Typically bound by short-term leases, displaying products made by others, and run by first-time entrepreneurs with limited capital, shopping mall carts and kiosks have long been considered an unsophisticated small-business underclass. More recently, however, these small-footprint retailers have come to be seen as possessing surprising potential.

Retail organizations are facing a seismic shift in the markets they serve - from multiple channels to international expansion. But are the systems in place to fulfill orders and manage returns across this altered and highly complex landscape?