• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1721-1732
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• 2007

This study identified types of information source, and explored a path model for consumer information search by shopping attributes in the context of online decision making. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires during regularly scheduled classes. A total of 219 usable questionnaires were obtained from respondents who enroll at universities in the southwestern region of the United States. For data analysis, factor analysis and path model estimation were used. Consumer information source was classified into three types for online clothing purchases: Online source, Offline retail source, and Mass media. Consumers were more likely to rely on offline retail source for online clothing purchases, than other sources. In consumer information search by shopping attributes, online sources were more likely to be related to transaction-related attributes(e.g., incentive service), whereas offline retail source(e.g., displays in stores, manufacturer's catalogs and pamphlets) were more likely to be related to product and market related attributes(e.g., aesthetics, price) when purchasing clothing online. Also, the path model emphasizes the effect of shopping attributes on traditional retailer search behavior, leading to online purchase intention for clothing. This study supports consumer information search by attributes, and discusses a managerial implication of multi-channel retailing for apparel.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.88-103
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• 2017

The rapid growth in the popularity of social media sites has meant that social media has become an important communication channel for brands. Brands create brand pages on social media to cultivate positive and strong relationships with consumers. This study seeks to enhance our understanding of how fashion brand pages in social media foster consumer-brand relationships by exploring the factors that affect the development of consumer-brand relationships. Drawing on the parasocial interaction theory, this study proposes parasocial interaction as a key factor of this process. Specifically, this study proposes four antecedents (vividness, interactivity, social presence, and focused attention) of consumers' parasocial interaction with brand pages, which further affects consumer responses in terms of affective engagement and brand loyalty. An online survey was administered with consumers who have followed and visited at least one fashion brand page via a social networking site (SNS). Structural equation modeling revealed that consumers' perceptions of vividness, interactivity, social presence, and focused attention on a fashion brand page positively affected their feelings towards parasocial interaction with the brand page, which in turn led to their affective engagement with the brand page and consequent brand loyalty. These findings suggest that consumers build relationships of varying degrees with brand pages in a similar manner to that with people, which leads to their development of a positive relationship with the brand. This study concludes with discussions and practical implications.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.386-395
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• 2014

This study was to identify underlying dimension of marketing strategy, and to examine effect of the marketing strategic factors on store affect, brand attitude, and brand loyalty in global and domestic SPA brands. Based on pilot study, four SPA brands of which consumers were most aware were selected: Korean SPAs (e.g., Codes-Combine, Basic House) and global brands (e.g., Zara and Uniqlo). A self-administered questionnaire was developed based on literatures. By using intercept survey, 421 respondents were obtained from consumers shopping at the selected SPA retail stores located in cities (Seoul, Daejon, Chongju) in Korea. Result showed that SPA brand marketing strategy consisted of four factors: Product differentiation, store location, in-store VMD, and price value. The marketing strategic factors had partially significant effects on brand attitude, store affect and store loyalty. However, there was significant differences in those effects between global and Korean SPA brands. Specifically, the effect of in-store VMD on brand attitude was higher in Korean SPA brands, whereas the effect of price value was higher in global SPA brand. Also, the price value was significant predictor of store affects in global SPAs, while in-store VMD was significant predictor of store loyalty in Korean SPA brands. This study discussed a managerial implication for creating brand attitude and emotional responses, which obtains comparative advantages in the competing marketplace.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.192-205
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• 2011

This study analyzed the registration of patent and utility models by fashion firms in Korea. A total of 2,291 registration cases of IPC A41B-H from the period of 1996 to 2009 were collected by KIPRIS of the Korean Intellectual Property Organization (KIPO). All cases were analyzed by year to review the longitudinal trend and 481 cases of IPC A41B (shirts, underwear, baby linen, and handkerchiefs) and 1088 cases of IPC A41D (outerwear, protective garments, and accessories) were analyzed by content (provided benefit type and developing method), by detailed product items and the characteristics of the applicant. The results of this study were as follows: 1) Registration of IPC 41 increased steeply by the year (especially since 2006) and the patent registrations increased more than those in the utility model. 2) Analyzing the application content of A41B on the basis of benefit showed that 75% were to provide new functions and the rest were for health. In terms of the developing method, 83% of benefit provided by the application were by design development, 11.2% were by material, and the rest was by process, In the cases of IPC A41D, 23.6% were for safety and protection. In terms of the developing method, the process and material development were more frequently adopted than in the cases of A41B. 3) The major product types of A41B were socks, underwear, and infant wear, whereas gloves and parts of clothing were major items in A41D. 4) In terms of the characteristics of the applicant, registration by firms was greater for patents than for utility models and registration by foreigners increased in 2006 due to the complete opening of the retail market. 5) Fifteen universities registered for a total 57 cases and major applications were for IT related clothing or high-tech protective items.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.70-83
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• 2021

Live-streaming commerce is attracting attention as a noticeable trend in the retail industry. It is a new mobile shopping service platform developed by combining live streaming with e-commerce technologies. This study examined the impact of para-social interactions on consumer impulse buying behavior and investigated the impact through task complexity as well as perceived amount of information. To achieve this goal, 203 women using a mobile commerce participated in an online survey after experiencing beauty live-streaming commerce. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0, AMOS 23.0, and SPSS PROCESS Macro program. The results of the study revealed that para-social interactions negatively influenced task complexity, positively influenced perceived amounts of information, and positively influenced impulse buying behavior. In addition, impulse buying behavior was negatively influenced by task complexity versus positively that was influenced by perceived amounts of information. The impact of para-social interactions on impulse buying behavior is mediated by task complexity and perceived information. The findings of this study contribute to the theoretical extension of para-social interaction on impulse buying behavior in the context of live-streaming commerce. The implications of the findings suggest practical marketing strategies for digital media commerce retailers.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.31-46
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to explore the ways of improving Korean apparel firms' competitiveness by examining the Korea's number one trading partner U.S. apparel industry. Especially, the Los Angeles area apparel industry which is the second largest and the primary market center on the west coast was analysed. The following strategies are suggested to Korean apparel firms to function more effectively in incleasingly competitive U.S. markets: l)Basics can be produced in lower wage countries meanwhile quick turnaround and high quality works can be produced either in Korea or U.S. 2)Manufacturers might try to have direct relationship with powerful retailers who have their own private labels of store-brand lines. 3)Apparel companies can open market showrooms in the California Market Center. For small firms they can contact with independent representatives who receive commissions for showing lines for manufacturers or rent space for showing the lines during market weeks. 4)Apparel firms can contact buying offices to introduce their products to retail buyers. 5)Korean firms can contact Korean-American apparel firms to gain easy access to U.S.Market.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.923-932
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• 2009

This study aims to present a marketing strategy in the infant wear market with regard to consumer segments by analyzing benefits infant clothing purchases. For this study the consumer's evaluation criteria, usage of information source and characteristics of purchase behavior were analyzed by clustered consumers' groups. The results of the study are as follows: 1) Four factors were revealed as the result of the factor analysis on the benefits in infant clothing purchases. The factors were labeled fashionability, brand value, individuality, and practicality. 2) The result of the cluster analysis showed that it was most appropriate to categorize consumers into four groups based on the benefits of infant clothing purchases. 3) There were a significant difference in evaluation criteria, usage of information source, and characteristics of purchase behavior in terms of buying plan, retail store, purchase frequency, amount money spent, named brand purchase, and vicarious satisfaction among the groups.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.400-411
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• 2015

Successful use of displays in stores arouses consumers' curiosity, and induces them to purchase a product after a visit. Facade is a word meaning an external front wall of a building, and is usually the first point of visual contact for the consumers. The present study is an empirical investigation of external appearance of a clothing store, with a $2{\times}2{\times}2$ factorial design of facade, show window, and wall surface material designed for the purpose of the study. Dependent variables were store image variables and attitude toward store. A total of 320 questionnaires from male and female consumers were used for the analysis. Facade type and material had significant main and interaction effects, while show window type had no meaningful effects overall. A facade of irregular design prompted significantly higher levels of perceived 'elegance', 'uniqueness', and 'attractiveness' of the store. Material itself did not have significant influence but did have significant interaction effect with facade design. The interaction effect was found in store attitude as well. In order to create a positive store attitude, a concrete material facade should have an irregular design. Companies owning fashion brands should carefully select facade type and wall surface material in the visual merchandising strategies of a store.

• International Journal of Costume and Fashion
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.29-45
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• 2014

In the contemporary world, fashionable bodies are socially constructed in light of current idealized images. Media portrayal of such images can have negative health implications. This issue has long been problematic for women. Nowadays, men are subject to more scrutiny regarding their bodies, although male body image has been studied far less than female body image. In this position paper based on a review of the major studies that have been conducted on men and body image, we summarize the findings from these state-of-the-art studies that have been recently published in academic journals. Three themes related to male body image were extracted: socio-cultural ideals, masculinity, and minority men. This study adds to the literature I that it demonstrates that men experience and view their bodies differently from women, though some behaviors, such as disordered eating, are similar. Other behaviors, such as the drive for muscularity, are couched in the context of the social construction of gender and power. Most of the studies were done on white, heterosexual populations of young men, and nearly all used quantitative research methods. Little research has been conducted on ethnic and sexual minorities. We conclude with a discussion of what we need to know, and to that end, we suggest future avenues of research.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.774-792
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• 2024

Unlike traditional retail formats, the metaverse offers diverse shopping experiences, ranging from content that mimics reality to content that transcends reality based on its characteristic of virtuality. This study elaborates on the concept of virtuality within store environments and investigates how the virtuality level of a metaverse store influences consumers' creative consumption by mediating the flow experience. Additionally, it examines the interaction effect of creative product-seeking tendencies and individual characteristics on the relationship between flow experience and creative consumption behavior. A web-based experiment was conducted on young Korean female adults who experienced metaverse shopping. Ninety-one samples were analyzed using exploratory factor and bootstrap analyses with SPSS Macro process Models 4 and 14. The findings demonstrate that store virtuality (low vs. high) increases consumers' purchase intentions of creative fashion items by enhancing their flow toward the shopping experience. Furthermore, the effect of flow experience on creative consumption is strengthened when consumers have low creative product-seeking tendencies. This study contributes to expanding the concept of virtuality in virtual retailing and provides insights for fashion retailers planning to create virtual shopping spaces within the metaverse platform.