An empirical inquiry into international expansion of US retailers

Uses the results of a mail survey to gain insights into international expan sion gi US retailers and their strategic thrusts. The findings indicate tha t important drivers of the retail internationalization process are related to four distinct retailer characteristics, i.e. retail-specific advantages, dimensional factors, and to international market orientation of companies and their strategic management teams. However, neither the retail operating format nor the lack of domestic growth opportunities emerged as factors pr omoting international retail expansion. Retailers in this study favored ful l control entry modes and culturally similar country markets. Implications for future research and retailing practice are outlined.