• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.41 no.10 s.188
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• pp.199-209
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate the causes of bankruptcy in small apparel stores. Data were collected from 153 apparel retail store owners who experienced failure in small apparel stores in Busan. The results showed as follows; The internal factors that caused bankruptcy in small apparel stores were the problems related with employees, capital, investment, weak marketing strategies, inadequate management, and characteristics of store owners. The external factors were economic condition, unexpected incidents, and the condition of market. There were significant differences in the perception of factors which caused the store bankruptcy according to prior business experience before opening apparel stores, the level of education, and the period between store opening and closing.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.8
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• pp.89-110
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• 2001

The purpose of this study were to examine the types of apparel store, to investigate consumer characteristics related to the apparel store patronage behaviors, and to find out the differences of casual relationships on apparel store patronage behaviors in store types. Data were collected from 451 consumers living in Pusan and analysed by factor analysis, ANOVA and path analysis. The results were as followings : First, the types of apparel store recognized by consumers were composed by five factors such as Casual-wear store, Traditional market store, Neighboring store, Department store, and Small-sized department store. Second, apparel store patronage behaviors have significant differences recreational and economic shopping orientations, Fashionability in store evaluative creteria, social psychologic risks in perceived risks, and observation store information source. Third, there were differences in casual relationships an apparel store patronage behaviors across store types. Casual-wear store patronage behaviors were directly influenced by the information source, and traditional market store patronage behaviors did by the perceived risk. Apparel shopping orientations directly influenced Neighboring store, and department store patronage behaviors. Evaluative creteria of store directly did small-sized department store. That is, consumer characteristics directly influencing to patronage behaviors were different across apparel store types. Therefore, the marketers of apparel store should understand consumer characteristics related to patronage behaviors and affecting variable and then try to encourage consumer's store patronage behavior.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.75-83
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• 2009

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate business performance in small apparel retailer's stores operated independently. Data were collected from 167 managers independently operating small apparel stores in Busan and Ulsan. The aforementioned were analyzed utilizing frequency, factor analysis, ANOVA, regression analysis using SPSS Win 12.0. The results showed as follows; Factors influencing on perception of managers on business performance were market information, cost/quality control, opposing power to business depression, store management, product management, sales promotion. There were significant differences between factors influencing on perception of managers on business performance and business performance(the extent of success, profit and growth). It was market information and store management that the most important for the extent of success. It was opposing power to business depression, store management and product management that the most important for the extent of profit. It was market information, store management and product management that the most important for the extent of growth.

• The International Journal of Costume Culture
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 2010

The business strategies of small to medium enterprises (SMEs), especially in relation to the Japanese apparel wholesaler and apparel manufacture markets, have been undertaken by Urakami and his colleagues (Komiya et al., 2009; Urakami et al., 2009; Urakami & Wu 2010). The aim now is to investigate the changing business climate of apparel products in Asia, now that China seems to a major player of apparel products in the Asian region. The production of apparel products from China has resulted in a major shift of the business environment. Such products have now invaded import markets throughout the world economies. Such a drastic change in the business environment impacts the structure of distribution channels in competing economies, affecting both wholesalers and manufactures. This research focuses on the effects this has had on the Japanese distribution channels. The findings derived from our previous research are highlighted, together with several planned hypotheses that require testing, in order to build a clearer understanding of apparel manufacturing in the Asian region.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.31-46
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to explore the ways of improving Korean apparel firms' competitiveness by examining the Korea's number one trading partner U.S. apparel industry. Especially, the Los Angeles area apparel industry which is the second largest and the primary market center on the west coast was analysed. The following strategies are suggested to Korean apparel firms to function more effectively in incleasingly competitive U.S. markets: l)Basics can be produced in lower wage countries meanwhile quick turnaround and high quality works can be produced either in Korea or U.S. 2)Manufacturers might try to have direct relationship with powerful retailers who have their own private labels of store-brand lines. 3)Apparel companies can open market showrooms in the California Market Center. For small firms they can contact with independent representatives who receive commissions for showing lines for manufacturers or rent space for showing the lines during market weeks. 4)Apparel firms can contact buying offices to introduce their products to retail buyers. 5)Korean firms can contact Korean-American apparel firms to gain easy access to U.S.Market.

• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.79-102
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• 2007

Consumers evaluate stores by comparing stores that we, in their minds, similar and are competitive with one another; and in this way, the term "consideration set of stores" is defined as those store alternatives the consumer is aware of and evaluates positively. The purpose of this study is to aid in understanding the consideration set of stores in store choice processes in apparel product purchases. More specifically, this study aims to clarify the relation between consideration set of stores and importance of store image. As a result, the respondents of quantitative study were classified into seven groups by the number of stores and store types they considered: 1) "small-road shop sets group" ; 2) "small-market sets group" ; 3) "small- department store sets group" ; 4) "small-department store/outlet sets group" ; 5) "large-department store/market sets group" ; 6) "large-department store/road shop sets group" ; and 7) "large-department store sets group". Further, significant differences among the groups in the importance of store image were observed. For example, low prices were an important factor in both the small-market considering group and large-department store/market considering group when choosing a retail store, there were also differences in the considering groups in that for the small-department store considering group, store mileage-discount cards were important whereas ample space for relaxation around the stores were important retail store selection factors for the large-department store/road shop considering group. This study may provide a useful direction to retailers in finding out who the target customers and competitive stores are and allow retailers to make proper marketing strategies.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.30 no.11 s.158
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• pp.1495-1506
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• 2006

The purposes of this study are to investigate the formation and the change of apparel retail structure historically with the viewpoint that the retail structure is affected by the process of economic development. This study was done by literature research method and the result of this study is the following. The tailor and seamstress shops, the first clothing shops in Korea, were replaced by ready-made shops, because mass production system which had developed with the industrialization of Korea increased the advantage of economy of scale compared to handicrafts individual one. After that, the production system of apparel industry had been efficient continuously, while retail system had not. The retailing of famous brand apparel conducted by exclusive franchise store caused supplier oriented markets where the opinion and the desire of consumers were not reflected. While the retailing of the unknown brand apparel handled by small retail stores were inefficient. As the apparel industry matured in 1990s, various types of new stores appeared such as specialty stores, discount stores, TV home shopping, internet shopping, outlet malls, and big fashion stores in Dongdeamoon. These new stores have features of seeking profits in mass merchandising. As these large retail stores grow, the apparel retail structure of Korea is changing from a fragmented market to a vertically integrated one. This change is shown by the decrease of stores per inhabitants. With the change of environment, the apparel retail system which has lagged behind comparatively is expected to develop into more efficient system based on the large capital investment which raise the advantage of economy of scale.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.357-363
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to provide buying condition of women focusing on age groups and satisfaction with ready-to-wear and basic data in designing ready-to-wear for women. The questionnaire method was used and one-to-one interviews were held for residents in Iksan, Jonju areas. Total 252 subjects were surveyed and used for statistical analysis and were analyzed by Frequency, ANOVA, CROSSTABS, $x^2-test$. Women for this study were classified 3 groups(young women, middle aged women, obesity women). The results of this study were as follows; 1) Both BMI and Rohrer index are significantly different according to 3 groups. 2) In the buying method, more than 97% of the middle aged women and obesity women had purchased ready-to-wear apparel. 3) While young women purchased their clothing in the Bose store, middle aged women and obesity women purchased their clothing in the department store. 4) In young women and middle aged women group, the most important criteria of buying were design. In obesity women, the most important criteria of buying were design, size (fitness), price. 5) For the satisfaction of ready-to-wear with aging, 34.1% of all respondents showed dissatisfaction. There was significant difference according to the age. 6) In the fit of ready-to wear, When ready-to-wear is not fit, more than 40% was purchased big or small.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.35-51
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• 2010

This study aims at providing data for establishing a marketing strategy which can enhance the competitiveness of Korea domestic SPA(Specialty Store Retailer of Private Label Apparel) Brands by suggesting countermeasure strategy through the observation and analysis for SPA Brands, under the current circumstance in which the systematic and scholastic discussion for the matter, is lack, despite the diastrophism in fashion industry is prospected according to the rapid growth of Global SPA Brands. For this purpose, the characteristic and current status of Global SPA Brands is examined, and the main cause of growth is analyzed by approaching to their marketing characteristic, in this study. In relation with this situation, this study suggests the provisions as below, which are drawn from the analysis on Global SPA Brands' marketing strategy, so that Korea domestic SPA Brands could achieve successive performance under fierce competition. First, to be a competitive SPA Brands a business should be able to supply products with frequent product turnover by an interval level of one week or so, the existent product planning by seasons, as a business obtains various swift informations on consumers' demand with R&D center foundation. Secondly, SPA Brands should establish a strategy that a business can create high net profit by inventory management which enables lowering inventory ratio remarkably, and a strategy for innovative product supply by small quantity batch production, along with founding a high technological logistics system. Third, SPA Brands should establish a strategy for primary cost reduction by overseas dispersed outsourcing in order to enable diverse product development and rational price setting. Fourth, fashion marketers should establish also a strategy for communication by which brand image can be delivered effectively, by firming the brand identity and by informing product characteristic and customer service totally, with the method of VMD and flagship store. Additionary, fashion marketers also should establish a strategy by developing mobile application which can provide brand image and diverse other fashion related information.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.19-37
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• 1996

This paper aims at examining the regional difference of changes in the business organization of retailing in the Seoul metropolitan areas, as an attempt to understand regional structure of retailing within metropolitan areas showing the trend of suburbanization. On the national level, retail sales have concentrated on the large metropolitan areas, especially on the Seoul metropolitan area, with the concentration of population and income. Within metropolitan areas, the suburbanization of retailing has made the larger structure of retail and multi-store retail appeared. In order to confirm such phenomenon, this paper is to analyze and to compare the industrial composition of retailing using industry data of 1979 and 1991. And this paper is to analyze the regional changes in the characteristics of business organization of retailing, with the index including the percentages of establishments with less than under four employees, juridical establishments, employees of ordinary times, and the annual sales per establishment of detailing. The characteristics of business organization of retailing in analyzed by principal components analysis, and the types with component in each district (city, county, ward) is analyzed by cluster analysis(Ward method). The data of 1979 were obtained from the statistics in the Census of Wholesale and Retail Trade published by the National Bureau of Statistics of Economic Planning Board, and that of 1991 were obtained from the statistics in the Report on Establishment Census (Vol.3 Wholesale and Retail Trade) published by the National Statistics Office. The following are resultant findings. 1. In Seoul metropolitan area, changes in the industrial composition of retailing with annual sales from, 1979 to 1991 show very higher composition rates of 'general merchandise stores' and 'retailing of personal transport equipment and gasoline service stations', but comparatively lower composition rates of 'retailing of food, beverages and tobacco', 'retailing of textiles, clothing, footwear and apparel accessaries', 'general retail trade, n.e.c.',and 'retailing of household fuel'. 2. The characteristics of business organization of retailing in Seoul metropolitan area presents the prevailence of small, personal business organization and especially larger employees of ordinary times. 3. Business components of retailing by principal components analysis in Seoul metropolitan area are follows: 1 All retaining industries are larger business scale. 2. Larger business take the 'retailing of taxtiles, clothing, footwear and apparel accessories', 'retailing of furniture, home furnishing and equipment', and 'retailing of jewellery and watches' is main characteristic legal organization and employees of ordinary times. 4. Types changes in business organization of retailing in Seoul metropolitan area represent legal organization and employees of ordinary times taking the 'retailing of textiles, clothing, footwear and apparel accessories', 'retailing of furniture, home furnishing and equipment',and 'retailing of jewellery and equipment', and 'retailing of jewellery and watches', and legal organization taking 'general retail trade, n.e.c.' in 1979. All retailing industries are changed into larger business scale, in 1991. These phenomena of business changes appeared southeastern regions in Kyunggi-do(province). And larger business scale taking the 'retailing of textiles, clothing, footwear and apparel accessories', 'retailing of jewellery and watches', and 'general retail trade, n.e.c.; are appeared in the legal organization in 1979. 'Retailing of personal transport equipment and gasoline service stations' are appeared in employees of ordinary times in 1991. These phenomena of business changes in appeared in eastern and northern regions in Kyunggi-do. 5. Changes in the business organization of retailing in Seoul metropolitan area is appeared in legal organization and employees of ordinary times for some industries in 1979, larger business scale of retailing and employees of ordinary times in 'retailing of personal transport equipment and gasoline service stations' are the characteristics in 1991.