ABSTRACT
Retailing is a long-established method of product distribution that holds significance for its practitioners, consumers and increasingly media commentators and governments. The context for retailing, almost worldwide, is that it has grown in importance and significance at a number of levels. Retailing is also important in an academic world. The changing nature and role of retailing and its altered position economically and socially require an academic response. Retailing is both a local and a global activity. It has greater significance now beyond anything previously seen. Retailing presents distinct and difficult challenges to operators, consumers, society, governments and academics. The commentaries provide the context in retailing and retail research terms for the selected papers and outline their significance. These commentaries function as a guide to the academic literature for each topic. The chapter also presents an overview on the key concepts discussed in this book.
