• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.30 no.11 s.158
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• pp.1495-1506
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• 2006

The purposes of this study are to investigate the formation and the change of apparel retail structure historically with the viewpoint that the retail structure is affected by the process of economic development. This study was done by literature research method and the result of this study is the following. The tailor and seamstress shops, the first clothing shops in Korea, were replaced by ready-made shops, because mass production system which had developed with the industrialization of Korea increased the advantage of economy of scale compared to handicrafts individual one. After that, the production system of apparel industry had been efficient continuously, while retail system had not. The retailing of famous brand apparel conducted by exclusive franchise store caused supplier oriented markets where the opinion and the desire of consumers were not reflected. While the retailing of the unknown brand apparel handled by small retail stores were inefficient. As the apparel industry matured in 1990s, various types of new stores appeared such as specialty stores, discount stores, TV home shopping, internet shopping, outlet malls, and big fashion stores in Dongdeamoon. These new stores have features of seeking profits in mass merchandising. As these large retail stores grow, the apparel retail structure of Korea is changing from a fragmented market to a vertically integrated one. This change is shown by the decrease of stores per inhabitants. With the change of environment, the apparel retail system which has lagged behind comparatively is expected to develop into more efficient system based on the large capital investment which raise the advantage of economy of scale.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.1087-1099
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• 2010

This study explores the retail environment factors of the changes mentioned in the "Factors and Directions of the Change of the Apparel Retail Structure in Korea" (Part I) to understand the changes in apparel retail institutions. This study was done through a literature research method and the results are as follows. First, changing consumer needs and trends require extensive new products, a method to manufacture diverse products according to the market demand, and the necessity to manufacture based on trends in demand. This limits the role of mass production, which brought about more flexible manufacturing modes, scaled down manufacturing factories, promoted more cooperative subcontract relationships, and increased global sourcing which uses other companies at the most appropriate global venue. How to organize and use cooperative networks that benefit companies is the key to global competitiveness in the new era and the information technology developed around retail shops plays a key role. Consequently, the management of consumers and their information becomes critical and retail distribution functions become a key corporate function. In addition, it is difficult for small shops to introduce effective new technologies that encourage the growth of large companies. Second, apparel companies that use to benefit from scale merits based on the previous mass production system are now becoming effective by using economies of scale through mass retailing while shops are enlarging their sizes as a way to survive. On the other hand, inexpensive clothes become even more inexpensive while expensive ones become even more expensive, promoting polarization and diverse price ranges that widen consumer options.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.19-37
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• 1996

This paper aims at examining the regional difference of changes in the business organization of retailing in the Seoul metropolitan areas, as an attempt to understand regional structure of retailing within metropolitan areas showing the trend of suburbanization. On the national level, retail sales have concentrated on the large metropolitan areas, especially on the Seoul metropolitan area, with the concentration of population and income. Within metropolitan areas, the suburbanization of retailing has made the larger structure of retail and multi-store retail appeared. In order to confirm such phenomenon, this paper is to analyze and to compare the industrial composition of retailing using industry data of 1979 and 1991. And this paper is to analyze the regional changes in the characteristics of business organization of retailing, with the index including the percentages of establishments with less than under four employees, juridical establishments, employees of ordinary times, and the annual sales per establishment of detailing. The characteristics of business organization of retailing in analyzed by principal components analysis, and the types with component in each district (city, county, ward) is analyzed by cluster analysis(Ward method). The data of 1979 were obtained from the statistics in the Census of Wholesale and Retail Trade published by the National Bureau of Statistics of Economic Planning Board, and that of 1991 were obtained from the statistics in the Report on Establishment Census (Vol.3 Wholesale and Retail Trade) published by the National Statistics Office. The following are resultant findings. 1. In Seoul metropolitan area, changes in the industrial composition of retailing with annual sales from, 1979 to 1991 show very higher composition rates of 'general merchandise stores' and 'retailing of personal transport equipment and gasoline service stations', but comparatively lower composition rates of 'retailing of food, beverages and tobacco', 'retailing of textiles, clothing, footwear and apparel accessaries', 'general retail trade, n.e.c.',and 'retailing of household fuel'. 2. The characteristics of business organization of retailing in Seoul metropolitan area presents the prevailence of small, personal business organization and especially larger employees of ordinary times. 3. Business components of retailing by principal components analysis in Seoul metropolitan area are follows: 1 All retaining industries are larger business scale. 2. Larger business take the 'retailing of taxtiles, clothing, footwear and apparel accessories', 'retailing of furniture, home furnishing and equipment', and 'retailing of jewellery and watches' is main characteristic legal organization and employees of ordinary times. 4. Types changes in business organization of retailing in Seoul metropolitan area represent legal organization and employees of ordinary times taking the 'retailing of textiles, clothing, footwear and apparel accessories', 'retailing of furniture, home furnishing and equipment',and 'retailing of jewellery and equipment', and 'retailing of jewellery and watches', and legal organization taking 'general retail trade, n.e.c.' in 1979. All retailing industries are changed into larger business scale, in 1991. These phenomena of business changes appeared southeastern regions in Kyunggi-do(province). And larger business scale taking the 'retailing of textiles, clothing, footwear and apparel accessories', 'retailing of jewellery and watches', and 'general retail trade, n.e.c.; are appeared in the legal organization in 1979. 'Retailing of personal transport equipment and gasoline service stations' are appeared in employees of ordinary times in 1991. These phenomena of business changes in appeared in eastern and northern regions in Kyunggi-do. 5. Changes in the business organization of retailing in Seoul metropolitan area is appeared in legal organization and employees of ordinary times for some industries in 1979, larger business scale of retailing and employees of ordinary times in 'retailing of personal transport equipment and gasoline service stations' are the characteristics in 1991.

• International Journal of Costume and Fashion
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.73-88
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• 2010

Study aims to identify customer equity drivers and their relative importance, to represent customer lifetime value (CLV) distribution, and to investigate the effect of customer equity drivers and demographics on CLV when shopping apparels at the four big department stores in Seoul. Recently, Korean department stores marked significant decrease in sales volume and it calls for more focus on customer orientation. Customer equity is a managerial concept which considers customers as a valuable asset for business success. Sustainable competitive advantage is attainable when customer equity drivers and CLV are measured, managed and enhanced. results identified four dimensions of customer equity drivers such as 'retail brand equity: 'relationship equity', 'retail service equity', and 'price value equity'. Among them, 'relationship equity' was proved to be the most influencing factor on the customer's store patronage intention. The CLV distribution represented unique characteristics of each department store. The level of CLV depended on such demographics as age and income. Marital status influenced the relationship between perceived customer equity drivers and CLV. It also analyzed competitive structure of the four big department stores in Seoul and offered managerial suggestions. This study provided conceptual framework for the future study of customer equity related to apparel shopping at the department stores as well as managerial implications.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.21-42
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• 1998

This paper aims at examining the regional comparison of the business organization of retailing in the Seoul and Taegu metropolitan areas, as an attempt to understand regional structure of retailing within metropolitan areas which represents the suburbanization. On the national level, retail sales have concentrated on larger metropolitan area, the Seoul metroplitan area, the first largest metropolitan area, having higher sales for population scale. While the Taegu metropolitan area, the third largest metropolitan area, appears to lower retail sales for population scale. In order to confirm such phenomenon, this paper is to analyze and to compare the industrial composition of retailing by industry in 1991 of Seoul with that of Taegu. And this paper is to analyze the regional comparison of business organization of retailing: the percents of establishments under four employees, of juridical establishments, of employees of ordinary times, the annual sales per establishment of retailing. And the characteristics of business organization of retailing by industry are analyzed by principal components analysis, and the explanation of the types with component in each district(city, county, ward) is analyzed by cluster analysis(Ward method). The data of 1991 were obtained from the statistics in the Report on Establishment Census(Vol.3 Wholesale and Retail Trade) published by the National Statistics Office. The results are as follows: 1. The composition of retailing by industry in Seoul metropolitan area by annual sales in 1991 is characterized as appeared very higher composition rates of retailing of textiles, clothing, footwear and apparel accessaries', ‘retailing of furniture, home furnishings and equipment’, retailing of jewellery and watches’, ‘retailing of printed matter and stationery’, ‘retailing of personal transport equipment and gasoline service stations’, and ‘general merchandise stores’. But in Taegu metropolitan area, ‘retailing of food, beverages and tobacco’, ‘retailing of drugs, cosmetics and other chemical goods’, 'retailing household fuel’, and ‘genernal retail trade, n.e.c.’appears very high. Therefore Seoul metropolitan area has larger business scale and retailing of shopping goods has developed than Taegu metropolitan area.