LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

—Describe the types of retail structures that exist worldwide.

—Explain how a retail positioning strategy flows from both cost-side and demand- side factors.

—Define the retailers positioning strategy as a set of service outputs delivered to the market.

—Recognize important trends and developments on the consumer and channel sides that affect retail management.

—Outline the power and coordination issues facing retailers and their suppliers, as well as how suppliers respond to retailers’ use of power to influence channel behavior.