Abstract:
The objectives of this research were to study the evolution of the retail business system in Thailand, the impact of modern trade expansion on the retail stores, of Thailand the factors of the impact of modern trade expansion on retail business, the government policies for regulating modern retail trade, and the retail stores' adaptation in response to changing consumer behavior. The research's methodology comprised an analysis of related research papers, concepts and theories on retail business in the country and overseas in order to create a questionnaire as the data collection tool. The sample of 380 traditional retail store owners in the Bangkok metropolitan area were selected for survey by simple random sampling. In-depth interviews were employed with purposive sampling on the informants, comprising five government officials, 15 traditional retail store owners, and 50 consumers. The research results were presented by descriptive analysis.
The study found that the retail business evolution was categorized into 5 periods wholesale control by Sampeng Chinese merchants, retail price control by suppliers, growth of retail business, transfer of control to retailers having various business styles, and lastly rapid expansion by overseas super retailers in Thailand. The impact of modern trade expansion on the retail stores was heavily felt on the market especially on price making. The factors of the impact of modern trade expansion on retail business were external condition such as government policies, laws and regulations, technology; and internal condition such as marketing, finance, management, adaptation on government policies on regulating modern trade retail business. The policies and laws affecting the internal condition were liberal trade policy, retail and wholesale business act, trade competition act of BE 2542, city planning act of BE 2518, price and service act of 2542, and united strong retail business co, ltd. The stores' adaptation in response to changing consumer behavior should be focused on marketing, finance, internal management, personnel management, and technology.
The synthesis concept from the qualitative study on factors of the impact of modern trade on traditional retail business was the strategic framework of " S = P Service M Synthesis Model".