Abstract
The purpose of this study was to develop an effective marketing strategy for socks made of paper mulberry fiber, a new natural fiber, by understanding consumers' concerns and perception about the product and its quality in several dimensions. The first survey determined their perception of the products' image before using it. The second survey gauged consumer satisfaction with product quality after a two-week home-use test. Factor analysis using Cronbach's a and ANOVA analysis were performed for statistical analysis. In conclusion, consumer image perceptions of socks of mulberry fiber were classified into four categories -'practicality', 'wellbeing', 'high-quality' and 'traditionality'. The survey revealed differences between men's and women's perception of the 'practicality' and 'high-quality' factors. The women recognized a mulberry fiber sock as being more practical but of lower quality than did the men. And the quality satisfaction of the product was classified into four factor 'durability', 'suitability, 'wearability' and 'care-easiness'. In the case of 'suitability', men were more satisfied with the product than the women and in 'suitability' and 'wearability', a group of over 40' year-old consumers was more satisfied. The analysis of a relationship between image perception and satisfaction showed that a consumer group that perceived this product to have more 'practicality', 'high-quality' and 'well-being' was also more satisfied with the product. However, the 'traditionality' factor was unrelated to consumer satisfaction.
