Professor Leigh Sparks

Deputy Principal

University of Stirling Cottrell Building, Stirling, FK9 4Lla

Professor Leigh Sparks

Contact details

Share a link

http://www.stir.ac.uk/people/leighsparks

About me

About me

I am Deputy Principal and Professor of Retail Studies at the Institute for Retail Studies, University of Stirling, Scotland, UK. I was an undergraduate at the University of Cambridge, and completed my Ph.D at St. David's University College, Lampeter. I have been professor at Stirling since 1992. I have also been the Head of the Department of Marketing, the Divisions of Marketing and Business and Organisation, the Director of the Institute for Retail Studies and the Dean of the Faculty of Management. I am currently Head of the Stirling Graduate School and Deputy Head of the Stirling Management School. In 2000-2001 I was Visiting Professor at Florida State University and followed that up by being Visiting Professor at the University of Tennessee in 2006. I am Editor of the leading European retail journal (The International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research, published by Taylor and Francis), and on the editorial boards of several leading marketing and business journals. In 2002-2004, I was the only academic member of the UK Department of Trade and Industry's Retail Strategy Group. I am Chair of the Scotland's Towns Group for the Centre for Scottish Public Policy (2009 to date), one of two members of IDS Scotland Ltd, the company set up by Scottish Government to oversee Scottish Business Improvement Districts (2009 to date) and an office bearer in the American Collegiate Retailing Association. In 2001, I was a founding member of the Academy of Marketing's Research Committee and was its Chair from January 2006 to December 2009. I run a blog on Scottish retail matters (Stirlingretail.com) and am a Black Belt on the Brickmeets click e-commerce site. A brief introduction and mini cv are available here.

Other Academic Activities

European Journal of Marketing
Emerald Group Publishing
Member of Editorial Board

International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research
Taylor and Francis
ISSN 0959-3969 Journal editor

Journal of Marketing Channels
Taylor and Francis
Member of Editorial Board

Journal of Marketing Management
Taylor and Francis
Member of Editorial Board

Service Industries Journal
Taylor and Francis
Member of Editorial Board

Sport, Business and Management: An International Journal
Emerald Group Publishing
Member of Editorial Board

Research (8)

My research concentrates on aspects of the broad areas of structural and spatial change in retailing. Since arriving at Stirling I have been involved in the generation of over c£2m of research funding. This research has been disseminated widely through a number of books, many reports and over 125 academic and professional articles. Recent major research funding includes:

(with J Dawson, S Burt and G Hogg) The Centre for the Study of Retailing in Scotland (SHEFC) (with S Cummins and M Petticrew) Reducing Inequalities in Health and Diet: the impact of a food retail development (Department of Health) (with S Burt) Competitive Analysis of the UK Retail Sector, (Department of Trade and Industry) (with CB Hillier Parker) A Review of the effectiveness of NPPG8, (Scottish Executive) Rural Retailing (Countryside Agency) (as CSRS) Accessing Healthy Food Across Scotland ( Food Standards Agency Scotland) (with colleagues in Stirling and Dundee) Buywell: evaluation of a targeted marketing intervention to influence food purchasing behaviour by low income consumers (National Prevention Research Initiative). (with colleagues in the School of Sport, Stirling) Developing the Malaysian sport industry: capacity building research (Sportswork Group)

Projects

Healthcare Retail Standard Evaluation
PI:
Funded by: NHS Health Scotland
–

Neo-demographics: Opening Developing World Markets by Using Personal Data and Collaboration
PI: Professor Leigh Sparks
Funded by: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
–

Understanding Scottish Places
PI: Professor Leigh Sparks
Funded by: Scottish Government
–

Transactional loyalty program for multiple independent businesses
PI: Professor Leigh Sparks
Funded by: Technology Strategy Board
–

Glasgow and Clyde Valley City Region Retail Study
PI: Professor Leigh Sparks
Funded by: Glasgow and the Clyde Valley Strategic Development Planning Authority
–

Retail buying and country of origin
PI: Professor Leigh Sparks
Funded by: The Royal Society of Edinburgh
–

Developing the Malaysian Sport Industry: A programme of capacity building research
PI: Professor Leigh Sparks
Funded by: Sportswork Group SDN.BHD
–

Independent Retailers and the Demise of Smoking: A Scoping Study
PI: Professor Gerard Hastings
Funded by: Department of Health
–

Outputs (209)

Outputs

Showing 100 of 209 — See all 209 outputs

Commentary

Marketing responses to the taxation of soft drinks; Comment on "Understanding marketing responses to a tax on sugary drinks: a qualitative interview study in the United Kingdom, 2019"

Sparks L (2023) Marketing responses to the taxation of soft drinks; Comment on "Understanding marketing responses to a tax on sugary drinks: a qualitative interview study in the United Kingdom, 2019". Commentary on: Forde H, Penney TL, White M, Levy L, Greaves F, Adams J. Understanding marketing responses to a tax on sugary drinks: a qualitative interview study in the United Kingdom, 2019. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2022;11(11):2618–2629. doi:10.34172/ijhpm.2022.5465. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 12 (1), Art. No.: 7612. https://doi.org/10.34172/IJHPM.2023.7612

Book Chapter

Urban Logistics and Retailing

Sparks L (2023) Urban Logistics and Retailing. In: The Routledge Handbook of Urban Logistics. Routledge International Handbooks. Routledge, pp. 121-133. https://www.routledge.com/The-Routledge-Handbook-of-Urban-Logistics/Monios-Budd-Ison/p/book/9781032148571?_ga=1037767347.1683417600

Website Content

Town Centre Action Plan 2

Sparks L (2022) Town Centre Action Plan 2. University of Stirling Public Policy Blog [Blog post] 19.04.2022. https://policyblog.stir.ac.uk/2022/04/19/town-centre-action-plan-2/

Website Content

A New Future for Scotland’s Towns – Recommendations

Sparks L (2021) A New Future for Scotland’s Towns – Recommendations. University of Stirling Public Policy Blog [Blog post] 05.02.2021. https://policyblog.stir.ac.uk/2021/02/05/a-new-future-for-scotlands-towns-recommendations/

Website Content

A New Future for Scotland’s Town Centres: Summary of our Approach

Sparks L (2021) A New Future for Scotland’s Town Centres: Summary of our Approach. University of Stirling Public Policy Blog [Blog post] 04.02.2021. https://policyblog.stir.ac.uk/2021/02/04/a-new-future-for-scotlands-town-centres-summary-of-our-approach/

Research Report

A New Future for Scotland's Town Centres

Sparks L, Witcher S, Narayanan D, Prentice P, Macdonell L, Cowan D, Beautyman I, Coutts P, Leitch A, Griggs R, McCulloch B & Nicol R (2021) A New Future for Scotland's Town Centres. Scottish Government. Edinburgh. https://www.gov.scot/publications/new-future-scotlands-town-centres/

Website Content

A New Future for Scotland’s Town Centres: Introduction to our Report

Sparks L (2021) A New Future for Scotland’s Town Centres: Introduction to our Report. University of Stirling Public Policy Blog [Blog post] 03.02.2021. https://policyblog.stir.ac.uk/2021/02/03/a-new-future-for-scotlands-town-centres-introduction-to-our-report/

Website Content

COVID-19 and Christmas

Sparks L (2020) COVID-19 and Christmas. Stirlingretail [Blog Post] 15.12.2020. https://stirlingretail.com/2020/12/15/covid-19-and-christmas/

Website Content

Shopping in a Post-Lockdown World

Sparks L (2020) Shopping in a Post-Lockdown World. University of Stirling Public Policy Blog [Blog post] 11.06.2020. https://policyblog.stir.ac.uk/2020/06/11/shopping-in-a-post-lockdown-world/

Website Content

Retailing, Shopping and Covid-19

Sparks L (2020) Retailing, Shopping and Covid-19. Stirlingretail [Blog post] 19.05.2020. https://stirlingretail.com/2020/05/19/retailing-shopping-and-covid-19/

Website Content

Retail Armageddon – Non Food

Sparks L (2020) Retail Armageddon – Non Food. Stirlingretail [Blog post] 26.03.2020. https://stirlingretail.com/2020/03/26/retail-armageddon-non-food/

Website Content

Retail Armageddon

Sparks L (2020) Retail Armageddon. Stirlingretail [Blog post] 23.03.2020. https://stirlingretail.com/2020/03/23/retail-armageddon/

Article

Impact of a targeted direct marketing price promotion intervention (Buywell) on food-purchasing behaviour by low income consumers: a randomised controlled trial

Stead M, MacKintosh AM, Findlay A, Sparks L, Anderson AS, Barton KL & Eadie D (2017) Impact of a targeted direct marketing price promotion intervention (Buywell) on food-purchasing behaviour by low income consumers: a randomised controlled trial. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 30 (4), pp. 524-533. https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12441

Book Chapter

Retail Branding

Burt S & Sparks L (2016) Retail Branding. In: Dall'Olmo Riley F, Singh J & Blankson C (eds.) Routledge Companion to Contemporary Brand Management. Routledge Companions in Business, Management and Marketing. London: Routledge, pp. 492-508. https://www.routledge.com/The-Routledge-Companion-to-Contemporary-Brand-Management/Riley-Singh-Blankson/p/book/9780415747905

Conference Proceeding

Power dynamics and distribution of benefits within supply networks: Insights from the UK grocery network

Maglaras G, Sparks L & Bourlakis M (2016) Power dynamics and distribution of benefits within supply networks: Insights from the UK grocery network. In: Logistics Research Network Conference 2016, Hull, 07.09.2016-09.09.2016. Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. https://ciltuk.org.uk/AboutUs/ProfessionalSectorsForums/Forums/LogisticsResearchNetwork/LRN2016.aspx

Conference Proceeding

Opportunism in power-imbalanced retailer-supplier relationships: The case of the food supply chain

Maglaras G, Bourlakis M & Sparks L (2015) Opportunism in power-imbalanced retailer-supplier relationships: The case of the food supply chain. In: Proceedings of the 18th Conference of the European Association for Education and Research in Commercial Distribution. 18th Conference of the European Association for Education and Research in Commercial Distribution, Rennes, France, 01.07.2015-03.07.2015. Rennes, France: EAERCD. http://eaercd-2015.sciencesconf.org/resource/page/id/24

Conference Paper (unpublished)

Retail Merchandise Strategies of Professional Football Clubs in Scotland

Szymoszowskyj A, Winand M, Kolyperas D & Sparks L (2015) Retail Merchandise Strategies of Professional Football Clubs in Scotland. EURAM '15: 15th Annual Conference of the European Academy of Management, Warsaw, Poland, 16.06.2015-20.06.2015. http://2015.euramfullpaper.org/program/search.asp?qs=STIRLING%20UNIVERSITY

Book Chapter

Supply chain management and retailing

Sparks L (2010) Supply chain management and retailing. In: Hamil S & Chadwick S (eds.) Managing Football: An International Perspective. First ed. Oxford, UK: Elsevier/Butterworth-Heinemann, pp. 151-167. http://store.elsevier.com/product.jsp?isbn=9780080949765

Book Chapter

Assessing the Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on Football Consumers: Which are the Benefits Derived by CSR’s Awareness?

Kolyperas D & Sparks L (2010) Assessing the Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on Football Consumers: Which are the Benefits Derived by CSR’s Awareness?. In: Anagnostopoulos C (ed.) International Sport: A Research Synthesis. Athens, Greece: Athens Institute for Education and Research ATINER, pp. 11-30. http://www.atiner.gr/docs/2010Anagnostopoulos_CONT.htm

Article

Supply chain management and retailing

Sparks L (2010) Supply chain management and retailing. Supply Chain Forum, 11 (4), pp. 4-12. http://www.supplychain-forum.com/article.cfm?num=23&art=192&CFID=10853771&CFTOKEN=97816290

Article

Neighbourhood Food Environment and Area Deprivation: spatial accessibility to grocery stores selling fresh fruit and vegetables in urban and rural settings

Smith DM, Cummins S, Taylor M, Dawson J, Marshall D, Sparks L & Anderson AS (2010) Neighbourhood Food Environment and Area Deprivation: spatial accessibility to grocery stores selling fresh fruit and vegetables in urban and rural settings. International Journal of Epidemiology, 39 (1), pp. 277-284. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyp221

Book Chapter

RFID: Transforming Technology?

Sparks L (2009) RFID: Transforming Technology?. In: Fernie J & Sparks L (eds.) Logistics and Retail Management. Third ed. London, UK: Kogan Page, pp. 233-252.

Book Chapter

Retail Logistics: Changes and Challenges

Fernie J & Sparks L (2009) Retail Logistics: Changes and Challenges. In: Fernie J & Sparks L (eds.) Logistics and Retail Management. Third ed. London, UK: Kogan Page, pp. 3-37.

Book Chapter

Tesco's Supply Chain Management

Smith D & Sparks L (2009) Tesco's Supply Chain Management. In: Fernie J & Sparks L (eds.) Logistics and Retail Management. Third ed. London, UK: Kogan Page, pp. 143-171.

Book Chapter

Tempertaure Controlled Supply Chains

Smith D & Sparks L (2009) Tempertaure Controlled Supply Chains. In: Fernie J & Sparks L (eds.) Logistics and Retail Management. Third ed. London, UK: Kogan Page, pp. 172-188.

Article

Total quality management in developing countries: A case of pharmaceutical wholesale distribution in Pakistan

Awan MU, Raouf A, Ahmad N & Sparks L (2009) Total quality management in developing countries: A case of pharmaceutical wholesale distribution in Pakistan. International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing, 3 (4), pp. 363-380. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?partnerID=yv4JPVwI&eid=2-s2.0-71949115954&md5=908e1686409da8f8d28d391201068954; https://doi.org/10.1108/17506120911006056

Research Report

Literature Review: policies adopted to support a healthy retail sector and retail led regeneration and the impact of retail on the regeneration of town centres and local high streets

Findlay A & Sparks L (2009) Literature Review: policies adopted to support a healthy retail sector and retail led regeneration and the impact of retail on the regeneration of town centres and local high streets. Scottish Government. The Scottish Government, Edinburgh. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/01/12112520/0

Book Chapter

Retailing

Sparks L (2008) Retailing. In: Baker M & Hart S (eds.) The Marketing Book. Sixth ed. Oxford, UK: Butterworth-Heinemann/Elsevier, pp. 602-628. http://store.elsevier.com/Butterworth-heinemann/IMP_30/

Book Chapter

L'impact de la reglementation sur les performances de la distribution et les relations entre les fabricants et les distributeurs au Royaume-Uni

Sparks L (2008) L'impact de la reglementation sur les performances de la distribution et les relations entre les fabricants et les distributeurs au Royaume-Uni. In: Colla E & Vidal F (eds.) Reglementation et commerce en Europe: Les effets de la reglementation sur les strategies et les performances des entreprises. First ed. Paris, France: Vuibert, pp. 31-56. http://www.vuibert.fr/ouvrage-9782711769377-reglementation-et-commerce-en-europe.html

Book Chapter

Managing and Working in the Food Retail Sector

Findlay A & Sparks L (2008) Managing and Working in the Food Retail Sector. In: Mulhern M, Beech J & Thompson E (eds.) Scottish Life and Society: A Compendium of Scottish Ethnology, Volume 7: The Working Life of the Scots. First ed. Edinburgh, UK: John Donald (an Imprint of Birlinn Limited), pp. 107-131. http://www.birlinn.co.uk/Scottish-Life-and-Society-The-Working-Life-of-the-Scots-9781904607854.html

Book Chapter

TESCO: Igirisuhatsu supaasutoa no hasya

Sparks L (2008) TESCO: Igirisuhatsu supaasutoa no hasya [TESCO: Every Little Helps]. In: Usui K (ed.) Yoroppa no toppu kouri gyo (The history of top retailers in Europe). Yokyo, Japan: Dhobunkun, pp. 51-81.

Book Chapter

Consumers and Shoppers

Dawson J, Findlay A & Sparks L (2008) Consumers and Shoppers. In: Dawson J, Findlay A & Sparks L (eds.) The Retailing Reader. First ed. Abingdon, UK: Routledge, pp. 9-27. http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415356398/

Book Chapter

Retail Branding and Marketing

Dawson J, Findlay A & Sparks L (2008) Retail Branding and Marketing. In: Dawson J, Findlay A & Sparks L (eds.) The Retailing Reader. First ed. Abingdon, UK: Routledge, pp. 101-122. http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415356398/

Book Chapter

Merchandising and Buying

Dawson J, Findlay A & Sparks L (2008) Merchandising and Buying. In: Dawson J, Findlay A & Sparks L (eds.) The Retailing Reader. First ed. Abingdon, UK: Routledge, pp. 211-233. http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415356398/

Book Chapter

Retail Strategy and Power

Dawson J, Findlay A & Sparks L (2008) Retail Strategy and Power. In: Dawson J, Findlay A & Sparks L (eds.) The Retailing Reader. First ed. Abingdon, UK: Routledge, pp. 273-288. http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415356398/

Book Chapter

International Retailing

Dawson J, Findlay A & Sparks L (2008) International Retailing. In: Dawson J, Findlay A & Sparks L (eds.) The Retailing Reader. First ed. Abingdon, UK: Routledge, pp. 342-363. http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415356398/

Commentary

When Tony met Bobby

Sparks L (2008) When Tony met Bobby. Environment and Planning A, 40 (12), pp. 2793-2799. http://www.envplan.com/abstract.cgi?id=a41271; https://doi.org/10.1068/a41271

Edited Book

The Retailing Reader

Dawson J, Findlay A & Sparks L (eds.) (2008) The Retailing Reader, First ed. London, UK: Routledge. http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415356398/

See all 209 outputs