Performance Implications of Online Entry Timing by Store-Based Retailers: A Longitudinal Investigation

This paper utilizes Time Series Cross-Sectional (TSCS) Regression techniques to investigate long-term performance effects of the timing of online sales adoption by incumbent bricks-and-mortar retailers. Its findings support the resource-based theory of competitive advantage by showing that firm-specific resource endowments (bricks-and-mortar experience, catalog experience and firm size) determine the success of the order of online entry strategy. The study contributes to the development of strategic theory in the areas of multi-channel retailing and electronic commerce and assists managers in formulating more informed strategic objectives for achieving multi-channel competitive advantage.