• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.135-142
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• 2015

Purpose - Following the speedy development of the smart phone industry, tourism companies started to increase their brand recognition and sales volume by adopting mobile applications. However, applications for tourism industries are still insignificant. This study tries to analyze empirical evidence from Korean and Chinese consumers who have used mobile tour applications. By using an expansion of the technology acceptance model (TAM), this study will find what factors have effects on user intention for mobile tour applications. The findings will be helpful for the development of mobile tour applications and the tourism industries. Research design, data, and methodology - This study uses the TAM, which was presented by Davis in 1989. This study uses consumer acceptance level, consumer choice attitude, and use intention as the basic variables to fit to the TAM, and adopts choice content quality, brand value, and usage motivation as additional variables to analyze. This study has developed several hypotheses and collected data from 620 users who used mobile applications for tourism during April 1 to April 30, 2015. A total of 612 valid questionnaires were collected and used in the data analysis. The data was analyzed with structural equation modeling using SPSS Win/pc and Amos 22.0. Results - The findings can be summarized as follows: First, the content quality affects the consumer acceptance degree and choice attitude. Second, the brand value has a directly positive effect on the consumer acceptance degree and choice attitude. It is clear that the content quality and brand value play important roles in raising consumer acceptance and choice attitude. Third, usage motivation has no effect on the consumer acceptance degree and choice attitude. Fourth, the acceptance degree does not have any effect on the consumer choice attitude. Fifth, the acceptance degree affects the use intention. Last, the consumer choice attitude affects the use intentions. This indicates that consumer acceptance and choice attitude must both be achieved to induce use intention among consumers. Finally, the effects of the mobile tour application content quality and brand value on consumer acceptance degree and choice attitude were confirmed. Additionally, the effects of the consumer acceptance degree and choice attitude on use intentions were analyzed. Conclusion - It is not meaningful for tourism marketing to launch tour applications in the mobile market without understanding tourism consumer characteristics. When developing mobile tour applications, companies should focus on the characters of consumer choice attitudes as high quality, high brand value, usefulness, and ease of mobile tour applications. This study has limitations in that it did not consider negative factors such as perceived risks or analyze whether there are differences between Korean and Chinese consumers. In the future, we will consider equipping the same mobile tour applications commonly used by both Korean and Chinese consumers, and then examine negative factors as well as the differences in mobile tour applications between Korean and Chinese consumers.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.107-118
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• 2014

Purpose - Due to the recent slowdown of growth in global luxury brands, which have been an engine of our domestic fashion market growth, there is an increasing need to develop a global market for domestic high-priced fashion brands. In spite of the large scale of trade between Korea and China with respect to fashion products, current trade concentrates on middle- and low-priced products rather than high-priced products. Diversification of the trade between Korea and China in terms of the price levels of trade products is needed. An understanding of Chinese consumption values and purchase intentions for luxury fashion brands will be very helpful for the establishment of strategies with the aim of increasing the level of trade with regard to high-priced fashion products. Therefore, the study aimed to identify the differences in the clothing consumption values of South Korean and Chinese women in their 20s, especially with reference to how those values affect their preference and purchase intention for luxury fashion brands. Research design, data, methodology - The study was implemented through a descriptive survey method using a self-administered questionnaire. The sample consisted of 283 Korean and 306 Chinese women in their 20s, residing in Seoul, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai. Data were collected from March 3 to 15, 2014. A total of 589 completed responses were analyzed. Data were analyzed by factor analysis, t-test, and multiple regression analysis. Results - Fivefactors for clothing consumption values were formulated: conspicuous/social value, fashionability value, personality expression value, hedonic value, and practical value. There were significant differences between Korean and Chinese consumers in clothing consumption values (except social value), preference, and purchase intention for luxury fashion brands. With regard to clothing consumption values, Chinese women attached more importance to fashionability value, personality expression value, hedonic value, and practical value than South Korean women. In addition, Chinese women's preference and purchase intention for luxury fashion brands were higher than South Korean women's. Second, in the case of South Korean women, social value, practical value, and fashionability value had positive effects on preferences for luxury fashion brands, while attractive/personality expression value and hedonic value had no influence. In contrast, in the case of Chinese women, social value and fashionability value had positive effects on preference for the luxury fashion brands. Third, in the case of South Korean women, social value and practical value had positive effects on purchase intentions for luxury fashion brands. In contrast, in the case of Chinese women, social value, personality expression value, and fashionability value had positive effects on purchase intention for luxury fashion brands. Conclusions - Considering the findings of the study, it is clear that differentiated marketing strategies are needed for luxury fashion brand markets in Korea and China. The results of the study could provide useful information that will help increase the effectiveness of luxury fashion brand marketing strategies in Korea and China.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.51-60
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• 2013

Purpose - The objective of this paper is to investigate the effect of asset specificity, the level of information sharing, the importance of information sharing, and an integrated collaborative environment on supply chain performance. Research design, data, and methodology - Data collection was implemented as follows: questionnaires were distributed to 250 companies that have business ties with Halla Climate Control Corporation. The empirical study to test our hypothesis was based on statistical analysis (using SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 18.0). The hypothesis of this paper is that the asset specificity variable has positive effects on the following variables: Level of information sharing, the importance of information sharing, and integrated collaborative environment. Moreover the variables, the level of information sharing, and the importance of information sharing are strongly influenced by the variable integrated collaborative environment, and these when combined, have an effect on the dependent variable, supply chain performance. We tested our hypothesized model utilizing path analysis with latent variables. Results - According to the results of our analysis, hypothesis H1, which tests whether there is a relationship between asset specificity and the integrated collaborative environment, is supported at the 0.01 level. Hypotheses H2 and H3 were also confirmed, and asset specificity had positive effects (+) on the level of information sharing variable. The importance of the information sharing variable was statistically significant at the 0.01 level. Hypotheses H4 and H5 posited that the integrated collaborative environment variable would have a positive effect on the level of information sharing; the importance of information sharing variable was strongly supported statistically, with a significant p-value below. Moreover, the level of information sharing (H6), and the importance of information sharing (H7) variables also had a statistically relevant influence on supply chain performance. As a result, existence of a collaborative system between companies would influence supply chain performance by strengthening real-time information access and information sharing. Thus, it is important to construct a collaborative environment where information sharing among companies and cooperation is possible. Conclusions - First, with rapid changes in the business environment, it becomes necessary for enterprises to acquire the right information in order to properly implement SCM. For successful SCM, firms should understand the importance of collaboration with supply chain partners and an internally built collaboration system, which in turn will better promote a partnership commitment with suppliers as well as collaborative integration with buyers. A collaborative system, as we suggest in this paper, facilitates the maintenance of a long-term relationship of trust, and can help reinforce information sharing. Second, it is necessary to increase information sharing over time via a collaborative system so that employees of the suppliers become aware of the system. The more proactive and positive attitudes are towards such a collaborative system by the managerial group, the higher the level of information sharing will be among the users. Successful SCM performance is achieved by information sharing through a collaborative environment rather than by investing only in setting up an information system.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.61-72
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• 2013

Purpose - It is widely accepted that the process of developing marketing strategy is composed of three steps: market segmentation, target market selection and positioning. However, mass marketing strategy based on cost reduction through economies of scale and standardized products, can be also an effective strategic option. Many marketing scholars including Theodore Levitt emphasize the importance of applying the mass production concept to various industries including service industries. Especially, in times of economic downturn, the capability of providing consumers with low-priced, value products can be an important source of competitive advantage, as well as the ability of providing high-priced premium products. Marketers should decide whether they will implement mass marketing strategy or target marketing strategy. The present study theoretically shows that firms should understand the target customers' price elasticity as well as the firm's cost structure in order to make such a strategic decision. Research design, data, and methodology - Instead of implementing an empirical study, this study provides a theoretical(mathematical) investigation on the effect of consumers' price elasticity on a firm's optimal price level, profit, sales volume, revenue, and cost. The results are mostly deduced from derivative calculations and several graphs are utilized to represent the results on the relationships between the variables under study. Results - The analytical results suggest that it is more profitable for a firm to adopt the segment/target marketing strategy (more specifically the differentiation strategy) when the degree of consumers' heterogeneity is high and the proportion of the fixed cost in the total cost is low. On the other hand, if the degree of consumers' heterogeneity is low and the fixed cost is high, it is better to adopt the mass marketing strategy or the cost leadership strategy. The strategy of concentrating on a single target market will be effective when consumers' needs are highly heterogeneous but the fixed cost is high. Any of the three types of generic strategies proposed my Porter(1980, 1985) can be applied when both the consumers' heterogeneity and the fixed cost are low. This study also proposes the contribution-margin-based method for developing the optimal pricing strategy. Conclusions - One of the primary roles of marketers is to find a proper compromise between the two conflicting goals of maximizing customer satisfaction and minimizing cost. In order to do so, he or she should understand the characteristics of the target customers as well as the cost structure of the firm. In addition to the theoretical analyses, this study discusses several business cases and explains how superior companies find the optimal compromise position between these two goals and dominate the market. One of the radical changes recently taking place in business arena is the reduction of production and distribution costs of both physical goods and information due to the advancement and the wide diffusion of information technology. The cost reduction combined with lowered priced elasticity incurred by customized products and services, will enable many firms to adopt the mass customization strategy.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.107-116
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• 2013

Purpose - Eggs are nutritionally complete and one of the most popular natural foods. Moreover, the poultry industry is one of the important food industries. However, early industrialization of the poultry industry on its own did not lead to further development compared to other livestock industries. In this study, we investigate what factors influence consumers' behavior and how consumers' understanding of retail business affects their propensity to consume. This study is different from other studies as it analyzes how the brand names of manufacturers and distribution companies affect the purchasing characteristics or actual purchase behavior of consumers in order to suggest how these manufacturers and distribution companies can increase their competitiveness. Research design, data, methodology - This study conducted a survey of 250 randomly selected egg purchasers in discount stores from January to April 2013. Consumers' purchase tendencies were calculated through frequency analysis. This result was then utilized using cluster analysis to draw a conclusion about which purchase tendency influenced consumers buying three different brands of eggs or whether this tendency really affected consumers. As a result, the outcomes of Hypotheses 2 and 3 were not clear so we drew a conclusion with our analysis of Hypothesis 1. Results - While the outcomes of Hypotheses 2 and 3 did not clearly indicate whether purchasing tendencies affected consumers when buying eggs, our analysis of Hypothesis 1 indicated that consumers were affected by the quality of the eggs rather than exterior factors such as the brand name. Thus, we concluded that it is important to promote the excellence of the quality of the eggs. Usually firms buy eggs from farms and repackage them in order to sell them. In this sense, if consumers were aware of this egg production process, and eggs were fairly distributed to retailers, large retail PB businesses would also be able to enhance their competitiveness. Conclusions - The brand, packaging, retail outlet, and other external features influenced the purchase of eggs to a certain degree, while shelf life, grade of the eggs, cleanliness, and other intrinsic characteristics had more influence. In particular, shelf life was the most important factor influencing purchase. Consumers were influenced not only by intrinsic characteristics of the eggs but also by large-scale producers' brands. Consumers relied upon the brand despite reduced competition because they found it difficult to identify shelf life and/or cleanliness. Small businesses and/or large-scale retailers can remain competitive by maintaining the freshness and cleanliness of the eggs. Further studies need to investigate areas in which consumers' cognition of the product is poor and/or the purchase inclination with regard to less developed industries such as eggs. In this study, the greatest problem was that consumers did not consume in accordance with the current situation as consumers have preferred fresh and clean eggs for a long time compared to purchase decisions based on external brands and/or packaging.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.119-130
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• 2014

Purpose - Franchise industries are significant both socially and economically. However, with increasing interest, there are manifold problems. It is necessary to seek measures for mature operation constantly despite unprepared franchisors, negative perceptions of the media and society toward franchise, and rapid changes in business start-up trends and propensity to consume that make business start-ups difficult. The paper aims to explain the effects of relational commitment and performance on the franchisor's management characteristics and justice in the food service franchise system. Research design, data, and methodology - This is an exploratory survey examining franchising in Korea. Based on a literature synthesis, we extract five constructs: managerial characteristics, support, fairness, trust, and satisfaction. We hypothesize that these factors influence the trust, satisfaction, and performance of franchisees. To examine these hypotheses empirically, we conducted a survey on the database of the Franchising Council of Korea. The study employs data from May to September 2014. In total, 135 completed questionnaires were received, of which 128 were usable. The data was analyzed with SPSS/PC 22.0. First, to test unidimensionality and nomological validity of the measures of each construct, we employed a scale refinement procedure. The result of a reliability test with Cronbach's α and factor analysis warranted unidimensionality of the measures for each construct. In addition, nomological validity of the measures was warranted from the result of the correlation and regression analysis. By analyzing the data, we can confirm most hypotheses. Results - Frist, franchisor characteristics have a positive effect on trust and satisfaction. Second, franchisor fairness has an effect on trust and satisfaction. Third, franchisor support has an effect on satisfaction. Further, the franchisee trust has an effect on satisfaction. Fourth, the satisfaction of a franchisee with a franchisor affects the performance of a franchisee. Finally, there is a possibility that not only franchisee performance but also increasing the credibility and improving the image of the franchisor through communication between franchisor and franchisee can improve franchisees' performance and satisfaction by motivating the franchisee for sustainable growth. Franchisers should endeavor for franchisees to obtain stable revenue with continuous and practical support. They should recognize that they can expand their business by supporting their franchisees. Franchisors should not only instantly respond to franchisees' troubles with interactive communications but also raise the ability of supervisors for better support. Franchisors should share their visions and goals with their franchisees and provide systematic and continuous support based on trust and clear company management. Franchisees should understand franchisors' position as well as participate in establishing the basic franchise system. Contributions - The paper contributes to understanding franchising in Korea. It offers insights and assistance to franchisors hoping to start franchises. This paper explores measurement issues related to franchisee performance by estimating its determinant factors (managerial characteristics, support, fairness, trust, and satisfaction). This study provides franchisors and practitioners planning to extend their franchising business with some practical knowledge.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.65-76
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• 2018

Purpose - The study aims to provide the relationships between the social servicescape and customer's emotion and voluntary behaviors were investigated in this study. The social servicescape was largely divided into service employee's image and other customers (in customer's similarity, physical appearance and suitable behavior). Firstly, the relationship between service employee's image and customer's positive emotion was investigated as a specific purpose of study. Secondly, this study attempted to understand the relationship between other customers (in customer's similarity, physical appearance and suitable behavior) and customer's positive emotion. Lastly, the relationship between customer's positive emotion and customer's voluntary behavior dimension (intention to cooperate, intention to participate in and loyalty) was examined. Research design, data, & methodology - In order to prove the hypotheses in this study, the customers who have experienced family restaurants during the last two months were targeted for a survey. A total number of 300 survey papers were distributed and as a result, 248 papers could be used for analysis, except the papers with insincere answers. After the analysis of the reliability and validity of each major variable, the hypothesis was verified through the structure method by using Amos 20.0. Results - First, the results of hypothesis testing on the relationship between social servicescape and customer's positive emotion showed service employee image gives a positively meaningful impact on customer's positive emotion. Secondly, the results on the relationship between other customers and customer's positive emotion indicated that the customer's similarity and physical appearance has a positively significant impact on customer's emotion while customer's suitable behavior has not a significantly positive impact on customer's positive emotion Lastly, customer's positive emotion was shown to have a significantly positive influence on customer's voluntary behavior dimension, that is, intention to cooperate, intention to participate in and loyalty. Conclusions - This study aims to focus on and emphasize the social servicescape and its importance, which is different from the previous studies that have been focused largely on physical servicescape. Such results in this study indicated the social servicescape (service employee's image and other customers) as an important factor that affects customer's positive emotion and voluntary behavior.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.95-109
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• 2017

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to classify the quality factors of coffee shop customers with the service quality based on the SERVQUAL, selection attributes, and service qualities used in previous studies. The path structure of coffee shops' quality factors → customer satisfaction → trust → behavioral intention was analyzed in order to confirm the system of coffee shops' quality factors. Research design, data, and methodology - The survey of was conducted with college students of Kangwon University. A total of 250 questionnaires were distributed, with 232 collected. Of them, Excluding 36 respondents' because of incomplete answers and missing values, 196 responses were used in the final analysis. Empirical analysis was made through factor analysis, correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis, simple regression analysis and mediating regression analysis by using Statistics Package SPSS 19.0. Results - The results are as follows: Firstly, coffee shops' quality factors were classified into seven categories like service encounter quality, product quality, cleanliness, overall interior, purchase quality, convenience, and aesthetics. Secondly, service encounter quality, product quality, purchase quality, and aesthetics had a positive effect on customer satisfaction, respectively. Thirdly, it showed that service encounter quality, product quality, overall interior, purchase quality, and aesthetics had a positive effect on trust, respectively. Fourthly, customer satisfaction had a positive effect on behavioral intention. Lastly, after verifying the effect relations of trust between customer satisfaction about coffee shop and behavioral intention, customer satisfaction has a positive effect on trust and trust has a positive effect on behavioral intention. On the other hand, trust did not have a mediating effect between customer satisfaction and behavioral intention. But, cleanliness, convenience, and overall interior did not have a positive effect on customer satisfaction. Conclusions - Coffee shop consumers put importance on price, discount systems, taste, and freshness, but more on courteous and kind services of coffee shop staff or comfortable and calming atmosphere of inner space. Thereby, coffee shop marketers need to take factors like service encounter quality and aesthetics into more consideration. In addition, customer satisfaction has an effect on trust, while trust on behavioral intention, even though trust is not mediated between customer satisfaction and behavior intention.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.14-28
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• 2010

The aim of this study is to investigate crime hotspot areas using the spatio-temporal cluster analysis which is possible to search simultaneously time range as well as space range as an alternative method of existing hotspot analysis only identifying crime occurrence distribution patterns in urban area. As for research method, first, crime data were collected from criminal registers provided by official police authority in M city, Gyeongnam and crime occurrence patterns were drafted on a map by using Geographic Information Systems(GIS). Second, by utilizing Ripley K-function and Space-Time Scan Statistics analysis, the spatio-temporal distribution of crime was examined. The results showed that the risk of crime was significantly clustered at relatively few places and the spatio-temporal clustered areas of crime were different from those predicted by existing spatial hotspot analysis such as kernel density analysis and k-means clustering analysis. Finally, it is expected that the results of this study can be not only utilized as a valuable reference data for establishing urban planning and crime prevention through environmental design(CPTED), but also made available for the allocation of police resources and the improvement of public security services.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.575-582
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• 2016

BACKGROUNG/OBJECTIVES: The study was performed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of action of high maysin corn silk extract on body weight and fat deposition in experimental animals. MATERIALS/METHODS: A total of 30 male C57BL/6J mice, 4-weeks-old, were purchased and divided into three groups by weight using a randomized block design. The normal-fat (NF) group received 7% fat (diet weight basis), the high-fat (HF) group received 25% fat and 0.5% cholesterol, and the high-fat corn silk (HFCS) group received high-fat diet and high maysin corn silk extract at 100 mg/kg body weight through daily oral administration. Body weight and body fat were measured, and mRNA expression levels of proteins involved in adipocyte differentiation, fat accumulation, fat synthesis, lipolysis, and fat oxidation in adipose tissue and the liver were measured. RESULTS: After experimental diet intake for 8 weeks, body weight was significantly lower in the HFCS group compared to the HF group (P < 0.05), and kidney fat and epididymal fat pad weights were significantly lower in the HFCS group compared to the HF group (P < 0.05). In the HFCS group, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-${\beta}$, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-${\gamma}1$ (PPAR-${\gamma}1$), and PPAR-${\gamma}2$ mRNA expression levels were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in the epididymal fat pad, whereas cluster of differentiation 36, lipoprotein lipase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase-1, sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase, isozyme-4, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 mRNA expression levels were significantly decreased in liver and adipose tissues (P < 0.05). In the HFCS group, mRNA expression levels of AMP-activated protein kinase, hormone-sensitive lipase, and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 were elevated (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that high maysin corn silk extract inhibits expression of genes involved in adipocyte differentiation, fat accumulation, and fat synthesis as well as promotes expression of genes involved in lipolysis and fat oxidation, further inhibiting body fat accumulation and body weight elevation in experimental animals.