A Study on the Classification of Apparel Stores in Seoul, Korea

점포 이미지에 의한 패션점포의 유형화

The purposes of this study were: (1) to identify the image dimensions of apparel stores according to how the consumers rate the importance of store attributes; (2) to classify the apparel stores in Seoul, Korea according to consumers' perception of the image attributes of their preferred store; (3) to develop a positioning map of the apparel stores according to their salient image dimensions; and (4) to classify the female adults in Seoul according to the criteria of their preferred store and to describe the characteristics of target customers according to storetype. 'A questionnaire was developed to measure store patronage, perceived importance of the store image attributes, perception of the store image attributes for the respondent's most frequently patronized store, and demographic information. Data from 520 female adults living in Seoul were analyzed. The results were as follows; 1. The image dimensions of fashion stores were product quality, shopping convenience, location, promotion, atmosphere, product information, design characteristics and price. 2. The apparel stores in Seoul were classified into five groups by the perception of store image, which were labeled as national chain store, designer store, specialty store, wholesale store and independent store, according to their discriminant characteristics. 3. According to the positioning map, product quality and location convenience were identified as the most important apparel store type patronage criteria. 4. The female adult group divided by store preference indicated significant differences in the perceived importance of store attributes. Each group showed multi-store patronage.