The University of Manchester Retail Research Forum

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The University of Manchester Retail Research
Forum

• New Membership
• Prospectus 2009

• The Mission Objectives - page 2
• Membership pages 3, 4 5
• The Research Programme page - 6
• Major Research Reports 1999 - 2008 - page 7
• Invitation - page 8

Pack Contents
Insights are shared, solutions are proprietary
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RETAIL RESEARCH FORUM
Forum Mission

• The Forum was founded upon an idea, endorsed by
  industry leaders, to provide an environment to-
• Undertake new retail focused research projects
• Provide post-graduate students with opportunity
  to gain experience
• Offer the members the opportunity for networking

Sir Terry Leahy comments Ours is a very
competitive industry. We do battle day and
night, in order to win customers and defeat the
competition. This intensely competitive
environment is good for consumers and, indeed,
for society at large, but it's not always a
conducive one for collaborative research in the
interests of everyone in the industry. The Retail
Research Forum is important because it provides
an opportunity for senior managers within our
industry to work collaboratively on original
research topics. They use their experience to
identify important areas for research, and then
work with the University who undertake the
research. Everybody wins in this arrangement
the industry has a network of senior managers who
know each other and collaborate on important
issues. The industry also receives high-quality,
low-cost research. The University gets to work
closely with key managers within the retail
sector, and obtains guidance and advice on
research topics. The whole experience of working
closely with the retail industry greatly enhances
the quality of work undertaken by the
University. The Retail Research Forum has
achieved much with modest resources, due largely
to the leadership of Professor Peter McGoldrick
and his team, and the willing contribution of
managers from our major retail companies.

• Objectives
• Stimulate high level research into retail topics
• Contribute to the development of retail
  education
• non-confidential information and case material
• Establish priorities to advance insights into
  retailing
• research undertaken by university in
  collaboration with companies
• Support research from internal and external
  funds
• spin-off funding and continuation funding from
  research councils
• Enable access to university expertise
• access to prior research and specialists in
  subject, research techniques
• Create a network of senior managers
• directly or indirectly involved in retailing

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RETAIL RESEARCH FORUM
Membership
We are fortunate to have the support of some of
the leading names in the Retailing Supply
arena, who have all found value from their
association with the Forum. We are proud to have
the continuing support of many of our original
members (highlighted in the panel below), and
thank all the companies that have contributed to
the Forums success over the past eleven years.
Founder Members
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RETAIL RESEARCH FORUM
Membership
We are seeking to open the membership to new
entrants who are interested in supporting the
work of the Forum and gaining benefit from the
outputs of the Research programmes. The current
members, from leading Retail companies and other
closely related sectors, are senior executives
from areas such as - Marketing Director,
Director of Planning, Director of Insight,
Director of Hypermarkets, Director of Logistics,
Development Director and HR Director

• Discussing implications of the projects
• Receiving executive reports on all research
  undertaken

Contributing to development of retailing as an
area of scientific study
Benefits
A progressive group of senior management from
leading retailers and associated companies
Opportunity to learn from the experience of
others with similar or related responsibilities

• Access to-
• Expertise
• Research facilities

• Developing the research agenda
• Co-creation of insights, of direct relevance to
  companies and industry

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RETAIL RESEARCH FORUM
Membership Details

• Membership
• The Forum offers places to Retailers and other
  Companies whose operations are crucial to the
  effective functioning of the industry, to
  encourage collaboration and to contribute towards
  better retailing.
• Dual Membership
• You can nominate two senior level people, with
  either or both attending meetings. This two
  permanent member structure gives the Forum
  greater continuity and networking opportunities.
• Activities
• To undertake retail focused research projects,
  which deliver mutually beneficial initiatives.
• Meetings
• Are held for one day, twice yearly in May and
  October, mostly in London.
• Offers to use members meeting facilities reduce
  our costs and have helped us to avoid increases
  in membership subscriptions.
• Research Projects
• The subject matter for all projects is decided
  by members, in discussion with the university
  team.
• Project duration is usually 12 -18 months and
  projects are completed within this time frame in
  order to remain relevant.
• All project outputs, methods and conclusions are
  made available for use by member companies to
  influence thinking or simply as additional
  reference materials.
• Forum Chair
• We offer the opportunity for one of the Forum
  members to take the Chair. This role is vital to
  the Forums success in ensuring continuity and
  maintaining focus.
• Subscriptions
• Annual subscriptions cost around 5,000 after
  tax relief on the payment of 6,500.
• Subscriptions are collected in January/February
  of each year.
• New members may be eligible to a 50 discount if
  joining mid-year.

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RETAIL RESEARCH FORUM
Creating the Research

• The selection process ensures that projects are-
• Innovative, in terms of subject, focus of
  application and/or research techniques deployed
• Beneficial to more than one member and have the
  potential to contribute towards better retailing
  in general
• Capable of being published, after a lapse of
  time and with any confidential information omitted

Typical Research Cycle is- May Forum Meeting
Idea Brainstorming and Prioritisation October
Forum Meeting Project Champion(s) and Agree
Topic(s) Nov/Dec Project Meeting Refine Research
Brief Jan/Feb Recruitment of Researchers
(MSc/MPhil/RA) May Forum Meeting Review of
Existing Work and Gaps June/July Collaborative
Refinement of Research Instruments July -
September Empirical Investigation October Main
Forum Meeting Presentation to Forum Membership
After That? Continuation as PhD (e.g., 3 ESRC
funded Projects) Academic Publication (e.g., Best
Paper Award at World Marketing Congress)
Harvard Business Review article Journal
of Business Ethics article
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RETAIL RESEARCH FORUM REPORTS

• 2008
• Effects of Changes in Disposable Income on
  Shopping Patterns Mr D Hampson, Prof P
  McGoldrick, Dr T Newholm
• Product Sourcing Perceived Ethical/Environmenta
  l Issues Ms S Vohra, Dr Terry Newholm and Prof
  Peter McGoldrick
• 2007
• Environmental Awareness, Concern and Action
  Ms Alexa Stanbridge and Prof Peter McGoldrick
• Staff Word of Mouth and Retail Employment Ms
  Henna Mistry and Dr Kathy Keeling
• Staff Word of Mouth and Retail Patronage
  Ms Lito Giourouki and Dr Kathy Keeling
• 2006
• Staff Motivations and Triggers for Brand
  Evangelism Ms Petroula Charavitsidou and Dr
  Kathy Keeling
• The Impact of Staff Word-of Mouth on Retail
  Brands Ms Katerina Ntalamagka and Dr Terry
  Newholm
• 2005
• What Do They Really Think of Us? - Dr Terry
  Newholm and Ms Rabeea Zia
• Staff Influence upon Perceptions of the Brand -
  Dr Kathy Keeling and Ms Hannah Thompson
• 2004
• Multi-channel Retailing Ms Natalie Collins
  and Prof Peter McGoldrick
• Attitude Strength and Retail Patronage Ms
  Cathy Bakewell and Mr Jay Wissema
• 2003
• The Aware Consumer Project ZMET study Dr
  Joanne Doherty
• The Aware Consumer Survey - Mr Oliver Freestone
  and Prof Peter McGoldrick

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RETAIL RESEARCH FORUM
Invitation
We cordially invite you to join us at the
Manchester University Retail Research Forum and
to meet with some of our current membership and
the University team.
We look forward to you joining us!