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One important arena for the study of the impact of larger retailers is, in the UK, the market town. This paper shows how locational policies of larger retailers – akin to WalMart openings in the US Midwest – are affecting these traditional towns in rural areas. The paper takes a case study approach by examining the pioneering fightback using the local loyalty card first adopted by Leominster in Herefordshire. Through time it emerges that the community has not been able to sustain its trading opposition to a large format intruder. However, its successes are noted – and study is made of copycat schemes in the UK. A paradox emerges: the most cohesive smaller communities with many independent retailers lack the resources to maintain the fight. Larger settlements can and do support more viable card schemes: but these towns (and cities) having greater populations are themselves already dominated by larger retailers.

Trends in food retailing in Britain suggest that the industry is restructuring. Groups such as J. Sainsbury, Tesco, Safeway and Asda are increasingly concentrating their efforts on opening new, large stores; usually superstores but, occasionally, hypermarkets. There is the increasing likelihood, then, that two or more such large stores will become rivals for the same shopper catchment area. A detailed examination of shopping behaviour in an area where the clear choice is between a superstore and a hypermarket is presented. Key measures of accessibility such as car ownership licence‐holding, car availability and bus availability are examined in order to highlight the spatial implications of this restructuring process.

The analysis of attitude statements made in respect of grocery shopping has now been undertaken in several locations. Results from the Portsmouth area are reported and such statements are related to the grocery store actually reported as being used by respondents. A further refinement is to disaggregate the results by contrasting two source areas of shoppers, one with a higher socioeconomic profile. It is noted that differences do sometimes emerge in the responses offered by this segmentation. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Discusses some of the implications of a policy such as that of Marks & Spencer to augment its high street floorspace with a limited selection of out‐of‐town developments. One such proposal was the plan to develop sites jointly with Tesco. Examines the experience of one such joint venture: the Brookfield Centre at Cheshunt.

Argues that the advent of “Europe 1992” is a contingent factor in retail internationalization. The precise playing‐out of moves to internationalize operations by direct participation in new markets, by collaboration or by merger/acquisition will depend on the national context. Accordingly, the nature of the arbitrage economy of the USA (the dominant financial market) is paramount. Characterizations of the climate for retail internationalization in other economies is a function of their structure. Suggests that approaches via political economy (identifying mercantilist nations) or via Zysman′s (1983) work on governments and markets may be a way forward.

The downtown areas of many Canadian cities are very different from those in the United States — or if comes to that, from many in this country. They are, for the most part, pleasant to shop in; they have retained their employment base and are usually well integrated with public transport. Some cities have linking bridges between buildings which create a shopping system immune from the weather (highly desirable in Canada's frequent sub‐zero temperatures). Others have downtown shopping areas with underground links. Alan Hallsworth recently spent some time in Canada; these are some of his impressions.

In a case study at Waterlooville, Hants, parking is top of two lists of “hindrances” and “helpful factors” viewed by other retailers in the light of superstore competition. Alan Hallsworth draws the conclusion that superstore competition can again be confirmed as not “paramountly important” in the minds of other traders.

The retail furniture sector is showing rapid growth in France. New influences pinpointed by Alan Hallsworth include the growth of flat‐pack, self‐assembly, and a number of foreign groups moving into the market. The author expects these trends to continue.

This research note discusses the difficulty which factory outlet operators are experiencing in finding suitable sites in the UK and, using the example of Freeport Leisure’s acquisition of United Norwest hypermarket in Stoke and other converted “failed” shopping formats, shows how redeveloped sites with low acquisition costs are a likely option for future factory outlet developers. The acquisition has been successful because of the selection of product type for sale (ceramics which lend themselves to discount prices) and location (at the heart of the Potteries).

In the UK, while fashion apparel purchasing is available to the majority of consumers, the main supermarkets seem – rather against the odds and market conventions – to have created a new, socially‐acceptable and legitimate, apparel market offer for young children. This study aims to explore parental purchasing decisions on apparel for young children (below ten years old) focusing on supermarket diversification into apparel and consumer resistance against other traditional brands.

Data collection adopted a qualitative research mode: using semi‐structured interviews in two locations (Cornwall Please correct and check againand Glasgow), each with a Tesco and ASDA located outside towns. A total of 59 parents participated in the study. Interviews took place in the stores, with parents seen buying children fashion apparel.

The findings suggest that decisions are based not only on functionality (e.g. convenience, value for money, refund policy), but also on intuitive factors (e.g. style, image, quality) as well as broader processes of consumption from parental boundary setting (e.g. curbing premature adultness). Positive consumer resistance is leading to a re‐drawing of the cultural boundaries of fashion. In some cases, concerns are expressed regarding items that seem too adult‐like or otherwise not as children's apparel should be.

The paper highlights the increasing importance of browsing as a modern choice practice (e.g. planned impulse buying, sanctuary of social activity). Particular attention is given to explaining why consumers positively resist buying from traditional label providers and voluntarily choose supermarket clothing ranges without any concerns over their children wearing such garments.

The paper shows that supermarket shopping for children's apparel is now firmly part of UK consumption habits and choice. The findings provide theoretical insights into the significance of challenging market conventions, parental cultural boundary setting and positive resistance behaviour.