Unlike other general marketing journals such as Journal of Marketing and Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, JR has traditionally been bound by the confines of its name, both because of its explicit editorial policy set by previous editors and by the perception of its contributors and readers. During our tenure as Editors, we wish to continue the tradition of publishing articles that appeal to academics and practitioners with an interest in retailing and related topics. To clearly delineate JR's domain, we must first define retailing--a business that sells products and/or services to consumers for their personal or family use. This definition includes the interface of retailers with both vendors and consumers, as well as other topics that impact retailers. JR's domain does not include topics or data sets where retailers are not involved or are only superficially involved. Prospective authors may find this position unnecessarily restricting. We believe, however, that the practice and study of retailing is replete with topics and data that are just begging to be examined.

What encompasses research in retailing? To answer this question, we must look at the retailer, and ask what a retailer does.

• They analyze their customers.
• They develop strategies.
• They choose markets and channels in which to compete.
• They make location decisions.
• They find, design, purchase, price, and promote merchandise and services.
• They organize their operations and manage their employees and stores.
• They create an atmosphere that is inviting to customers and conducive for buying.

All of these issues have been and will continue to be within the domain of research in retailing, and by extension, Journal of Retailing.

Other topics that go beyond the operational walls of a typical retailer are also appropriate for JR so long as retailing is the focus of the paper. This does not mean, however, that every article has to be explicitly about retailers per se. Consider the following topics that have appeared in recent JRs and are therefore appropriate:

• Emerging technologies are enabling conventional retailers to better integrate multiple channels to create and deliver value to customers. Manuscripts that examine this increasingly important topic are encouraged.
• Supply chain management articles whose findings impact retailers or should be of relevance to retailers are appropriate.
• Articles that deal with a measurement issue, such as service quality, that should be important to retailers are welcomed.
• There is little substantive difference between research in retailing and services. Indeed, much of what distinguishes retailers is service based. Further, JR has supported two special issues on Services research in recent years, and will continue to do so in the future. Papers submitted to JR, however, should be limited to those examining vendor-to-retailer or retailer-to-customer service issues.
• Relationships with service suppliers, such as third party logistics providers (transportation and public warehousing), site selection (GIS) firms, and promotion/advertising agencies are welcome as long as the focus of the paper is to improve the operations, efficiency, or innovative abilities of the retailer.
• Public policy issues, such as consumer rights, retailer ethics, green-marketing, purchasing from firms utilizing child labor or other human rights violations, deceptive price promotions, Americans with Disability Act violations, anti-trust, competitive and environmental issues, are just a few of many potentially interesting topics.
• In addition, we continue to reach out to marketing scientists. This group has been strong contributors to JR for the last decade or so, mostly because of the encouragement of the last two Editors, Chuck Ingene and Pete Bucklin. We have taken the additional step of adding two Associate Editors of Marketing Science, Jim Hess of University of Illinois at Champagne and Praveen K. Kopalle of Dartmouth College. Praveen currently serves on the boards of MArketing Science, Journal of Interactive Marketing and International Journal of Technology and Marketing. Both Jim and Praveen have had considerable editorial experience on the review boards of Journal of Retailing and Marketing Science. We welcome them to our team.

The topics chosen for exposition here represent only a partial sampling. We welcome your comments, either by email or phone, regarding any submission issue.