• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.23-32
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• 2021

Purpose: By integrating multiple separate online, offline distribution channels, omnichannel distribution has modernized and revolutionized the retailing sector. Omnichannel distribution supports firms by delivering seamless shopping experiences for customers throughout all touchpoints of the shopping journey. This paper aims at exploring the impact of channel integration quality on customer experience and patronage intentions in the omnichannel distribution context. Research design, data and methodology: An online survey was taken with 351 omnichannel experienced shoppers by utilizing the structured questionnaire. The partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and Smart PLS software were employed to analyze and test proposed hypotheses. Results: The findings reveal that channel integration quality dimensions including breadth of channel-service choice, transparency of channel-service configuration, content consistency, and process consistency, play crucial roles in the customer shopping experience. The perceived compatibility has been influenced by the integrated interactions in which content consistency and process consistency. The findings also demonstrate the positive and direct impact of perceived compatibility on customer experience, and both factors have substantial effects on customers' patronage intentions. Conclusions: This study sheds light on the literature on channel integration quality, omnichannel retailing experience and customer patronage. In addition, this study provides practical implications for omnichannel retailers in enhancing customer experience and patronage.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.45-61
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• 2020

As consumers have transformed into the influential entities in the recent consumption environment, it needs a new concept to describe their characteristics. Drawn on the notion of smart consumer experience, this study views the multiple traits of new consumers as consumer smartness. Therefore, elaborating the concept of consumer smartness, this study aims to develop its measurement and validate it by examining the relationship with external variables. Two online surveys were conducted by a professional survey company that had nationwide consumer panels. A total of 531 adult consumers who had purchased fashion goods online completed a self-administered questionnaires. A series of exploratory and confirmative factor analysis generated 21 measuring items with six underlying constructs of consumer smartness such as innovativeness, opinion leadership, self-disclosure, marketing literacy, dissatisfaction, and technology sophistication. In order to validate the measurement, this study conducted a Pearson's correlation test and structural equation modeling analysis with consumer smartness and external constructs. The result shows that there was a significant positive relationship between consumer smartness and behavioral intentions online. In addition, consumer smartness influenced their shopping and sharing intention which supported the validity of new measurement of consumer smartness. This study provides a theoretical and empirical ground of understanding consumer smartness as new consumer characteristics in the changing environment of fashion retailing.

• Fourth Industrial Review
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2021

Purpose - Faced with the great change of the 4th industrial revolution and the addition of the COVID-19 pandemic, great confusion and crises are occurring in the retail environment as well. The purpose of this study is to suggest the necessity of establishing a methodology for applying retail tech to offline distribution channels in crisis. Research design, data, and methodology - After examining the recent developments of representative fields to which retail technology is applied, it is rearranged through consideration through previous studies. Result - The retail industry must transform into digital commerce through digital transformation. According to the development of retail technology, the distribution industry is at a time of change from the stage of brokering product and service transactions to a structure that creates value based on information on production and consumption. The business model of the distribution industry must be converted to a platform business model in which both consumers and producers become users. Conclusion - In-depth analysis of the cases has not been conducted, and there are limitations in that the development is somewhat insufficient due to insufficient prior research data. However, it is meaningful to suggest the necessity of finding a methodology for applying retail technology to overcome the crisis of offline retailers through quantitative research on the retail technology area.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.1-11
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• 2022

Purpose: This study attemptsto investigate the moderating effects of environmental turbulence (ET) between learning orientation (LO) and SMEs' performance. Research design, data, and Methodology: To gain insights and provide implications for manufacturing SMEs in Pakistan, this study adopted simple random sampling to collect 379 valid responses. Data were collected through a self-administrative questionnaire from manufacturing SMEs owners/managers. Partial least squares of structural equation modeling have been used to test research hypotheses by using SmartPLS® 3.0 software. Results: The study's primary finding is that LO has a significantly positive effect on SMEs' performance and this relationship is strengthened under the moderating influence of environmental turbulence (ET). Conclusion: Environmental turbulence (ET) enables SMEs to focus on learning capability to get a more competitive advantage. Moreover, SMEs owner/managers ought to emphasize continuous learning that accentuates the capability to compete with environmental changes. Findings support notifying Pakistan's Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA) in dealings with Manufacturing SMEs in terms of improving their internal capabilities. This research contributes to the literature as it provides a more detailed and in-depth explanation of distribution management-related issues faced by SMEs. This research carries a significant influence on literature and relevant Resource-based view and contingency theories.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aims at understanding the impacts of three omnichannel attributes (channel transparency, channel uniformity, channel convenience) and four customer perceptions (perceived innovativeness, perceived personalization, perceived risk, perceived credibility) on customer experience and channel selection decision. Research design and methodology: A quantitative online survey with 356 shoppers was executed. The partial least squares linear structural model (PLS-SEM) and Smart PLS were adopted to analyze the collected data and test the proposed hypotheses. Results: The research findings indicate four dominant results: (i) The customers' channel selection is directly determined by customer experience; perceived innovativeness; perceived personalization; perceived risk; and perceived credibility; and (ii) among these, the perceived risk shows negative impact on the customer's experience and customers' channel selection whereas others reveal the positive status; (iii) The customer experience represents the most decisive impact on the channel selection, then perceived personalization, perceived credibility, perceived innovativeness, and perceived risk. (iv) Three proposed channel attributes (transparency, uniformity, convenience) significantly influence the overall customer experience. Conclusions: This research adds to the body of knowledge in omnichannel retailing, customer experience, and customer channel selection. Furthermore, this research provides omnichannel retailers with practical implications for improving customer channel selection.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.103-113
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• 2024

Purpose: With the popularity of artificial intelligence (AI) in the service industry and occurrence ofservice failures in AI-based services, understanding human-robot interaction issues in service failure situations is especially important. Some issues which deserve further empirical investigation are whether consumers can develop the same tolerance for chatbots after service failure as they have for human agents, and the relationship between agent type and tolerance is mediated by the mechanisms of perceived warmth and perceived competence. Research Design, Data, and Methodology: This research experimentally collected and analyzed data from 119 university students who had experienced chatbots service failures. Differences in tolerance towards human agents and chatbots after experiencing service failures were explored, with a further examination of the mediating pathways between this relationship via perceived warmth and perceived competence. Results: Consumers are more tolerant ofservice failure with chatbots compared to service failure with human agents. Significant mediation of the relationship between service agent and service failure tolerance by perceived competence, while perceived warmth has no significant mediating effect. Conclusions: This research enhances our understanding of AI-assisted services, human-computer interaction, improves the service functionality of existing smart devices, and deepens the understanding of the relationship between consumer responses and behaviors.

• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1-27
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• 2012

Conceptualization of store image have been suggested in the past by many marketing scholars. The dominant perspective about store image is treated as the results of a multi-attribute model. Store image is expressed as a function of the salient attributes of a particular store that are evaluated. Though, there is a little confusions about what elements compose the store image, most scholars agree that merchandise, service, atmosphere, physical facilities, comfort, and location are generally accepted elements as store image. A considerable researches support that shopping can provide both hedonic and utilitarian value. Hedonic shopping value reflects the value received from fantasy and emotive aspects of shopping experience, while utilitarian shopping value reflects the acquisition of products. These two types of shopping value can affect shopping satisfaction. This study examines the relationships among stores images(store atmosphere, salespeople services, facilities, product assortment, and store location), shopping values(utilitarian shopping value and hedonic shopping value), and shopping satisfaction based on discount stores (E-Mart, Home plus, and Lotte Mart). The author hypothesized that five store image components affect shopping values, and these shopping values affect shopping satisfaction. The author focused on the roles of perceived retail crowding between these relationships. Specifically, the author hypothesized that perceived retailing crowding moderated the relationship between shopping values and shopping satisfaction. The author also hypothesized the direct effect of perceived retail crowding on shopping satisfaction. Finally, the author hypothesized that five store image components affect directly shopping satisfaction. Research model is presented in