Innovations as a source of competitive advantages formation for retailers

Competitive edges of an enterprise depend on its ability to inculcate innovations. The types of innovations are determined according to the belonging of the enterprise to a specific industry. They reflect the features of the industry. In the article peculiar properties of trade and their progress trends which determine specific features of innovations are selected. The existent classifications of innovations are studied and expedience of their use the trade enterprises. The systematized classification is complemented the author signs: trade form, degree of market saturation, functional strategy, orientation, character of origin and introduction, subject of the initiative, type of services. The results of researches allow to co-ordinate innovative and other functional strategies, to manage of innovative activity of trade enterprises more effectively.