• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.75-82
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• 2018

Purpose - As the role of salespersons in retail stores has expanded from selling products to sharing brand experiences with customers, the importance of research on the effects of salesperson-brand relationships has grown. The purpose of this research is to investigate the influences of salespersons' brand identification on conceptual fluency and customers' service and brand evaluations. It was supposed that salespersons' brand identification is affected by brand knowledge, which is a core dimension of internal branding. Research design, data, and methodology - The author developed a structural model in which salespersons' brand knowledge influences brand identification, hence customers' perception of salesperson-brand image congruence. And it is hypothesized that salesperson-brand image congruence influences conceptual fluency which affects customers' satisfaction and brand evaluation. Data were collected from five department stores in Seoul. Results - First, salespersons' brand knowledge was found to have a significant effect on brand identification. The more a salesperson knows about the affiliated brand, the higher her level of brand identification. Second, salespersons' brand identification influenced salesperson-brand image congruence. Third, salesperson-brand image congruence had a significant effect on brand conceptual fluency. Customers who perceive salesperson-brand image congruent are more likely to process information easily. Finally, conceptual fluency was found to be a significant determinant of store loyalty and brand value evaluation. Conclusions - The results of this study verify importance of salesperson's brand identification on customers' service and brand evaluations. To enhance salespersons' brand identification, retailers should emphasize the importance of internal branding and communication, especially by sharing brand vision, values, and identity with employees at customer contact points. Also, as brand conceptual fluency is a significant determinant of customer responses, retailers need to deliver consistent messages through various components of store environments, including salespersons' attitudes, appearances, and manners, as well as physical store design. With a deeper understanding of the effects of salesperson-brand relationship and brand conceptual fluency, retailers will be able to create more effective brand strategies to enhance their performances. Future studies should consider data from various retail types, such as discount stores, to generalize the findings.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.55-62
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• 2011

This study examined the changes in land use and the distribution characteristics of locational facilities in the downtown space of a small town and the following results were obtained. The population of the subject small town was 9,476 as of 2010 which accounts for 15.8%. of Yeongam-gun. Regarding to a period, the population has been continuously decreased by 20.4% on average. Regarding to age group, while young people of 30 and under have been decreased, old people of 60 and over have been increased, suggesting a rapid increase in old population. Regarding to the area by land classification in the subject small town, while land has been increased by 6.9% on average, forests and fields have been decreased. Regarding urban planning area, residential and commercial areas have been increased by 3.1% and 5.8% on average respectively. It suggests that a rural area(arable land) tends to be gradually decreased, whereas a urban area tends to be steadily increased. Regarding the number of layers of buildings in the subject downtown streets, while one and two stories accounted for most parts in 1977, one story has been decreased but two and three stories have been increased since 1987. Regarding the use of buildings, living convenient facilities such as sale/retail trade and service/restaurant showed high location. In particular, one story which influences street vitality showed high location in sale/retail trade and service/restaurant, but many empty stores were also shown.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.127-131
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• 2019

Purpose - This study focuses on clues that can clearly amplify the effects of background music. Review which store environments have a direct and positive impact on consumer responses, such as purchases. Research design, data, and methodology - This study focuses on clues that can clearly amplify the effects of background music. The purpose of this study is to examine what kind of store environment, combined with background music, has a direct and positive effect on consumer reactions such as purchase, and suggest future research directions. Results - The manager decides to use background music in the store because it is relatively inexpensive and easy to identify the emotional response of the consumer. In addition, appropriate background music lowers the psychological purchasing barriers of consumers. Previous studies have often not conducted a basic review of whether consumers perceive background music when it is used in retail stores. For example, it is necessary to make sure that the volume of the background music is loud enough and that the noise is properly excluded despite the congestion of the store so that the pure influence of the background music on the consumer can be measured. A way for store managers to clarify and differentiate their identity is to create a unique and satisfying store atmosphere for their customers. In order to help customers focus on their purchases, store managers must use marketing elements to integrate the five senses. And they should plan background music aiming at synergy effect of these five senses. In other words, in order to make the store atmosphere positive, it is not enough to have a suitable visual design interior or background music in the store, and consumers should have the opportunity to smell, taste and touch it directly. Conclusions - In conclusion, we hope that the following issues will be studied by several scholars in the future. It should be clarified that the impact of background music on customers varies depending on the customer's movement in the store, the selection of the background music genre order, and the timing (interval) of background music exposure to the customer.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.59-63
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• 2018

Purpose - It has already been proved that 'mood' as the physical environment of shopping affects consumers' main sensory channels such as sight, hearing, smell, touch. However, there is no consensus on how the olfactory cue influences the customers in the shopping environment. In this study, we examine the previous studies on how the olfactory cue affects the customers in the shopping environment and present a clear direction as a suggestion for progressive research. Research design, data, and methodology - It is not important to use a lot of unconditional fragrance, but it should be exposed to the environment that suits the proper fragrance. In recent years, meaningful research on store fragrance has been slowly increasing. As a result, studies on the fragrance effects of retail stores have been conducted to verify the relevance of fragrance suitability in stores and consumer spending scale. Results - The fragrance appropriate for each store can not be uniformly specified as any fragrance. This is because external variables such as time, season, temperature, lighting, density of shoppers, and music in the store also affect customer evaluation. For example, using an unsuitable fragrance may encourage customers to leave the store quickly by restraining impulsive purchases or by disturbing concentration. The store manager should also be interested in using fragrances that are proven and effective in the store environment, but they should also have the ability to easily manipulate and manage the fragrances very appropriately according to changes in the store environment. Store managers should observe consumer preferences and responses according to their goals and strategies, and then systematically manage and store information about the fragrance appropriate to the store. Conclusions - In the future, the fragrance marketing researcher needs to consider the spatial form and density of the customer. In practice, managers operating a retail store should check the most appropriate store density(congestion) according to the size and spatial characteristics of the store and maintain the ideal conditions. To do this, it is necessary to pay attention to how to select and control sensory elements such as fragrance(olfactory), music(auditory), and lighting(visual).

• Spatial Information Research
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.81-90
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• 2014

This study analyzed an impact relationship between the variable of street based on the walking enhancement factors and the street revitalization. In detail, walking enhancement factors include a physical environment, accessibility and a density which was derived from previous studies. In addition, This study also analyzed the diversity of the profession which was emphasized by Jacobs(1961) and the influence of the specific space on street revitalization that was emphasized by Ray Oldenburg (1989) and Richard MacCormac (1983). The anlaysis by types showed the walking enhancement factors, including street envirnoment, accessibility, density and diversity, which were emphasized by Jacobs(1961) possessed similararites between weekdays and weekends. On contrast, the spatial distribution of stores showed a major difference of influences on street revitalization between weekdays and weekends as Ray Oldenburg (1989) and Richard MacComac (1983) has insisted.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 1998

Distribution structure is the link between a society's needs and its industrial responses. A change in distribution structure brings about a consumption structure which may results in considerable changes in lifestyle including food habits. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a effect of change of distribution structure on the food purchase. The survey was carried from May to June, 1997 by way of questionnaire of 407 housewives, aged 23-64 years, in Seoul and the capital area. The questionaire consists of sociodemographic characteristics of the subjects and distribution channel, information route of food selection, acknowledgement and coefficient of utilization of new distribution channel, mainly used distribution channel in food purchase, important factors in food selection, and food purchasing behavior. Their data were statistically analyzed based on frequency, mean, and $X^2-test$. The major findings of this study were as follows; 1) Most frequently used distribution channels in food purchase were supermarket(38.53%), department store(15.23%), discount store(14.05%), a conventional retail market(13.87%), membership wholesale club(8.07%), and a conventional wholesale market(6.53%). 2) The new distribution channels that subjects have ever used were discount store(75.4% of the subject), membership wholesale club(63%), mail order house(32%), outlet store(29.4%), home shopping(10.3%). 3) Compared to the subject living far from the new distribution channel, the subject living close to the new distribution channel was higher in frequency of new distribution channel utilization. These observations suggest that change of the distribution structure promotes the change of the food purchasing behavior.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.9 no.12
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• pp.45-53
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• 2018

Purpose - The purpose of the study was to investigate operation system of current convenience store and competing retail store and to find out development of unattended convenience store. Operators can save labor cost and solve labor seeking when opening shop under suitable environment and commerce area, and assure of employee's safety. Customers are allowed to select commodity comfortably without disclosure of face and to shorten standby time at simple store opening, buying and paying and to produce convenient living environment by financing, delivery and goods control. This study examined effect and problems of operation of existing and unattended convenience store from point of view of visual merchandising to find out model of unattended convenience store and to strengthen competitiveness of convenience store business. Research design, data, and methodology - Research procedure of accomplishment of goal of the study was: The study investigated state of distribution business, and role and definition of VMD. First, VMD played an important role of promotion and competitiveness of unattended convenience stores. Second, the author investigated research and cases of unattended convenience stores 14 months, that is to say, from August 15, 2017 to October 15, 2018. Third, the author investigated on-the-spot three of common convenience stores, three of unattended convenience stores and three of retailers one month, that is to say, June 1, 2018 to July 1, 2018. The subject was convenience stores and retailers selling similar type of products at Seoul and metropolitan area. Results - Layout, selling place, brand identity, goods assortment, authentication system, product information cognition and control, buying and payment system, security system, salesmen, promotion and other services should be improved from point of view of merchandising. Structure, furniture, lighting, voice, façade, VP, PP, IP and POP should be developed. Conclusions - Unattended convenience stores saved operating cost and lessened labor and gave visitors convenience and comfortable shopping and made use of resources effectively. Further studies with quantitative analysis shall find out strategic conditions for promotion of unattended convenience stores.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.15-20
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• 2017

Purpose - This paper aims to suggest a delivery constrained internet shopping optimization problem (DISOP) which must be solved for online recommendation system to provide a customized service considering cost and delivery conditions at the same time. Research design, data, and methodology - To solve a (DISOP), we propose a multi-objective formulation and a solution approach. By using a commercial optimization software (LINDO), a (DISOP) can be solved iteratively and a pareto optimal set can be calculated for real-sized problem. Results - We propose a new research problem which is different with internet shopping optimization problem since our problem considers not only the purchasing cost but also delivery conditions at the same time. Furthermore, we suggest a multi-objective mathematical formulation for our research problem and provide a solution approach to get a pareto optimal set by using numerical example. Conclusions - This paper proposes a multi-objective optimization problem to solve internet shopping optimization problem with delivery constraint and a solution approach to get a pareto optimal set. The results of research will contribute to develop a customized comparison and recommendation system to help more easy and smart online shopping service.

• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.55-69
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• 1998

One of the urgently-needed retail strategies is to lower the labor expenses of the store. For this purpose, more stores are developing new, fancy techniques to make consumers work for the stores without paying them. Examples include self-service system, consumer suggestion system and others. These are called customer voluntary performance. Intiated by Bettencourt(1997), customer voluntary performance(CVT) becomes an important concept in modern retailing. This paper applies three dimensions of CVP (loyalty, cooperation, participation) to the setting of Consumer Complaint Intentions(CCI). Similar to CVP, CCI has three dimensions in itself (voice, private, third party). The major focus of this empirical research is on finding the possible relationships between three dimensions of CVP and three dimensions of CCI. The results show that participation is positively related to the levels of consumer complaint intentions, whereas loyalty is negatively related to the levels of them. This implies that the weak tactic of CVP(loyalty) may reduce the levels of complaint, but strong one(participation) may not be so. More conceptual and empirrical studies are urgently needed.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.15-26
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• 2014

Purpose - This study addresses an acquisition's impact on a firm's strategic relationship based on findings of existing academic studies and theoretical assertions. Through examining existing research results and theoretical grounds for an acquisition's impact on various stakeholders, this study indirectly approaches the impact on stakeholders including alliance partners. Research design, data, and methodology - This research identified a variety of related theoretical foundations and empirical studies. Research objectives of prior studies mainly focused on merging firms and direct participants of acquisition activity. In addition, academic attention on the impact on rival firms has recently been growing. However, little research on alliance partners was found. Prior studies simultaneously employed event study methodology and cross-sectional analysis to make further theoretical contributions. Results and Conclusions - Based on the findings of prior studies, this research proposed a complementary research model for future academic inquiry into the impact of an acquisition on an alliance partner's return and for predicting an acquisition announcement's effect on alliance partners.