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Cooperation for safe retailing in vulnerable areas - a place-based approach

Cassinger, Cecilia LU orcid ; Thufvesson, Ola LU and Rehncrona, Carin LU (2024) Nordic Retail and Wholesale Conference
Abstract
Introduction
This paper focuses on retailing in vulnerable areas, which are commonly associated with segregation,
crime, violence, and unsafety (Swedish Police Authority, 2023; Gerell et al., 2021). Less attention is
usually paid to the conditions of retailing in these neighbourhoods. A well-functioning grocery store
can be a decisive factor in the attractiveness of an area and in making it safe. At the same time, it is far
from obvious that these areas are attractive for retailers, as they are also characterised by a lack of
resources and low purchasing power.
To date, there has been little research on the relationship between the retail sector and safety in less
attractive neighbourhoods. The aim of this... (More)
Introduction
This paper focuses on retailing in vulnerable areas, which are commonly associated with segregation,
crime, violence, and unsafety (Swedish Police Authority, 2023; Gerell et al., 2021). Less attention is
usually paid to the conditions of retailing in these neighbourhoods. A well-functioning grocery store
can be a decisive factor in the attractiveness of an area and in making it safe. At the same time, it is far
from obvious that these areas are attractive for retailers, as they are also characterised by a lack of
resources and low purchasing power.
To date, there has been little research on the relationship between the retail sector and safety in less
attractive neighbourhoods. The aim of this paper is therefore to generate new knowledge about the
societal role of retailing beyond shopping malls and high-profile pedestrianised streets. In addition,
the aim is to contribute to the development of place-based cooperation for safety between stakeholders
in the retail sector, such as urban planners, property managers, policy makers, and business owners.
A place-based approach to retailing
Retail safety is approached from a place development perspective, which examines the embeddedness
of retailing in a wider social context (Warnaby & Medway, 2013). In addition to retail and urban
geographical perspectives, we also examine how non-material aspects such as architecture, store
layout, and media images influence the sense of safety in these areas. Hence, we see safety as a
meaningful experience that emerges in the relationships between retail and place actors inside and
outside the store. Safety means different things to different actors in different places and is not the
same as security measures (see Pain & Townshend, 2002). Safety is therefore not an isolated issue,
but is a matter of relationship building and cooperation between different actors. Even if the store is
perceived as safe, retailing can be negatively affected if the area is experienced as unsafe and
unattractive.
The argument presented in this paper is based on a qualitative study in which we walked, made
participant observations and conducted in-depth interviews with actors working in and with the major
grocery stores in ten vulnerable areas in seven municipalities in Sweden. In addition, a document
study of news articles and municipal policy documents was carried out. In the analysis of the
empirical material, we focus on typical narratives of collaborating for safety, but also on the
conditions of individual retail actors.
Findings - Forms of cooperation
Analysing the empirical material, three different constellations emerged in which cooperation occurs.
The first constellation is made up of the relationships between retailers, managers, employees and
customers who work together to ensure safe retailing on a day-to-day basis.. Retailers appear to have a
decentralised approach to safety, relying on the resourcefulness of individual employees and their
strategies for dealing with situations in vulnerable areas. But working conditions for retail workers in
vulnerable areas are tough, even if the work is considered meaningful. Store managers and frontline
employees take on a great deal of responsibility in their daily work to maintain safety-enhancing
routines in the store and the mall in which it is often placed. At the same time, many have witnessed
or been victims of threats and violence. Violence against staff is rare, but there are experiences of
violent incidents around the workplace.
The second constellation involves relationships between retailers and stakeholders. There is currently
a well-established cooperation between the police, the municipality and public housing companies on
safety in vulnerable areas. However, retailers are often absent from these collaborations. The
empirical material reveals several problems of cooperation between retail managers and other actors.
Most of the problems stem from the different time and financial perspectives of the public and private
sectors.
The third constellation relates to the relationship between retailers, residents and the local community.
The local store management team is important for how the store is anchored in the local community.
Grocery stores are described as having several functions for residents, in addition to being a place to
buy food. Among other things, grocery stores seem to provide a social interface that breaks down the
isolation of people in the area. Less obvious functions of the grocery store include having staff on
hand to provide assistance and care, for example to lost children, elderly people needing transport,
contact with authorities and - in the worst case - CPR in the event of a shooting. It is also common for
retailers to employ young people who live in the neighbourhood, offer internships, support reading
initiatives for schoolchildren and sports events.
Conclusions
The retail sector has been overlooked as a key player in the safety of vulnerable areas. This finding
confirms the conclusions of previous research, but also opens up new ways of looking at cooperation
for safe retailing in less attractive and unsafe areas. However, the retail sector is often not an obvious
part of community safety partnerships, despite being an important social actor in vulnerable
neighbourhoods. The development and maintenance of partnerships takes time, and resources must be
allocated at both local and central levels. Appointing a dedicated coordinator with an interest in the
issues is often effective. Retailers should strengthen their leading position in safety partnerships with
local businesses facing similar challenges. There is great value for retailers if nearby shops and
services do well, as this enhances the attractiveness of the area helping to reduce their isolation and
vulnerability.
(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to conference
publication status
published
subject
keywords
vulnerable urban areas, safety, place-based collaboration, retailing, territorial marginalization
conference name
Nordic Retail and Wholesale Conference
conference location
Helsingborg, Sweden
conference dates
2024-11-05 - 2024-11-07
project
New forms of cooperation for the promotion of safe retail in vulnerable urban places
Centre for Retail Research at Lund University
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
129094fa-0043-466a-a4f7-fd3c3d3e863b
alternative location
https://nrwa.se/nrwc-2024/
date added to LUP
2024-11-07 09:53:20
date last changed
2025-04-04 15:23:32
@misc{129094fa-0043-466a-a4f7-fd3c3d3e863b,
  abstract     = {{Introduction<br/>This paper focuses on retailing in vulnerable areas, which are commonly associated with segregation,<br/>crime, violence, and unsafety (Swedish Police Authority, 2023; Gerell et al., 2021). Less attention is<br/>usually paid to the conditions of retailing in these neighbourhoods. A well-functioning grocery store<br/>can be a decisive factor in the attractiveness of an area and in making it safe. At the same time, it is far<br/>from obvious that these areas are attractive for retailers, as they are also characterised by a lack of<br/>resources and low purchasing power.<br/>To date, there has been little research on the relationship between the retail sector and safety in less<br/>attractive neighbourhoods. The aim of this paper is therefore to generate new knowledge about the<br/>societal role of retailing beyond shopping malls and high-profile pedestrianised streets. In addition,<br/>the aim is to contribute to the development of place-based cooperation for safety between stakeholders<br/>in the retail sector, such as urban planners, property managers, policy makers, and business owners.<br/>A place-based approach to retailing<br/>Retail safety is approached from a place development perspective, which examines the embeddedness<br/>of retailing in a wider social context (Warnaby &amp; Medway, 2013). In addition to retail and urban<br/>geographical perspectives, we also examine how non-material aspects such as architecture, store<br/>layout, and media images influence the sense of safety in these areas. Hence, we see safety as a<br/>meaningful experience that emerges in the relationships between retail and place actors inside and<br/>outside the store. Safety means different things to different actors in different places and is not the<br/>same as security measures (see Pain &amp; Townshend, 2002). Safety is therefore not an isolated issue,<br/>but is a matter of relationship building and cooperation between different actors. Even if the store is<br/>perceived as safe, retailing can be negatively affected if the area is experienced as unsafe and<br/>unattractive.<br/>The argument presented in this paper is based on a qualitative study in which we walked, made<br/>participant observations and conducted in-depth interviews with actors working in and with the major<br/>grocery stores in ten vulnerable areas in seven municipalities in Sweden. In addition, a document<br/>study of news articles and municipal policy documents was carried out. In the analysis of the<br/>empirical material, we focus on typical narratives of collaborating for safety, but also on the<br/>conditions of individual retail actors.<br/>Findings - Forms of cooperation<br/>Analysing the empirical material, three different constellations emerged in which cooperation occurs.<br/>The first constellation is made up of the relationships between retailers, managers, employees and<br/>customers who work together to ensure safe retailing on a day-to-day basis.. Retailers appear to have a<br/>decentralised approach to safety, relying on the resourcefulness of individual employees and their<br/>strategies for dealing with situations in vulnerable areas. But working conditions for retail workers in<br/>vulnerable areas are tough, even if the work is considered meaningful. Store managers and frontline<br/>employees take on a great deal of responsibility in their daily work to maintain safety-enhancing<br/>routines in the store and the mall in which it is often placed. At the same time, many have witnessed<br/>or been victims of threats and violence. Violence against staff is rare, but there are experiences of<br/>violent incidents around the workplace.<br/>The second constellation involves relationships between retailers and stakeholders. There is currently<br/>a well-established cooperation between the police, the municipality and public housing companies on<br/>safety in vulnerable areas. However, retailers are often absent from these collaborations. The<br/>empirical material reveals several problems of cooperation between retail managers and other actors.<br/>Most of the problems stem from the different time and financial perspectives of the public and private<br/>sectors.<br/>The third constellation relates to the relationship between retailers, residents and the local community.<br/>The local store management team is important for how the store is anchored in the local community.<br/>Grocery stores are described as having several functions for residents, in addition to being a place to<br/>buy food. Among other things, grocery stores seem to provide a social interface that breaks down the<br/>isolation of people in the area. Less obvious functions of the grocery store include having staff on<br/>hand to provide assistance and care, for example to lost children, elderly people needing transport,<br/>contact with authorities and - in the worst case - CPR in the event of a shooting. It is also common for<br/>retailers to employ young people who live in the neighbourhood, offer internships, support reading<br/>initiatives for schoolchildren and sports events.<br/>Conclusions<br/>The retail sector has been overlooked as a key player in the safety of vulnerable areas. This finding<br/>confirms the conclusions of previous research, but also opens up new ways of looking at cooperation<br/>for safe retailing in less attractive and unsafe areas. However, the retail sector is often not an obvious<br/>part of community safety partnerships, despite being an important social actor in vulnerable<br/>neighbourhoods. The development and maintenance of partnerships takes time, and resources must be<br/>allocated at both local and central levels. Appointing a dedicated coordinator with an interest in the<br/>issues is often effective. Retailers should strengthen their leading position in safety partnerships with<br/>local businesses facing similar challenges. There is great value for retailers if nearby shops and<br/>services do well, as this enhances the attractiveness of the area helping to reduce their isolation and<br/>vulnerability.<br/>}},
  author       = {{Cassinger, Cecilia and Thufvesson, Ola and Rehncrona, Carin}},
  keywords     = {{vulnerable urban areas; safety; place-based collaboration; retailing; territorial marginalization}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  title        = {{Cooperation for safe retailing in vulnerable areas - a place-based approach}},
  url          = {{https://nrwa.se/nrwc-2024/}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}