Concessionaires — A Strategic Option for Retailers

Concessionaires(shops‐within‐shops) have long been a feature of the department store and more recently of the “superstore”. This article examines the use by two major retailers, Tesco and Debenhams, of concessionaires as a strategic option, to create “breathing space” for themselves whilst they either restructure or reposition their retail interests. It also looks at some of the recent developments in concessionaire operations and anticipates future areas where retailers may seek to use concessionaires.