RETAILER CLUSTERS ACCORDING TO INNOVATION ATTITUDES AND REGIONAL INNOVATION SYSTEMS: A RESEARCH ON MEMBERS OF TURKISH RETAILERS FEDERATION

This study involves analyzing the link between retail innovation and regional innovation systems by clustering analysis. The aim of the research is to reveal the link between the attitude of retail innovation and the regional innovation systems. The research was carried out for all of Turkey Retailers Federation members. Survey data gathered by telephone method in the study were subjected to two step cluster analysis. As a result of research, four clusters were obtained according to retail innovations. The regional innovation index scores and retail innovativeness attitudes of each cluster retailer were compared. Retail innovation is seen as important in developed countries. Today, retailing has taken an important place in the economy because of the imbalances between producers and consumers. Developing countries, therefore, see retailing as an important means of economic development. The research is a unique study in which regional innovation systems and retailer attitudes are examined together