Shopping orientation, store attributes, and apparel retail format preference

Abstract

<p>The U.S. apparel retail market has reached a very high level of intensity with a large variety of retailers evolved in the past 30 years. This changing environment requires apparel retailers to re-evaluate factors affecting consumers' choices of different retail formats. To fill the gap in the literature, this research intended to study the impact of shopping orientation and store attributes on consumers' apparel retail format preferences. A quantitative research with an online survey was conducted. A factor analysis was first used to identify the underlining dimensions of shopping orientation, store attributes, and apparel retail formats. Multiple regression was used to analyze the effects of shopping orientation and store attributes on apparel retail format preference. The findings reveal the preference of different apparel retail formats is predicted by different shopping orientations and the importance of different store attributes. The findings provide valuable insights to retailers to understand their market position and deliver shopping value that consumers seek and desire.</p>