Pioneering strategies in retail settings: an empirical study of successful practices

Although innovating in the physical stores has become a challenge for retailers, previous studies provided insights based primarily on consumers’ and employees’ acceptance of technology, with limited attention towards specific practices for successful adopting innovations. Starting from a qualitative analysis of pioneering strategies adopted by a sample of 50 retailers in the Dutch market, the present research is devoted to a broad investigation of the innovation management strategies with emphasis on the choice to be the first to innovate. Our findings provide a correlation between the pioneer practices and the sales outcomes, by describing the more favourable conditions for adopting this strategy in terms of time, place and innovation characteristics (i.e. typology). These results would support retailers in the choice of innovating and managing the innovation process.