• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.85-94
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• 2015

Purpose - This study attempts to examine the impacts of consumers' perceived service convenience of retailers on various service performance metrics such as service quality and customer satisfaction. It also tries to investigate differences in the importance of service convenience dimensions on service performance between a department store and a general super market. Research design, data, and methodology - The four hypotheses in this study were proposed and tested. Two hypotheses were on the causal relationships between service convenience dimensions and service performances (service quality and customer satisfaction). The other two hypotheses were on comparisons for the effects of convenience dimensions on service quality and customer satisfaction between department stores and general super markets. To test the hypotheses, three department store chains (Hyundai, Lotte, and Shinsegae department Store) and three general super markets (E-mart, Homeplus, and Lotte mart) were involved. Overall, 510 usable responses were used. The data were analyzed using regression analysis. Results - The results largely support the hypothesized relationships of the proposed model. The results show that access convenience, transaction convenience, benefit convenience, and post-benefit convenience have positive influences on service quality, whereas decision convenience, access convenience, transaction convenience, benefit convenience, and post-benefit convenience have positive effects on customer satisfaction. Furthermore, the results show that there are differences between department stores and general super markets in the effects of benefit convenience and post-benefit convenience on service quality as well as the effects of transaction convenience and post-benefit convenience on customer satisfaction. Conclusions - The concept of service convenience is important in retail environments but little is known about this topic in retail literature. Specially, while service convenience dimensions have different impacts on service performance in distinct retail environments, there has been little investigation or comparison between retail types as regards service convenience. This study is the first to test the differences between distinct retail types (department stores and general super markets) on the service convenience-service performance links. Managerially, the findings of this study suggest that the service convenience management of retailers is an important part of successful service performance management. Because it is most important that both department stores and general super markets enhance benefit convenience to improve service performance, managers of both store types need to invest their resources to reduce consumers' perceived time and effort expenditures to experience the retailer's core benefits. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that retail stores should spend human and financial resources to enhance customer perceptions of service convenience, while also considering what constitutes the service outcome in the consumer's mind. Furthermore, the findings suggest that managers need to use different service convenience management tactics in department stores and general super markets. Specifically, managers in general super markets should pay more attention to benefit convenience and transaction convenience to achieve better service performance whereas managers in department stores should concentrate on post-benefit convenience to create customers' positive evaluation.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.49-57
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• 2017

Purpose - In Korea, general super markets have a great impact on the market performance of traditional markets. We propose a modified two stage DEA model for evaluating the performance of traditional markets in Incheon, Korea by identifying the influence of external environmental factors including the presence of general super markets as non-discretionary variables in DEA. Research design, data, and methodology - After obtaining bias-corrected estimates of original DEA efficiency scores using the input and output data of 49 traditional markets, we regress them on several external environmental factors by bootstrap-truncated regression. Results - We obtain bias-corrected efficiency scores from the original DEA efficiency scores by bootstrap and among the five environmental factors, the residential population and the presence of general super markets or SSMs can be considered as the driving forces influencing bias-corrected efficiency scores, positively and negatively, respectively. Conclusions - When DEA efficiency scores tend to be overestimated, we need to use a biased-corrected efficiency score by bootstrap. It is important to note that the efficiency of traditional markets can be largely influenced by external environmental factors such as the presence of general super markets or SSMs that traditional markets can not control. Therefore, it is desirable to consider such environmental factors appropriately for a reasonable performance evaluation.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.93-99
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• 2015

Purpose - It has been argued that the regulations restricting entry and opening hours of General Super Markets and Super Super Markets have not been as effective as expected. In contrast, the win-win item scheme that appeared recently has the advantage that it could raise the effectiveness of the system in that win-win items are in principle resigned on the basis of bilateral agreements. This study analyzes the win-win item agreement made between Homeplus at Hap-jung and small traditional markets to examine the practical effectiveness of the win-win item scheme. While existing literature studying the regulatory effects have concentrated on the restrictions around store entry or opening hours of large retailers, it can be said that there have been few empirical studies on the effect of win-win items agreement with large retailers. Research design, data, and methodology - Homeplus at Hap-jung made a win-win items agreement with nearby small traditional market traders in 2013. In accordance with this voluntary agreement, Homeplus started by limiting its sales to 15 win-win items. The survey was conducted through one-on-one interviews, April 14 to May 2, 2014, by a professional public opinion research agency. The interviews were targeted at small business retailers in the nearby traditional market. We divided the traditional markets near Homeplus at Hap-jung where the win-win item agreement was achieved into two groups, win-win item agreement markets and non win-win item agreement markets, to compare the performance difference between the two groups. Results - To determine the change in sales of the 15 win-win items, we examined the performance difference between the two groups using two criteria (compared with similar items, and compared to sales volume a year ago). The results show that the individual sales of win-win items in the win-win item agreement markets are more likely to increase than in the non win-win item agreement markets. Total sales volume of individual stores in the agreement markets also showed a more significant increase compared to a year ago than those in non win-win item agreement markets. Conclusions - Contrary to the existing retail regulations that have one-sided and uniform characteristics, it can be pointed out that the win-win item scheme has the effect of increasing the success of the system itself because it is done on the basis of mutual agreement between General Super Markets and traditional markets. The empirical results of this study can be said to support this conjecture. For the successful settlement of a win-win items agreement, the following points should be reviewed. First, it requires a great effort from the selection process of win-win items in order to improve the effectiveness of the agreement. Second, the existing General Super Markets customers should be introduced to the traditional markets or small shops to increase the sales of win-win items. Therefore, voluntary effort is essentially required from the traditional markets to engage customers.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.37-46
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• 2017

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that cause consumers to frequently visit large - Super Store and goods for large - scale retailers using Super Store. Research design, data, and methodology - The purpose of this study is to present the empirical analysis of 53 adult males and females living in the Mokpo area on the relationship between perceived level of satisfaction and loyalty of the large - scale marts. The results were analyzed. The statistical data of the questionnaire were verified by the SPSS. Results - In the empirical analysis of this study, four variables were found to be the main loyalty factors, which were found to affect the satisfaction of Super Store and the decision to return again. Therefore, in this study, the quality of goods, price, diversity, and image were analyzed as loyalty factors, and it was analyzed as factors influencing satisfaction. It was confirmed that loyalty factors were important. In particular, consumers' perception of behaviors such as local specialties and community service that can be distinctly differentiated from other distribution agencies was very low. Conclusions - It is necessary to construct a comprehensive systematic system to analyze the detailed factors influencing the satisfaction and loyalty of users of Mokpo ticket consumers and to systematically manage and evaluate them. In order to raise awareness of consumer loyalty factors, consumer satisfaction and loyalty survey should be regularly conducted. Consumers should look for ways to improve them and develop improvement plans. The various direct and indirect services provided by Super Store to consumers include price, quality, assortment, customer service, accessibility, and feelings for large marts. However, since the services provided by the Super Store are different from those of the consumers, the loyalty factors for the different factors can be different. Therefore, in order to differentiate them from traditional markets or other distribution centers, it It should be used as a weapon of competition. In this study, it is generally recognized that the services provided by Super Store are very simple and inexpensive, so that consumers are not aware of the difference of particular stores.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.419-425
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• 1995

General views of 1,436 housewives respondents through the country on commercial kochujang (fermented hot pepper-soybean paste) were surveyed by questionnaires. The 65.0% of total respondents had experience of purchasing commercial kochujang on the market, mostly super market (43.0%) of respondents, and the respondents who has job and live in apartment purchased the commercial products more often than the others (80.5%). The reason for purchasing commercial products were convenience (36.1%) and short of time (13.0%). The critera for purchasing commercial product were previous experience (40.1%) and well known trademark (20.6%) and not for purchasing were concerning of noxiousness (29.2%) and inferior taste (25.0%). Respondents prefered glass packing (44.3%) and plastic bottle (20.2%) of 500 g pack for single usage (42.3%). The most important standards for kochujang taste were pungency (59.1%) and savory taste (28.6%). The problems indicated to commercial products were inferior taste (32.2%), especially too sweet (52.6%), and safety (20.6%).

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.165-171
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• 2020

Maintaining steady and low temperature during distribution process is a key technique to inhibit microbial growth, one of the most important factors in determining the shelf life. It is possible to provide high-quality fresh products to consumers only when precise and adequate temperature control is guaranteed throughout the entire distribution process for fresh seafood. This study investigated the shelf-life of packaged fresh flounder (Paralichthys Olivaceus) in order to learn the feasibility of super-chilled distribution of fresh seafood. To estimate the shelf life, weight, number of bacteria such as E. coli, pH, sensory test and volatile basic nitrogen were investigated. As a result of the study, the difference in shelf life of 6 days at the super-chilling temperature (0±1℃) and 1 day at the general refrigeration temperature (8±2℃) (based on volatile base nitrogen) showed the market possibility of super-chilling distribution. Through additional empirical studies such as packaging methods and economic feasibility, it is expected to promote commercialization of super-chilling containers and packaging system developed in the future and secure customer reliability.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.93-103
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• 2015

Purpose - This study plans to adopt a more sophisticated approach toward service recognition by customers in general supermarkets in order to revise the service quality measurement methods that suit the context of Korean distribution channels. In particular, in general supermarkets, where much of the shopping process is in the form of self-service, there is high reliance on the service recognized by the consumers; therefore, it is highly likely that consumers would make their purchasing decisions based on their recognition of service quality or guarantees. It also utilized service quality elements of a basic level in the KD-SQS development model in order to indicate that the quality recognized by consumers impacts their loyalty to the stores with financial value and abstract value. Research design, data, and methodology - The study suggested a theoretical model comprising 13 hypotheses on relations between theoretic variables, and conducted surveys with consumers using discount stores in Seoul and Gyunggi Metropolitan area in order to verify the hypotheses, while using SPSS 20.0, AMOS 21.0 as the verification program. The survey sheets used amounted to 332, and a structural equation model was used to analyze the reliability and validity of constituent elements and to verify the suggested hypothesis. Therefore, this study analyzes the interrelations between service quality and guarantee factors in the distribution channel and their relations with the loyalty to stores as a dependent variable. Results - First, the results of the hypotheses tests helped identify the relations between service quality, service guarantees, service value, and customer loyalty, providing an opportunity to define the relations between constituent elements. In particular, service convenience in service quality has no impact on financial values. Further, stores' service policy had no impact on abstract values. Service recognition by service convenience has an impact on abstract values such as good image, comfort, and usability, while mileage systems promote financial values for consumers. In order to improve consumer values in service quality and values, general supermarkets should improve their service convenience, membership, and mileage programs using various strategies. Conclusion - In order to improve consumer values in service quality and values, general supermarkets should improve their service convenience, membership, and mileage programs using various strategies. Further, as service guarantee systems have a significant and direct impact on customer loyalty, rather than customer value recognition, service guarantees should be used to encourage customers to re-visit the stores. Finally, this study applied the findings of preceding studies in terms of service quality measurement; it had limitations in referencing preceding studies in a comprehensive manner. It also had limits in expanding upon various preceding studies because it was difficult to apply new measurement tools due to the lack of service quality measurement tools for general supermarkets. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct more studies on service quality to measure service quality and develop measurement tools by incorporating various industry characteristics.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.47-53
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• 2013

Purpose - Six months have passed since the amendment of the SSM regulation law; however, as yet, there is no confirmed research or report on the effects of this amendment, which are indefinite. Further, there have been no attempts to study the effects of the SSM regulation law from the consumers' viewpoint, which is important because consumers are the main agents that are greatly influenced by the amendment law. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the consumers' attitude toward the SSM regulation law as well as the effects of the SSM regulation law on the changes in purchase behavior. Research design, data, and methodology - This study was initiated from four research problems that are linked to consumer reaction to the SSM regulation law. Research problem 1: What is the consumers' reaction (perception, attitude, and perceived fairness) to the SSM regulation law? Research problem 2: How do the consumers' reactions to the SSM regulation law differ by consumers' characteristics? Research problem 3: Could the SSM regulation law change a consumer's purchase behavior? Research problem 4: Is it necessary to amend the SSM regulation law? This study collected the data through the interview and survey of housewives for the purpose of solving the research problems. The interview was conducted as a pilot study for the field survey. We interviewed three housewives, who were: an employed housewife, a full-time homemaker, and a manager of a housewife club, respectively. We then conducted a field survey of 232 housewives who were housewife club members or elementary school parents in Chunghcheong-do. Results - We verified the reliability and validity of the data, and analyzed it to solve the research problems. The main findings of this study were as follows. First, consumers still have a positive attitude toward large discount chains and SSM, which has been the case since the law was introduced. Second, perceived risk of consumers associated with traditional markets and small neighborhood shops was low. Third, consumers think that amendments of the SSM regulation law are important, and they positively assess the satisfaction, necessity, and propriety of the law. Fourth, although the SSM regulation law caused inconvenience to consumers, this law did not have any influence on the usage frequency and the use-behavior of large discount chains. Finally, consumers reacted very negatively to the toughening up of the SSM regulation law. Conclusions - In short, consumers still have a positive attitude toward the SSM regulation law. However, this act did not have any influence on the use-behavior of large discount chains (General Super Market). Thus, policy making authorities require active communication and promotions to enhance the effect of the SSM regulation law. This study was of the nature of exploratory research, which did not focus on hypothesis testing, but on finding solutions to the research problems. Therefore, this study is no more than a simple data analysis. Future studies should attempt to investigate the actual effects of the SSM regulation law, on the basis of sufficient literature review and real sales data.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2010

This study is for finding out the relationship between reactions on POP per consumer purchase trends and major factor for making final purchasing decisions after being exposed to POP from large supermarkets. The following results were obtained after the research. First, consumers displayed higher reaction scores on End-Cap in general among POP advertisements. The factors for making final purchase decision are in the order of function > price > brand for household electrical goods, price > design > function for sundry goods and design > price > function for clothing (including bedding). Second, the results of analyzing the differences based on age on impulsive purchase showed that the lower the age the higher the tendency. Unplanned purchase trend also showed higher when younger. The results of this study showed that there are discrepancies in the theory related with existing POP advertisements, that is, the theory that impulsive purchasers have higher POP responses.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.7-15
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• 2016

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to study the relationships among store image, customer satisfaction, behavioral intentions (BI) and fast distribution in shahrvand chain super market in Tehran. Research design, data, and methodology - The 300 samples were from all the customers of Shahrvand chain stores. Since the present study aimed to explore the relationship between store image, customers' satisfaction, customers' behavioral intentions, and the proximity of shops to customers with considering determination for the influence of each factor, the customers of Shahrvand chain stores were randomly asked to comment on this issue. Results - Attitude to services and merchandising are positively associated with their positive store image. Besides, positive store image has a positive relationship with customers' behavioral intentions and customers'satisfaction. The relationship between fast distribution and customers' satisfaction is significantly positive. Conclusions - Several studies have shown that, in general, store image is important to attract and retain customers. This paper depicts the specific influences of image specifically on customer satisfaction and behavioral intention. Factors related to image have been discussed as their attitudes which touch areas of organizational behavior that have been embedded in the model, and it contributes to the originality or the value of the study.