An Introduction to Fashion Retailing

"The definitive road-map to understand the ever-evolving retail landscape, whether for the interested fashion student or savvy industry stalwart. Koumbis breaks down the often intimidating sea of acronyms and jargon associated with the business of selling, charting retail's course from the first ""brick and mortar,"" the trading post, through to the twentieth century shopping metropolis and the emergence of e-tail empires, all the while analyzing the intricacies of consumer and corporate behavior, and provoking discussion through compelling exercises and case studies. An invaluable conversation-shaping text rich with knowledge and expertise. -- Jackie Mallon, writer FashionUnited.com, educator, author 'Silk for the Feed Dogs' An Introduction to Fashion Retailing provides a fresh look at today’s diverse and continually evolving retail landscape. As an educator I find the case studies, questions, and exercises in each chapter to be a very useful tool for learners to apply new knowledge to real-world scenarios, deepening their understanding. In particular, the content covering retail corporate offices provides a holistic viewpoint on how the various roles and teams within an organization interact to support company strategies, which is a refreshing and unique approach to a topic that is often only discussed in terms of siloed job responsibilities. The trends in retailing discussed are spot on as well, ensuring that instructors and students are aware of changes in the global marketplace such as shifts in consumer demands, the latest developments in physical retail space, as well as the continuing integration of technology into all aspects of the retail sector. This current and relevant information will provide learners with the 21st century knowledge needed to enter the global workforce. -- Ann Mariko Walter, Director - New York City, School of Fashion at Kent State University, USA Praise for the first edition A must-read for anyone interested in a career in retailing. The visuals, case studies, and industry professional interviews aid learning and provide a realistic view into the retailing industry. This book will serve as a resource for years to come. -- Joi Pratt, Adjunct Professor at Berkeley College, New York, USA/ Retail Market Analyst at The NPD Group, Inc. Blend[s] information a student should feel surprised and inspired to learn, along with that sound and instructional information that only an industry professional could know. -- Lyn Caponera, Fashion Instructor, Parsons The New School for Design, New York, USA Reads like today’s students think. Add to this writing style a visual layout that is chock-full of lush images and the book becomes, dare I say it… a page turner! -- R. Scott French, Editor in Chief of TheFashionList.com, CFDA Designer An easy-to-read and easy-to-understand introductory book on the science of retailing. -- Miguel Martins, University for the Creative Arts - School of Fashion, UK"