Get your International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management paper right the first time: a ready-made structure with the right abstract and citations, so editors see your science, not formatting slips.
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Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 17 August, 2026
Submitting to International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management guide for authors before peer review, so formatting, structure, and required statements should be right on the first draft rather than repaired during upload. This template sets that structure up for you.
It is a manuscript shell aligned to International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management. It covers front matter, the abstract the journal expects, a body organized to the journal's article types, and a reference list in the journal's required style. Confirm current scope and article types on the International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management journal page before you draft.
Prepare the title, authors, affiliations, and ORCID iDs. Write the abstract to the journal's rule and word limit, organize the body to the article type, and apply the required reference style from the first citation. Complete every declaration (ethics, competing interests, funding, data availability) the International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management guide for authors lists, and cite figures and tables in order.
The common failure modes are formatting or reference style that does not match the guide for authors, missing required statements, and an incomplete portal checklist. Clear all three against the International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management guide for authors before you submit.
The shell mirrors what editorial staff check first: article-type fit, the abstract rules, required declarations, and the journal's reference style. For more detail see the author resources. When your draft is ready, upload it through ScholarOne (Manuscript Central).
| Element | Int J Retail Distribution Manag requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Structured abstract required with four mandatory sub-headings: Purpose, Design/methodology/approach, Findings, Originality. Three optional sub-headings: Research limitations/implications, Practical implications, Social implications. Maximum 250 words in total, including keywords and article classification |
| Main text | Articles should be between 6000 and 8000 words in length. This includes all text: structured abstract, references, all text in tables, figures and appendices. There is a standard fixed allowance of 280 words for each Table, Figure, or Image |
| Declarations | Ethics approval/consent as applicable; competing interests; funding; data availability |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | Up to 12 appropriate and short keywords. The in-house editorial team may replace some with matching terms to ensure consistency across publications and improve visibility |
| References | Harvard style required. Authors may use any recognised Harvard style at submission; typesetters will adjust to Emerald's Harvard style if accepted. Specific Emerald Harvard format: (Author, year) for in-text citations; alphabetical reference list with full details including DOI where available |
| Peer review | Double-anonymous (double-blind) peer review process |
| Submission | mc.manuscriptcentral.com/ijrdm |
Read the International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management guide for authors once before drafting and once before upload. Draft the abstract after results are stable. Set the reference style before adding citations. Keep a cover letter that states your contribution and fit to International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management in under a page.
Skim two or three recent Int J Retail Distribution Manag papers to calibrate depth and figure style. Make the novelty clear in the first two pages. Deposit data and code when the policy on the International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management journal page requires it. Disclose any preprint or conference version with identifiers in the cover letter.
Do one focused pass against the International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through ScholarOne (Manuscript Central).