IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/proeco/v191y2017icp37-50.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Retailer's channel structure choice: Online channel, offline channel, or dual channels?

Author

Listed:
  • Zhang, Peng
  • He, Yong
  • Shi, Chunming (Victor)

Abstract

Extensive research has been done on a manufacturer's channel structure choice. In this paper, we study a retailer's channel structure choice and pricing decisions in a supply chain with a manufacturer and a retailer. To this end, we first derive the manufacturer's optimal wholesale price and the retailer's optimal retail price(s) under all three possible channel structures: a pure offline channel, a pure online channel, and dual channels. We then investigate how channel structure changes affect pricing decisions and what the optimal channel structure is for the retailer. Our main findings include the following. First, the retailer's optimal channel structure is a pure offline channel, dual channels, and a pure online channel if the customer acceptance rate for the online channel is low, medium, and high, respectively. Second, a pure offline retailer may strategically set up an online channel with little demand just to gain wholesale price reduction from the manufacturer. Third, in case that the manufacturer can disallow the retailer to sell online, we find appropriate fees the retailer can pay to achieve Pareto improvement for both.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Peng & He, Yong & Shi, Chunming (Victor), 2017. "Retailer's channel structure choice: Online channel, offline channel, or dual channels?," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 37-50.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:proeco:v:191:y:2017:i:c:p:37-50
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpe.2017.05.013
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925527317301585
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ijpe.2017.05.013?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yan, Bo & Wang, Tao & Liu, Yan-ping & Liu, Yang, 2016. "Decision analysis of retailer-dominated dual-channel supply chain considering cost misreporting," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 34-41.
    2. Elie Ofek & Zsolt Katona & Miklos Sarvary, 2011. ""Bricks and Clicks": The Impact of Product Returns on the Strategies of Multichannel Retailers," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 30(1), pages 42-60, 01-02.
    3. S. Chan Choi, 1991. "Price Competition in a Channel Structure with a Common Retailer," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 10(4), pages 271-296.
    4. Desheng Wu, 2011. "Joint pricing-servicing decision and channel strategies in the supply chain," Central European Journal of Operations Research, Springer;Slovak Society for Operations Research;Hungarian Operational Research Society;Czech Society for Operations Research;Österr. Gesellschaft für Operations Research (ÖGOR);Slovenian Society Informatika - Section for Operational Research;Croatian Operational Research Society, vol. 19(1), pages 99-137, March.
    5. Yao, Dong-Qing & Liu, John J., 2005. "Competitive pricing of mixed retail and e-tail distribution channels," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 235-247, June.
    6. Anil Arya & Brian Mittendorf, 2010. "Input Price Discrimination When Buyers Operate In Multiple Markets," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(4), pages 846-867, December.
    7. Pei, Zhi & Yan, Ruiliang, 2013. "National advertising, dual-channel coordination and firm performance," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 20(2), pages 218-224.
    8. Xubing Zhang, 2009. "Retailers' Multichannel and Price Advertising Strategies," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 28(6), pages 1080-1094, 11-12.
    9. Eunkyu Lee & Richard Staelin, 1997. "Vertical Strategic Interaction: Implications for Channel Pricing Strategy," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 16(3), pages 185-207.
    10. Dumrongsiri, Aussadavut & Fan, Ming & Jain, Apurva & Moinzadeh, Kamran, 2008. "A supply chain model with direct and retail channels," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 187(3), pages 691-718, June.
    11. Wei-yu Kevin Chiang & Dilip Chhajed & James D. Hess, 2003. "Direct Marketing, Indirect Profits: A Strategic Analysis of Dual-Channel Supply-Chain Design," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 49(1), pages 1-20, January.
    12. Hua, Zhongsheng & Li, Sijie, 2008. "Impacts of demand uncertainty on retailer's dominance and manufacturer-retailer supply chain cooperation," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 697-714, October.
    13. Karray, Salma, 2013. "Periodicity of pricing and marketing efforts in a distribution channel," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 228(3), pages 635-647.
    14. Jagmohan Raju & Z. John Zhang, 2005. "Channel Coordination in the Presence of a Dominant Retailer," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(2), pages 254-262, February.
    15. Yunchuan Liu & Z. John Zhang, 2006. "Research Note—The Benefits of Personalized Pricing in a Channel," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 25(1), pages 97-105, 01-02.
    16. Yang, Shilei & Shi, Victor & Jackson, Jonathan E., 2015. "Manufacturers׳ channel structures when selling asymmetric competing products," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 170(PB), pages 641-651.
    17. Kevin Chiang, Wei-yu & Monahan, George E., 2005. "Managing inventories in a two-echelon dual-channel supply chain," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 162(2), pages 325-341, April.
    18. Huang, Wei & Swaminathan, Jayashankar M., 2009. "Introduction of a second channel: Implications for pricing and profits," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 194(1), pages 258-279, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Matsui, Kenji, 2016. "Asymmetric product distribution between symmetric manufacturers using dual-channel supply chains," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 248(2), pages 646-657.
    2. Rodríguez, Betzabé & Aydın, Göker, 2015. "Pricing and assortment decisions for a manufacturer selling through dual channels," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 242(3), pages 901-909.
    3. Zhang, Yumeng & Hezarkhani, Behzad, 2021. "Competition in dual-channel supply chains: The manufacturers' channel selection," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 291(1), pages 244-262.
    4. Yan, Ruiliang & Pei, Zhi & Myers, Chris, 2016. "Do channel members value the multiple-cooperation strategy?," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 84-95.
    5. Xiao, Tiaojun & (Junmin) Shi, Jim, 2016. "Pricing and supply priority in a dual-channel supply chain," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 254(3), pages 813-823.
    6. Chen, Yun Chu & Fang, Shu-Cherng & Wen, Ue-Pyng, 2013. "Pricing policies for substitutable products in a supply chain with Internet and traditional channels," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 224(3), pages 542-551.
    7. Yong He & Hongfu Huang & Dong Li, 2020. "Inventory and pricing decisions for a dual-channel supply chain with deteriorating products," Operational Research, Springer, vol. 20(3), pages 1461-1503, September.
    8. Guoxuan Huang & Qing Ding & Ciwei Dong & Zhicong Pan, 2021. "Joint optimization of pricing and inventory control for dual-channel problem under stochastic demand," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 298(1), pages 307-337, March.
    9. Hu, Yihong & Qu, Shengnan & Li, Guo & Sethi, Suresh P., 2021. "Power structure and channel integration strategy for online retailers," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 294(3), pages 951-964.
    10. Chen, Jing & Zhang, Hui & Sun, Ying, 2012. "Implementing coordination contracts in a manufacturer Stackelberg dual-channel supply chain," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 40(5), pages 571-583.
    11. Zhang Guoxing & Fang Shuai & Lai Kin Keung, 2015. "Game Analysis in a Dual Channels System with Different Power Structures and Service Provision," Journal of Systems Science and Information, De Gruyter, vol. 3(6), pages 513-524, December.
    12. Song, Haiqing & Duan, Housheng & Deng, Sijing & Xu, Jiayan, 2022. "Brand extension and channel structure: An analysis of the effects of social influence," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    13. Govindan, Kannan & Malomfalean, Andreea, 2019. "A framework for evaluation of supply chain coordination by contracts under O2O environment," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 215(C), pages 11-23.
    14. Matsui, Kenji, 2020. "Optimal bargaining timing of a wholesale price for a manufacturer with a retailer in a dual-channel supply chain," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 287(1), pages 225-236.
    15. Alawneh, Fawzat & Zhang, Guoqing, 2018. "Dual-channel warehouse and inventory management with stochastic demand," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 84-106.
    16. Duan, Housheng & Deng, Sijing & Song, Haiqing & Xu, Jiayan, 2021. "The impacts of sales efforts and mode of payment on the competition between agent and retailer," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    17. Xue, Musen & Zhang, Jianxiong & Zhu, Guowei, 2020. "Quantity decision timing with spillover effect and asymmetric demand information," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    18. Jeffrey D. Shulman, 2014. "Product Diversion to a Direct Competitor," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 33(3), pages 422-436, May.
    19. Yan, Yingchen & Zhao, Ruiqing & Liu, Zhibing, 2018. "Strategic introduction of the marketplace channel under spillovers from online to offline sales," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 267(1), pages 65-77.
    20. Chen, Jingxian & Liang, Liang & Yao, Dong-Qing & Sun, Shengnan, 2017. "Price and quality decisions in dual-channel supply chains," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 259(3), pages 935-948.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:proeco:v:191:y:2017:i:c:p:37-50. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/ijpe .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.