• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.7-16
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• 2018

Purpose - This research addresses the question of how an international retailer like Costco can succeed in a foreign mature market and satisfy the local consumers. Our study aims to promote our understanding of how foreign retailers influence local consumers in a mature market with differentiated business models. Research design, data, and methodology - Our study uses company publications, secondary sources of information and the results of a questionnaire survey consisting of 106 participants. Consumer responses were solicited through a questionnaire survey conducted in the city of Kobe in December of 2013. Results - Product differentiation from local retailers in a mature market like Japan gave Costco a competitive edge. Compared with local supermarkets, Costco was preferred by Japanese consumers for its variety of goods that it carries, as well as in-store promotion large package of selling units, in-store amenities, and customer services. Conclusions - First, a theoretical framework is proposed in this study that can aid in developing localization strategies in a mature market such as Japan. Second, it reveals that an international retailer can succeed in a foreign market by stimulating local consumers to change their purchasing behavior, without having to alter the prevailing format of operation.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.101-118
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• 2014

Parkland, which is one of the pioneer brands in men's fashion in Korea, specifically suits, has recently undertaken bold brand repositioning activities to respond to the fast-changing environment and to overcome limitations in its current image positioning. As a result, in a short time period, Parkland achieved remarkable marketing and communication success. This case study explains how Parkland drew successful brand repositioning from the fierce fashion market. This study systematically analyzes the brand repositioning strategy process and implementation strategy used to resolve the conceptual and structural issues of Parkland as a mature brand. To this end, this study assesses Parkland's brand strategy focusing on brand environment and positioning. Accordingly, the study analyzes the target concept and basic direction of the brand repositioning in terms of the repositioning strategy process, and from an integrated marketing perspective, examines the specific implementation program for repositioning. Finally, the study addresses the outcomes of brand repositioning efforts as well as steps to be taken in the future.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Interior Design Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.126-131
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• 2005

As our domestic Espresso Coffee Shops are in pursuit of professionalization and various coffee tastes, their sales will have been on increase. Now coffee market is getting more mature. Reflecting sensitivity of 20 to 30 generations, the domestic coffee shops provide them with best space for rest and conversation with stream of industralization and professionalization of the contemporary society. Based on such a situation, our research institute aims at studying how the interior designs put influence on marketing. Among the domestic franchise coffee shops, we will have researched Rosebud, Starbugs, Davinci which have more 50 chain stores throughout the country, This study aims to suggest a direction for interior design of brand coffee shop by analyzing brand coffee shops and style that customers prefer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 1982

The fatty acid composition of human milk was determined in 20 milk samples (ten colostrum and 10 mature) obtained at different stages of lactation. Human colostrum contained a lower percentage of total lipids than mature milk. In comparison with mature milk, human colostrum was characterized by a lower percentage of saturated fatty acids, a higher percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids and a higher percentage of extra-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolites of both linoleic acid ($\omega$ 6 series) and linolenic acid ($\omega$ 3 series). The linoleic acid levels reported here are considerably higher than those reported previously in Korea. This shift has paralleled an increase in the use of vegetable oils in Korean diet. The human mature milk differed from marketing cow's milk in fatty acid composition, as it had a lower content of short-, medium-and long-chain saturated fatty acids and a higher content of long-chain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.27-35
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• 2010

As the population, buying power, and intensity of self-expression of the elderly generation increase, its importance as a market segment is also growing. Therefore, the mass marketing strategy for the elderly generation must be changed to a micro-marketing strategy based on the results of sub-segmentation that suitably captures the characteristics of this generation. Furthermore, as a customer access strategy is decided by sub-segmentation, proper segmentation is one of the key success factors for micro-marketing. Segments or sub-segments are different from sectors, because segmentation or sub-segmentation for micro-marketing is based on the homogeneity of customer needs. Theoretically, complete segmentation would reveal a single voice. However, it is impossible to achieve complete segmentation because of economic factors, factors that affect effectiveness, etc. To obtain a single voice from a segment, we sometimes need to divide it into many individual cases. In such a case, there would be a many segments to deal with. On the other hand, to maximize market access performance, fewer segments are preferred. In this paper, we use the term "sub-segmentation" instead of "segmentation," because we divide a specific segment into more detailed segments. To sub-segment the elderly generation, this paper takes their lifestyles and life stages into consideration. In order to reflect these aspects, various surveys and several rounds of expert interviews and focused group interviews (FGIs) were performed. Using the results of these qualitative surveys, we can define six sub-segments of the elderly generation. This paper uses five rules to divide the elderly generation. The five rules are (1) mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive (MECE) sub-segmentation, (2) important life stages, (3) notable lifestyles, (4) minimum number of and easy classifiable sub-segments, and (5) significant difference in voices among the sub-segments. The most critical point for dividing the elderly market is whether children are married. The other points are source of income, gender, and occupation. In this paper, the elderly market is divided into six sub-segments. As mentioned, the number of sub-segments is a very key point for a successful marketing approach. Too many sub-segments would lead to narrow substantiality or lack of actionability. On the other hand, too few sub-segments would have no effects. Therefore, the creation of the optimum number of sub-segments is a critical problem faced by marketers. This paper presents a method of evaluating the fitness of sub-segments that was deduced from the preceding surveys. The presented method uses the degree of homogeneity (DoH) to measure the adequacy of sub-segments. This measure uses quantitative survey questions to calculate adequacy. The ratio of significantly homogeneous questions to the total numbers of survey questions indicates the DoH. A significantly homogeneous question is defined as a question in which one case is selected significantly more often than others. To show whether a case is selected significantly more often than others, we use a hypothesis test. In this case, the null hypothesis (H0) would be that there is no significant difference between the selection of one case and that of the others. Thus, the total number of significantly homogeneous questions is the total number of cases in which the null hypothesis is rejected. To calculate the DoH, we conducted a quantitative survey (total sample size was 400, 60 questions, 4~5 cases for each question). The sample size of the first sub-segment-has no unmarried offspring and earns a living independently-is 113. The sample size of the second sub-segment-has no unmarried offspring and is economically supported by its offspring-is 57. The sample size of the third sub-segment-has unmarried offspring and is employed and male-is 70. The sample size of the fourth sub-segment-has unmarried offspring and is not employed and male-is 45. The sample size of the fifth sub-segment-has unmarried offspring and is female and employed (either the female herself or her husband)-is 63. The sample size of the last sub-segment-has unmarried offspring and is female and not employed (not even the husband)-is 52. Statistically, the sample size of each sub-segment is sufficiently large. Therefore, we use the z-test for testing hypotheses. When the significance level is 0.05, the DoHs of the six sub-segments are 1.00, 0.95, 0.95, 0.87, 0.93, and 1.00, respectively. When the significance level is 0.01, the DoHs of the six sub-segments are 0.95, 0.87, 0.85, 0.80, 0.88, and 0.87, respectively. These results show that the first sub-segment is the most homogeneous category, while the fourth has more variety in terms of its needs. If the sample size is sufficiently large, more segmentation would be better in a given sub-segment. However, as the fourth sub-segment is smaller than the others, more detailed segmentation is not proceeded. A very critical point for a successful micro-marketing strategy is measuring the fit of a sub-segment. However, until now, there have been no robust rules for measuring fit. This paper presents a method of evaluating the fit of sub-segments. This method will be very helpful for deciding the adequacy of sub-segmentation. However, it has some limitations that prevent it from being robust. These limitations include the following: (1) the method is restricted to only quantitative questions; (2) the type of questions that must be involved in calculation pose difficulties; (3) DoH values depend on content formation. Despite these limitations, this paper has presented a useful method for conducting adequate sub-segmentation. We believe that the present method can be applied widely in many areas. Furthermore, the results of the sub-segmentation of the elderly generation can serve as a reference for mature marketing.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.67-79
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• 2012

The car insurance market in Korea has already entered (or is in the process of entry) a mature market that is characterized by increased competition by market participants. Participants are expected to compete more intensively in order to survive. Together with a slowdown in market growth the goal of non-life insurers' marketing strategies is to enhance existing customer loyalty because it is easier to raise their loyalty via customer satisfaction than to attract new customers in a stagnant market. In this article, we investigate what factors affect customer loyalty, and suggest some specific ways to establish and implement marketing strategies. We use a generalized additive partial linear model in order to find some significant factors.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.87-96
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• 2015

Purpose - Several domestic telecommunication companies have made a considerable effort to continuously grow and survive, and they have strived to thrive in the midst of mature market competition. To overcome this challenging situation and to grow continuously, while still meeting customer needs that are becoming more diverse and complicated with the passage of time, extensive support for internal marketing is essential. Without such internal support, companies face serious limitations and market roadblocks. The communication industry is a high-level service industry and a basic communications industry characteristic is its significant dependence on the employees delivering the services. Therefore, entrepreneurs in the information/communications industry, as well as existing competitors, should look to satisfy external customers through critical investment in internal customers (employees). Therefore, it is important for research to examine how internal factors influence technology innovation and service quality, which are the key drivers for companies that are seeking leading market positions. Research design, data, and methodology - The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship of technology innovation and perceived service quality with the internal marketing factors in the communication industry and to offer suitable and effective internal marketing suggestions. The independent variables of this study are internal communication, education and training, the support of the executives, reward systems, and empowerment. The dependent variables are technology innovation and perceived service quality. Utilizing these, this paper studies the influence of internal marketing factors on technology innovation and perceived service quality. Results - The study results revealed the following. First, the identified internal marketing factors have a positive effect on technology innovation. Among the five internal marketing factors, three had a significant effect on product innovation, empowerment, the support of executives, and education and training, in this order. Second, the internal marketing factors also had a positive effect on the process innovation of technology innovation. The marketing factors, the support of executives, empowerment, internal communication, and education and training, in this order, significantly affect process innovation. Third, technology innovation had a positive effect on perceived service quality. All of the five service quality factors, namely, tangibles, reliability, assurance, responsibility, and empathy, in this order, significantly affect product innovation. Additionally, tangibles, reliability, responsibility, empathy, and assurance, in this order, significantly affect process innovation. Fourth, product and process innovation significantly affect tangibles and reliability in technology innovation. To enhance tangibles and reliability, process innovation should first be enhanced. Fifth, product and process innovation significantly affect responsibility and empathy in technology innovation. To enhance the responsibility and empathy, process innovation should first be enhanced. Sixth, product and process innovation significantly affect assurance in technology innovation. To enhance the assurance, product innovation should first be enhanced. Conclusions - According to the results, a company's internal marketing factors have a positive and significant effect on technology innovation and, further, product and process innovation have a positive and significant effect on the perceived serviced quality.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.7
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• pp.47-56
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• 2013

Purpose - In the academic literature, the researches on a comparative study on purchase behaviors of the consumers from emerging and mature markets remain limited. Therefore, this empirical study is attempted to examine the effects of country of origin (COO), brand image and corporate image on the purchase behavior of Chinese consumers (as from emerging market) and Korean consumers (as from mature market). Research Design, data, methodology - In total, 615 valid questionnaires were collected from the main cities of China and Korea respectively, and a multiple group analysis was conducted to test the hypotheses with SPSS 16.0 and AMOS18.0. Results - Chinese consumers are not influenced by country-of-origin effect, whereas Korean consumers are sensitive to it. Both Chinese and Korean consumers are sensitive to brand image, whereas corporate image does appear to influence Chinese consumers but not Korean consumers. The effects of country-of-origin are not more influential in less developed market (China) than more developed market (Korea). Conclusions - According to the results of this empirical study, the country-of-origin effect does impact Korean consumers but not Chinese consumers' purchase behavior. Therefore, multinational companies are relatively free to make the decision, if Chinese consumers are the marketing targets, when choosing manufacturing sites.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.253-264
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• 2012

A growing number of Korean companies are trying to expand their business area into global market due to saturation in the Korean domestic market. Home shopping industry arriving on mature stage is faced with less growth recently. CJ O Shopping which is a top ranked home shopping company in Korea, has been showing meaningful performances by earlier moving to global market with thorough preparations. CJ O Shopping's global marketing strategy focused on asian countries including China, India, Vietnam, and Japan is going successfully, which enables top ranked on-line retailing company in asia as well as in Korea. CJ O Shopping effectively penetrated into overseas market with both core competence based on Korean home shopping model and rigorous preliminary study on target market. Especially shoppertainment (Shopping+Entertainment) that is unique feature of globally competitive Korean home shopping created huge differentiations in target market. Also choosing the influential local partner, sharing the business goals, and building the joint venture could make stable operations, thereby easily earning of well-established awareness from target consumers. A step ahead entry of competitors and intensive localization of CJ O Shopping's core competence for arriving safe in target market were additional key factors for global marketing success. We can extract above key factors for success as implications of case study on CJ O Shopping's global marketing, and expect those factors to be spread into lots of Korean companies and utilized as successful strategies for global marketing.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.161-176
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• 2013

This study discusses some features observed in Korean credit card industry, which is classified as a two-sided market. First, I summarize six characteristics or conditions that two-sided markets possess by reviewing related literatures, and consider if we can find out those peculiarities in Korean card industry. Second, this study casts light upon the unique issues which have not been handled in previous studies, that is another two-sidedness in mature two-sided markets. In the context of credit card industry, this additional two-sidedness is created by specific consumers group existing in entire consumer group in a card firm as a form of subset and specific partnering merchants group offering special benefits to their subset consumer group, or alliance card holders. This concept gives new idea that there could be multiple two-sidedness especially in mature two-sided markets, which will be significant to platforms' pricing strategies and expand the scope of related studies.