• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.53-67
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• 2009

For the last decades, service quality has been studied as one of the most important tools for a service company to compete with the other companies. Based on these past researches, it has been agreed that the service quality is a basic and powerful tool to create the competitive advantage. Due to similar reason, many service marketing practitioners have been also focused on the service quality to retain the existing consumers and collect the new consumers. However, service quality is subjectively perceived by individual consumers. Consumer evaluation of service quality can be different from each other. Especially consumers with one life-style may evaluate the service quality differently from the consumers with the other life-styles. Therefore we need to know whether there are differences in service quality perception on the categories of life-style. Life-style refers to a distinctive mode of living in its aggregate and broadest sense. It embodies the patterns that were developed and emerged from the dynamics of living in a society. Since the concept of life-style and its relationship to marketing was introduced in 1963 by William Lazer, methods of measuring the life-style and their application have been developed. Life-style has been usually used to segment the marketplace because it offers marketers a unique and important view of the market. When Life-style is combined with clustering methods, life-style segmentation can generate identifiable whole persons rather than isolated fragment. Life-style segmentation begins with people instead of products and classifies them into different life-style types, each characterized by a unique style of living based on a wide range of activities, interests, and opinions(Plummer, 1974). In this study we applies the life-style segmentation based on the AIO(Activities, Interests, and Opinions) to the consumers of the large discount stores. In Korea, the large discount store market has entered into maturity stage so that the market differentiation strategy is becoming a more critical issue to the marketing practitioners. One of the most important tools to differentiate from the competitors in large discount store market is continuously to provide service of better quality than competitors. This study tries to find answers about the following questions: 1) How can we categorize the consumer life-styles in the large discount store? 2) What are the characteristics of the categorized groups? 3) Are there any differences in service quality perception among the consumers with different life-styles 4) Are there any differences in consumer behavior among them in the large discount store? For the purpose, we collected survey data from consumers and analyzed the data with the SPSS package where we had $X^2$-test, factor analysis, ANOVA, MANOVA, and cluster analysis. The survey was made during one month in the April of 2008. Among the collected 306 copies of questionnaires, 281 copies were chosen as the effective samples for empirical analysis except 25 copies with wrong responses. To identify the life-style patterns, we used the measures employed by Kim and Kwon(1999), where 44 items on a seven-point scale were used to measure factors of the life-style patterns. The Principal Component Method was used for factor extraction, and the VARIMAX orthogonal factor rotation was employed. The 7 items showing low factor loading were eliminated. The results of the factor analysis suggested that nine factors of the life-style patterns were identified as follows: 1) the equality-of-sexes and pursuit-of-independence tendency 2) self-management tendency 3) sociable tendency 4) self-display tendency 5) degree of a dilettante life 6) pursuit-of-information tendency 7) bargain hunter tendency 8) TV preference tendency 9) pursuit-of-leisure tendency. Next, after the K-means cluster analysis was performed with nine factors of the life-style patterns, the life-styles of the respondents were classified into four groups which are named as the 'progressive practicality-oriented group', 'positive success-oriented group', 'sociable ostentation-oriented group', 'stable conservation-oriented group'. The analysis results for usage behavior between the market segments showed statistically significant differences in the frequency of usage, duration time in the store, consumer satisfaction, and loyalty. Also, we tried to investigate whether the large discount store consumers differently perceive the quality of service based upon the types of life-style. To measure the service quality of large discount store, we adapted several measurement models measuring the service quality such as SERVPERF, BCP, R-SERVPERF, R-BCP. MANOVA and One-Way ANOVA were performed to confirm the difference in service quality perception based on the market segments. The results have also shown significant differences between life-style types in service quality perception. These findings show that the large discount store marketers should consider consumer life-style as one of the most important market segments for marketing and understand the difference in service quality perception between life-style types. Our findings give important implications to marketers of large discount stores as well as life-style researchers. First, this study showed there were significant differences in consumer's service quality perception and usage behavior between the types of life-style. It provides evidence that the life-style approach can be a important basis in segmenting the large discount store market and will make consumers perceive the service quality high. Second, most previous researches on service quality have been in aggregate level. However, our results imply that the future research on service quality have to focus on segment level.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.7-26
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• 2012

The success story of E-mart fascinated many academics and practitioners alike. Though E-mart began as a nameless discount store in Chang-dong, Seoul in 1993, it has transformed itself into a leading distribution company and one of the most powerful brands in Korea. Surprisingly, it achieved the great success against the two crises it met: the national economic crisis and the invasion of the global giant Walmart. The main objective of this case study is to formally examine how E-mart overcame the two crises. More specifically, this case study highlights the ways with which E-mart turned those difficulties into opportunities for growth. In our examination of the E-mart case, we could clearly see E-mart's competence and spirit that allowed it to turn crises into advantageous opportunities. E-mart attracted the customers who wanted value-oriented consumption by its positioning as the "Lowest price discount store", when consumer sentiment was frozen under the economic crisis. Furthermore, when a large-scale foreign discount store like Walmart entered the Korea market, E-mart built its core competencies as the 'Korean style discount store'. These ingenious positioning and efforts resulted in E-mart taking over their archrival, Walmart, and forced the global Goliath to exit the Korean market. The case of E-mart's effective crisis management teaches many important lessons and a few core lessons that apply to many companies. One such lesson is the importance of positioning which enabled E-mart to turn crises into opportunities. Granted, the strategy of positioning as the 'Korean style discount store', or 'Lowest price discount store' was possible due to overall support with cost reduction, development and management of their own system, an apprentice educate system, etc. based on an excellent selection of location of the store and efficient distribution systems. Still, the positioning strategy of E-mart was truly ground breaking in distancing itself from its competitors. The lessons from E-mart will help those companies currently in a stagnant situation or a crisis to turn their obstacles into great success.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.75-86
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• 2003

The purpose of the study is to identify consumers' use of information source, store image, and demographic characteristics by their lifestyle types. and to establish a strategy for marketing and customer satisfaction management in order to response actively to the change of consumer behavior and to survive in this boundless competition. Out of the adult females who visited any discount store from October 3 to October 13. 2001. 300 women who would understand the purpose of the survey and respond it. were given with the questionnaire. Finally, 245 questionnaires were returned and analyzed. The data were processed in factor analysis. group analysis. deviation analysis. Duncan. and cross analysis. with SPSS WIN 10.0. The results are as follows: 1. Life style were categorized into 4 groups: social service pursuing group, fashion change pursuing group. convenience pursuing group, cultural life pursuing group. 2. There were some differences in discount store consumers's use of information source about the cosmetics according to lifestyle types. 3. There were some differences in discount store consumers's store image about the cosmetics according to lifestyle types. 4. There were some differences in discount store consumers's demographic characteristics about the cosmetics according to lifestyle types.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Interior Design Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.193-196
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• 2005

The value of all goods and services produced in the economy divided by population has risen from $7.355 in 1998 to $12.646 in 2003. In other to maintain higher standard of lifestyle, people are 'hungry' for time. The idea of saving time and money by providing many different types of products altogether in one space was implemented with the advent of large warehouse style discount stores. These type of retailers grew in size and popularity during the 1990s and 2000s, causing a decline in sales in the old, traditional downtown markets. From ancient to twenty-first century, the role of the grocery store has been that of the social center of the community; a place of unity and interaction of people. The experience a customer engages in at a grocery store is comparable to that of a museum. Not only is the grocery store a unique, physical space to visit, but also a rich collection of fascination items. The layout of the interior space is meticulously planned for the efficiency of customer circulation and the success of product exhibition. Eye catching graphics and attractive lighting also add to the appeal of the grocery store's high style. Shoppers are no longer satisfied with just buying good products at a lower price. Shoppers prefer to spend time in an entertaining environment. The Hanaro Mart project in this study propose the idea of warehouse style discount stores which can satisfy all the demands of customers and their various activities. This study will open up unique dimensions of aesthetic expression and experience in the interior environments. Shopping for food is an unavoidable task. If food shopping is enjoyable, more people will spend more time at it.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.143-156
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• 2004

This case intorduced E-mart's business philosophy and vision, analyzed E-mart's outline of marketing strategy, and discussed its performance and future task. E-mart took the role of market pioneer by developing discount store market in Korea. It's mission was to provide substantial benefits to the customers by selling quality products at the lowest price in the market. For this purpose, E-mart has conducted a slogan of 'everyday low price discount store-E-mart'. Objective of E-mart's brand strategy was to be No. 1 discount store in Korea or to be a representative brand in the discount store market. To achieve this objective, E-mart has conducted various efforts such as construction of national network, realization of the lowest price, formation of the most reliable discount store image, establishment of competitive edge and so on. E-mart settled a new model for discount store in Korea and took the lead in expanding market potential. With these efforts, E-mart has maintained secure position as a leading company in the discount store market.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.774-789
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• 1995

The purposes of this study was to demonstrate the influence of fashion life-style, self-image and situational factors on consumer's apparel store choice for satisfaction of varied needs and high efficiency of marketing activity. A questionnaire was developed to measure research subjects based on theoretical study empirically. The questionnaire was administered to 270 women aged between 20 and 30 in Seoul. The results analyzed by factor analysis, cluster analysis, x2-test and oneway-anova. The results of empirical studies were summarized as follows: 1. Segmented groups of fashion life-style were classified practical/planning group, fashion- leader group, and shopping-oriented group. And store types which were prefered by those groups were department store/shopping center. 2. Segmented groups of self-image were classified actual-seeking group, modernity group and confidence group. And store types which were prefered by those groups were department store/shopping center. The Forecast of store choice on the base of self.image was showed that customers choose the store incongruous with self-image. But when it was analyzed each actual store choice. The Choice of high frequancy was congruous with self-image except for a specialty store/brand named outlet. 3. The significant differences could be found in choice of the store under particular purchase situations and especially at department stores and specialty store, their preference tended to be stronger as the degree of the store's involvement was hightened, but in the case of the generalization stores and the permanent discount stores, even though the degree of that involvement was low, their preference showed the same tendency.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1-12
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• 2012

This study made an analysis on the relation and influence between outdoor wear benefit, clothing selection criteria and purchasing satisfaction. Survey was conducted targeting 20s-30s males and females who have experience of purchasing outdoor wear and 335 sheets of questionnaire were used for final analysis. And statistics package SPSS16.0 was used for analysis of collected materials. A group seeking the trendy brand turned out to give considerable thought to the brand and trend and purchase less than 100,000won at the discount outlet. A group pursuing functional practicality puts an emphasis on the activity and use, and purchases at the internet shopping mall or department store. Regarding material, function, design, style and color as important, a group pursuing individuality and appearance turned out to purchase clothing at various places such as discount outlet, specialty store and internet. A group that is indifferent to clothing appeared not to care about specific elements when selecting outdoor wear. The result of study showed that consumers of outdoor wear show purchasing satisfaction in respect of design, style, color or trend.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2008

This study was carried out to examine the actual using condition of Yogawear and consumer's preference of Yogawear with traditional pattern. Yogawear can be developed as a cultural fashion item, because Yoga is getting universal interest with "Wellbeing Trend". A survey with 34 questionnaires was made by 305 consumers who had ever experienced Yoga from July to August, 2006. The results are as follows: 1. Most of objects were female(94%). Those who are in their twenties accounted for 50%, and those who take Yoga practice time less than 1 year accounted 63%, and those who take Yoga practice time less than 1 hour in a week accounted 46%. 2. Respondents who have Yogawear accounted 32% and they bought it in a online-shopping mall(48%), department store(16%) and discount store(11%). 3. Only 31% of respondents were satisfied of their Yogawear but they weren't satisfied about Yogawear Design, fabric and color. 4. Most preferred Yogawear style was pastel colored 'shirt & Pants' style with long sleeve using cotton fabric. 5. They liked much more modern Yogawear having korean image than completely korean style Yogawear or modern style Yogawear. 6.The benefits of Yogawear were 3 dimension: appearance, easy management, physical properties.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.75-88
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• 1995

The objectives of this study were to classify the contents of clothing shopping orientation, to group women into shopper types, and to examine the differences in clothing purchase criteria according to the shopper types. Samples were 335 women(20-49 years of age) in Seoul, Korea. The data were analyzed using factor analysis, cluster analysis, one-way ANOVA, Duncan's multiple range test, X2 test, paired t-test, multiple regression analysis. The results of the study were the followings. 1. Five factors of clothing shopping orientation derived by factor analysis : F.1 'impulsive shopping' ; F.2 'rational shopping' ; F.3 'independent shopping' ; F.4 'economic shopping' ; F.5 'convenient shopping'. Three shopper types were classified by cluster analysis of the 5 factors : T.1 'convenient shopper' ; T.2 'impulsive shopper' ; T.3 'rational shopper'. 2. Significant differences were found among the 3 shopper types in all clothing purchase criteria. Rational shopper perceived all purchase criteria as more important than did the other 2 types. Impulsive shopper perceived 'fashion', 'attractiveness', 'style', and 'bland' as more important than did convenient shopper. 3. Married women and unemployed women were more distributed in rational shopper, while the unmarried and the employed more in impulsive shopper. Impulsive shopper used more credit care, purchased suits and blouses at department store and brand specialty store more than did rational shopper. Rational shopper purchased at discount store and wholesale store more than did impulsive shopper. 4. Women assessed 'color and fabric design' as most important in suit and blouse purchase criteria. 'Care' was perceived more important in blouses than in suits, and the other 9 purchase criteria(fashion, attractiveness, style, color and fabric design, fabric, durability, costruction, comfort, and brand) were perceived more important in suits than in blouses. 5. Rational and economic shopping orientation scores were higher in suit purchase than in blouse, while impulsive, independent, and convenient shopping orientation scores were higher in blouse purchase. 6. Post-purchase suit satisfaction was influenced by rational shopping orientation, educational level, style, income, and comfort. The explanatory power of the 5 variables was 17.2%. Post-purchase blouse satisfaction was influenced by style, care, rational shopping orientation, and independent shopping orientation. The explanatory power of the 4 variables was 10.2%.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.333-352
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• 1999

This study investigates the impact of International Monetary Fund(IMF) Age on the household behavior of food consumption and analysis the related factors(demographic variables, family life style) to find out the reasonable consumer's consciousness and food market conditions. The results are as follows. 1. General life style and food life style, considered as family life style, were classified into 7 types and 9 types respectively as family life style by factor analysis. 2. The rationality of using and disposing stage on food life has increased, the rationality of the planning stage on food life has decreased since the IMF age began. But the rationality of overall food consumption has hardly changed. 3. The amount of purchasing was decreased, discount store was favorite place to buy food, and safety and freshness were major determinants in purchasing for most of food items. But this was different with food items. The various information sources were used impartially to buy food, cash was used mainly, and the degree of using the discount ticket/coupon was a little low. 4. Income level is an influential factor on the rationality of the planning and purchasing stage on food life, while environment-oriented food life style has influenced on the rationality of using and disposing stage. The purchasing amount of grain products, meats, milk products, bread and snacks, drinks, alcoholic drinks, water and convenience goods has influenced by demographic variables, eating out had been influenced by general life styles, and fruits, healthy foods, processed foodstuffs, favorite foods, vegetables seaweeds, import foods and seafood had been mainly influenced by food life style since IMF age began.