Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
The Retail Institute Academic Conference 2023 (RIAC2023)
The final submission of the conference proceedings (those who wanted the work published) can be found here:
Part of Leeds Beckett University, the Retail Institute is one of the UK’s leading academic research centres for providing applied knowledge on the future of consumer experiences in retail, food and packaging.
We offer the sector independent research and a practical knowledge base, informed by years of industry experience and a diverse network of experts.
This conference is an opportunity for academics and scholars who are interested in retail to see what is happening in the sector and share their own research with other scholars and academics, as well as practitioners. The RIAC aims to create a friendly and approachable environment to share knowledge and methodologies to enhance the retail sector.
Call for papers
The retail sector faces unprecedented uncertainties: the growth of e-commerce has been boosted by our experiences of the recent COVID-19 pandemic and the Metaverse and Blockchains are creating new opportunities that could disrupt the sector. However, bricks and mortar stores are seeing a resurgence in popularity amongst leisure shoppers seeking sensory experiences. The cry for more ethical and sustainable products is providing a new dimension to product development; global conflicts are hindering supply and creating economic volatility.
RIAC 2023 invites research that highlights the role of retailing in advancing our understanding of the complex challenges at hand and in shaping resilient business ecosystems that can respond proactively, equitably, and sustainably.
We invite paper contributions which analyse, appraise, and synthesise retail practice and theory in the following three areas:
Physical retail is evolving, and contemporary consumers, against a backdrop of inauthentic perfection, are looking for engaging bricks and mortar experiences again. They actively seek out emotional, social, and connective spaces which engage all the senses, offer escapism from mobile devices, and provide entertainment and education.
Today retail is omni-channel and needs to provide convenience and efficient fulfilment. Increasingly, technologies like RFID, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Robotics, and Facial scanning are being used as enablers, increasing opportunities for engagement, interactivity and personalisation in immersive physical retail space, as well as online.
Globally, retailers are under increasing pressure to reduce their impact on the environment, especially focusing on climate change, biodiversity, and planet’s limited resources. Brands are communicating their sustainability credentials on their products, in their stores and on the packaging, storytelling about how their products are made, their supply chains, and their fair treatment of workers. This transparency helps consumers build trusted relationships with their favourite brands and enhances loyalty.
More specifically, RIAC are looking for an abstract submission (750 words maximum) which can be presented at the conference. Accepted abstracts will be invited to submit a paper (a maximum of 10 pages) which will be published in its associated conference proceedings journal:
More specifically, RIAC are looking for article submission which can be presented at the conference and published in its associated conference proceedings journal:
- Submit your paper
- Paper submission guidelines
- Payment for submitted papers
- £50 for the early bird (Register by 30th June)
- £75 Standard Registration (Registration closes 22nd September)
Location
The event took place at:
Leeds Beckett University
Old Broadcasting House
Woodhouse Lane
Leeds
LS2 9EN
Dr Esther Pugh
Esther is the research lead for retail and consumer behaviour, encouraging collaboration in research and publication across the business schools. She is passionate about the retail experience and extending research in this area, to encapsulate emotional, subjective and symbolic shopping. Esther's research interests are fashion retail, consumer behaviour, visual merchandising, and the sensory retail experience in physical stores. Currently, Esther is researching charity shop donations behaviours, the role of British Vogue in shaping the Slow Fashion agenda, and the role of mirrors in physical fashion and beauty shopping spaces. She is publishing from her PhD the conceptual contribution ‘Spatial Fabric’ and her innovative participative smartphone photographic methodology.
Dr Alan Shaw
Alan is a senior lecturer in Digital Marketing, founder of Strategic Planet, member of the Social Media Research Foundation, and Chairman of X-PERT Health (a diabetes education charity in the UK). Alan also has over 25 years’ experience working in industry, mainly on digital and web projects. Alan’s main research interests are social marketing, social media marketing, social network analysis, social listening, Web 3.0, the blockchain and the Metaverse.
Important Dates
- Abstract Submission not later than 7th July 2023
- Article Acceptance Notification not later than 7th August 2023
- Conference Registration – Early-Bird register by 30th June 2023*
- Conference Registration Closes 29th September 2023*
- Conference Day 5th October 2023
*Should the paper not be accepted, the author’s conference fee payment will be refunded. However, after 14th August 2023 any cancellation will be non-refundable.
