Entry to Chinese Market for Korean Fashion Brands： Current Situations and Suggestions of Marketing Strategies

The purpose of this study is 1) to identify Chinese environment for investment and apparel market, 2) to analyze the current situations of Korean fashion brands＇entry to Chinese market, 3) to analyze the marketing strategies to China according to product category, and 4) to identify merits and problems of Chinese market. For data collection, secondary resources were collected, and the telephone interview with merchandisers were implemented with brand managers. Twenty-one fashion brands were included for the study. Results of the study were as followed： 1) China was a big potential apparel market due to its rapid economic growth. Apparel purchase behavior and clothing preference of Chinese consumers were various by regional groups. 2) The motives of entry to China were to competition in domestic markets, saving raw material cost. The entry modes to China were direct export, license and regional manufacturing system. 3) Marketing strategies were to pursue high quality branding, high pricing and placing strategies with high-class department stores. Also star marketing were used with ＂Han Rue＂. Also various promotion strategies were implemented such as fashion show and unique VMD. 4) The merits of Chinese market were high potential market for export, close proximity, cultural similarity and Han-Ryu syndrome. Problems of Chinese market for export were lack of experts on Chinese market, fierce competition in China, and unstable economic policies.

국내 의류브랜드의 중국진출 현황 및 마케팅전략 제안