Retail functions and skills of venture merchants: A case study of Lunuganga

Purpose: This study aims to clarify the behavioral extraction and ability of venture merchants, who actively challenge commerce in the face of harsh living environments. Research design, data and methodology: Adopting the concept of retail functions and retail skills, this study examines how venture merchants perform retail functions, and identifies the required retail skills. This study analyzed primary data obtained through an interview with a bookstore called Lunuganga. Results: The venture merchant purchases products based on his self-assertion and creates an original “store identification.” Moreover, he draws a changing “own-store customers image” and acquires “own-store customers,” that is, customers acquired by him by building an original store identity. He sells products to “own-store customers” who identify with the store. The retail skills identified as required by venture merchants to carry out such retail functions were “skill to draw a store identification” and “skill to draw own-store customer image.” Conclusions: Venture merchants’ unique retail functions and retail skills suggest a new basis for the existence of small and medium-sized retailers. It is necessary to build a generalized theoretical hypothesis model by refining the concept presented in this paper by repeating research targeting venture merchants in the same industry and different industries.