Purchase Decision Behavior for and Satisfaction with Apparel among U.S. Retail Buyers and Consumers of Ethnic Apparel

Purchase decision behavior for and satisfaction with apparel among retail buyers and consumers were compared. Kunz's behavioral theory of the apparel fm was the conceptual framework; Oliver's disconfirmation model guided measurement of satisfaction. Buyers and consumers indicated their perceptions about shopping orientations, variables that influenced apparel purchasing decisions, the importance of aspects of customer service and attributes that they expected to find and found when shopping. Surveys were mailed to retailers and consumers identified by random sampling of company lists. Respondents were 66 buyers and 344 consumers. MANOVA revealed differences in retailers 'and consumers' shopping orientations, the influence of variables on purchase decisions, and perceptions of the importance of customer service. Paired sample t tests indicated dissatisfaction for buyers on 10 apparel/shopping attributes and consumers on nine items. Results support the need for vertically integrated manufacturers to redesign strategies that are more appealing to both retail buyers and consumers.