This book is a contemporary and forward-looking adage on the theory and practice of retail management. The ninth edition strongly emphasizes upon the strategic planning process in retailing throughout, with a streamlined, applications-oriented approach. In a strategic planning process the retailer follows the fundamental principle of planning for and adapting to a complex changing environment. For this process a retail strategy is devised-which is the overall plan or framework of action that guides a retailer. Through this text, the student will learn how to become a good retail planner and decision maker, and be able to adapt to change. Berman and Evans' strategic approach and emphasis on decision-making have made this text a best seller in each edition. After reading this book the student will build a strong foundation of key retail management and further reinforce them with up-to-the-minute real-world examples that help in bridging the gap between theory and practice. It looks upon retailing as an integral component of marketing and elaborately covers all the major retailing topics with examples from small and large, store-based as well as web-based retailers. Table of Contents I. AN OVERVIEW OF STRATEGIC RETAIL MANAGEMENT. 1. An Introduction to Retailing. 2. Building and Sustaining Relationships in Retailing. 3. Strategic Planning in Retailing. II. SITUATION ANALYSIS. 4. Retail Institutions By Ownership. 5. Retail Institutions By Store Based Strategy Mix. 6. Web, Nonstore-Based and Other Forms of Nontraditional Retailing. III. TARGETING CUSTOMERS AND GATHERING INFORMATION. 7. Identifying and Understanding Consumers. 8. Information Gathering and Processing in Retailing. IV. CHOOSING A STORE LOCATION. 9. Trading-Area Analysis. 10. Site Selection. V. MANAGING A RETAIL BUSINESS. 11. Retail Organization and Human Resource Management. 12. Operations Management: Financial Dimensions. 13. Operations Management: Operational Dimensions. VI. MERCHANDISE MANAGEMENT AND PRICING. 14. Developing Merchandise Plans. 15. Implementing Merchandise Plans. 16. Financial Merchandise Management. 17. Pricing in Retailing. VII. COMMUNICATING WITH THE CUSTOMER. 18. Establishing and Maintaining a Retail Image. 19. Promotional Strategy. VIII. PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER. 20. Integrating and Controlling the Retail Strategy. Appendix A: Careers in Retailing. Appendix B: About the Website that Accompanies Retail Management . Glossary.