• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.21-40
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• 2002

The purposes of this study were to examine the conceptual structure of consumer characteristics and marketing elements affecting impulsive buying behavior of the CATV home-shopper on fashion products, and to compare the differences of consumer characteristics and marketing elements between impulsive buying shoppers and non-impulsive buying shoppers in CATV home-shopping. We collected data from 263 females of CATV home-shoppers in Busan. Data were analyzed by factor analysis, t- test, $\chi$2-test, and discriminant analysis. The results showed that the exploratory tendency of CATV home-shoppers was consisted of Patronage-orientation, and Product- orientation. The marketing elements perceived by CATV home-shoppers were composed of Promotion, Product and Payment method. There were differences of consumer characteristics and marketing elements between impulsive buying shoppers and non impulsive buying shoppers. Especially, impulsive tendency of shoppers and promotion factor of marketing were significant variables in the impulsive buying behavior of CATV home-shopping. The results provide information about impulsive buying behavior in CATV home-shopping, useful to consumer behavior researchers and retailers.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.105-118
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• 2015

Purpose - The objective of this study is to verify whether there are differences between Korean and Chinese consumers in the importance of the attributes such as shopping value and loyalty in social commerce. With the purpose of finding out these differences, the following questions are set up as research questions. First, will there be a difference between Korea and China in the importance of attributes of social commerce? Second, will there be a difference between Korean and Chinese consumers in shopping value? Third, will there be a difference between Korean and Chinese consumers in their loyalty? Research design, data, and methodology - The researchers collected data through self-administered questionnaires from Korean and Chinese consumers who had used social commerce within the past six months before answering the questionnaire. First, for social commerce users in Korea, comprising male and female university students in Chungcheong, a questionnaire was circulated. For social commerce users in China, university students within Beijing were surveyed. Responses to 336 questionnaires were used, excluding those with no answers or unreliable answers. Data coding and data cleaning were used. SPSS 18.0 was used. First, exploratory factor analysis is done to verify the validity of testing tools, and Cronbach's α coefficient is used to verify credibility. For factor analysis, the Varimax method is used. To verify the internal consistency reliability of each factor, the Cronbach's α coefficient is used to verify the credibility. Second, a T-test is done to verify differences between Korean and Chinese consumers for the importance of attributes. Third, ANOVA (Analysis of variance) is done to verify differences between Korean and Chinese consumers in shopping value and loyalty. Results - When Korean and Chinese consumers use social commerce, first, the importance of the attributes of social commerce is affected by four factors; playfulness and economic factors are more important to Korean consumers than Chinese consumers. As for informativeness factors, including product information and quality, and buyer comments, there was no confirmed difference between Korean and Chinese consumers. The convenience factor is more important to Chinese consumers than Korean consumers. Second, the factors affecting shopping value for Korean and Chinese consumers were hedonic shopping value and rational shopping value. To see the difference between Korean and Chinese consumers in shopping value factors, a t-test is conducted. As a result, in the rational shopping value factors of social commerce, Korean consumers scored higher than did Chinese consumers. These results were verified to be meaningful through statistics. In the hedonic shopping value factor of social commerce, Korean consumers scored higher than Chinese consumers. These results showed a significant difference. Third, loyalty in social commerce is higher for Chinese consumers than for Korean consumers. However, there is no difference in loyalty depending on sex. Conclusions - These results will hopefully be valuable and used in the future by Korean companies that wish to enter the Chinese social commerce market.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2015

Purpose - The objective of this study is to verify whether there are differences between Korean and Chinese consumers in the importance of the attributes such as shopping value and loyalty in social commerce. With the purpose of finding out these differences, the following questions are set up as research questions. First, will there be a difference between Korea and China in the importance of attributes of social commerce? Second, will there be a difference between Korean and Chinese consumers in shopping value? Third, will there be a difference between Korean and Chinese consumers in their loyalty? Research design, data, and methodology - The researchers collected data through self-administered questionnaires from Korean and Chinese consumers who had used social commerce within the past six months before answering the questionnaire. First, for social commerce users in Korea, comprising male and female university students in Chungcheong, a questionnaire was circulated. For social commerce users in China, university students within Beijing were surveyed. Responses to 336 questionnaires were used, excluding those with no answers or unreliable answers. Data coding and data cleaning were used. SPSS 18.0 was used. First, exploratory factor analysis is done to verify the validity of testing tools, and Cronbach's α coefficient is used to verify credibility. For factor analysis, the Varimax method is used. To verify the internal consistency reliability of each factor, the Cronbach's α coefficient is used to verify the credibility. Second, a T-test is done to verify differences between Korean and Chinese consumers for the importance of attributes. Third, ANOVA (Analysis of variance) is done to verify differences between Korean and Chinese consumers in shopping value and loyalty. Results - When Korean and Chinese consumers use social commerce, first, the importance of the attributes of social commerce is affected by four factors; playfulness and economic factors are more important to Korean consumers than Chinese consumers. As for informativeness factors, including product information and quality, and buyer comments, there was no confirmed difference between Korean and Chinese consumers. The convenience factor is more important to Chinese consumers than Korean consumers. Second, the factors affecting shopping value for Korean and Chinese consumers were hedonic shopping value and rational shopping value. To see the difference between Korean and Chinese consumers in shopping value factors, a t-test is conducted. As a result, in the rational shopping value factors of social commerce, Korean consumers scored higher than did Chinese consumers. These results were verified to be meaningful through statistics. In the hedonic shopping value factor of social commerce, Korean consumers scored higher than Chinese consumers. These results showed a significant difference. Third, loyalty in social commerce is higher for Chinese consumers than for Korean consumers. However, there is no difference in loyalty depending on sex. Conclusion - These results will hopefully be valuable and used in the future by Korean companies that wish to enter the Chinese social commerce market.

• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.61-86
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• 2002

The number of people who perform their banking business on Internet has been increasing drastically during the recent period and the trend still continues. Banks and other types of financial institutions are now competing intensely with each other in attracting customers to this new innovative banking service. The marketers in charge of formulating and implementing the strategies for this new banking business need to understand the behavioral factors as well as the technical factors in order to succeed in attracting more customers to this new service. products. A deep understanding as to why and how the customers are adopting the new service developed on information technology is a prerequisite for a successful marketing effort. The purpose of this dissertation is to find out what factors are playing important roles in the customers'decision related to the adoption of the Internet banking services. The focus of the research is threefold. First. by testing the hypotheses proposed by the Technology Adoption Model, a well-known theory in the IT-related behavioral science, an analysis was made as to which factors are more important in affecting the attitudes and adoption of the Internet banking on the part of customers. Secondly, an analysis was made as to whether the three criteria of the Technographics- -the attitude toward new technology, level of income, and the motivational factor- -are useful as the criteria for segmenting the Korean users of the online banking. Thirdly, an analysis was made as to whether each customer group segmented by the criteria of the Technographics reveal a differential decision process and thus requires a differential approach strategywise.

• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.21-60
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• 2010

In recent retail environments, multichannel customer management increasingly has been considered a key element of successful CRM. Although customer's multichannel usage is believed to be potential cause of customer loyalty, the theoretical explanation about this causal relationship still remains unexamined and unanswered. In this paper, the authors present a systematic framework to test the postulated "multichannel usage-shopping experience-customer satisfaction" chain. To this end, we examine that the two core components of shopping experience(convenience and enjoyment) is a mediator of the direct causality of multichannel usage(based on both information search and product purchase stage) on customer satisfaction. Moreover, the authors examine that two types of customer-firm relationship characteristics(relationship age and purchase frequency) is a moderator of the multichannel usage-shopping experience relationship. Using integrating data with survey and customer database of multichannel retail company, the authors empirically test and substantiate shopping experience's mediating role in the multichannel usage-customer satisfaction relationship and customer-firm relationship characteristics' moderating role in the multichannel usage-customer experience relationship. These results suggest that multichannel retailers should deliver favorable shopping experience for building customer satisfaction and differentiate shopping experience according to customer-firm relationship characteristics.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.57-70
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• 2015

Purpose - Open source software has high utilization in most of the server market. The utilization of open source software is a global trend. Particularly, Internet infrastructure and platform software open source software development has increased rapidly. Since 2003, the Korean government has published open source software promotion policies and a supply promotion policy. The dynamism of the open source software market, the lack of relevant expertise, and the market transformation due to reasons such as changes in the relevant technology occur slowly in relation to adoption. Therefore, this study proposes an assessment model of services provided in an open source software service company. In this study, the service level of open source software companies is classified into an enterprise-level assessment area, the service level assessment area, and service area. The assessment model is developed from an on-site driven evaluation index and proposed evaluation framework; the evaluation procedures and evaluation methods are used to achieve the research objective, involving an impartial evaluation model implemented after pilot testing and validation. Research Design, data, and methodology - This study adopted an iteration development model to accommodate various requirements, and presented and validated the assessment model to address the situation of the open source software service company. Phase 1 - Theoretical background and literature review Phase 2 - Research on an evaluation index based on the open source software service company Phase 3 - Index improvement through expert validation Phase 4 - Finalizing an evaluation model reflecting additional requirements Based on the open source software adoption case study and latest technology trends, we developed an open source software service concept definition and classification of public service activities for open source software service companies. We also presented open source software service company service level measures by developing a service level factor analysis assessment. The Behavior-Structure-Evolution Evaluation Model (BSEM) proposed in this study consisted of a rating methodology for calculating the level that can be granted through the assessment and evaluation of an enterprise-level data model. An open source software service company's service comprises the service area and service domain, while the technology acceptance model comprises the service area, technical domain, technical sub-domain, and open source software name. Finally, the evaluation index comprises the evaluation group, category, and items. Results - Utilization of an open source software service level evaluation model For the development of an open source software service level evaluation model, common service providers need to standardize the quality of the service, so that surveys and expert workshops performed in open source software service companies can establish the evaluation criteria according to their qualitative differences. Conclusion - Based on this evaluation model's systematic evaluation process and monitoring, an open source software service adoption company can acquire reliable information for open source software adoption. Inducing the growth of open source software service companies will facilitate the development of the open source software industry.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2015

Purpose - Despite the structural irrationality of multi-level transportation and the oil price rise, the domestic freight transportation market continues to grow, mirroring the rise in e-commerce and resultant increase in courier services and freight volumes. Several studies on courier services have been conducted. However, few studies or statistics have been published regarding regular freight services although they have played a role in the freight service market. The present study identifies the characteristics of regular freight service users to seek competitiveness enhancement measures specific to regular freight services. Research design, data, and methodology - IPA is a comparative analysis of the relative importance of and satisfaction with each attribute simultaneously. This study used IPA because it facilitates the process of analyzing importance and performance, deriving implications and a visual understanding of results. To enhance the competitiveness of regular freight services, this study surveyed its current users regarding the importance of the regular freight service factors. A total of 200 copies of a questionnaire were circulated and 190 copies were returned. In addition to demographics, respondents answered questions about the importance of and satisfaction with services on a 5-point Likert scale. Excluding 3 inappropriate copies, 187 out of 190 copies were analyzed. PASW Statistics 18 was used for statistical analysis. A total of 20 question items were selected for the service factors presented in the questionnaire based on the 1st pilot survey and previous studies. Results - According to the IPA performed to compare the importance of and satisfaction with service factors, both importance and satisfaction are high in the 1st quadrant, which involves the economic advantage of using regular freight services, quick arrival at destinations, weight freight handling, and less time constraints on freight receipt/dispatch. This area requires continuous management. Satisfaction is higher than importance in the 2nd quadrant, which involves the adequacy of freight, cost savings over ordinary courier services, notification on freight arrival, and freight tracking information. This area requires intensive investment and management. Satisfaction is lower than importance in the 3rd quadrant, involving the credit card payment system, courier delivery service, distance to freight handling sites, easy access to freight handling sites, and prompt problem solving. This area requires further intensive management. Both importance and satisfaction are low in the 4th quadrant, involving the availability of collection service, storage space at freight handling sites, kindness of collection/delivery staff, kindness of outlet staff, and easy delivery checks. This area is a set of variables should be excluded from priority control targets. Conclusions - Based on the IPA, service factors that need priority controls because of high importance and low satisfaction include the credit card payment system, delivery service, distance to freight handling sites, easy access to freight handling sites, and prompt problem solving. The findings need to be applied to future marketing strategies for regular freight services and for developing competitiveness enhancement programs.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.17-29
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• 2014

Purpose - The use of corporate social activities to implement the concept of corporate social responsibility enhances brand equity and attitude, and strengthens economic competitiveness. In areas such as mobile communications, companies take the responsibility of protecting customers and enhance the quality of the mobile communication service, helping to make an effort to obey the regulations of the public trade order and fair trade agreement, enabling a healthy society through communication with elderly living alone or youths without parents, and enhancing marketing strategies. Research design, data, and methodology - To test the hypothesis, a survey was conducted. The surveyed population includes people who use the big three mobile communication services. The survey was conducted from October 4th to October 14th, 2013. A total of 500 survey questionnaires were circulated and 483 were collected; out of these, 32 were excluded due to missing or incomprehensible information. The data was analyzed with SPSS 18.0 via frequency analysis, trust analysis, search factor analysis, relationship analysis, confirmation factor analysis using AMOS 18.0, and structural equation model analysis. Results - Research on corporate social responsibility has been frequently conducted recently. Companies are perceived as social constituents satisfying the social desires of people in addition to customer needs. Further, companies are returning profits to society to satisfy community needs, because there is greater emphasis on the social responsibilities of companies. Companies' social responsibilities should include marketing strategies and the identification of customer needs. This study shows that social service activities influence brand value, which influences customer attitudes; therefore, social service activities indirectly influence customer attitudes. In order to increase customers' purchasing intention, it is essential to improve brand image via social services and provide a distinctive quality of service. Conclusions - This research has used the purposive selection method in the empirical analysis to identify the effect of social services on brand value and customer attitude. Therefore, this study revealed that businesses, whose ultimate objective is to improve customers' purchasing intention, should promote their brand equity through corporate social responsibility activities and offer a distinct service quality. Limitations in the progress of research were found and future indications to overcome these limitations are suggested as follows. First, survey responders had a limited understanding of social responsibilities; therefore, this concept needs to be explained to people first. Second, the research was done on people who live in Daejeon; thus, it is not representative of the entire country. The research has to be repeated with people in other cities. Third, there is a limitation in the study because the purposive selection method was used on Daejeon customers. In the future, a more precise selection of the population is needed. Fourth, Daejeon has unique geographical and size characteristics. Thus, customers in Seoul and other areas may display different characteristics and research on them may reveal different findings. Therefore, again, this study has to be repeated in other areas.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.5-15
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• 2014

Purpose - The method of TV home shopping is a kind of retail method that provides the viewer with information about products and, further, sells the products to consumers through the media of television. The domestic home-shopping industry has been expanding since 1995, and there are six companies in this arena as of 2012. In this study, we evaluate the management efficiency of TV home-shopping companies and provide suggestions for improving efficiency, using the DEA (data envelopment analysis) model. Hence, we expect to contribute to the progress of the companies' efficiency and the development of the TV home-shopping industry, where deepening competition is inevitable because it is experiencing the maturing market stage in its life cycle. Research design, data, and methodology - Efficiency is the ratio of the quantity of input to the quantity of output of a product or service. It is necessary to estimate aggregate inputs and aggregate outputs, which are calculated by applying a weighting to a number of input and output factors, to measure the efficiency. The DEA model is divided into the CCR model and the BCC model. The CCR model is a basic model that assumed constant returns to scale (CRS), and the BCC model extends the CCR model to accommodate technologies exhibiting variable returns to scale (VRS), and concerns only the technical efficiency without considering the efficiency of returns to scale. In this study, we consider six companies each year from 2008 to 2012 as a DMU (Decision Making Unit) and analyze the differences in efficiency for each company in each year. Furthermore, we evaluate the operating characteristics of TV home-shopping companies, using three models, in accordance with the overall performance, profitability, and marketability of the business. Results - The result of the analysis, using DEA models, shows that Hyundai Home Shopping (2009, 2010, 2011), GS Home Shopping (2011), NS Home Shopping (2011) and CJ O Shopping (2012) possess MPSS (most productive scale size), with a score 1.0 in CCR, BCC, and scale efficiency. Particularly, Hyundai Home Shopping is shown to be the most efficient in terms of overall business performance, marketability, and profitability. The overall efficiency of the home shopping industry has displayed an increasing trend since 2008, even though it decreased marginally in 2012; further, we can observe that home shopping companies operate with increasing efficiency with the passage of time. Conclusions - Home shopping companies have focused on market expansion rather than profits, as they displayed better efficiency in marketability than increase in profitability during the period 2008-2012. In addition, the main reason for the increased efficiency in the home shopping industry is the market expansion through the revenue increase of each home shopping company. This study can be used as a reference when home shopping companies attempt to devise future strategies, as it suggests efficiency benchmarks and development levels for each home shopping company.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.83-90
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• 2014

Purpose - Increasing sales of PB rice products can hinder the growth of domestic brands of rice, notwithstanding that the government is promoting domestic brands of rice. This analysis evaluated the influencing relationship among the variables of PB image, product credibility, and purchase intention of consumers who have never bought PB rice, to know the factors influencing consumers' decisions to purchase PB products. Research design, data, and methodology - PB products' brand image was analyzed as the factor that has a direct effect on purchase intention. The mediation effect of credibility on PB products is also analyzed, in terms of influencing the relationship between PB products' brand image and purchase intention. The analysis is performed on consumers that have not purchased a PB product and consumers who have purchased PB products from major distributors. Data is collected through questionnaires, from 389 of responders, and the AMOS 19.0 statistics package is used as a statistical tool. Results - It is proven that brand image has direct effects on the credibility of the product, and the credibility of product has a direct effect on purchase intention. However, it is revealed that brand image does not directly affect purchase intention, but that brand image indirectly affects it through the credibility of the product. Although the customers' recognition about PB image is low, the result shows that PB products' external attributes have effects on customers' purchase intention relating to the PB product. Therefore, it is important to establish the credibility of the PB product more than other products in terms of marketing. Conclusions - The following are the implications of the study. First, in a rice brand promotion, the credibility of the product should be ensured by a uniform brand image. To ensure the credibility of a product, the RPC brand and other brands should be unified, and the unified brand image should be applied to every product. Second, the package must possess a design as well as contents that could build consumers' perception of product credibility. Products' external attributes contribute to their credibility, which leads the consumers to purchase the products, including those consumers who have never bought PB rice products. Therefore, the products' credibility and sales can be reinforced by applying information about consumers' considerations when buying the PB rice product in different colors, font sizes, and packaging designs. This study is meaningful in two ways. First, it seeks to identify an NB revitalization strategy by exploring the purchasing behavior of customers who have no experience in buying PB rice products. Second, the results of previous studies about general brands are considered and applied in this study in order to investigate the influencing relationship among different factors of PB products. However, this study is a consumer awareness investigation; therefore, its results only have limited meaning to the relationship between brand image and purchase intention.