The Future of Retail and Consumption
Introduction
Special issue of the International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research; Deadline 1 June 2024
INTEREST CATEGORY: RETAIL AND PRICING
POSTING TYPE: Calls: Journals
Posted by: Fábio Shimabukuro Sandes
Call for papers
The International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research
Special Issue on
The Future of Retail and Consumption
Special Issue Editors
Gabriella Wulff, Faculty of Textiles, Engineering and Business, University of Borås
gabriella.wulff@hb.se
Hossain Shahriar, Stockholm Business School, Stockholm University
hossain.shahriar@sbs.su.se
In an era where contemplations about the future permeate our conversations and narratives, retail and consumption are at a crossroads, grappling with the complex interplay of sustainability challenges and rapid technological advancements. Discourses in media and pop culture are rife with speculations about the impending contours of the future—a sentiment reverberated in academic spheres, as evidenced by a surge in research and special issues in journals on the future within the domains of consumer research and retail marketing (Dales and Ferreira 2023; Harmeling, Mende, Palmatier, and Gielens 2023; Inman, Campbell, Kirmani, and Price 2019; Klaus and Kuppelwieser 2019). In terms of sustainability issues, researchers in environmental sciences have demonstrated how we exceed the planetary boundaries (Rockström et al. 2009; Steffen et al. 2015). The consequences of climate change, one out of the nine planetary boundaries, are becoming clearer with reports on heatwaves, droughts, and heavy rainfalls, which are increasing in intensity and frequency (WHO 2023; IPCC 2023). This paradigm shift is not only acknowledged by environmentalists but also gains traction in diverse academic terrains, including social science (Latour 2021), political science (Keohane 2015), media and culture studies (Pinto, Prado, and Gutsche 2019), educational science (Barth and Michelsen 2013), and urban geography (Rinaldi, Giovanardi, and Lucarelli 2021). We echo the call within this journal for a renewed emphasis on research that confronts the pressing challenge of advancing sustainability in a retail sector historically centered on promoting overconsumption (Johansson 2022). Concurrently, technological advancements are catalyzing a profound shift within retail and consumption. Developments such as the metaverse, generative AI (artificial intelligence), blockchains, and immersive technologies are amplifying this transformation. While research on sustainability and technology may appear to travel divergent paths, this special issue seeks to harmonize these future-making trajectories, cultivating a confluence of perspectives. Building on the recently published book, ‘The Future of Consumption’ (Bäckström, Egan-Wyer, and Samsioe 2023), we aim to further the dialogue in this discourse by welcoming both previous contributors and new voices to this Special Issue on The Future of Retail and Consumption.
.