• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.216-230
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• 2014

The importance of the Chinese fashion market is increasing; therefore, this study investigates the possibility of implementing a Word-of-Mouth (WOM) marketing strategy among Chinese students in Korea. This study examines the effects of consumer characteristics (similarity, opinion leadership, and fashion innovativeness), awareness of Korean fashion brands, satisfaction with Korean fashion products on WOM experiences and WOM behavior (off-line as well as on-line). A total of 161 responses from Chinese students in Korea were gathered and analyzed using SPSS 20.0 for descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and regression analysis. The results show that consumer characteristics (except similarity) significantly influence WOM experiences, opinion leadership influence off-line WOM behavior, and fashion innovativeness influence online WOM behavior. However, similarity has no influence on WOM experiences and WOM behavior. Second, Korean brand awareness affect both WOM experiences and behavior; however, satisfaction with Korean fashion products only affected WOM experiences. This study showed the feasibility of conducting a WOM marketing strategy using the WOM effects of Chinese students in Korea. The study may help the Korean apparel industries establish an entry strategy for the Chinese market.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.57-71
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• 2018

Since consumers have become more comfortable with providing and receiving information online, 'online word of mouth' has been gaining consideration as one of the major information sources. Also, the shopping orientation of consumers has been proven to be an important determinant of consumer behavior. Therefore, the study investigated the differences in online WOM behavior based on shopping orientation. Hedonic, loyal, and syntonic styles were the types of shopping orientation considered, and the study focused on information retrieval tendencies, the motivation of online WOM search, searching online WOM sources, and the contents for the online WOM behavior. The research conducted an off-line survey targeting females in their twenties. The total number of data sets used in the empirical study was 125, and these were analyzed by SPSS 20.0: factors analysis, Cronbach's ${\alpha}$, k-means cluster, ANOVA, Duncan's multiple range test, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, and Bonferroni correction. The participants were divided into 3 kinds of shopping orientation groups named 'trend-pursuit', 'passive', and 'loyal'. As a result, there were significant differences in online WOM behavior discovered between the groups. Firstly, the 'trend-pursuit' group had the highest number of ongoing searches while the 'loyal' group had the highest number of pre-purchase search. Secondly, the 'trend-pursuit' and 'loyal' groups both had the motivations of online WOM search, hedonic and utility, whereas the 'passive' group had the lowest motivations for both motivations. Thirdly, the 'loyal' group frequently referred to reviews on shopping malls as online WOM sources. The research provided a better understanding of the online WOM behavior of present consumers and suggests that fashion related corporations map out marketing strategies with the understanding of these behaviors.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.675-685
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• 2010

This study analyzed risk perception and risk reduction behaviors of male and female college students in their twenties who purchased fashion products in internet shopping malls. It also investigated the relationship between risk perception and risk reduction behavior as well as the ways in which groups, categorized by risk perception, differed in their risk reduction behaviors. The results of this study were as follows: first, seven factors of risk perception were identified. These were product quality, shipping, product image, payment, economic feasibility, fear of other people's reactions, and size. Six types of risk reduction behavior were also identified. These were product comparison, word-of-mouth information search, price search, preference for name-brand, service comparison, and referring to experiences. Next, a correlational analysis of the factors of risk perception and those of risk reduction behavior showed several patterns. The highest positive correlation was between economic risk perception and product comparison behavior. In addition, shipping risk perception was positively correlated with service comparison behavior and product quality and product image had a positive correlation with word-of-mouth information search behavior. Third, customers of internet shopping malls could be categorized into three groups: shipping risk perception group, high risk perception group, and product quality risk perception group. The groups were shown by factor analysis to be significantly different to each other. Finally, risk reduction behavior was investigated according to the different groups of risk perception of the internet shopping malls and the results showed significant differences among groups.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.215-227
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• 2013

Currently, improved quality of life has facilitated consumers' indulgence in a diverse range of cultural cuisines. Consequently, the evolvement of the food service industry has been developing itself according to the diversified needs of the consumers. In particular, a great amount of interest has been expressed in a new form of food service known as family restaurants. Family restaurant service providers have begun to provide information regarding family restaurant usage, including various foods and services, through their websites in order to yield better service to consumers. For family restaurant service providers, comprehending the consumers' purpose of using the company's websites is a crucial managerial issue and it plays an important role in the development of good marketing strategies. There exists a distinction in websites usage purposes according to the different values of consumers; the hedonic value and the utilitarian value. When consumers gain satisfaction through family restaurant websites usage, this satisfaction extends to word of mouth communication effect. In order to develop good Internet marketing strategies, this study is prepared to assist family restaurant service providers understand the relationships among customer value, usage purpose, customer satisfaction, and word of mouth communication with regards to the family restaurant websites. The results of this study provide useful implications to understand consumer behavior and to develop marketing strategies in a family restaurant websites.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.93-107
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• 2009

The aims of this study concerning tourists travelling in the island of Jeju include: to identify and assess the promotional efforts for traditional Jeju cuisine; and to identify the impacts of those efforts on customers and tourists. The analyses revealed that continuous promotion efforts, along with changes in the cooking methods and the development of new menus, are needed for the items of traditional Jeju cuisine that are relatively unknown to tourists and that fail to satisfy customers. Customers seeking Jeju food reported high satisfaction with such items as grilled meat and fish, steamed meat and fish, and raw fish(hoe), so those cooking methods must also be continually improved. Promotional efforts had impacts on the satisfaction and revisit rates of customers while the recognizability of foods offered had impacts on all areas, including the satisfaction and revisit rates of customers as well as word-of-mouth advertising among them. There needs to be an experience-oriented or educational program that introduces customers to traditional Jeju cuisine. Since customers and tourists gain information on traditional Jeju cuisine from the recommendations and word-of-mouth advertising from the locals they meet on the island, traditional Jeju cuisine should also be advertised to the local residents. The commercial merchandising of Jeju culinary culture and making festivals based on it must, therefore, be preceded by studies on how to increase the locals' awareness of local traditional cuisine.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.600-616
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of power blog self-presentation and on-line shopping mall reviews on the word of mouth (WOM) effect and apparel purchasing behavior. Consumers living in Seoul and Gyeonggi received questionnaires. There were 303 usable forms that could be analyzed by descriptive statistics, factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha, and regression analysis. The results were as follows: There was a significant effect of power blog self-presentation such as interactivity, media effect, and business intention on information acceptance through WOM. Power blog self-presentation, such as interactivity and business intention, affect information delivery by WOM significantly. There was a significant effect of review consideration, such as agreement, usefulness, enjoyment, and purity, on information acceptance of WOM. Reviews describing enjoyment, purity, and usefulness affect information delivery of WOM significantly. Business intention, media effect, and purity directly affect apparel-purchasing behavior, and affect the WOM effect as a mediator variable and then purchasing behavior. Whereas, interactivity, overstatement, and enjoyment affect the WOM effect as a mediator variable, and then affect overall purchasing behavior. Therefore, fashion firms consider active interaction with power blog visitors and promote the way of enjoying with fun through review of apparel on-line shopping mall when they try to implement viral marketing with WOM effect.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.15-23
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• 2011

This study examined the effects educational service elements have on the satisfaction of educational service; it also analyzed how such satisfaction influenced educational institutions' registration renewal and word-of-mouth communications about the schools. The key factors of educational services included the following four components: physical environment, education programs, instructors, and tuition fee. An investigation into how the factors of educational services in private educational institutions may affect consumer satisfaction was an additional goal of this study. Based on the cause-and-effect analysis of the above constructs, the degree of influence that each of the attributes and the component factors have on consumers' educational service selection, as well as the consumers' satisfaction, were explored. An empirical analysis was conducted on students who were taking classes in cram schools; the analysis was also conducted on the students' parents. The results indicated that the hypotheses regarding the elements of educational service, educational program, and the instructor factor were supported. Furthermore, a hypothesis concerning the effects educational service satisfaction has on re-registration and word of mouth was supported, as well. Upon aggregating the above study results, it was concluded that when determining the effects of satisfaction on educational service, the educational program, and the instructor factor played a crucial role, while physical surroundings and tuition did not. When addressing the influence of the educational services factors on educational services satisfaction, education programs and instructors had a positive effect, whereas physical environment and tuition fee had no statistically significant impact. According to the influence of educational services satisfaction on registration renewal and word-of-mouth effects, educational services satisfaction was found to be a positive influential factor for both. In addition, it was found that satisfaction of educational service had a positive effect on renewing enrollment and forming word-of-mouth recommendations. Although the research seems simple, some theoretical implications can be drawn, as follows: First, one interpretation of the findings that the programs' and instructors' factors had a positive effect on educational services satisfaction but the physical environment and tuition fee factors did not have a significant effect suggests that the greatest influence factors in educational services are educational programs and instructors. Second, increased educational services satisfaction may result in consumer behavior changing, resulting in more registration renewals and more favorable word-of-mouth comments. Third, increased educational services satisfaction may result in enhancing consumer responses, resulting in more registration renewals and more favorable word-of-mouth opinions. Further research directions should include developing an integrated model that will allow for variation over time, before and after purchases, in relation to consumers' choices of educational services.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.261-283
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• 2001

This study investigates the antecedents of the complaining behaviors and complaint responses of the library and information center users based on the theoretical backgrounds and suggests eight propositions and conceptual model for the library and information center. It examines as the antecedents, satisfaction/dissatisfaction, attitude toward complaining, likelihood of success, materials/facilities/service importance, attribution, loyalty, and justices; and as complaint responses. exit, voice(redress seeking), negative word-of-mouth, and third party complaints.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.143-164
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• 2010

Although word-of-mouth (WOM) has been regarded as one of the very important topics in consumer research, its effects on other aspects of consumer behavior have been scarcely investigated in the context of health-care service industry. The WOM literature also suggests that it is essential for medical care service organizations in fierce competition to adopt WOM communication as a competitive weapon so as to be able to stay ahead of competition. The goal of this research was set to empirically study various relationships between antecedent variables, WOM acceptance, and purchase of medical care services. Specifically, drawing on the WOM literature, eight antecedents to WOM acceptance were selected first. Based on the relevant literature, seven sets of hypotheses on the relationships among antecedents to WOM, WOM acceptance, purchase intention and purchase of medical services were developed. Data were collected via an on-line survey. A total of 571 out of 600 responses turned out to be usable. The major findings of this study can be summarized as follows: First, 6 out of 8 antecedent variables to WOM acceptance were found to be positively affect WOM acceptance. However, the effects of (1) "newness of technology" pertaining to medical care service characteristics and (2) "involvement in health", one of receiver characteristics, were found to be insignificant. Second, most moderating effects on the relationship between purchase and purchase intention of medical care services were found to be insignificant with one exception. That is, elapse of time was found to be a marginally significant moderator on the relationship between purchase and purchase intention of medical care services. Third, it was found that the higher the WOM acceptance, the higher the purchase intention of medical care services. Finally, the effect of WOM acceptance was found to be particularly strong when WOM contents were perceived as useful and positive. Overall, it seems essential for hospitals to actively adopt WOM communication as a competitive marketing tool if they plan to improve their business performance. In this respect, the current study may serve to improve the business performance of hospitals by way of providing theoretical and empirical evidence on the effects of WOM communication variables on WOM acceptance and medical care service purchase.

• The Journal of Society for e-Business Studies
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.39-60
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• 2010

It becomes common thing that many customers buy the goods through the online shopping mall as internet grows very fast. The information cascades that happen when a person imitates the other's acts also it occurs in online. Many people buy the goods referring on other people's purchasing experiences and such cases are spreading more and more. Through numerous existing researches, the researches in association with this issue have been studied on the information cascades effect on offline or online separately. The research of comparing the information cascades effects from the offline word of mouth (WOM) and the online review has not studied yet. On that reason this study shows that the online review induces the information cascades. We also compared the effects with information cascades effects from traditional offline word of mouth. In result of this study, the following points have been concluded. Firstly, we examined that information cascades was occurred through both the online review and offline word of mouth. Secondly, the information cascades effect through the online review is greater than through the offline words of mouth. It means the company has to understand the importance of the online review and manage it. Thirdly, the information cascades effects are occurred differently in accordance with the goods brands. Therefore a company has to know whether its products is superior to the competitor's one or not.