ARC: Community: ELMAR: Posting areas: retailing: cfp

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Date: Sun, 5 Mar 2006 14:36:59 -0600
From: Rajiv Vaidyanathan <rvaidyan@D.UMN.EDU>

Invitation to the 5th International ECR Research Symposium

The moment of truth –
Value creation through service and staff empowerment in a retail setting

September 14th and 15th, 2006 at Stockholm University

Stockholm University, in collaboration with the newly formed International Commerce Institute of ECR Europe, is proud to announce the 5th International ECR Research Symposium bringing together researchers and leaders of the Consumer Goods industry. This unique event will take place in the beautiful city of Stockholm, often referred to as the Venice of the North, on September 14th and 15th, 2006. This document is a call for papers for this event.

The aim of the symposium is to bring together researchers and practitioners from many countries interested in contributing to the development of retailing and the fast moving consumer goods industry. The symposium will give delegates an opportunity to present their completed projects but also to present work in progress.

The globalisation of the Consumer Goods industry is setting new demands on both consumers and personnel requiring adaptation to new processes, technologies, and cultures. Yet all moments of truth are ultimately executed by personnel. These personnel become the strategic link between the firm and its customers. From this perspective, finding, motivating, training, empowering, remunerating and measuring staff becomes paramount. Another important aspect is the customer’s reaction to this moment of truth. How do customers perceive service quality, prices and other attributes in the service setting?

This year’s symposium will explore the links between ECR initiatives, personnel and the effect of both on shoppers. The goal of course is to improve customer interaction.  For more details, see the below text.

See you in Stockholm in September!

Best regards

Birgitta Olsson
Associate professor
Academic director of the symposium

Suggested topics for the symposium

The following list contains examples of research topics in different areas:
 
1. Human resources
    Customer interaction
    HR Scorecard
    Motivational theories for store personnel
    Retail staff strategies
    Staff competency and value adding

2. Research on Consumer Buying
    Consumer price sensitivity 
    Efficiency drivers in shopping (lean solutions)
    Lean consumption in consumer goods: eliminating the fat
    Impact of changing consumption patterns on the industry
    New shopper constructs
    Shopper utility modelling
    Variables creating shopping value for the consumer

3. Marketing
    Out-of-stocks
    Shrinkage
    Store design, store differentiation and store branding
 
4. Innovations
    Collaborative differentiation
    Loyalty cards
    Manufacturer and retailer strategies
    Pricing strategies
    New retail concepts
    Total value chain modelling

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: March 31, 2006.

Submissions will consist of a 1 page abstract as well as contact details including the title of the submission, author(s), affiliation(s), and the author(s) address, phone, fax and e-mail address. This abstract should also clearly indicate if any co-authors will participate. Abstracts or pre-registration are to be submitted by e-mail to the secretariat of the International Commerce Institute at ici@ecreurope.com.

A selection committee composed of academic peers will review the submissions and select a number to be presented and discussed during the symposium. Delegates will have approximately 25-30 minutes for their presentation.

NOTIFICATION

Submitting parties will be notified by May 31st 2006 if their papers have been accepted for presentation at the symposium. Authors of accepted papers are requested to arrange their registration and symposium fees before June 13th 2006 to guarantee accommodation and enjoy reduced room prices.

A copy of the entire paper will need to be sent by June 15, 2006 in a .pdf format to ici@ecreurope.com.

FORMAT

To encourage discussion and the presentation of very recent work, there is no formal requirement for completed papers. Even research projects still in progress will be considered for presentation. All delegates will receive an electronic copy of the abstracts on a CD-ROM.

Selected submissions will be invited to submit their paper to The ECR Journal for publication.

ORGANISATIONAL ASPECTS

The symposium will officially start on the morning of September 14 with plenary and break-out sessions.  The symposium will finish on Friday on September 15th around noon. Registration and a reception are planned on the evening of September 13th.

VENUE

The symposium will be held in Kräftriket, Stockholm University, beautifully located close to the sea. A shuttle bus service between the hotels and the university site will be available.

PRICE

950 Euro for the whole symposium including all meals – breakfast not included. A special price of 350 Euro is offered to Academics attending the conference.

HOTELS

Hotel rooms are being held until mid-June at the following three hotels:

Hilton Slussen     2200 SKr per night in single room (2400 SKr double room).
    Breakfast not included.
Scandic Sjöfartshotellet     1550 SKr in single room incl. breakfast.
Scandic Malmen     1790 SKr in single room incl. breakfast.

Please book your room directly with the hotel using the following booking codes:
Hilton Slussen     code NATA140906
Scandic hotels     code STHL061309.

Hotel contact details:
Hilton Slussen     tel. +46 8 517 35310 
Scandic Sjöfartshotellet     tel. +46 8 517 34900
Scandic Malmen     tel. +46 8 517 347 00