| Abstract [eng] |
Retail is a powerful and necessary industry, and most of the different retail businesses fall into this industry category. The competitiveness of all operating companies depends on efficient logistics chain management and innovative sales and marketing. The undisputed advantage of large companies lies in purchasing, supply and marketing. Small businesses can only compete effectively by selling exclusive merchandise, offering five-star quality customer service, and providing an exceptional shopping experience or serving the local market. The main factors determining the ability to compete in the market are the conditions of competition that determine the efficiency of the product market, the competence, and the ability to adapt of the labor market, the availability of human resources; innovation capacity; availability, uptake and use of information technologies. With this research, I aim to review and evaluate the competitiveness situation of Lithuanian retail sector and provide some tools for increasing the competitiveness of the analyzed sector. The tasks of the research were to assess the impact of the Lithuanian retail sector on the economy; to analyze the concept and levels of competitiveness, factors influencing competitiveness and evaluation methods; to present the methodology for assessing the competitiveness of the Lithuanian retail sector and to conduct a study on the competitiveness of the Lithuanian retail trade. Retail trade generates 6.8% of value added. And, together with the sectors concerned, the total contribution to the economy is 10.5% of gross value added. Retail trade, as an economic activity, is very important job-creating sector in Lithuania. The sector employs 11.5% of all employees in the non-financial sector. The majority of employees working in sector are women. More than half (53.5%) of the value added generated by retail trade is spent on compensation of employees. And employers' taxes amount to 6.6% of all state social insurance contributions paid in Lithuania. The ratio of benefits received by employees and employers in Lithuanian retail trade is similar to the average of the entire Lithuanian economy. Retail trade is a very evenly distributed economic activity throughout Lithuania and an important employer in every municipality of the country. Based on the results of the analysis of the number of stores and turnover, we can state that there are no significant differences between cities and regions. Directions for the development of retail competitiveness opportunities should focus on the following key aspects: increasing energy efficiency; improvement and efficiency of logistics solutions; promoting the circular economy, increasing the supply of more sustainable products and processes to consumers; accelerating digitization processes; development of investment in human capital. |
