MarketScale
Demo
Contributors›Katrijn Gielens
Katrijn Gielens photo

Professor of Marketing

Katrijn Gielens

Katrijn Gielens is an internationally recognized expert in the areas of international retailing and product innovation. Dr. Gielens teaches courses in international retail management and econometric and market response models. Before she joined UNC Kenan-Flagler, she served on the faculty of the RSM Erasmus University, one of UNC Kenan-Flagler’s OneMBA partners, and Tilburg University.

1 articleLinkedIn ↗
Contributor Brief·Katrijn Gielens · 1 articles
Updated Sep 19, 2023

Retail theft erodes store economics, forcing reckoning on physical presence viability

Gielens argues that rising shoplifting has crossed a critical threshold where it directly undermines the economic case for maintaining physical retail locations. She contends that retailers now face a structural choice: either accept shrinkage as a permanent cost of doing business, or reconsider whether brick-and-mortar stores can remain profitable under theft-driven pressure.

1 in 4

U.S. retailers cite theft as reason to shutter stores

“Retail theft is pushing stores to weigh the risk of keeping a physical presence”

Retail Theft is Pushing Stores to Weigh the Risk of Keeping a Physical Presence

Retailer responses to rising shoplifting pressure

Stores closing due to theft concerns25
Retailers reducing store hours0
Implementing loss prevention tech (cameras, gates)0
Relocating to safer neighborhoods0
Shift toward online-only models0

SHARE

100%Stores closing
Stores closing due to theft concerns
Retailers reducing store hours
Implementing loss prevention tech (cameras, gates)
Relocating to safer neighborhoods
+1 more

Economic viability threshold crossed

Theft costs now exceed margin recovery in key categories

Rising shoplifting is forcing retailers to reconsider whether physical stores remain economically viable

Retail Theft is Pushing Stores to Weigh the Risk of Keeping a Physical Presence

The economics of retail presence now hinge on theft as a direct cost variable

Retail Theft is Pushing Stores to Weigh the Risk of Keeping a Physical Presence

“Physical retail viability depends on solving the theft problem or exiting markets entirely”

Themes:Shrinkage as economic tipping point for store viabilityStructural choice between loss acceptance and format exitTheft-driven reconfiguration of retail location strategy

Latest article

Retail · Sep 19

Retail Theft is Pushing Stores to Weigh the Risk of Keeping a Physical Presence

Rising shoplifting is forcing retailers to reconsider whether physical stores remain economically viable

Read article →
Retail Theft is Pushing Stores to Weigh the Risk of Keeping a Physical Presence

Connect with Katrijn Gielens

No articles yet.

Community

0 posts
No posts yet. Be the first to ask a question or share an idea with Katrijn Gielens.
  • AM
    Alex M.·2h agoquestion

    What sparked your research into disruptive innovation?

    Curious what the original insight was that led you to the Innovator's Dilemma framework.

  • SL
    Sophia L.·1d agoidea

    Would love a deep-dive into EdTech adoption barriers.

    Your framing of sustaining vs. disruptive innovation feels directly applicable to school systems.

  • DR
    David R.·3d agoquestion

    How do you see AI changing the personalized learning landscape?

What is MarketScale

These experts publish through MarketScale, a content platform that turns industry knowledge into articles, video, and audience. Want the same for your team?

Request info →