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Analysing retail failure from an historical perspective: A case study of A. Goldberg & Sons plc

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  • John Pal
  • Dominic Medway
  • John Byrom

Abstract

Organisational failure has been considered from various perspectives in the academic literature, but there has been less focus on the causes of retail failure. This paper considers the case of A. Goldberg and Sons plc, a retail organisation which, prior to its demise in 1990, had grown from a single Glasgow store in 1908 to a chain of over 100 outlets. Drawing on annual reports, interviews with former directors, and the contents of a company archive, the paper provides evidence of the key factors and decisions that led to the firm's failure. Various internal and external pressures, including over-expansion into new retail space and the general economic downturn, effected Goldberg's ‘failure’.

Suggested Citation

  • John Pal & Dominic Medway & John Byrom, 2006. "Analysing retail failure from an historical perspective: A case study of A. Goldberg & Sons plc," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(5), pages 513-535, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:servic:v:26:y:2006:i:5:p:513-535
    DOI: 10.1080/02642060600722817
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dale Miller & Bill Merriolees, 2000. "‘Gone to Gowings’ - An Analysis of Success Factors in Retail Longevity: Gowings of Sydney," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(1), pages 61-85, January.
    2. Gary Davies, 1999. "The Evolution of Marks and Spencer," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(3), pages 60-73, July.
    3. L Sparks, 1996. "Challenge and Change: Shoprite and the Restructuring of Grocery Retailing in Scotland," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 28(2), pages 261-284, February.
    4. McGurr, Paul T. & DeVaney, Sharon A., 1998. "Predicting Business Failure of Retail Firms: An Analysis Using Mixed Industry Models," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 43(3), pages 169-176, November.
    5. Gareth Shaw & Andrew Alexander & John Benson & John Jones, 1998. "Structural and Spatial Trends in British Retailing: The Importance of Firm-Level Studies," Business History, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(4), pages 79-93.
    6. Leigh Sparks, 2003. "A catalogue of success? Argos and catalogue showroom retailing," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(2), pages 79-111, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph, 2016. "An integrative process model of organisational failure," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(9), pages 3388-3397.
    2. Patel, Pankaj C. & Guedes, Maria João & Pearce, John A., 2017. "The Role of Service Operations Management in New Retail Venture Survival," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 93(2), pages 241-251.
    3. Zhang, Hongxu & Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph & Beaverstock, Jonathan, 2019. "Toward a construct of dynamic capabilities malfunction: Insights from failed Chinese entrepreneurs," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 415-429.

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