JKU_Header_2_1_.png

Publications & Community > Special Issue in IJRDM

Special Issue Opportunity (CERR 2026)

Marketing Myopia Reloaded: Re-Centring the Human in Retailing and Distribution Management

We are delighted to announce a Special Issue in the International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management (IJRDM) linked to CERR 2026. The Special Issue will be guest edited by Christoph Teller (Johannes Kepler University Linz).
IJRDM is a well-established and internationally recognized journal in the field, ranked 2* in the Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS) and A in the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC), with an Impact Factor of around 5–6 and positioned in the first quartile (Q1) of relevant Business and Management categories.
Retail and distribution systems are being reinvented—algorithm by algorithm, platform by platform, store by store. Yet, as technological sophistication increases, a fundamental question re-emerges: Are we still seeing the people behind the process?
This Special Issue, Marketing Myopia Reloaded: Re-Centring the Human in Retailing and Distribution Management, invites contributions that critically examine the role of technology as an enabler rather than an end in itself. It seeks to re-visit the enduring core of retail and distribution—human interaction, trust, experience, and social value—while exploring how these principles evolve in digitally mediated environments.

Aims and Scope

The Special Issue aims to advance a human-centred perspective on retail and distribution transformation. Building on Levitt’s notion of marketing myopia, it encourages contributions that challenge technology-centric narratives and instead explore how innovation can be grounded in enduring human needs.
We welcome both conceptual and empirical research that:
  • Re-examines fundamental retail and distribution principles in the age of AI and automation
  • Explores the interplay between technology, human experience, and value creation
  • Bridges disciplinary perspectives (e.g., marketing, operations, technology, sociology)
  • Offers forward-looking insights for academia and practice

Indicative Themes

Submissions may address, but are not limited to:
  • The enduring core of retail and distribution: trust, human interaction, and experiential value
  • AI and automation as enablers of (or threats to) human-centred systems
  • The role of employees: wellbeing, emotion, and frontline dynamics
  • Retail and distribution spaces as social and community infrastructures
  • Evolving customer behaviour: emotion, irrationality, and engagement

Development Opportunity at CERR

Authors considering submission to the Special Issue are invited to present their work at CERR 2026 and benefit from dedicated feedback:
  • A Special Issue feedback session will take place on July 1, 2026 (17:00), following the PhD/ECR seminar
  • Additional feedback will be provided throughout the conference
The idea is simple but powerful: refine your work through early and constructive feedback before formal submission.

Key Dates

  • Special Issue submission opens: July 14, 2026
  • Submission deadline: October 31, 2026
  • Final acceptance: March 31, 2027
The Special Issue will feature a curated selection of papers from CERR 2026 alongside an open call, ensuring both topical relevance and academic rigor.

 ChatGPT_Image_Apr_21_2026_01_17_52_PM.png

CERR_LinkedIn_2.jpg

 

 Special Issue 2025

Transformation in Retail: Human Centric Innovation

Retailing is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by technological advancements, changing consumer behaviors, and dynamic shifts in the economy and the global supply chains. The 9th CERR conference seeks to explore the innovative strategies and practices that are shaping the future of the retailing industry. With a focus on human-centric innovation, we invite scholarly submissions from the logistics, SCM, operations, and marketing fields that delve into the ways in which retailers are leveraging technology and data to deliver exceptional customer experiences, enhance operational efficiency, and build sustainable businesses.">What have recent events taught us about retail? Retail is transforming into a new digital industry. Online retailing has gained enviable momentum, and brick-and-mortar stores have taken on a new role while still the dominant first point of contact between retailers and consumers.

Retail establishments are crucial for regional development, creating jobs, supporting local supply chains, and fostering community ties, which enhance economic resilience and quality of life. Their impact can be maximized by fostering an environment that promotes innovation, inclusivity, and human-centered approaches in the retail sector.

 

These challenges will require a new Special Issue in the International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management.

This special issue will be dedicated to presenting the cutting edge of scientific research from the participants to the Colloquium on European Research in Retailing 2025. Papers on all the topics listed below are welcome.

  • Transformation

    Human Centricity

    Innovation
    • Digitalization and Supply Chains
    • Sustainability and Circularity
    • Reverse and Returns Logistics
    • E-Commerce, and Omnichannel Distribution
    • M-Commerce and Livestream Selling
    • Risk, Resilience, and Disruptions
    • Globalization vs. Regional Development
    • Employee Engagement and Well-Being
    • Diversity and Inclusion
    • Community Engagement and Local Partnerships
    • Regional Embeddedness
    • Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics
    • Advanced Technologies and Human Connection
    • Personalization and Customer Centricity
    • AI, Machine Learning and Data Analytics
    • New Technology Adoption Blockchain, Transparency and Traceability
    • Business Model Innovation
    • Entrepreneurial Opportunities
    • Digital Twins in Retail

This list is indicative and we welcome any submission that is related to phenomena in physical and digital market places as well as the interface between retail marketing and operations.

 

Submission Information

All manuscripts will undergo a double-blind review process. Please follow the manuscript requirement outlined on the journal’s website: http://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/author_guidelines.htm?id=ijrdm

To maximise the impact of each submission authors are required to provide a visual abstract and a synthetical highlight of not more than 5 bullet points. This supplementary material does not have be included in the first submission but must be provided before the article can be accepted for publication.

The Special Issue is scheduled to open for submissions on June 1st. We suggest that you take advantage of all the comments that you will receive at the presentation in the colloquium and then submit your work.

The submission deadline will be in August 2025 through ScholarOne Manuscripts at: http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/ijrdm.

The publication of the special issue is expected to be around for July1st, 2026.

Regarding this special issue, please direct queries to: Professor Xavier Brusset, e-mail: xavier.brusset@skema.edu. 
For any assistance, authors should contact manuscriptcentral@emeraldinsight.com. Authors should quote the journal name and special issue title in their inquiries.


 Emerald Publishing

 

 

 

 

 

Reconnect revive retail
 

International Journal of Retailing & Distribution Management
Loading... Loading...