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Small independant retailers: from avoidance to competitive indifference?
[Petits distributeurs indépendants : de l’évitement à l’indifférence concurrentielle ?]

Author

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  • Fabien Eymas

    (Université de Haute-Alsace (UHA) - Université de Haute-Alsace (UHA) Mulhouse - Colmar, CREGO - Centre de Recherche en Gestion des Organisations - Université de Haute-Alsace (UHA) - Université de Haute-Alsace (UHA) Mulhouse - Colmar - UB - Université de Bourgogne - UBFC - Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté [COMUE] - UFC - Université de Franche-Comté - UBFC - Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté [COMUE])

  • Faouzi Bensebaa

    (UP8 - Université Paris 8 Vincennes-Saint-Denis)

Abstract

This article aims to answer the following questions: What are the avoidance strategies used by small independent retailers? How do they relate to each other and, eventually, to other relational modalities used by these actors in their competitive behaviour? The interpretation of the results of the analysis of the interviews conducted with small independent retailers enables us to show that these managers combine strategies of distinction, exploitation of their rare skills and resources, isolated location and/or niche. Five original avoidance configurations emerge from this study. Besides, a behaviour of competitive indifference was also identified, allowing us to enrich the reflection on the inter-firm relations.

Suggested Citation

  • Fabien Eymas & Faouzi Bensebaa, 2021. "Small independant retailers: from avoidance to competitive indifference? [Petits distributeurs indépendants : de l’évitement à l’indifférence concurrentielle ?]," Post-Print hal-03960110, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03960110
    DOI: 10.4000/fcs.8258
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-03960110
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    References listed on IDEAS

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