• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.235-244
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• 2014

This study investigates the effect of visual merchandising congruity perception on brand attitude and purchase intention. In addition, this study examines the mediating role of perceived risk in the process. Four retail fashion brands with classic image were selected in the previous research to avoid the influence of different brand images. Questionnaires were distributed to 200 customers leaving the four fashion retail stores which were chosen by the previous research. A total of 167 completed questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 7.0 statistical packages. The results were summarized as follows. First, visual merchandising congruity perception positively affected brand attitude. This result supports the match-up hypothesis. Second, brand attitude positively influenced purchase intention. Third, visual merchandising congruity perception did not directly affect purchase intention. Visual merchandising congruity perception indirectly influenced purchase intention by mediating brand attitude; however, it did not directly influence purchase intention. Therefore, the strategic approaches to enhance favorable brand attitude through visual merchandising congruity perception should be tried. Fourth, visual merchandising congruity perception negatively affected perceived risk. Fifth, perceived risk negatively affected brand attitude. Sixth, visual merchandising congruity perception affected brand attitude by mediating perceived risk. Therefore, it is needed to devise the visual merchandising strategy that lowers the perceived risk in order to make a positive brand attitude.