Some aspects of retailing in the distributive system of North East England

Abstract

This study aims to examine, in the context of North Eastern England, two types of retailing, distinct in their methods of organisation and scale of operations - multiple retailing and small-scale independent retailing. They are viewed primarily with regard to the functional relationships which they have with other parts of the distributive system, as expressed in the concept of channels of distribution. The basic difference in channel usage can be described in terms of the nature of the retailer's suppliers. The multiple retailers with branches in the region has been found to deal direct with the manufacturer/ primary producer for the vast majority of his goods, whilst the wholesaler plays a dominant part in the channel serving the small independent retailer. The essential reason behind such differences is to be found in the contrasting scales of retailing, which in turn are seen to be the result of various factors, including the nature of the products sold, the past retailing structure and the scale of other components of the distributive system. Thus the study is primarily concerned with the processes which link the retailer to the general system of distribution for consumer goods, and not with the spatial aspects of retailing nor with the relationships between that activity and the domestic consumer. The structure of retailing in the region is described according to main trade types, but the channel concept is applied also to specific products.\