The Process Model of Retail Format Creation in the Japanese Eyeglasses Industry : The Case Study of JINS Inc

Purpose – In recent years, new retail innovations have emerged in the Japanese eyeglasses industry and grown as a retail format. The purpose of this study is to establish the process model of retail format creation by examining how a retailer creates a retail format and under what kind of environmental conditions. Research design, data, and methodology – This study pointed out the weakness of the concept of the retail format in existing research on the retail format in existing research on the retail format variation theory and suggested the concept of “Formula” to analyze an individual retailer. This study categorized the subjects categorize the subjects of retail format creation into four categories, and analyzed JINS which is the retail format leader in the Japanese eyeglass industry. This study used secondary data because it is valid. Results - This research found “product handling skill,” “changes to consumer purchasing patterns,” and “competitive interaction” as environmental factors influencing retail format creation. This study highlighted how JINS adapted those environmental factors to create their original formula and suggested the process model of retail format creation through the JINS case study. Conclusions - This study discussed two theoretical implications and three managerial impressions which were derived from the JINS case study. This study also discussed limitations and further research issues.