- Details:
For the team project, which is also presented to the class during the last session, students need to address one of the following topics and prepare a 3,500 word assignment:
A. Retailing in (you can choose from: any country in the Asian Pacific Region). In this assignment you need to explain in depth how retailing differs in your country of choice from Australia. If you choose this assignment you will preferably
be well acquainted with the country of your choice through being born there or having lived there. It is also possible to do this assignment without having visited the country but you will then need to rely more on published material. The types of differences that may be relevant would examine topics such as: are there shopping centres in the same form as we have in Australia? If not, how do they differ? Are there supermarkets that are the same as those in Australia? If not how do they differ? – for example, in Malaysia beer and
wine may be purchased in the supermarket along with other products rather than being separated as in Australia. The department stores and discount stores that we know in Australia such as David Jones, Myers, Target, K Mart and so on may be different in other countries. Try to identify all the differences you can and explain how these differences affect the retailing of products in the country of your choice. point for your research.
B. The changing face of retailing: How department stores and discount stores are evolving. This report should cover the historical development of department stores and discount stores. Obviously you would start by defining both of these types of retail institutions and then describe what merchandise they carry and how they market to distinct types or market segments of retail customers. You may like to
discuss mergers, diversification and downsizing in your assignment, as well as cost containment and value-driven retailing being driving forces behind the evolution of these institutions into the retail outlets of tomorrow. Do you think retailing will be different in 5 years time, or in 10 years time? Why – what do you think will make these types of store different? Do you think there will be other types of stores that will open up in different markets? Use examples wherever possible to substantiate your opinions in the report. In your answer you also need to refer to the wheel of retailing concept, and the retail life cycle. You will also discuss ways in which shops assemble their merchandise for consumers, such as scrambled merchandising.
