• The Korean Journal of Franchise Management
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.17-22
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• 2020

Purpose: As consumers have difficulty in brand choice due to excessive information, using brand popularity as an advertising cue (e.g., Sales No. 1, Hit Product) has been getting more attention as an effective curation strategy for decreasing consumers' cognitive efforts. Accordingly, recent studies empirically demonstrate that consumers tend to prefer and choose a brand with a popularity cue and offer a useful information regarding how to use a popularity cue in marketing communication. However, extant research has mainly focused on investigating the impact of "brand popularity in a domestic market" on consumer behaviors. Thus, little is known about the effect of "brand popularity in a foreign market" on local consumers' decision-making process. Given that domestic consumers tend to purchase imported products from overseas countries, it can be meaningful information for global companies. Therefore, this research derives and tests the five hypotheses to examine how local consumers respond to brand popularity in a foreign market as an advertising cue. Specifically, it tests the three hypotheses regarding the direct and indirect effects of brand popularity in a foreign market on risk perception and purchase intention. Then, it tests two additional hypotheses about moderating effects of psychic distance on the relationship between brand popularity and risk perception as well as on the relationship between brand popularity and purchase intention. Seventy participants are exposed to an advertisement for an Indian cosmetic brand using a popularity cue in Indian market and answer the questions about brand evaluation. For data analysis, regression analysis is employed. The findings of this research show that perceived brand popularity lowers local consumers' perceived risk with a foreign brand. However, perceived brand popularity does not have a direct impact on purchase intention while it has an indirect effect through perceived risk. Meanwhile, psychic distance moderates the effect of perceived brand popularity on perceived risk level, but it has no impact on the relationship between brand popularity and purchase intention. This research is one of the first studies that demonstrate the positive impact of brand popularity in a foreign market on a local consumer's purchase decision, and it shows the effect can be moderated by psychic distance.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.65-88
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• 2008

Since the implementation of economic reforms in 1978, the Chinese economy grows rapidly at an average annul growth rate of 9% over the post two decades. Franchising has been widely recognized as an important source of entrepreneurial activity. Trust is important in that it facilitates relational exchanges by permits partners to transcend short-run inequities or risks to concentrate on long-term profits or gains. In the relationship between the franchisors and franchisees, trust has been described as an important source of competitive advantage. However, little research has been done on the factors affecting trust in Chinese franchisor-franchisee relationships. The purpose of this study is to investigate what factors affect the trust in the franchise system in China, and to provide guidelines and insights to franchisors which enter Chinese market. In this study, according to Morgan and Hunt (1994), trust is defined as the extending when one party has confidence in an exchange partner's reliability and integrity. We offered a conceptual model of the empirical study. The model shows that the factors affecting the trust include franchisor's supports, communication, satisfaction with previous outcome and conflict. We also suggested the franchisor's supports and communication like to enhance the franchisee's satisfaction with previous outcome, and the franchisor's supports, communication and he franchisee's satisfaction with previous outcome tend to decrease conflict. Before the formal study, a pretest involving exploratory interviews with owners from three franchisees was conducted to make sure the questionnaire was relevant and clear to the respondents. The data were collected using trained interviewers to carry out personal interviews with the aid of an unidentified, muti-page, structured questionnaire. The respondents comprised of owners, managers, and owner managers of franchisee-owned food service franchises located in Beijing, China. Even though a total of 256 potential franchises were initially contacted, the finally usable sample consisted of 125 respondents. As expected, the sampling method was successful in soliciting respondents with waried personal and firm characteristics. Self-administrated questionnaires were used for all measures. And established scales were used to measure the latent constructs in this study. The measures tapped the franchisees' perceptions of the relationship with the referent franchisor. Five-point Likert-type scales ranging from "strongly disagree" (=1) to "strongly agree" (=7) were used throughout the constructs (trust, eight items; support, five items; communication, four items; satisfaction, six items; conflict, three items). The reliability measurements traditionally employed, such as the Cronbach's alpha, were used. All the reliabilities were greater than.80. The proposed measurement model was estimated using SPSS 12.0 and AMOS 5.0 analysis package. We conducted A series of exploratory factor analyses and confirmatory factor analyses to assess the convergent validity, discriminant validity, and reliability. The results indicate reasonable overall fits between the model and the observed data. The overall fit of measurement model were $X^2$= 159.699, p=0.004, d.f. = 116, GFI =.879, NFI =.898, CFI =.969, IFI =.970, TLI =.959, RMR =.058. The results demonstrated that the data reasonably fitted the model. We also examined construct reliability and reliability and average variance extracted (AVE). The construct reliability of each construct was greater than.80 and the AVE of each construct was greater than.50. According to the analysis of Structure Equation Modeling (SEM), the results of path model indicated an adequate fit of the model: $X^2$= 142.126, p = 0.044, d.f. = 115, GFI =.892, NFI =.909, CFI =.981, IFI =.981, TLI =.974, RMR =.057. As hypothesized, the results showed that it is strategically important to establish trust in a franchise system, and the franchisor's supports, communication and satisfaction with previous outcome tend to reinforce franchisee's trust. The results also showed trust seems to decrease as the experience of conflict episodes increases. And we also noticed that franchisor's supports and communication tend to enhance the franchisee's satisfaction with previous outcome, and communication tend to decrease conflict. If the trust between the franchisor and franchisee can be established in a franchise system, franchising offers many benefits and reduces many costs. To manage a mutual trust of relationship with their franchisees, franchisor's should provide support effectively to their franchisees. Effective assistant services have direct effect on franchisees' satisfaction with previous outcome and trust in franchisor. Especially, franchise sales process, orientation, and training in the start-up period are key elements for success of the franchise system. Franchisor's support is an accumulated separate satisfaction evaluation with different kind of service provided by the franchisor. And providing support definitely can improve the trustworthy image of the franchisor. In the franchise system, conflicts of interests and exertions of different power sources are very common. The experience of conflict episodes seems to negatively relate to trust. Therefore, it is important to reduce the negative side of the relationship conflicts. Communication actually plays a broader role in reducing conflict and establish mutual trust in franchisor-franchisee relationship. And effective communication between franchisors and franchisees can improve franchisees' satisfaction toward the franchise system. As the diversification of Chinese markets, both franchisors and franchisees must keep the relevant, timely, and reliable communication. And it is very important to improve the quality of communication. Satisfaction with precious outcomes seems to positively relate to trust. Franchisors and franchisees that are highly satisfied with the previous outcomes that flow from their relationship will perceive their partner as advancing their goal achievement. Therefore, it is necessary for both franchisor and their franchisees to make the welfare of partner with effort. Little literature has focused on what factors affect the trust between franchisors and their franchisees in China. This study developed the hypotheses regarding the factors affecting trust in the transaction relationship. The results of data analysis supported the hypotheses strongly. There are certain limitations in this study. First, we may point out that some other factors missed in this study could be significantly important. Second, the context of this study, food service industry, limits its potential generalizability for all franchise systems. More studies in different categories of franchise system are needed to broaden its generalizability. Third, the model was tested empirically in a sample in Beijing, more empirical tests of the proposed model in other Chinese areas are needed. Finally, the analysis in this study was solely based on the perception of franchisees and the opinions of franchisors were not included.

• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.1-23
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• 2012

The conflict between major corporations and small and medium-sized businesses is being aggravated, the trickle down effect is not working properly, and, as the controversy surrounding the effectiveness of the business limiting system continues to swirl, the plan proposed to protect the business domain of small and medium-sized businesses, resolve polarization between these businesses and large corporations, and protect small family run stores is the suitable business type designation system for small and medium-sized businesses. The current status of carrying out this system of selecting suitable business types among small and medium-sized businesses involves receiving applications for 234 items among the suitable business types and items from small and medium-sized businesses in manufacturing, and then selecting the items of the consultative group by analyzing and investigating the actual conditions. Suitable business type designation in the service industry will involve designation with priority on business types that are experiencing social conflict. Three major classifications of the service industry, related to the livelihood of small and medium-sized businesses, will be first designated, and subsequently this will be expanded sequentially. However, there is the concern that when designated as a suitable business type or item, this will hinder the growth motive for small to medium-sized businesses, and designation all cause decrease in consumer welfare. Also it is highly likely that it will operate as a prior regulation, cause side-effects by limiting competition systematically, and also be in violation against the main regulations of the FTA system. Moreover, it is pointed out that the system does not sufficiently reflect reverse discrimination factor against large corporations. Because conflict between small to medium sized businesses and large corporations results from the expansion of corporations to the service industry, which is unrelated to their key industry, it is necessary to introduce an advanced contract method like a master franchise or local franchise system and to develop local small to medium sized businesses through a franchise system to protect these businesses and dealers. However, this method may have an effect that contributes to stronger competitiveness of small to medium sized franchise businesses by advancing their competitiveness and operational methods a step further, but also has many negative aspects. First, as revealed by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, the franchise industry is contributing to the strengthening of competitiveness through the economy of scale by organizing existing individual proprietors and increasing the success rate of new businesses. It is also revealed to be a response measure by the government to stabilize the economy of ordinary people and is emphasized as a 'useful way' to revitalize the service industry and improve the competitiveness of individual proprietors, and has been involved in contributions to creating jobs and expanding the domestic market by providing various services to consumers. From this viewpoint, franchises fit the purpose of the suitable business type system and is not something that is against it. Second, designation as a suitable business type may decrease investment for overseas expansion, R&D, and food safety, as well negatively affect the expansion of overseas corporations that have entered the domestic market, due to the contraction and low morale of large domestic franchise corporations that have competitiveness internationally. Also because domestic franchise businesses are hard pressed to secure competitiveness with multinational overseas franchise corporations that are operating in Korea, the system may cause difficulty for domestic franchise businesses in securing international competitiveness and also may result in reverse discrimination against these overseas franchise corporations. Third, the designation of suitable business type and item can limit the opportunity of selection for consumers who have up to now used those products and can cause a negative effect that reduces consumer welfare. Also, because there is the possibility that the range of consumer selection may be reduced when a few small to medium size businesses monopolize the market, by causing reverse discrimination between these businesses, the role of determining the utility of products must be left ot the consumer not the government. Lastly, it is desirable that this is carried out with the supplementation of deficient parts in the future, because fair trade is already secured with the enforcement of the franchise trade law and the best trade standard of the Fair Trade Commission. Overlapping regulations by the suitable business type designation is an excessive restriction in the franchise industry. Now, it is necessary to establish in the domestic franchise industry an environment where a global franchise corporation, which spreads Korean culture around the world, is capable of growing, and the active support by the government is needed. Therefore, systems that do not consider the process or background of the growth of franchise businesses and harm these businesses for the sole reason of them being large corporations must be removed. The inhibition of growth to franchise enterprises may decrease the sales of franchise stores, in some cases even bankrupt them, as well as cause other problems. Therefore the suitable business type system should not hinder large corporations, and as both small dealers and small to medium size businesses both aim at improving competitiveness and combined growth, large corporations, small dealers and small to medium sized businesses, based on their mutual cooperation, should not include franchise corporations that continue business relations with them in this system.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.185-197
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• 2012

Caffe Bene, one of the most notable coffeehouse chain brands in Republic of Korea, gives us some thought-provoking issues in terms of sustainable success. Despite harsh competition among various coffeehouse brands, Caffe Bene has been accomplished astonishing outcomes in domestic market and now ranked 2^nd place in sales among the global coffeehouse franchise in 2010 and 2011. These achievements were possible mainly because Caffe Bene adopted distinctive shop design, maintained aggressive marketing strategy, developed new menu, and combined the unique Korean culture with ordinary concept of café to make its place attractive. However, since Korean coffeehouse market is getting saturated and consumers are becoming savvy about coffee, Caffe Bene needs to find a new solution to overcome growth stagnation. Besides, many experts pointed out that irrational increase in the number of stores might hurt its business in the aspect of managing distribution channel and providing consistent services. Also, customers of Caffe Bene have shown that it has to complement its critical weaknesses: inferior coffee taste and relatively high price for a cup of coffee. Especially, some people view that the company is shifting its high rental fee, interior cost and PPL marketing cost to consumers by charging high price for coffee. To get over the problems, Caffe Bene is currently using C/S Consumer Management System though experts are questioning about the efficacy because of the conflict between purpose of the system and the headquarters' plan. Present CEO Kim also announced that the company will complete its logistics system in the latter half of 2012 to provide stores with more high quality coffee beans to improve taste of coffee. Thus, in this case, we describe how Caffe Bene succeeded in Korean market and enumerate its key success factors. Also, we specify the long-term goals of Caffe Bene and introduce the current policies and strategies to show how the company is working on to achieve its ultimate goal. By reading and analyzing this business case, students could get useful insights regarding franchise management and think about issues on competing in a saturated market. Also, it would be worthwhile to generate creative solutions for the problems that Caffe Bene is now facing to broaden the practical perspective.

• Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.239-246
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• 2013

Global restaurant franchises are becoming more and more popular in China, Japan, and South Korea. Understanding target customers' needs for restaurant franchises is considered one of the most important factors for their business success. In this study, four domains-food-related domain (FRD), interior-related domain (IRD), staff-related domain (SRD), and convenience-related domain (CRD)-and 24 elements were classified. A survey with 450 respondents in the three capital cities (Beijing, Tokyo, and Seoul) was then conducted to examine the effect of the factors influencing customer satisfaction. After statistical analysis, thirteen main elements were found as factors influencing customer satisfaction. The analysis result showed that the food-related domain (FRD) was the most important in Beijing. The interior-related domain (IRD) and the convenience-related domain (CRD) were considered the most important in Tokyo and Seoul. Some cultural differences in customer satisfaction were also found. The results provide a guideline for better customer experience management of a restaurant franchise in the three cities.

• The Korean Journal of Franchise Management
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.57-74
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• 2023

Purpose: As global interest in environmental issues increases, the demand for green products/services is increasing. Companies are establishing eco-friendly policies to meet the changing expectations of customers. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the effect of eco-friendly behavior and third-party certification on trust, satisfaction, and loyalty as well as the mediating role of satisfaction based on SOR and signaling theory. Research design, data and methodology: This study collected data from 501 respondents who visited restaurant and analyzed using measurement model with SPSS 28.0 and SmartPLS 4. Results: First, restaurants' eco-friendly behavior and third-party certification (TPC) positively influenced trust while these did not influence satisfaction. Second, trust positively influenced satisfaction. Third, trust and satisfaction positively influenced loyalty. Fourth, TPC had stronger impact on trust and satisfaction compared to eco-friendly behavior in female group while TPC had stronger impact on trust in male group. Conclusions: This study emphasized the importance of TPC over eco-friendly behavior. Restaurants should maintain pro-environmental behaviors such as reducing single-use items while obtaining TPC such as ISO and LEED certifications to increase customer trust. It also found the importance of trust and satisfaction in securing loyal customers. Restaurants should make efforts to build bonds with customers through authentic marketing such as events that encourage customer participation.

• The Korean Journal of Franchise Management
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.19-30
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• 2023

Purpose: Corporate management is under pressure to contribute to social values beyond profit-seeking, and interest in ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) is increasing worldwide. In the recent global climate change crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of non-financial values such as ESG is increasing. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to prepare a strategy for future ESG management activities by analyzing the impact of it on corporate performance by food companies. Research design, data and methodology: ESG-related research trends, ESG activities, and corporate performance were analyzed. After that, a regression analysis was conducted to identify the relationship between ESG evaluation grade and corporate performance. Result: ESG management activities measured by ESG scores did not significantly affect the return on assets, one of the variables of corporate performance. However, as a result of setting the return on equity as a dependent variable, ESG management activities have a nonlinear relationship with corporate performance, and ESG management activities have a positive effect on corporate performance when investment in ESG management activities is reasonable. Conclusions: These results show that food companies should engage in an appropriate level of ESG management activities to improve corporate performance.

• The Korean Journal of Franchise Management
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2024

Purpose: Despite the popularity of sales promotion as one of the key marketing tactics employed by many companies today, relatively little effort has been devoted to examining an interaction effect between promotion cues and promotion duration. Therefore, this study aims to examine how promotion cues and promotion duration will jointly affect consumers' attitudes toward promotions and purchase intentions. Research design, data, and methodology: The present study conducted an online experiment through the Qualtrics program in which a total of 141 participants were recruited from the Cloud panel members in the U.S. The experiment employed a 2(promotion cue: best-seller vs. limited edition) × 2(promotion duration: long vs. short) full factorial between-subjects design. Result: In the condition of best-selling sales promotion cue, a long promotion duration induced more positive promotion attitude and higher purchase intention, while in the condition of limited-edition sales promotion cue, the use of a short promotion duration contributed more positive promotion attitude and greater purchase intention. Conclusions: Marketers need to take the congruence between promotion cues and promotion duration into full consideration when designing effective sales promotion strategy.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.537-545
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• 2016

This study aimed to research the moderating effects of local & global brand on the relationship between brand equity and behavioral intention in franchised hamburger restaurant. This study intended (1) to analyze the factors of brand equity in franchised hamburger restaurant, (2) to research the effect of brand equity on behavioral intention, (3) to research the moderating effects of local & global brand on the relationship between brand equity and behavioral intention. Data were collected from undergraduates who visited the nationwide hamburger restaurants by face-to-face interview. The questionnaire was distributed of the 300 copies and used 253 in the analysis. The results of this study revealed that (1) the factors of the brand equity were brand awareness, brand image and brand loyalty, (2) brand loyalty, image and awareness had significant influence on behavioral intention in order, (3) the effect of brand awareness on behavioral intention was significant influence by moderating effect of local & global brand.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.312-330
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• 2015

Domestic coffee franchise market in South Korea has been rapidly growing along with developing the global coffee franchises as well as entering domestic franchise companies into the beverage market. Competitions in the markets are getting more accelerated and local franchises and owner-operated coffee shops are losing their market shares gradually as a result. Local franchises and owner-operated coffee shops in Daegu, however, are notable in that they are maintaining the competitiveness in the markets. This is a unique phenomenon, which deserves to be analyzed to identify the successful attributes as a case study. Important Performance Analysis (IPA) method has been employed for analyzing and its gap(i.e., difference between importance and performance) analysis shows that the price and quantity of coffee are the most important differentiating attributes of local and owner-operated coffee franchises in Daegu.