• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.63 no.8
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• pp.156-170
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• 2013

The purpose of this research is to scrutinize the cyclist's consumer behavior by analyzing the eWOM information search behavior of cycle-wear according to benefits sought and involvement. The research was conducted through an online survey and the respondents were 291 men who wore cycle-wear and searched information via online. The results of this research are as following. First, the benefits sought from wearing cycle apparel are composed of five sub-factors such as, ideal body figure, brand ostentation, comfort ease, personality, and economic feasibility. In addition, the cycle-wear involvement consisted of two sub-factors: cycling involvement and fashion involvement. Second, the eWOM information search behavior of cyclists was different depending on the benefits sought by the cyclists. When the cyclists pursued ideal body figure they searched more information of design and color, while cyclists put more weight on the information of design, color, and brand when they sought brand ostentation. Moreover, the valence and the type of the information were dissimilar depending on the benefits sought. Third, the sub-factors of eWOM information search behavior affected the eWOM effect distinctively. The price information was the only factor that influenced the eWOM effect among the contents of the information. The valence of the information influenced the eWOM effect, and the effect of positive information was stronger than negative information. Additionally, the subjective information also affected the eWOM effect. Lastly, the effect of the benefits sought influencing the eWOM information search behavior varied by the difference of the cycle-wear involvement. For example, when they are both high in the involvement there were various benefits sought affecting the eWOM information search behavior. However, when only the cycling involvement was high, and they pursued personality, the price information was not important to them.