Few studies in the area of international luxury fashion retailing have employed a mixed-methods approach with this number of participants

Response to Crocetti et al.

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Hong Kong, a Gateway for Mainland China? An examination of the impact of luxury fashion retailers’ ownership structures on expansion strategies

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine luxury fashion retailers’ ownership structures at their internationalisation strategies in Hong Kong and mainland China. Design/methodology/approach: This study adopts a pragmatic mixed methods approach, comprising a quantitative mail survey and ten qualitative executive interviews. Findings: This study found that group-owned luxury fashion retailers usually encounter fewer difficulties when internationalising into mainland China than their individually owned counterparts because of parenting advantage, particularly functional and service support. However, the success of some individually owned brands has demonstrated that branding strategies, management culture, international experience, financial power and local partners’ know-how are as important as parent company support and although the luxury market in mainland China has become developed, many foreign luxury fashion retailers still enter Hong Kong prior to mainland China. However, in relation to post-entry management and expansion strategies, the importance of Hong Kong has weakened because the emergence of capital cities, the growth of the middle class and fewer political restrictions. Research limitations/implications: The research findings are generated in the context of Hong Kong and mainland China, they are therefore limited in explaining luxury fashion retailers’ internationalisation strategies in other markets. Despite the challenge of the sample size, 63 out of 130 survey respondents (48.5 per cent response rate) and ten interview participants are felt to be sufficient to represent the market. Practical implications: This research can be used by practitioners when assessing appropriate entry strategies to the Chinese luxury fashion market. Originality/value: This is a pioneering study of the Chinese luxury market from the perspective of international retail strategies. It differentiates between Greater China (including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) and mainland China, and examines the impact of luxury fashion retailers’ ownership structures on their internationalisation strategies

The gastric acid pocket is attenuated in H. pylori infected subjects

Objective Gastric acid secretory capacity in different anatomical regions, including the postprandial acid pocket, was assessed in Helicobacter pylori positive and negative volunteers in a Western population. Design We studied 31 H. pylori positive and 28 H. pylori negative volunteers, matched for age, gender and body mass index. Jumbo biopsies were taken at 11 predetermined locations from the gastro-oesophageal junction and stomach. Combined high-resolution pH metry (12 sensors) and manometry (36 sensors) was performed for 20 min fasted and 90 min postprandially. The squamocolumnar junction was marked with radio-opaque clips and visualised radiologically. Biopsies were scored for inflammation and density of parietal, chief and G cells immunohistochemically. Results Under fasting conditions, the H. pylori positives had less intragastric acidity compared with negatives at all sensors >1.1 cm distal to the peak lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) pressure (p<0.01). Postprandially, intragastric acidity was less in H. pylori positives at sensors 2.2, 3.3 and 4.4 cm distal to the peak LES pressure (p<0.05), but there were no significant differences in more distal sensors. The postprandial acid pocket was thus attenuated in H. pylori positives. The H. pylori positives had a lower density of parietal and chief cells compared with H. pylori negatives in 10 of the 11 gastric locations (p<0.05). 17/31 of the H. pylori positives were CagA-seropositive and showed a more marked reduction in intragastric acidity and increased mucosal inflammation. Conclusions In population volunteers, H. pylori positives have reduced intragastric acidity which most markedly affects the postprandial acid pocket

A study of blood contamination of Siqveland matrix bands

AIMS To use a sensitive forensic test to measure blood contamination of used Siqveland matrix bands following routine cleaning and sterilisation procedures in general dental practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen general dental practices in the West of Scotland participated. Details of instrument cleaning procedures were recorded for each practice. A total of 133 Siqveland matrix bands were recovered following cleaning and sterilisation and were examined for residual blood contamination by the Kastle-Meyer test, a well-recognised forensic technique. RESULTS: Ultrasonic baths were used for the cleaning of 62 (47%) bands and retainers and the remainder (53%) were hand scrubbed prior to autoclaving. Overall, 21% of the matrix bands and 19% of the retainers gave a positive Kastle-Meyer test, indicative of residual blood contamination, following cleaning and sterilisation. In relation to cleaning method, 34% of hand-scrubbed bands and 32% of hand-scrubbed retainers were positive for residual blood by the Kastle-Meyer test compared with 6% and 3% respectively of ultrasonically cleaned bands and retainers (P less than 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: If Siqveland matrix bands are re-processed in the assembled state, then adequate pre-sterilisation cleaning cannot be achieved reliably. Ultrasonic baths are significantly more effective than hand cleaning for these items of equipment

The Outlook of Luxury Fahsion Retailers' Multiple Channel Distribution Strategies

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Fresh perspectives on customer experience

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide directions for future research on: broadening the role of customers in customer experience; taking a practice-based approach to customer experience; and recognizing the holistic, dynamic nature of customer experience across all touch points and over time. Design/methodology/approach – The approach is conceptual identifying current gaps in research on customer experience. Findings – The findings include a set of research questions and research agenda for future research on customer experience. Originality/value – This research suggests fresh perspectives for understanding the customer experience which can inspire future research and advance theory and managerial practice

Luxury fashion retailers’ localised marketing strategies in practice – Evidence from China

From an international retailing perspective, this empirical study aims to examine luxury fashion retailers’ changing marketing strategies in China. Using case studies of fourteen luxury fashion retailers, qualitative data was collected via thirty-one semi-structured executive interviews. Both standardised global, and localised multinational marketing strategies were found to have initially been employed by luxury fashion retailers entering into China. Subsequently, localised multinational strategies became increasingly important for their post-entry operations and business development, particularly in terms of their product strategies. More specifically, as well as the introduction of Chinese brand names, product design has been adapted according to Chinese market conditions, and product portfolios have been adapted to satisfy regional differences. However, localised product sourcing in China is far less common. This paper extends the current international retailing literature by examining and comparing the motives and practices of luxury fashion retailers and the increasing localisation of their marketing strategies in China as they move from initial market entry into their post-entry operations. It also offers practitioners insights into the success that can be generated by the manipulation of marketing strategies, particularly product strategies, within the world’s second biggest luxury market

Foot related impairments and disability in juvenile idiopathic arthritis persist despite modern day treatment paradigms

Background: Foot problems such as synovitis, growth disturbance and deformity are considered common in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and have been previously reported in over 90% of cases. The medical management of JIA appears to have improved recently however little is known about the impact of new regimes on localised joints such as in the foot. This pilot study aimed to investigate the prevalence of foot related impairments and disability, and survey the medical and podiatric management of patients in a cohort of UK children with JIA. Methods: This study was a tertiary care based cross-sectional survey. Thirty consecutive JIA patients with a history of foot and ankle arthritis completed the juvenile arthritis foot disability index questionnaire (JAFI) (0-4 for each domain), child health assessment questionnaire (CHAQ) (0-3), and pain visual analogue scale (VAS) (0-100mm). Foot deformity score (0-38), active and limited joint counts (0-77) and walking speed (m/s) were measured also recorded. Foot care provision over the previous 12 months was determined from the medical records in 23/ 30 participants. Results were analysed using simple descriptive statistics and expressed as median (range). Results: Children received biologic agents in 35%, DMARDs in 65%, and 90% of participants had received multiple intra-articular cortico-steroid injections. Median (range) values for foot disease outcomes were JAFI impairment = 1 (0-3), JAFI activity limitation = 1 (0-4) JAFI participation restriction 1 (0-3), CHAQ = 0.38 (0-2), VAS pain = 22 (0-79), foot deformity = 6 (0-20), active joints = 0 (0-7), limited joints (0-31), walking speed = 1.09 (0.84- 1.38). The JAFI scores represent mild foot related impairment and disability. Gait defects, deformity or abnormal foot posture, and/or active foot disease were the main reasons for referral. 43% of children received specialist podiatry care comprising footwear advice, orthotic therapy, and silicone digital appliances together with intrinsic muscle strengthening exercises. Conclusions: Despite DMARD/biologic regimes and specialist podiatry, foot related impairment and disability persists in JIA children. Foot care appears to be in line with current recommendations. Further study is required to determine the long-term consequences of these changes found during childhood in the foot