• The Korean Journal of Franchise Management
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.61-73
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• 2011

Supermarket Franchising, as a relatively new mode of retail business, is often regarded as one of the two hallmarks of the "Modern Logistics Revolution". After more than ten years of development, franchise supermarkets have been a rising force in retail business in China. As a product of a highly-developed commercial economy, franchise supermarkets mainly deals in foodstuffs and other daily necessities, featuring low cost, high turnover rate, low prices and diversified inventory. Propelled by the conveniences that come with open shelves and self-service shopping, franchise supermarkets have been growing very rapidly and the rise of many franchise supermarket brands bears testimony to its growth potential and profitability. Meanwhile, in the backdrop of this boom, some franchise supermarkets are going bankrupt. This paper analyzes the current status of franchise supermarkets and some factors bearing on their core competencies, so as to close the competitiveness gap with international retail giants.

• The Korean Journal of Franchise Management
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.113-129
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• 2013

The realization of agricultural modernization, the solving of the "three rural" issue as well as the increment of farmers' income is one of China's top priority. Thus, under the support and encouragement of government's relevant policies, China has introduced the "Supermarket-Farmer Direct Purchase" which is a new mode for the supply of agricultural products. This is an innovative of agricultural products circulation mode, and the comprehensive promotion will help supermarkets get cheap goods directly from the hands of farmers, thus forming price competitiveness; farmers can also get profits and subsidies from supermarkets which can eliminate middlemen's profit, thus increasing their revenue; consumers can both get a guarantee of food safety and save expenses, and the win-win situation for the supermarkets, farmers, and consumers will be achieved. However, the dilemma between "farmers having difficulty in selling" and "supermarkets having difficulty in buying" is still frequent. So in this thesis, through theoretical research and situation analysis, each relevant part of the "Supermarket-Farmer Direct Purchase" mode will be studied as a whole. Moreover, effectiveness will be evaluated and relevant problems will be identified. Then, based on foreign experience and our national conditions, new modes and advice will be provided for users in different circumstances.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.43-53
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• 2014

Purpose - This study suggested a practical model for super supermarkets (SSMs) and small- and medium-sized stores to grow together. Super centers expanded their business. However, after the retail distribution law was revised in 2009, mutual cooperation between large and small enterprises resulted in social issues and people raised the issue of profitability. Research design, data, and methodology - This study investigated cases of regulation over distribution in Japan, France, and other countries to reveal implications and recommendations. Results - This study demonstrated how SSM and middle and small supermarkets could grow together by franchising and using cooperative society law. Franchising was a mutual growth model whereby the franchiser provided franchisees with large enterprise systems and utilities while franchisees could provide the franchiser with local information. They could thus build trust in each other to facilitate a mutual growth model. Further, the voluntary franchise system's model facilitated the mutual growth model. Conclusions - This study demonstrates that the franchise system and cooperative society could constitute an ideal model whereby large enterprises and middle and small stores could rely upon each other and grow together.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.47-54
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• 2011

This paper presents exploratory research on consumer awareness and attitudesabout organic food, for which consumer demand continues to increase the paper also assesses consumers' organic food distribution channel preferences. By conducting a literature review, a case study has been carried out in order to glean customer behavior, market condition and typesof distribution channels, and development of specialty stores for organic foods. The early research indicates that consumer awareness and customer attitudes toward organic food are mostly positive however, organic food's high price, as well as a lack of organic food stores, cause a negative effect on consumers' purchase intention. Secondly, the U.S. organic food retail channel consists of such mainstream supermarket/grocery stores and leading natural and organic food supermarket chains as Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and Sunflower Farmers Market. For the current retail distribution of organic food in Korea, off-line stores are composed of direct management stores and franchise chains. Most of the organic food retail distribution operates through the Internet shopping mall, and are commonly located at retail distribution centers as multi-channel, shop-in-shop stores. Moreover, unlike in the U.S., association and consumers' cooperatives (Co-Ops), and such other member-direct retail stores as Hansallim, iCOOP, Nature Dream,and online shopping malls, are all active in Korea. Thirdly, as a result of an analysis of the present state of the organic food retail channel, as well as building a case for organic food specialty stores, the distinctive featuresand rapid growth of such unique organic food stores as Whole Foods Market, or Trader Joe's successful downsizing strategies, as well as Sunflower Farmers Market low-price approach, show steady industry growth. Moreover, as a result of a case studyof such domestic representative organic food specialty stores as "Olga" and "Chorokmaeul," a similar management style to the United States' "Whole Foods Market" and "Trader Joe's," respectively, can be seen. Similar to the U.S. market, Korean organic food markets should also implement active retail distribution opportunities, allowing consumers to select from various diverse and differentiated choices. In order to accomplish this goal, it is necessary to prepare such measures as sustaining reasonable prices, securing various suppliers for unique products,and improving consumer trust through advertisement strategies that are suitable for each company's branding processes.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.223-241
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• 2014

In May 2012, the collaboration of Hana Bank, top financial service company, and SK Planet, top telecommunication service provider, introduced a new credit card that was filled with all-in-one benefits into the market. Leveraging strong infrastructure of two companies, each top in its own industries, the awareness and preference of 'Club SK Card' brand rapidly increased to about 25% in less than one year. Moreover, this new card was enthroned in the most sold credit card of year 2012, accounting for a market share of 7.2% in the credit card market and more than 80% in the mobile credit card market. To make these results possible, 'Club SK Card' marketing team developed an effective marketing communication strategy which followed the 6M model. The mission of the marketing communication strategy was simple and clear. It was to deliver the card's inherent strengths on consumer benefits that come from the support of subsidiary and affiliated companies of SK Planet. According to OK Cashbag data, the marketing communication team selected the appropriate target consumers and approached them directly, inducing actual purchase behavior. The target consumers received straightforward messages about 'Club SK Card' and were led to join in the new membership at their most frequently visited supermarket or franchise restaurant. The straightforward communication message embedded in an eye-catching commercial ad with a hook song accompanied with a dance was delivered via public media. The ad became so popular that many other television programs quoted or made parodies of the ad. Courtesy of the commercial ad, the brand name disseminated rapidly and widely among the public. In October 2012, an ingenious planning and persistent implementation of the communication strategy results 'Club SK Card' to be ranked top in brand awareness as well as advertising preference tests.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.68-92
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• 1995

Recentry the structure of the retail trade have been chanaed with its environmantal changes. Some studies may be necessary on the changing process of environment and fundamental structure analyses of the retail trade. This study analyzes the location of retail trades, inhabitants' behavior in retail tredes and their desirable utilization scheme of them in Kwangju-si. Some study methods, contents and coming-out results are as follows: 1. Retail trades can be classified into independent stores, chain-stores (supermarket, voluntary chain and frenchiise system and convenience store), department stores, cooperative associations, traditional, markets mail-order marketing, automatic vending and others by service levels, selling-items, prices, managements, methods of retailing and store or nonstore type. 2. In Kwangju, the environment of retail trades is related to the consumers of population structure: chanes in consumers pattern, trends toward agings and nuclear family, increase of leisur: time and female advances to society. Rapid structural shift in retail trade has also been occurred due to these social changes. Traditionl and premodern markets until 1970s altere to supermarkets or department stores in 1980s, and various types, large enterprises and foreign capitals came into being in 1990s. 3. The locational characteristics of retail trades are resulted from the spatial analysis of the total population distribution, and from the calculation of segregation index in the light of potential demand. The densely-populated areas occurs in newly-built apartment housing complex which is distributed with a ring-shaped pattern around the old urban core. The numbers and rates of the aged over sixty in Kwangsan-gu and the circumference area of Mt.Moodeung, are larger and higher where rural elements are remarkable. A relation between population distribution and retail trade are analysed by the index of population per shop. The index of the population number per shop is lower in urban center, as a whole, being more convenient for consumers. In newly-formed apartment complex areas, on the other, the index more than 1,000 per shop, meeting not the demands for consumers. Because both the younger and the aged are numerous in these areas, the retail trade pattern pertinent to both are needed. Urban fringes including Kwangsan-gu and the vicinity of Mt.Moodeung have some problems owing to the most of population number per shop (more than 1, 500) and the most extensive as well. 4. The regional characteristic of retail trade is analyzed through the location quotient of shops by locational patterns and centerality index. Chungkum-dong is the highest-order central place in CBD. It is the core of retail trades, which has higher-ordered specialty store including three big department stores, supermarkets and large stores. Taegum-dong, Chungsu-dong, Taeui-dong, and Numun-dong that are neiahbored to Chungkum-dong fall on the second group. They have a central commercial section where large chain stores, specialty shopping streets, narrow-line retailing shops (furniture, amusement service, and gallary), supermarkets and daily markets are located. The third group is formed on the axis of state roads linking to Naju-kun, Changseong-kun, Tamyang-kun, Hwasun-kun and forme-Songjeong-eup. It is related to newly, rising apartment housing complex along a trunk road, and characterized by markets and specialty stores. The fourth group has neibourhood-shopping centers including older residential area and Songjeong-eup area with independent stores and supermarkets as main retailing functions. The last group contains inner residential area and outer part of a city including Songjeong-eup. Outer part of miscellaneous shops being occasionally found is rural rather than urban (Fig. 7). 5. The residents' behaviors using retail trade are analyzed by factors of goods and facilities. Department stores are very high level in preference for higher-order shopping-goods such as clothes for full dress in view of both diversity and quality of goods(28.9%). But they have severe traffic congestions, and high competitions for market ranges caused by their sma . 64.0% of respondents make combined purpose trips together with banking and shopping. 6. For more efficiency of retail-trading, it is necessary to induce spatial distribution policy with regard to opportunity frequency of goods selection by central place, frontier regions and age groups. Also we must consider to analyze competition among different types of retail trade and analyze the consumption behaviors of working females and younger-aged groups, in aspects of time and space. Service improvement and the rationalization of management should be accomplished in such as cooperative location (situation) must be under consideration in relations to other functions such as finance, leisure & sports, and culture centers. Various service systems such as installment, credit card and peremium ticket, new used by enterprises, must also be carried service improvement. The rationalization and professionalization in for the commercial goods are bsically requested.