• Human Ecology Research
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.71-84
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• 2018

This study presents a case of a visual merchandising course adopting a problem-based learning (PBL) model, as a part of shop manager training program for high school students. Various vocational training classes are actively developed for vocational high schools, yet programs in the home economics area are relatively lacking. In particular, education programs for shop manager training are urgently required due to the high demand of this job in the fashion industry. The PBL model, which reflects constructionist learning theory, is considered for this visual merchandising course in order to help develop the ability of students to creatively apply their knowledge on real-world problems through self-driven learning. For the purpose of job analysis, two problem areas were identified through interviews conducted with shop managers who work for apparel shops in department stores. Based on the results of the interviews, professors and high school teachers developed two PBL instructional modules. The developed module courses were implemented with 2 classes of vocational high school students. The learning outcome was examined through the analysis of a student survey and reflection journals. It was apparent that the PBL courses effectively attracted the interests of learners in vocational training and improved their understanding of the contents as well as cooperation skills. The results of this study indicate that implementing the PBL model for the training of store managers can contribute to the vocational training programs for high school students.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.181-188
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to analyze the brand choice behaviors of male and female college students in their twenties, to examine the differences in their information-searching activity to the type of the behaviors and shopping places for purchasing apparel products. The data were analyzed by Factor analysis, Ouster analysis, one-way ANOVA, Duncan's multiple range test. The results are as follows: 1. With regard to the brand choice behaviors of male and female college students in their twenties, two factors were produced as 'consumers' loyalty to brand' and 'brand switching behavior'. 2. The brand choice behaviors were classified into three groups as 'a brand-switching group', 'a loyalty-to-brand group', and 'an indifferent-to-brand group'. There were significant differences between the groups. 3. The results for demographic differences in terms of the brand choice behaviors showed that there was a significant difference in 'brand switching behaviors' by gender. 4. There were significant differences in the media for information search and the places for shopping apparel products in terms of the brand choice behaviors.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.646-658
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• 2011

Wide-spread practitioner literature exists for the one-to-one marketing effect from a firm's perspective; however, limited research discusses the psychological effect of one-to-one marketing from a consumer's perspective. The authors test a model that integrates the level of consumer-perceived one-to-one marketing effort (OTO-E), instrumental (i.e., perceived usefulness) and affective benefits (Le., pleasure and arousal), and attitude toward the e-store (ATE). The analysis of an online survey (conducted with 195 U.S. undergraduates) confirms the positive effect of level of OTO-E on the benefits that influence ATE. In addition, it reveals the positive effect of the affective benefits on the instrumental benefit. The results expand the current research on the value of one-to-one marketing by presenting a consumer-oriented approach. As the study was conducted in the U.S. market with intense consumer demands for individuation of service, the results should provide useful managerial/ theoretical implications to Korean apparel e-tailers, concerning their future implementation of one-to-one marketing.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.64-71
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• 2019

Climate change and global warming are the biggest challenges of the current generation. Every industry has contributed to the climate change and global warming. Even the apparel industry cannot avoid the criticism regarding fast fashion and its contribution to the pollution. The transition to the decarbonized economy is in progress. All aspects of business functions are influenced by climate change. Sustainable development and climate change are closely linked, and business plays the key role in addressing and finding solutions to the challenges of climate change. Luxury brands are the trendsetters and tastemakers. They are the leaders in the fashion industry and therefore responsible for improving on sustainability as well. Even luxury business cannot avoid environmental issues. The relation between luxury and sustainability is explored with the Burberry case based on the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework. There are various ways for luxury brands to excel in sustainability and affect other companies' practices. The companies can incorporate the concept of sustainability in their brand stories as part of the branding process. They can also improve demand planning accuracy and produce upcycled goods. Centering on Burberry's case, this paper aims to explore the current sustainable practices of luxury business along with its future direction toward sustainable development. Its contribution and directions for both researchers and business practitioners are discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.968-979
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• 2008

Since community growth and vitality frequently depend on local businesses and community inhabitants depend on local retailers for their daily necessities, studying small businesses in rural areas is important to community sustainability. The purpose of our research was to investigate what marketing, merchandising, customer service, or business operation strategies were being implemented by successful independent rural retailers(i.e., clothing, jewelry, floral, hardware etc.), in competition with large discount stores in the U.S.. In addition, social capital as indicated by community involvement was examined for its use as a business strategy that contributes to the success of small retailers. In-depth interviews were conducted with 27 rural retailers representing three communities within a Midwestern state. Data were content analyzed. Participants were following several of the recommended business strategies but opportunities existed to implement changes. Results are discussed in terms of key practices followed by these successful small business owners.

• The International Journal of Costume Culture
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2005

This paper documents a dress design process to demonstrate the theory that form follows intent. It includes a statement of the design context as a venue where the conceptual intent originated. The dragon icon became the subject, form, and content of the design project. The author's designerly endeavor is discussed with focus on reconfiguration of formal characteristics shown in the visual reference of the eastern dragon symbol into a dress design with the consideration of utilitarian, expressive, and symbolic issues. Throughout the process, the author was an active agent who created formal characteristics, manifested a thought into an object, and imbued a meaning to the dress, demonstrating the notion that form follows intent.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.459-471
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• 2009

The purpose of the study is to examine the effect of VMD image appropriateness in apparel shopping contexts. Two competing models are utilized. The first model is developed from the emotion-cognition theory which explains that environmental cues(i.e., VMD image appropriateness) generate consumers' emotion, and in turn, consumers' behaviors. The second model is developed based on the cognitive theory of emotions and posits that environmental cues stimulates consumers' cognitive perceptions of retail environments, subsequently influencing consumers' emotional and behavioral response. A 2(VMD image appropriateness: high vs. low) between-subjects factorial design experiment was conducted. Female college students(n=592) participated in the experiment. Using structural equation modeling the study found that the emotion-cognition model better explains the effect of VMD image appropriateness on consumers' emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses.

• International Journal of Costume and Fashion
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.1-10
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• 2008

The current study aims to 1) investigate how fashion is perceived in societies that utopian novels were born and 2) what fashion means in utopian worlds by content analyzing two utopian novels, Thomas More�s Utopia and William Morris�N ews from Nowhere. The analyses of More�s Utopia and Morris�s News from Nowhere revealed that both utopian societies made corrections from our (imperfect) societies to increase happiness of people. Dresses of those two utopian societies were described as comfortable, pleasant, and attractive. There was a difference in design in that More considered simple and natural designs as the best whereas Morris considered human processed, labor intensive designs as the most attractive. However, fashion did not exist in either utopian world. It is reasonable to say that utopian societies were anti fashion in general due to the conflicting natures of fashion and utopia.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• no.9
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• pp.86-97
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• 1996

The companies specializing in fashion stores are making their best efforts and recently they are increasing competition to set up their Coporate Identities for the purpose of positive corporate image and to set up their own Store Identities so that they can cope well with the changes in the consumption patterns. VMD(Visual Merchandising) is such Display Strategy which enable the stores to give their customers good recognitions. This Strategy is aimed at promoting their products not by focusing on the traditional concept of Display , but by giving appreciate planning strategy and by serving their customers with information and convenient Shopping Environment.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.82-100
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• 2015

Mobile fashion apps present much opportunity for marketers to engage consumers, however not all apps provide enough functions for their targeted audience. This study aims to determine how mobile fashion apps can be used to build brand community with consumer engagement. Qualitative data on fashion mobile apps were collected from the Apple app store and Android market during the spring and summer of 2015. A total of 110 fashion mobile apps were collected;, 50 apps were identified as apparel brands that either manufacture or sell apparel to consumers, which we categorized as "brand" fashion apps, and the remaining 60 were categorized as "non-brand" fashion apps. The result of the study can be summarized as below. The 60 non-brand fashion apps were grouped into 5 app types: shopping, searching, sharing, organizational, and informational. The main functions are for informational use and shopping needs, since at least half (31 apps) are used for either retrieving information or for shopping. However, in contrast, social networking and location were infrequent and not commonly utilized by these apps. The most common type of non-brand fashion apps available were shopping apps;, many shopping apps enable users to shop from several different websites and save their items into one universal shopping cart so that they only check out once. Most of these apps are informational and help consumers make more informed decisions on purchases;, in addition many offer location services to help consumers find these items in store. While these apps perform several functions, they do not link to social media. The 50 brand apps were grouped into 5 brand types: athletic, casual, fast fashion, luxury, and retailer. These apps were also checked for attributes to determine their functionality. The result shows that the main functions of brand fashion apps are for information (82% of the 50 apps) as well as location searching (72% of 50 apps). Conversely, these apps do not offer any photo sharing, and very few have organizational or community functions. Fashion mobile apps and m-marketing elements: To build brand community, mobile apps can be designed to motivate consumer's engagement with brands. The motivations of fashion mobile apps are useful in developing fashion mobile apps. Entertainment motives can be fulfilled with multimedia attributes, functionality motives are satisfied with organizational and location-based features, information motives with informational service, socialization with community and social network, learning and intellectual stimulation from informational attributes, and trend following through photo sharing. The 8 key attributes of mobile apps can correspond to the 4 m-marketing elements (i.e., Informative content, multimedia, interactions, and product promotions) that are further intertwined with m-branding elements. App Attributes and M-Marketing aim to Build Brand Community;, the eight key attributes can impact on 4 m-branding elements, which further contribute to building brand community by affecting consumers' perceptions of brands preference and advocacy, and their likelihood to be loyal.