This 4th edition of Retailing, like much of retailing itself, has undergone significant changes from prior editions. We have added many new and exciting features, but still kept the writing style conversational. In fact, given the influence of the Internet, the continuing growth of the service industry, and the many changes in the world's economic systems, there has never been a more exciting time to study Retailing. As a result, every chapter of this edition features boxes covering these three topics in addition to the in-depth coverage within the text that you the reader have come to expect. Each chapter also has a fourth box that provides the reader with the Inside Story behind some recent retailing activity. As a result, we believe that students and instructors will like this edition even more than they did the highly-successful first three editions. A major contributor of the new ideas in this edition is our new co-author, Professor David Griffith. Dr. Griffith's interests and insights into e-tailing and the global retailing environment helped provide new focus for the text. We also believe that the students will appreciate his youthful insight into the world of retailing. And, if you happen to see a lot of Disney in this text, its attributable to David, a self proclaimed Walt Disney junkie who has visited every Disney theme park throughout the world.