Building Mini-Categories in Product Networks
Social and Information Networks
2015-01-29 v2
Abstract
We constructed a product network based on the sales data collected and provided by a Fortune 500 speciality retailer. The structure of the network is dominated by small isolated components, dense clique-based communities, and sparse stars and linear chains and pendants. We used the identified structural elements (tiles) to organize products into mini-categories -- compact collections of potentially complementary and substitute items. The mini-categories extend the traditional hierarchy of retail products (group - class - subcategory) and may serve as building blocks towards exploration of consumer projects and long-term customer behavior.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1501.02311,
title = {Building Mini-Categories in Product Networks},
author = {Dmitry Zinoviev and Zhen Zhu and Kate Li},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1501.02311},
year = {2015}
}
Comments
Accepted to CompleNet, March 2015, NYC, NY, USA; 12 pages, 4 figures