• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.570-583
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• 2020

The fashion industry is accountable for labor and environment-related issues. With such issues raised, consumers' social responsibility for environmental and labor issues has become an important factor that shapes the perception of companies. This study investigates the relationship between consumer values, concerns regarding social issues, and willingness to pay a premium for ethical fashion products. This study included two exogenous variables of altruistic value and egocentric value. In the conceptual model, consumers' social responsibility was conceptualized as two constructs of environmental consciousness and labor-issue consciousness. It was then analyzed as mediating variables. Willingness to pay a premium for ethical fashion products was the endogenous variable. Data was collected and analyzed with PLS-SEM from 600 consumers. The assessment of discriminant validity and construct validity using CFA were conducted before analyzing the model. Structural equation modeling results revealed that altruistic value directly influenced environmental consciousness and labor-issue consciousness. However, egocentric value was directly and significantly influenced only by labor-issue consciousness. Both environmental and labor issue consciousness directly influenced customers' willingness to pay a premium, but did not significantly change their willingness to pay a premium. Two-stage serial mediation analysis results indicated that the constructs did not have a significant mediation effect on the exogenous variables (altruistic value and egocentric value) and the endogenous variable (willingness to pay a premium) for ethical fashion products. This study found the influence of consumer's personal values on their willingness to pay a higher price for ethical fashion products.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.291-305
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to explore the consumer responses such as willingness to pay premium and purchasing cost for fair trade coffee as an ethical product while considering the treatment effect of consumer knowledge. First, the levels of consumer knowledge, willingness to pay premium and purchasing cost were presented. Then, the influencing factors on willingness to pay premium and purchasing cost of fair trade coffee were analyzed by applying the treatment effect model. From the results, first, the level of willingness to pay premium was high and consumers having purchasing experience of fair trade coffee spent 9,923 won at once, while less than half of the consumers knew the fair trade coffee. Second, consumer knowledge, ethical judgement, perception of price value, education level and pocket money significantly influenced to willingness to pay premium, while consumer knowledge, information evaluation, importance of fair trade criteria and level of education significantly influenced to purchasing cost for fair trade coffee. Especially, consumer knowledge of fair trade coffee was an important influencing factor for willingness to pay premium and purchasing cost indirectly as well as directly. Thus, this study might provide some useful information for consumers to choose the ethical behavior and the related companies to create effective promoting strategies for ethical products.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.201-220
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• 2024

Purpose: Smart farming is related to the low carbon certification system as it provides many opportunities to cultivate and manage crops in an eco-friendly, thereby reducing carbon footprint. However, there is a significant lack of consumer perception research on low carbon labels for smart farms vegetables. Therefore, this study aims to investigate consumer perceptions of smart farm vegetable and low carbon labels. Methods: This study manipulated cultivation type(general vs. smart farm) and low carbon labels (yes vs. no) as experimental stimuli. Measurement questions and the research model were validated through confirmatory factor analysis and reliability analysis. Hypotheses testing were conducted using SPSS 29.0, AMOS 28.0. Results: The results of the study showed no significant difference in consumers perceived naturalness based on cultivation types, and there was also no moderating effect of the low carbon label. There was no difference between environmental benefits and health benefits according to the cultivation type. Perceived naturalness had a significant effect on both environmental and health benefits, and environmental benefits showed a higher impact relationship. These benefits positively affected attitudes and willingness to pay a premium, Environmental benefits had a higher impact on attitudes, while health benefits had a higher impact on willingness to pay a premium. Lastly, attitudes were found to have a significant impact on the willingness to pay a premium. Conclusion: This study is valuable in that it investigated consumer perceptions of smart farms and low carbon labels that have not been previously studied. It compares the environmental and health benefits, confirming their influence on attitudes and willingness to pay a premium. The results suggest a potential expansion in academic research on smart farming and low carbon labels, offering practical insights for marketing strategies and policies for relevant companies.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-27
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• 2023

This study investigated Thai consumers' perception and willingness to pay for Korean paprika and tomatoes to establish effective export strategies, To this end, an online survey was conducted on 300 consumers living in Bangkok, Thailand, and the factors affecting the purchase intent and willingness to pay price premium for Korean paprika and tomatoes were analyzed. The results are as follows. First, Thai consumers usually buy fruit and vegetables offline, such as supermarkets and large discount stores, but not a few respondents obtained purchase information online. Second, the price competitiveness of Korean paprika and tomatoes is low to Thai products, and the quality, safety, freshness, and cost-effectiveness are similar or low to other exporting countries. Therefore it is important to improve non-price competitiveness using positive perceptions of Korean products and Korean Wave. Third, the most important reason why Thai consumers not buying Korean paprika and tomatoes is the lack of stores and high prices. Fourth, as a result of analyzing the factors affecting the purchase intent for Korean paprika and tomatoes, the strategy of selling paprika and tomatoes through supermarkets to consumers with high income is effective. Fifth, considering the factors of willingness to pay premium prices for Korean paprika and tomatoes, a high pricing strategy targeted consumers with high income and many family members is appropriate.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.127-145
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• 2014

This study aims to examine the effects of message framing of restaurant menus on customers' perceptions (trust and immersion) and their willingness to pay a premium price. The contents of messages focused on a hypothetical restaurant's cause-marketing activity. Four types of message framing were created: The first two types were varied by the presence and absence of the information about the current cause-marketing outcome, and the second two types were varied by positive and negative framing. The results showed that respondents in general had trust in cause-marketing messages and immersion of cause-marketing message by negative framing lead to positive influence of willingness to pay. Furthermore it had a significant effect on willingness to pay depending on cause-marketing message type and negative message framed messages showed an intention to willingness to pay a premium price. This study compared the difference in messages by type as an extension of the studies of cause-marketing messages in the past. The results of this study will be used for establishing effective marketing strategies for today's foodservice companies and serve as objective data for setting differentiated prices under the circumstance where the importance of companies' social responsibilities is growing.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.98 no.2
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• pp.203-211
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• 2009

The study was conducted to examine consumers' awareness and perceptions on forest certification and their willingness to buy and pay price premium for certified wood products especially for selected four wood products. A total of 136 residents in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province were interviewed in the autumn of 2008. Although only 24.3 percent of the consumers are aware of forest certification, 82.4 percent of the respondents recognized the need and significance of forest certification. In general, 77.2 percent of the respondents were willing to buy certified wood products. Majority of the respondents, 84 out of 136 respondents (61.8%) expressed their willingness to pay (WTP) from more than 0 percent to less than 10 percent. Consumers' average WTP for certified wood products was estimated to be 5.6 percent. From the results of the study, lower priced wood products, such as copier paper (WTP=9.8%) and wood frame (WTP=11.6%), have higher price premiums than high priced products, such as wood table (WTP=6.8%) and wood flooring (WTP=7.6%). In conclusion, there could be feasible markets for certified wood products in South Korea as four out of five consumer are willing to pay more for such products. For the forest certification system to be adopted and widely accepted, the perceptions of forest stakeholders including consumers should be further increased.

• Industry Promotion Research
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.77-92
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• 2024

This study analyzed the impact of ESG activities conducted by companies producing and selling hedonic products on customer equity (value equity, brand equity, and relationship equity) and, in turn, on consumers' willingness to pay a premium. To conduct the analysis, data from 250 respondents were processed using SPSS 28.0 and Smart PLS 4.0. The findings indicated that ESG activities enhance customer equity, which in turn increases consumers' willingness to pay a premium. Specifically, it was confirmed that ESG activities strengthen value equity, brand equity, and relationship equity, thereby fostering trust and emotional bonds with consumers. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that these ESG activities can have a long-term positive impact on consumer behavior, positioning them as a critical strategic element for the sustainable growth of companies. This study holds significance by elucidating the effects of ESG activities on customer equity, offering key insights for companies on how to strategically leverage ESG to boost customer loyalty and positive consumer responses.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.33-49
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• 2014

Environmental concern has been an important issue for a few decades, and the extent of consumer demand for eco-friendly consumption has been increased. This study seeks to investigate consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) a premium for eco-friendly cosmetics. This study evaluates how much more a consumer is willing to pay for eco-friendly cosmetics and examines significant factors influencing consumers' WTP for eco-friendly cosmetics. Consumers' WTP is measured using four different ecofriendly cosmetics: low-priced skin care cosmetics, low-priced makeup cosmetics, high-priced skin care cosmetics, and high-priced makeup cosmetics. This study uses the contingent valuation method (CVM) to estimate consumer's WTP for eco-friendly cosmetics. Survey questions were designed using both dichotomous choice and payment card method of CVM. Through face to face interviews and on-line surveys, the data were collected from women between 20 and 49 years old residing in Seoul and Kyeonggi area, Korea, in May 2010. A total of 226 questionnaires (132 from interviews and 94 from on-line) were included for the analytical sample in this study. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, T-test and Log-Logit analysis. The findings are as follows: First, the WTP measured by dichotomous choice method was estimated using the Log-Logit analysis. The results showed that the estimated WTP for low-priced skin care cosmetics was 19,152 won, which was 27.7% higher than the reference price, 15,000 won. For low-priced makeup cosmetics, the estimated WTP was 18,524 won, and its green premium was 21.0%. The estimated WTP for high-priced skin care cosmetics was 59,128 won, which was 18.3% higher than the reference price, 50,000 won. For high-priced makeup cosmetics was 57,666 won, and its green premium was 15.3%. Second, the WTP measure by payment card method was estimated using descriptive analysis. The results showed that the respondents were willing to pay 17,955 won for low-priced skin care cosmetics, which was 19.7% higher than the reference price, 15,000 won and 17,595 won for low-priced makeup cosmetics, which was 17.3% higher than the reference price. For high-priced skin care cosmetics, the average WTP was 56,950 won which was 13.9% higher than the reference price, 50,000 won. For high-priced makeup cosmetics, the average WTP was 55,650 won, which was 11.3% higher than the reference price. Overall, the WTP was higher in order of low-priced skin care, low-priced makeup, high-priced skin care, and high-priced makeup. It means that consumers decide degree of premium based on the price and the attributes of eco-friendly products. Third, the findings showed that age, monthly income, and having children or not were statistically significant factors that influenced consumers' willingness to pay for eco-friendly cosmetics. Other explanatory variables such as education, marital status, job, purchase experience of eco-friendly products, and environmental concerns did not show any statistical significance. The major contribution of this study is the investigation of the value of green attributes of the products by using CVM. Unlike most previous researches, this research used two methods of CVM, the dichotomous choice and the payment card, so it enhanced the reliability of research. According to this study, consumers showed price sensitivity when they pay green premium. These findings can be used as useful information to establish marketing strategies for green cosmetics.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.253-259
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• 2024

From the consumer's perspective, eco-friendly consumption is still a topic that can cause various psychological discomforts, and psychological discomfort can lower the intention to consume eco-friendly products through negative consumer psychological mechanisms. This study analyzed the influence of psychological discomfort regarding eco-friendly consumption on people's willingness to pay additional prices for eco-friendly products. In addition, we examined the moderating effect of consumers' involvement in the product family in this relationship. As a result of a statistical analysis based on consumer response data obtained from an online survey conducted with 407 American consumers, the level of people's psychological discomfort with eco-friendly consumption is directly related to their willingness to pay additional prices for eco-friendly products. Although it did not have a significant effect, it was confirmed that the influence of psychological discomfort on willingness to pay premium price was significantly different depending on the consumer's level of involvement.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.23-33
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• 2021

Purpose: This study explored factors affecting the purchase of fair trade hand-made products. We focused on the difference between the mediating effect of purchase intention and purchase purpose, and verified the additional effectiveness of premium prices. Research design, data and methodology: The data was collected through an online survey. The reliability and validity of each variable used in the questionnaire were verified. Then, each hypothesis was analyzed through multiple regression analysis. Results: First, individual social responsibility and purchasing experience of general fair trade products have a definitive effect on the intention of purchasing fair trade hand-made products. Second, the willingness to pay premium prices varies depending on whether it is an individual's consumption or consumption for others. Third, the higher the individual's social responsibility and experience in purchasing fair trade products, the more willing he is to pay premium prices. Fourth, the purchase intention of fair trade hand-made products is to have the effect of partial mediation. Fifth, when choosing a gift for an adult, it was determined that the consumer was willing to pay premium prices the highest amount. Conclusions: In terms of factors affecting the purchase of fair trade hand-made products at premium prices, it was confirmed that individuals' social responsibilities and purchases of fair trade general products had an impact.