• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.85-91
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• 2016

Purpose - Prior research has suggested that consumers typically prefer to have a larger number of options. However, preference of assortment size may depend on how depleted resources in consumers' mind are. Reduced capacity for self-regulation by resource depletion makes people rely on more intuitive and less effortful decision processing. When they are mentally depleted, people are likely to focus on the choice difficulty from large assortment, which leads to preference for the small assortment when they make a decision. It could be an important question potentially how being in a depleted mode through effortful self-regulation will influence on the evaluation of assortment size. To answer this questioner, we hypothesized that being engaged in self-regulation, as compared with not being engaged in self-regulation, will influence on the evaluation of product assortment size such as attractiveness, difficulty of choice, and anticipated regret. Research design, data, and methodology - In this study, we first manipulated self-regulatory resource availability using a self-regulation task (i.e., instructing participants to solve Sudoku puzzle vs. to solve diagram cube by filling any diagrams that they prefer into cube instead of number) and asked to indicate the difficulty of the tasks available to them ("How much difficulty did you feel when you complete the task?") Next, participants were asked to imagine that they were planning to buy a laptop at one of the two stores (small assortment: 6 options vs. large assortment: 30 options), both offering good quality of products. After reading the product descriptions, participants were instructed to consider all the information and choose a store that they would like to shop. Finally we measured the choice difficulty, evaluation of product assortments, and anticipated regret on a 7-point scale. We conducted two-way ANOVA in testing the main hypothesis that depleted consumers will show poorer subsequent self-control than non-depleted consumers when they make a decision in large assortment. Results - Compared with non-depleted participants, depleted participants showed the bigger difference from the degree of choice difficulty and product attractiveness between large and small assortments, but the result revealed only a significant interaction effect of resource depletion and assortment size on choice difficulty. Also depleted participants showed the smaller difference from the degree of anticipated regret between large and small assortments than non-depleted participants. Conclusion - Depleted individuals by a prior task are relatively effortless and intuitive form of choosing products so that they try to avoid making effortful trade-offs among choice difficulty such as large assortment, compare with non-depleted individuals. However, for anticipated regret, non-depleted individuals in small assortment anticipate more regret by excluding or at least restricting the possibility of buying attractive items or another kind of potential items than depleted individuals, regardless less choice difficulty in small option. To sum up, it is important to note that individuals are influenced by self-regulatory resources and their self-regulatory conditions contribute to the overall positive or negative impact of product assortment on choice.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.45-52
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• 2016

Purpose - This study was conducted to present a study on the perception and satisfaction with the brand agricultural products targeted at consumers who use a lot of local products. According to the data of 2011, the total number of the brand agricultural products of Korea is 5,291 with various kinds. Research design, data and methodology - The survey shows that the brand agricultural products are being used by some specific people. However, it can be a useful idea which can help the consumption of brand agricultural products to be expanded if we understand how consumers' recognitions are different between various groups. For an empirical Analysis, the response data of 110 adult patients residing in the metropolitan area were used and conducted with a factor analysis, frequency analysis in order to ensure the validity and conducted a regression analysis and correlation analysis using SPSS statistical program. Results - According to the analysis, it showed consumers with an interest in brand agricultural products are 40-50 age housewives and the middle class of about 5 million won in monthly income more than 3 million won with a college education. As for consumers' purchasing status, all the subjects said that they had experienced buying brand agricultural products and the level of satisfaction for them was very high. Relatively, consumers' satisfaction level with high income and education is high. And recognition of the brand agricultural products was found mainly goes through word of mouth. The age and income are very important factors in customers' repurchase for brand agricultural products. The result of the analysis for the influences on brand agricultural products of customer satisfaction suggests even if the recognitions for safety, quality, and value are vital factors, the recognition of quality doesn't influence on brand agricultural products statistically and significantly. It was analysed if there were any differences between recognitions by group to brand agricultural products, that is to say recognition of safety, quality and value and the result can be summarized as follows. There are all statistical significant differences depending on their age, educational background and income. In the case of 30 or 40 aged, as they got the education level of college and graduate school and earned relatively high income, most customers have positive recognition on the brand agricultural products. This implies the group which can buy and consume the brand agricultural more easily has much more positive recognition. Conclusion - The results of this study shows consumers' brand awareness and satisfaction with brand agricultural products are affected by their age and income level. The purpose of this study is to find the information that can help brand agricultural products markets to be expanded by understanding the factors which encourage consumers to behave repurchase as well as customers' various levels of recognition to the brand agricultural products. The survey says that brand agricultural products are being used by some specific people.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.107-118
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• 2016

Purpose - Over 90% of Domestic logistics industry is small enterprise and they are experiencing growth stagnation due to price-based competition structure rather than constructing logistics service of high added value. In order to get over this situation and pursue the development of logistics industry, strengthening its competitiveness, through inter-enterprise cooperative network build-up, would be a key alternative. Therefore, in this study, an index for measuring inter-enterprise cooperation level of Joint logistics business will be developed as a typical collaborative business model in logistics industry. Moreover, a strengthening competitiveness method suggests a developmental step and a key management index to mature in logistics industry. Research Design, Data, Methodology - This study is an index development research for measuring inter-enterprise cooperation level of logistics industry. Such a level was measured by performing a survey by targeting enterprises that participated in Joint logistics business. The targeting enterprises are typical cooperative models in logistics industry. Measurement items were developed which were based on the presented items in existing research. Question items were composed of selection type questions as answering Yes/No. They measures implementation status of corporate activity and detailed activity items measuring qualitative level. Total samples were based on 116 enterprise samples including 90 logistics enterprises and 26 shippers. In addition, by evaluating the importance for Joint logistics business recognition with personnel working level, the weight of measuring variable was extracted. This study has built an assessment tools (LPCI) on Joint logistics business cooperation level in a situation where there are no previous studies on joint logistics business, this study is meaningful for other studies. Results - As a result of analyzing LPCI presented in this study, the score of logistics enterprise was represented as 59.9 points based on full score of 100 points and that of shippers as 47.2 points and cooperation level among enterprises participated in Joint logistics business was revealed to be very low. In particular, as a result of measuring the importance between logistics enterprise and shippers, the difference by each measurement standard was represented among those enterprises. This difference is considered to be a key factor that cooperative operational conformity between logistics enterprises and shippers is represented to be low. Conclusions - As most joint logistics business, being promoted at present, is sharing facility and information with joint logistics business, it is hard to find such a joint logistics business in reality based on cooperative business model in main cooperation agents. Therefore, competitiveness of logistics industry could be strengthened by promoting joint logistics business based on their mutual cooperation among enterprises. In other words, it is to secure sustainable competitiveness of joint logistics business together with creation of new market by inter-enterprise cooperation based on integration of basic logistics business.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.81-87
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• 2016

Purpose - In recent, a research finds that advanced selling can influence a consumer's choice(Kim et al., 2013). Advanced selling is defined as the new product launching strategy which company allows consumers to preorder new product before its release(Chu & Zhang, 2011). Prior researches have focused on the benefits of advanced selling(e.g., information gathering for demand prediction, an advantage for pricing strategy, and so on) for companies using this strategy(Chen, 2001; Chu & Zhang, 2011; Li & Zhang, 2013; Tang et al., 2004; Xie & Shugan, 2009). However, Kim et al.(2013) find it can also influence a consumer's choice. In detail, they suggest that when consumers use advanced selling, they are likely to prefer high-performance options rather than low-price options based on construal level theory(Trope & Liberman, 2003). In this paper, we tried to expand the prior researches for finding the mechanism of the influence of advanced selling on a consumer's choice. The purpose of this research is to test the mediating effect on the influence of advanced selling. Research design, data, and methodology - To find the mechanism of the influence of advanced selling, we designed an experiment for testing mediation effect. we recruited 93 students from a university. We assigned participants into one of two groups using randomization method. The participants with each group were given a scenario describing the sales strategy. Finally, they made a choice between high-performance option and low-price option. Sequentially, they also responded some questions for testing mediation effect. Results - First, we replicated prior research to test the influence of advanced selling. As a result, we could find that consumers prefer the high-performance option when they preorder it to purchase at the time of consumption. Thus, the replication result is the same as prior research. Second, we tested that advanced selling can influence the perception of temporal distance. The results confirmed that consumers perceived longer temporal distance in advanced selling condition(β = 1.575, SE = 0.272, p < 0.001). Third, we predicted that temporal distance can increase the importance of desirable attributes and decrease the importance of feasible attributes. The results suggested that temporal distance decreased significantly the importance of attributes related to feasibility(β = -0.19, SE = 0.07, p < 0.01), however, it had non-significant effect on increasing the importance of desirable attributes. Finally, we used Sobel-test for testing mediation effect, and it confirmed that the importance of feasible attributes had mediating role of the influence of advanced selling(Sobel test statistic = -2.110, SE = 0.111, p < 0.05). Conclusions - In this paper, we tried to find the mechanism of the influence on advanced selling from a consumer's choice. With an experiment, we confirmed that the importance of feasible attributes could mediate the effect on advanced selling. Therefore, we suggested some theoretical and practical contributions from this research. Finally, we discussed research limitations and suggested future research topics.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.45-52
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• 2015

Purpose - Augmented reality (AR) content used in mobile media today can accommodate a wide variety of contextual information. This indicates that making people experience a sense of presence and flow is a very significant factor in augmented reality content. Flow represents a rich immersion potential as representing the progress of emotion and the means to facilitate the operation of the smart phone. Therefore, users will have friendly relational continuance behavior with products and brands that supply this experience. Based on that, the purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships among smart phone AR application traits, presence, flow experience, and relational continuance behavior. First, AR application traits are defined as three categories sensory immersion, navigation, and manipulation, based on preceding studies. This study then examines the influence of AR application traits on the presence and flow experience and looks into the relation among presence, flow experience, and relational continuance behavior. This analysis suggests more detailed and concentrated strategic implications. Research design, data, and methodology - A research model is designed to examine the relation among AR application traits, presence, flow experience, and relational continued behavior. For data collection, questionnaire surveys were composed of multi-items for each component and the direct interview method was used for the interviews. To collect the data, after running the smart phone AR applications, the consumer behaviors of the respondents were generally determined. The questionnaire surveys were conducted for one month, October 2014. A total of 300 questionnaires were distributed with 278 questionnaires used for analysis, excluding the unanswered and insincere questionnaires. The data were analyzed using SPSS ver. 20.0 and LISREL ver. 8.51. Results - The following results are found: First, AR application traits have a significantly positive effect on presence with sensory immersion, navigation, and manipulation all having a significantly positive effect. Second, sensory immersion and manipulation among the AR application traits have a significantly positive effect on flow. However, navigation did not have a significantly positive effect on flow. Third, presence has a significantly positive effect on flow and has a significantly positive effect on relational continuance behavior. Moreover, flow also has a significantly positive effect on relational continuance behavior. This behavior tends to be formed since brands want to encourage relational continuance behavior and positive emotions with the brands being used. Relational continuance behavior accompanies repeat purchasing, positive word-of-mouth and recommendation activities, and forms of trust with the brand. Conclusions - The research results showed that smart phone AR traits had significantly positive effect on presence, flow, and relational continuance behavior. Based on this, smart phone AR application providers should establish an aggressive marketing strategy to accommodate more realistic problems in order to positively influence user behavior. Additionally, the marketers should make efforts to provide fun or convenience in the AR application operation process of the user.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.109-114
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• 2015

Purpose - The movie market has the characteristics of being a perfectly competitive market as well as a pure monopolistic market at the same time. This is because there are competitors in the industry but prices, although not fixed, have not changed a lot. Price competition may not have spread, but the competition is focused on artistic value, and the degree of box office success is most important. The artistic value is determined in the course of the production process. However, the degree of box office success is dependent upon the marketing manager. The marketing strategy represents the difference in the standard or quality of the movie. Inherently, the marketing manager adopts the entertainment strategy based on the quality of the foundation of the completed movie. At this time, the marketing manager knows the pertinent information (high quality/low quality) regarding the movie. This research study tries to reveal what should be the reasonable movie marketing expense, dependent on the quality of the movie. Research design, data, and methodology - Using a game scenario with different market players, the goal of the research analysis is to find out the following. First, the marketing expense is determined to maximize the profits after film production. Second, after the production costs are already committed, the manufacturer gets to choose the marketing level. At this time, there will be a profit maximization point, considering the competition. The premise of the research is as follows: if it is a good movie of quality, positive word of mouth increasing the audience continuously slows down the speed of the demand curve. If the movie quality is bad, the negative word of mouth decreasing the audience gradually hastens the speed of the demand curve. On the marketing side, when the manufacturer invests heavily in the marketing expense of the movie, consumer expectations increase to drive up the audience numbers. On the other hand, it is difficult to improve the profits excessively. When the manufacturer invests in marketing a little bit, the marketing expense is only relatively committed, therefore a lot of demand cannot be gained. Results - If a fixed market share is in a competitive situation, a low quality manufacturer expends relatively more marketing expense. If the situation assumes two manufacturers spend the same for the cost of production, the high quality manufacturer takes more profit. If the manufacturer expends less marketing budget to save costs, the optimum profit cannot be achieved since the other party (opponent) grabs the initial market share. Conclusions - In conclusion, investment is essential for market share to increase. We must refrain from a zero-sum game and have models where the game participants pursue the creative profits together. In the current film industry, there is the dominating logic of winner and loser but we have to create a film industry environment where the participants can be altogether satisfied and live together.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.87-96
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• 2015

Purpose - Several domestic telecommunication companies have made a considerable effort to continuously grow and survive, and they have strived to thrive in the midst of mature market competition. To overcome this challenging situation and to grow continuously, while still meeting customer needs that are becoming more diverse and complicated with the passage of time, extensive support for internal marketing is essential. Without such internal support, companies face serious limitations and market roadblocks. The communication industry is a high-level service industry and a basic communications industry characteristic is its significant dependence on the employees delivering the services. Therefore, entrepreneurs in the information/communications industry, as well as existing competitors, should look to satisfy external customers through critical investment in internal customers (employees). Therefore, it is important for research to examine how internal factors influence technology innovation and service quality, which are the key drivers for companies that are seeking leading market positions. Research design, data, and methodology - The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship of technology innovation and perceived service quality with the internal marketing factors in the communication industry and to offer suitable and effective internal marketing suggestions. The independent variables of this study are internal communication, education and training, the support of the executives, reward systems, and empowerment. The dependent variables are technology innovation and perceived service quality. Utilizing these, this paper studies the influence of internal marketing factors on technology innovation and perceived service quality. Results - The study results revealed the following. First, the identified internal marketing factors have a positive effect on technology innovation. Among the five internal marketing factors, three had a significant effect on product innovation, empowerment, the support of executives, and education and training, in this order. Second, the internal marketing factors also had a positive effect on the process innovation of technology innovation. The marketing factors, the support of executives, empowerment, internal communication, and education and training, in this order, significantly affect process innovation. Third, technology innovation had a positive effect on perceived service quality. All of the five service quality factors, namely, tangibles, reliability, assurance, responsibility, and empathy, in this order, significantly affect product innovation. Additionally, tangibles, reliability, responsibility, empathy, and assurance, in this order, significantly affect process innovation. Fourth, product and process innovation significantly affect tangibles and reliability in technology innovation. To enhance tangibles and reliability, process innovation should first be enhanced. Fifth, product and process innovation significantly affect responsibility and empathy in technology innovation. To enhance the responsibility and empathy, process innovation should first be enhanced. Sixth, product and process innovation significantly affect assurance in technology innovation. To enhance the assurance, product innovation should first be enhanced. Conclusions - According to the results, a company's internal marketing factors have a positive and significant effect on technology innovation and, further, product and process innovation have a positive and significant effect on the perceived serviced quality.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.107-118
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• 2014

Purpose - Due to the recent slowdown of growth in global luxury brands, which have been an engine of our domestic fashion market growth, there is an increasing need to develop a global market for domestic high-priced fashion brands. In spite of the large scale of trade between Korea and China with respect to fashion products, current trade concentrates on middle- and low-priced products rather than high-priced products. Diversification of the trade between Korea and China in terms of the price levels of trade products is needed. An understanding of Chinese consumption values and purchase intentions for luxury fashion brands will be very helpful for the establishment of strategies with the aim of increasing the level of trade with regard to high-priced fashion products. Therefore, the study aimed to identify the differences in the clothing consumption values of South Korean and Chinese women in their 20s, especially with reference to how those values affect their preference and purchase intention for luxury fashion brands. Research design, data, methodology - The study was implemented through a descriptive survey method using a self-administered questionnaire. The sample consisted of 283 Korean and 306 Chinese women in their 20s, residing in Seoul, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai. Data were collected from March 3 to 15, 2014. A total of 589 completed responses were analyzed. Data were analyzed by factor analysis, t-test, and multiple regression analysis. Results - Fivefactors for clothing consumption values were formulated: conspicuous/social value, fashionability value, personality expression value, hedonic value, and practical value. There were significant differences between Korean and Chinese consumers in clothing consumption values (except social value), preference, and purchase intention for luxury fashion brands. With regard to clothing consumption values, Chinese women attached more importance to fashionability value, personality expression value, hedonic value, and practical value than South Korean women. In addition, Chinese women's preference and purchase intention for luxury fashion brands were higher than South Korean women's. Second, in the case of South Korean women, social value, practical value, and fashionability value had positive effects on preferences for luxury fashion brands, while attractive/personality expression value and hedonic value had no influence. In contrast, in the case of Chinese women, social value and fashionability value had positive effects on preference for the luxury fashion brands. Third, in the case of South Korean women, social value and practical value had positive effects on purchase intentions for luxury fashion brands. In contrast, in the case of Chinese women, social value, personality expression value, and fashionability value had positive effects on purchase intention for luxury fashion brands. Conclusions - Considering the findings of the study, it is clear that differentiated marketing strategies are needed for luxury fashion brand markets in Korea and China. The results of the study could provide useful information that will help increase the effectiveness of luxury fashion brand marketing strategies in Korea and China.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.37-45
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• 2013

Purpose - Appropriate response to the fast changing economic environment determines SMEs' competiveness in the era of globalization and open market and, therefore, government policies to strengthen SME's competitiveness will be very important in the future. It is time to investigate the element of strategic orientation that is necessary for strengthening the competitiveness of SMEs, and its effect on the success of a business start-up. This study analyzes the network orientation in addition to existing strategic orientation, and focuses on price and quality management capability as mediators for strategic orientation and outcomes of business start-ups. Research design/data/methodology - The orientations of technology-based business founders were classified into market, technology, network, and entrepreneurial orientation. We then investigated the effect of these orientations on product price and quality management capability, as well as the influence of price and quality management capability on the outcome of a business start-up. This study is based on the nation-wide survey of the founders and members of technology-based business establishments. The survey was administered to 300 selected companies via email for a period of one month, at the end of which 175 companies replied with valid answers. Further, for effective and objective research, we used SPSS 14.0 and Amos 7.0 for structural equation modeling assumptions and hypothesis verification. Results - Except for entrepreneurial orientation, the other three orientations, namely, technology, market, and network orientations, affect the price management capability according to our results. The price management capability relates significantly with the sales and customer satisfaction. Especially, technology orientation is the core competency of start-ups that affects price and quality management capabilities. However, technology and entrepreneurial orientation do not influence the outcome of business start-ups, but affect their quality management capabilities. Conclusions - This study confirms that the strategic orientation affects product price as well as quality management capabilities, to introduce new products and achieve successful outcomes. In conclusion, new business founders face the dilemma of trade-off between price and quality in the planning stage of new product development. In particular, price management capability directly affects the outcome. Therefore, price management is more important for a successful start-up than quality management. Especially, during the initial stages of starting up a new business, price management capability entails following the market-leading company, or price penetration strategy. In this stage, price management is dependent on the information from outside rather than on the founder's decision, and it directly affects sales performance and customer satisfaction. In contrast, quality management capability is directly related to the technology capability and market experience of founders. In this case, subjective and proactive decision making is required for differentiation and development of demand in the niche market, which does not directly influence the sales performance and customer satisfaction.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.101-106
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• 2014

Purpose - This study reviews the achievements of a pilot project for the revitalization of a commercial district performed for three years after its establishment in 2011. The project for the revitalization of the commercial district was performed to create a new local community space in connection with the traditional market and nearby districts. Although it was a pilot project, the project for the revitalization of the commercial district has been performed for almost three years. Therefore, this seems a proper time to conduct an interim evaluation of the project. This study aims to review and evaluate how the government support policy is influential for the revitalization of the commercial district. In other words, this research aims to identify what projects positively affected consumers' intention to revisit the downtown commercial area among the commercial district revitalization projects-promotion events, promotion activities, education, merchants cooperation system, IT projects, cultural events, and residents' communication. Research design, data, and methodology - This study designated seven management improvement projects affecting commercial district revitalization based on preceding studies. The survey of the degree of satisfaction on seven management improvement projects was executed targeting consumers who visited the commercial areas. Additionally, visitors' revisit intentions regarding currently visited commercial areas were also investigated. Therefore, revisit intention was set as a dependent variable and the satisfaction degrees of the respective management improvement projects were set as the independent variables. A total of 1,209 consumers were examined in six districts in the country. Result - Multiple regression analysis results showed that cultural events, education, the merchants' cooperation system, and IT projects brought statistically significant effects to the revisit intentions of consumers. In contrast, promotion events, resident communication projects, and promotion activities did not affect the revisit intentions of consumers. Particularly, the residents' communication project did not show significant influence because of consumers' recognition that it is similar to a cultural event. Conclusion - The following implications for the revitalization of business districts in the urban central area are drawn. From a general perspective, the businesses of culture, education, and cooperative system among seven businesses play positive roles regarding the intention to revisit so that the project is required to be promoted periodically through unique performances differentiated for each district, the merchant training reinforced for professionalism, and the expansion of joint events of merchants. Moreover, the sales promotion project and public relations activity are shown to be not influential to the intention to revisit. Therefore, while short-term sales promotion such as one-time gift events are required, sales promotion and public relation activities to induce revisits by mileage savings and accumulated gift presentation to attract long-term customers are required. The IT business is positively influential to the intention of revisit. Therefore, detailed information on the revitalized commercial district should be provided and additional functions such as discount coupons for continuous utilization should be included in the mobile app and the website.