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Second-life retailing: a reverse supply chain perspective

Beh, Loo See; Ghobadian, Abby; He, Qile; Gallear, David; O�Regan, Nicholas

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Authors

Loo See Beh

Abby Ghobadian

Qile He

David Gallear



Abstract

© 2016, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. Purpose – The authors examine the role of entrepreneurial business models in the reverse supply chain of apparel/fashion retailers. The purpose of this paper is to offer an alternative approach to the “return to the point of origin” prevalent in the reverse chain of manufacturers but less technically and economically feasible in the case of apparel/fashion retailers. This approach, second-life retailing, not only reduces waste but also democratises consumption. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on an extensive literature review, semi-structured interviews with managers of two second-life retailers in Malaysia and observations of a number of stores. Findings – Using the Business Model Canvas, the authors demonstrate the essential characteristics of second-life retailers. Retailers in this study, unlike retailers in the developed world, combine traditional business models with off-price retailing. There is no clear demarcation between the forward and reverse supply chain used to manage first- and second-hand retailing. Practical implications – The paper demonstrates the potential of innovative business models in the reverse supply chain. It encourages managers to look beyond the “return to the point of origin” and seek imaginative alternatives. Such alternatives potentially could result in additional revenue, enhanced sustainability and democratisation of consumption meeting triple bottom line objectives. Originality/value – This paper highlights the importance and relevance of entrepreneurial business models in addressing the reverse supply chain, demonstrating this with the aid of two Malaysian off-price retailers. It also contributes to our nascent knowledge by focusing on emerging markets.

Citation

Beh, L. S., Ghobadian, A., He, Q., Gallear, D., & O’Regan, N. (2016). Second-life retailing: a reverse supply chain perspective. Supply Chain Management, 21(2), 259-272. https://doi.org/10.1108/SCM-07-2015-0296

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 20, 2015
Publication Date Mar 14, 2016
Deposit Date May 18, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Supply Chain Management
Print ISSN 1359-8546
Publisher Emerald
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 21
Issue 2
Pages 259-272
DOI https://doi.org/10.1108/SCM-07-2015-0296
Keywords reverse logistics, retailing, sustainability, business model, sustainable supply chain
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/916823
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/SCM-07-2015-0296
Additional Information Additional Information : The final, published version of this article can be found at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/SCM-07-2015-0296

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