module specification

The fashion industry operates in a dynamic environment resulting in a rapid expansion of fashion internet retailing.  Increasingly consumers are switching between channels in their purchasing of Fashion. The module will deal with a range of theoretical, practical techniques in understanding and researching   the management of fashion etailing. The module examines the various factors which influence on line customer journey, trends in multichannel approaches and strategies.
This module has been designed to build on level 4 knowledge with a focus on the understanding of the management of fashion etailing. This module aims to develop a critical understanding of the importance Internet retailing and its contribution to Fashion retailing.
The module aims to:
• Develop an understanding and demonstrate the scope of digital retail issues both operationally and theoretically in designing and implementing successful internet retailing strategies.
• Enable and develop student’s technical skills and knowledge in applying market research methods using appropriate digital metrics.
•
The module also aims to assist students in the acquisition of the following skills:
1. Digital literacy and IT skills
2. Researching & analysing
3. Inter-personal/Inter-cultural communication
4. Application of knowledge

Due to the dynamic nature of e-retailing, current topical practices will be added but contained within the theoretical topics below.
Indicative syllabus for  LO 1

• The principles and drivers of On line retailing - The relationship between digital and traditional retailing concepts

• E Environment – Social , legal factors, emerging  technological factors digital transformation and  digital disruption

• Fashion e-tailing business models - pure player strategy , multi-channel strategy aggregate player strategies, Market place, wholesalers Online/Bricks & Mortar, Departments stores Outlets Fashion internet retailing and multi-channel retailing, omni channel retailing

• Fashion E-Retailing supply chain ,Logistics & distribution order fulfilment ,Intermediaries and services
• Security and privacy issues

• International on line Fashion retailing

• Fashion retailing  merchandising

• Platforms -Mobile platforms and apps. Managing Infrastructure –platforms desk top, mobile, Apps, Domain name

• Marketing Mix  & 5 Is

• Customer experience & service LO1

Indicative syllabus LO2
• Integrating different web services - Shopping Cart ,payment  credit card processing  customer profile databases, Content Management systems CMS, Customer relationship management systems CRM, Enterprise Resource planning ERP Customer experience management systems CXM

• Acquisition strategy - Traffic generation techniques – SEO, paid search, social affiliates, On line PR, social media marketing customer reviews. On line Value proposition

• Conversion strategy – Merchandising  , social commerce, marketing automation ,content customer journeys- mobile, in store desktop mobile

• Retention & loyalty strategy – The digital sales funnel. Customer experience, customer service support , customer contact strategy social CRM , Big data

• Customer insight & customer journey – Developing personas. Understanding touch points. The influences of  online fashion consumer behaviour on line, decision-making process of  the fashion consumer purchasing online, On Fashion e tailing & order fulfilment process& payment

• Customer experience management- Desk top website experience, Mobile web site experience, Email mobile messaging, and customer service integration, in store digital devices.

• E marketplace – Customer segments, search intermediaries , Horizontal portals, Aggregates and super affiliates , small affiliates ,destination site and OVP

• Fashion e tailing content & design  - Product information management- Site design, web atmospherics ,aesthetics ,page design, navigation mobile design content strategy and copy writing

• Fashion e-retailing product strategy range, sourcing and selection
• Online merchandising , Payment systems

• Supporting activities for fashion e tailing –SEO, pay per click,  affiliates, social networking

• Customer relationship Management -E- CRM e-loyalty and e-trust in Fashion e tailing, Social CRM, Customer lifecycle Interactive marketing communications, email PR and social listening LO2

The module will be delivered over a 15 week period and consists of 1 hour lectures and 2 hours seminar each week.   The weekly lectures will focus on key theories, concepts models and frameworks of e-consumer, e- fashion retailing principles and methods.
The seminar sessions will cover discussions, debates, cases, quizzes, questions and answer sessions to build on the contemporary issues covered in the lectures.  At least 3 seminars will require computer sessions to explore & evaluate on line analytics & on line site design. The seminar  serves to anchor knowledge imparted in the lectures and provides a forum for:
• A better understanding of lectures through small group discussions, case study/ journal article/problem solving analysis and interchange of questions and answers.
• Assist students in relating their knowledge to the fashion retailing discipline and profession
• Applied understanding of technical skills required for carrying out research in order to assist in employability skills for future careers in fashion retailing. Students will need to consider this aspect of the module as part of their personal development
• The facilities of Web Learn will be used as part of a blended learning approach and will be central to the delivery of module handbook, case studies, journal articles, and external web links learning. In particular students will be encouraged to use the leading portals covering the on line retailing market developments which contain live up to date information and white papers on the subject.

On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:

1.  Critically discuss and apply e-retailing  concepts and theories to current practical fashion retail situations and issues LO1

2. To engage in depth analysis of Fashion etailing using both practical & theoretical principles & concepts LO2

The assessments have been designed to test achievement of the module’s learning outcomes.
The assessment strategy consists of two components, which aims to assess the module’s learning outcomes.  These assessments require students to think critically and apply the knowledge gained during the module. 
Accordingly, the module is assessed by two components:
1) a 15 mins group presentation weighing 30%; weeks due: 5-12 LO1
2) individual 3000 word coursework weighing 70%; week due: 14 LO2

Group presentation LO1
Students will be required to work in groups of 3 for this presentation. Each group should address a specific current aspect of fashion internet retailing.  This will relate to the previous weeks’ lecture material. Therefore this will run as rolling presentations.  The aim is for the presentations to be a student lead activity to allow groups of students to investigate specific aspects of fashion internet retailing to critically analyse the topic in more detail and share their analysis and knowledge with colleagues. This has been designed to be a learning tool for both the presenters and the audience encourage debate on the topical issue. They will be expected to consider wider implications of fashion internet retailing e.g. legislation, regulation and codes of practice. Each presentation will be marked out of 30%. Each presentation will last 15 minutes.

Individual coursework LO2
This individual project provides students with experience in identifying, analysing and evaluating a fashion internet retailing organisation.  Students will be required to choose a company and produce a report on the internet retailing activity of a key organisation operating in the given sector.
Students should focus on:
- providing  an analysis of  internet retailing activities used with the use of appropriate internet metrics and using appropriate Fashion internet retail concepts and theories
The report will be marked out of 70% and will have a word count of 3,000 words.
The arrangement for formative and summative feedback is based on the university assessment framework and the QAA guidelines .Students will be provided with both oral and written feedback on their presentations. Oral feedback will be given immediately post presentation on the day of the presentation. Written feedback and provisional grades will be given 14 working days post presentations in the seminar period. Students who are unable to obtain presentation & grade feedback during seminars should collect their feedback in the tutor’s office hours. Individual report feedback and grades will be available 14 working days of submission via web learn. Students will be strongly encouraged to produce draft work in weeks 11 -14 for effective feedback &   guidance prior to their final submission.

Textbooks:

Core Text:
Chaffey D. (2015) Digital Business and E-Commerce Management 6th Edition Pearson
Laudon K. and Traver  C.(2017)  E-Commerce 2017, Global Edition, 13 Edition Pearson
Pantano E. Nguyen B. Dennis C. Gerlach S.(2017) Internet Retailing and future Perspective 2nd Edition Routledge
Harris C. (2017) The Fundamentals of Digital Fashion Marketing Bloomsbury

Other Texts:
Additional  supporting helpful reading
Diamond J.  Diamond E.  litt S. (2015) Fashion Retailing a Multichannel approach
Berman B .  Evans J.   & Chatterjee  P. (2018)  Retail Management: A Strategic Approach, 13/E Pearson
Goworek H. McGolddrick (2015) Retail Marketing Management principles & Practice Pearson’s
Bendoni, W.K., (2017) Social Media for Fashion Marketing: Storytelling in a Digital World. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Hughes T.  And Reynolds M.  (2016) Social Selling Techniques to Influence Buyers and Change Makers  Kogan page
Phillips J. (2016) Ecommerce Analytics: Analyze and Improve the Impact of Your Digital Strategy FT Press Analytics Pearson’s Education
Blunt Hill- Wilson (2013) Delivering Effective Social Customer Service Wiley
Laseter, T.  Rabinovich E. ( 2012)  Internet Retail operations  Integrating Theory  and practice for managers Taylor and Francis Group
Harris J. Lipschultz  (2014)  Social media communication : concepts, practices, data, law and ethics 
Crawford L. (2012) The Shopper Economy: The New Way to Achieve Marketplace Success by Turning Behavior into Currency, 1st Edition McGraw Hill
Ståhlberg, M. Maila V. (2013) Multichannel Marketing Ecosystems Creating Connected Customer Experiences Koran page
Solomon  M. Rebolt N (2008)  Consumer Behaviour in Fashion 2nd Edition Prentice hall
Claudiu V. Dimofte C.   Haugtvedt C.,   Yalch R.  (2016) Consumer psychology In a social  media world Routledge

Journals:
Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management
Journal of Business & Retail Management Research
International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management
Journal of Retailing
Journal of Retailing & Consumer Services
International Journal of Electronic Commerce Studies (open access)
Journal of Internet commerce
Journal of Internet Business
Journal of Interactive Marketing
International Journal of Mobile marketing
The Journal of Mobile User Experience
Journal of Direct, Data and Digital Marketing Practice
The Journal of Database Marketing and Customer Strategy Management
Journal of Targeting, Measurement and Analysis for Marketing
Journal of consumer Behaviour : an international research review
Journal of Consumer Research
Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services
Journal of Consumer Psychology
Computers in Human Behaviour
  
Drapers, Retail Week, The business of Fashion, , Brand Republic , Retail Gazette , Internet retailing  Retail Focus, Marketing Week, Marketing, Campaign

Websites:
Internet retailing  http://internetretailing.net/
Ecommerce times  http://www.ecommercetimes.com
Drapers on line https://www.drapersonline.com/
Business of Fashion on line https://www.businessoffashion.com/
Fashion United https://fashionunited.uk/
Fashionista   https://fashionista.com/
Fashion Capital  http://www.fashioncapital.co.uk/
Ecommerce times  http://www.ecommercetimes.com/
Mobile commerce http://www.mobilecommerce.co.uk/
Luxury daily www.luxurydaily.com/category/news/
emarketer - http://www.emarketer.com/
Smartinsights - http://www.smartinsights.com/
Clikz -http://www.clickz.com
Social  media today http://www.socialmediatoday.com/
Search engine land  http://searchengineland.com/
Retail Technology http://www.retailtechnology.co.uk/

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