[Purpose] It aims to suggest the differential factors to enhance the customer satisfaction and to activate the shopping in the convenience store (CVS). [Methodology] Convenience store service convenience (CVS SERVCON) was developed at the first time and the gap of relative importance level between the owners and the consumers was assessed by AHP analysis method..[Findings] First, the importance of access convenience was assessed as the first priority in both CVS owners’ group and the consumers’ group, while the detailed elements showed the differences which required the improvements. Based on the consumers’ assessment, the importance of location was relatively low. They assessed relatively high on 24 hours operation of CVS and personal services. Second with respect to the transaction convenience, CVS owners’ group rated it as the fourth priority while the consumers’ group rated as the second, which requires the improvement. Third in terms of benefit utility and value-added service of post-benefit convenience which are the sub-factors of benefit convenience, the rate on the importance from the consumers showed higher than that from the owners, which requires the improvement. [Implications] Based on this study results, CVS operating companies are anticipated to be able to satisfy the customers, moreover, to secure the loyal customers if they concentrate the resources to develop the differentiation strategy on the areas where the consumers’ demands are high while performs the maintenance strategy on the areas where their demands are low. In addition, this study contributed the theoretical expansion of SERVCON upon development of CVS SERVCON to comply with its definition.

Introduction Japanese convenience-store (CVS) chain retailers have grown by establishing store networks. In fact, Seven-Eleven, Lawson and Family Mart continuingly have opened about 1000 new stores per year. The reason for the rapid growth of their store-networks is that a key aspect of a chain retailer’s marketing strategy is the number of stores its needs to reach its customers (Srinivasan et al. 2013). In particular, CVS chain retailers seek to open new stores and obtain spatial dominance in a particular geographical area, which is called “area-dominance strategy,” so they can save on logistical costs, increase consumer proximity and loyalty, and prevent rival from opening new stores in the area (Ogawa 2004, Tamura 2014, Nishida 2014). Thus, a retailer’s decision of how to expand store-network in a given regional market is important to improve its sales. However, little attention has been paid to this problem in Japanese academic research. This study attempts to explain the influence of entry of rivals on a focal retailer’s store-network in regional markets of Japanese CVS industry. Especially, the author focuses on the regional competition between a focal retailer who is the first entrant and rivals who are late entrants in the region. First, we review prior research, and then propose hypotheses about the influence of entry of rivals, the degree of dominance of a focal retailer, and entry of rivals in multiple regions, on the number of the focal retailer stores. This is followed by an empirical analysis with panel data. Last, we discuss some implications and direction for future research. Literature Review and Proposed Hypothesis Entry of rival stores Prior research suggests that the existence of rival chain stores in the same market decreases the store-revenue of the focal retailer (Erickson et al. 2013, Nishida 2014).When rival retailers open the large number of new stores in a regional market, the focal retailer may be taken away their business of existing stores and latent new stores, so the focal retailer will be forced to close existing stores and slow down the pace of opening new stores. Then, we propose following hypothesis: H1: In a regional market, the higher the number of net increase of rival stores is, the lower the net increase of focal retailer stores is. Dominance of the focal retailer According to prior research, CVS chain retailers benefit from area-dominance (opening own stores aggressively in a given region), because it enables retailers to reduce their distribution and promotion cost, increase consumer loyalty and their power against manufactures (Ogawa 2004, Tamura 2014, Nishida 2014). If the focal retailer has already established a high density store-network, and had strong relationships with its customers and manufactures in the regional market, they will be less likely to suffer from entry of rival chain stores, and they will be able to continue expanding their store-network. These arguments lead to: H2: In a regional market, the higher the degree of dominance of the focal retailer is, the smaller the negative effect of entry of rival stores is. Entry of rival stores in multi-market Though H1 and H2 do not consider multi-market competition among chain retailers, this macro-level competition may have a great impact on their competitive action in a given region (Chen 1996). When a rival entries to multiple regions simultaneously where the focal retailer has already operated, the focal retailer will delay its decision making and competitive responses, so the impact of entry of rival will be larger (Poter 1980, Ferrir 2001, Boyd and Bresser 2008). Therefore, we propose following hypotheses: H3a: The higher the number of regions which rival entry is, the bigger the negative effect of entry of rival chain stores is. H3b: The higher the number of net increase of rival stores across the regions is, the bigger the negative effect of entry of rival chain stores is. Methodology To test the proposed hypotheses (see FIGURE 1), we collected panel data from the Census of CVS Market, which includes the number of stores of Japanese CVS chain retailers in each prefecture. Due to the restriction of data availability, we treated prefectures as the unit of regional market, and focused on the cases that Lawson was the first entrant, and Seven-Eleven and Family-Mart ware the later entrants in prefectures. Accordingly, the sample was limited in space to 17 prefectures, and limited in time to the period from the year that Seven-Eleven or Family-Mart opened their stores for the first time to 2014. Results We tested the hypotheses using panel date analysis by fixed effects model. The estimated results are shown in FIGURE 2. Regarding our hypotheses H1, involving the negative effect of rival entry on the focal retailer’s store-network, is not supported. However, the interaction of “the dominance of the focal retailer” with “rival entry” and the interaction of “rival entry in multiple regions” with “rival entry” are significant, although their signs of coefficients differ depending on whether the rival is seven-eleven or family-mart. Thus, hypotheses H2 and H3b are supported in part. Implication and Future Research Our findings have several important implications. First, our empirical results suggest that the effect of rival entry on a focal retailer’s store-network depends on (1) rival’s position in CVS industry, (2) the focal retailer’s dominance, and (3) rival’s multiple entry. Second, when a rival has a superior position than the focal retailer, dominance advantage of the focal retailer increases the negative effect of rival entry, which is contrary to our expectation. This implies that enhancement of the density of own store-network will cause cannibalization, so each store of a focal retailer may be highly vulnerable to entry by a rival who has superior competitive position (i.e. Seven-Eleven). Finally, multiple entry by a rival in superior position reinforces the negative effect of their entry on expansion of the focal retailer’s store-network in the regional market. Though this study was a rare attempt to explain regional competition among Japanese CVS chain retailers empirically, it did not include the prefectures that Seven-Eleven and Family-Mart were the first entrants. This may limit generality of the empirical results, hence it is valuable to take this problem into consideration in future research.

This study investigates what consumption values affect attitude and behavioral intentions toward a premium lunch box at a convenience store using VAB(Value-Attitude-Behavior) model. The main survey was conducted by a research company by means of an online survey in the form of a self-administered questionnaire. The samples were limited to customers who had tried the premium lunch box before. The survey was conducted in October 2016. The collected data were analyzed by using SPSS 21.0 for Windows and AMOS 21.0. A structural equation model(SEM) was used to verify the proposed relationships among the study variables. Three factors representing the value of the premium lunch box were identified: social & functional value, economic value, and epistemic value. The finding showed that these values had a positive effect on attitude toward the premium lunch box and that attitude had a positive effect on behavioral intentions.

본 연구에서는 편의점에서 고객이 처음 원하는 제품의 재고가 없을 때 다른 제품으로의 대체구매가 존재하는 상황에서 수익을 극대화하는 제품들의 진열공간 크기와 보충시점 결정을 위한 5가지 재고관리 해법을 제안한다. 그리고 고객수요의 불확실성과 마케팅 요소를 반영한 시뮬레이션 모형을 구축하여 제안된 해법들의 성능을 평가한다.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate microbiological hazards in the steps of production, transportation and selling of hamburger and sandwich that were marketed in CVS, then to identify methods of control. The reasults are as follows: As the reasult of operation surroundings of manufacturerand reserch of circulation, 4~6 hours are needed from manufacturer to CVS. Also transportation car mean temperature was 10℃ which exceeds the standard of 7℃ or below. Hamburger: Critical control points identified were purchasing, cooking, post-preparation, transportation and holding at CVS. As the reasult of microbial analysis following the case of holding methods and reheating at CVS, microbes of cold holding and reheat after cold holding was within standard value. But in the case of room temperature microbes exceeded standard value. Sandwich: Critical control points identified were purchasing, cooking, post-preparation, transportation and holding at CVS. As the reasult of microbial analysis following the case of holding methods and reheating at CVS, total plate counts of cold holding and reheat after cold holding was within standard value. But in the case of room temperature holding after 24 hours total plate counts exceeded standard value. In the case of room temperature holding the number of microbes increased according to the passage of time. As a reasult of food poisoning bacteria, it was negative in every test in sample against V. parahaemolyticus, Salmonella, S. aureus.

This study aims to investigate what selection attributes of customer value are more crucial when consumers choose the dessert at convenience store, which is the fastest growing retail format in Korea recently. Factors considered to be important when customers buy dessert, such as economics, diversity, convenience, and safety were examined and also relationship between customer value and satisfaction was analyzed. The survey was conducted through online (including SNS) from April 6, 2019 to April 30, 2019. A total of 303 questionnaires were used for empirical analysis. Factor analysis was performed to verify the validity and reliability of the measured variables. And the structural equation model (SEM) was used as a statistical method for hypothesis testing. As a result, factors as ‘diversity’, ‘safety’ were revealed to significantly affect hedonic customer value, while ‘convenience’ was shown to affect utilitarian customer value significantly. In addition, the path that customer value leads to satisfaction was also found to be significant. The result of the study suggests that selection attributes of convenience store dessert and providing meaningful implications of related hedonic and utilitarian values when customers purchase dessert at convenience store. This study provided practical implications for managers of the fiercely competitive dessert industry.

Purpose - The purpose of the study was to investigate operation system of current convenience store and competing retail store and to find out development of unattended convenience store. Operators can save labor cost and solve labor seeking when opening shop under suitable environment and commerce area, and assure of employee’s safety. Customers are allowed to select commodity comfortably without disclosure of face and to shorten standby time at simple store opening, buying and paying and to produce convenient living environment by financing, delivery and goods control. This study examined effect and problems of operation of existing and unattended convenience store from point of view of visual merchandising to find out model of unattended convenience store and to strengthen competitiveness of convenience store business. Research design, data, and methodology - Research procedure of accomplishment of goal of the study was: The study investigated state of distribution business, and role and definition of VMD. First, VMD played an important role of promotion and competitiveness of unattended convenience stores. Second, the author investigated research and cases of unattended convenience stores 14 months, that is to say, from August 15, 2017 to October 15, 2018. Third, the author investigated on-the-spot three of common convenience stores, three of unattended convenience stores and three of retailers one month, that is to say, June 1, 2018 to July 1, 2018. The subject was convenience stores and retailers selling similar type of products at Seoul and metropolitan area. Results - Layout, selling place, brand identity, goods assortment, authentication system, product information cognition and control, buying and payment system, security system, salesmen, promotion and other services should be improved from point of view of merchandising. Structure, furniture, lighting, voice, façade, VP, PP, IP and POP should be developed. Conclusions - Unattended convenience stores saved operating cost and lessened labor and gave visitors convenience and comfortable shopping and made use of resources effectively. Further studies with quantitative analysis shall find out strategic conditions for promotion of unattended convenience stores.

Purpose - The perception of the quality of the consumer's distributor's brand(PBs) is generally perceived to be lower than that of the manufacturer's brand(NB), although it is a critical factor in determining the success of PBs. Accordingly, this study examines the characteristics of the convenience store PB products and their correlation with brand trust and purchase intent in the consumers who have had experience purchasing the convenience store PBs to expand the sales variables. Further, this research shows that the marketing strategy is to increase the share of PBs by providing an empirical analysis on the effect of the product attribute factors on the sales volume associated with brand trust, purchase intent, and others. Research design, data, and methodology - The survey period of this study was approximately three weeks from December 1, 2017 to December 21, 2017. The study samples that were taken from 100 random people extracted. The statistical analysis was carried out with multiple regression analysis using the SPSS statistical package. Results - The analysis shows that the brand credibility and purchasing intention were statistically significant differences between the private convenience store private brand products. Specifically, brand trust showed a statistically significant relationship the brand images and quality levels, but the perceived value was not affected statistically. Although the intent of the purchase showed a statistically significant relationship the quality level and the perceived value, the brand image was not statistically significant in its relationship. Conclusions - Overall, it has been established that the perception value does not statistically affect brand trust for convenience store PB products, and that the brand image has no statistically significant effect on the purchase intent. These results are analyzed to be due to the influence of brand in convenience stores themselves rather than brand trust and purchase intentions that affect sales performance, which is the property of private brand food and beverage products, the perceived value of their products. Accordingly, the study found that not only did the marketing performance of the convenience store PB products be improved statistically, but also the cause of the product attributes that were not statistically significant was identified.