New horizons in retail geography: special issue editorial

Abstract

of transnational retail firm performance in China. The authors examine how the advantages that retail transnational corporations (TNCs) initially enjoyed (e.g., superior store format design and planning, marketing and IT infrastructure, efficient sourcing/logistics networks) progressively eroded, and even atrophied in the face of increasing domestic retail competition, a less favourable regulatory environment, the rise of digital platforms, and shifting customer expectations. Han, Wood, Coe, and Alexander suggest three strategic imperatives for retail TNCs in response to these changes; online integration, offline reconfiguration, and strategic reinforcement with each aimed at addressing the variable success of prior strategies. For this special issue, this paper highlights the value of geographical analyses,