It is designed to make clear the broad concepts of retailing, to show the interrelationships of the major functions of retailing and to give an understanding of the necessity of the retailing to the capitalistic free-enterprise system. All normal adults buy or sell, if not both, nearly every day of their lives.
All persons consume goods and services that have been sold at retail.
Thus not only does the subject of the retailing have broad general interest, but it also has an immediate practical value to the individual. Every student, therefore, has an opportunity in this course to gain academic credit and more important, to acquire knowledge which, if used with good judgement, can improve one's economic and social standard of living. The textbook affords the student a number of useful learning and study aides which should be used in order to successfully complete this course. The student should first read each chapter carefully and note that the chapter summaries emphasize the major areas of that particular chapter. The appendices and list of references at the end of the text can also provide pertinent information as well as clarify unfamiliar terminologies.