Abstract: The objective of this exploratory study was to examine stock-outs as an event and document their effects on changes in customer attitudes. A study containing both open-ended and close-ended elements was validated through a pilot study and used to collect data from 100 randomly selected participants spending at Shewa Shopping Center in Addis Ababa. The finding indicated that repeated stock-out experiences reduced customers’ loyalty to brand and retailer and caused customers to leave both retailers and brand. Participants indicated that stock-out effects can be shielded through improved inventory management and better customer service. Explicit recommendations involved apology, price discounts and free delivery. The finding of this study will enable retailers to gain deeper considerate of how stock-out affects customers shopping experiences and loyalty, and offer alleviation measures to improve both. In addition, the finding will provide a positive change to both customers and retailers, where shoppers will enjoy pleasant shopping experiences and retailers can maintain their competitive advantage via loyalty of their customer.Abstract: The objective of this exploratory study was to examine stock-outs as an event and document their effects on changes in customer attitudes. A study containing both open-ended and close-ended elements was validated through a pilot study and used to collect data from 100 randomly selected participants spending at Shewa Shopping Center in Addis Ababa. ...Show More
Abstract: In this paper, a comprehensive study on the relationship between workability in form of slump and water absorption, a permeability and durability property, of cement concrete blended with periwinkle shell ash is presented. Periwinkle shell ash was obtained from the granulation process of calcined periwinkle shells at a calcination temperature of 800°C. Concrete specimens were designed using the Scheffe’s simplex lattice theory. Standard experimental procedures using the slump height method was adopted in the determination of workability of concrete specimens. The water absorption of hardened concrete specimens was also determined from standard experimental procedures. Regression models of different forms; power, linear, logarithmic, exponential and polynomial forms were developed to correlate both properties using results from trial mixes. These models were subjected to validation tests using results from control mixes through F-Statistics. The models were also subjected to R2 analysis for further adequacy tests. Results obtained from this study revealed that although the 0.5 power model proved adequate, little correlation exist between both responses as illustrated from low R2 values obtained for all the models developed. It was therefore recommended that in models’ validations, adequacy tests be used in conjunction with verification test (R2 test) to prove the usefulness of such models’ and that the relationship between other PSA cement concrete properties be investigated.Abstract: In this paper, a comprehensive study on the relationship between workability in form of slump and water absorption, a permeability and durability property, of cement concrete blended with periwinkle shell ash is presented. Periwinkle shell ash was obtained from the granulation process of calcined periwinkle shells at a calcination temperature of 80...Show More