• 유통과학연구
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.93-101
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• 2016

Purpose - Due to the heavy reliance on the human dependence, several factors such as attitude, behavior, emotional status and the quality of the service by the employees have been a decisive effect on the existence of a business in service industry. This study made use of the cases from the beauty salons in Korea, and tried to find out the meaningful results with following purposes. The purpose of this study is to find out the effects of psychological ownership with focusing on the employees in service industry. Therefore, this study is based on the literature reviews in the fields of psychological ownership, regulatory focus, and customer satisfaction. In particular, this study focuses on the regulatory focus with two parts. The two parts are composed of the promotion focus and prevention focus. Also, the relationship between the regulatory focus on employee and customer satisfaction was identified through empirical study. Mediating effects of regulatory focus were also studied, that is, the regulatory focus was on the relationship between psychological ownership and customer satisfaction. In conclusion, practical and intellectual implications were discussed for the growth and development in service industry. Research design, data & methodology - The survey for this study was conducted from November 15th to December 15th in 2015. The same amount of survey was given to both, the service providers and customers. For both of them, such as the service providers and customers, 260 questionnaires were distributed to them in total. After excluding the missing and unreliable responses for the exact analysis and process, 250 responses were collected and used in the research analysis. This study conducted a survey questionnaires, and the confirmatory analysis was used for the reliability and validity in this study. SPSS & AMOS programs were used for the analysis. Results - The first variable that was looked at from this study is the psychological ownership. The psychological ownership had positive effects on the performance both in improving focus and prevention focus. It indicates that this study supports the results from the previous studies. Second, the effects on the performance in improving focus and prevention focus for customer satisfaction were studied. As a result, the performance in improving focus had positive effect on customer satisfaction, but prevention focus did not have any positive effect. Third, this study looked at the mediating effect of regulatory focus on the relationship between the psychological ownership and the customer satisfaction, and only partly, they had positive effects on customer satisfaction. Conclusions - The results of this study showed that the psychological ownership has positive effects on regulatory focus both in performance improving focus and prevention focus. However, the mediating effects had partial positive effects on customer satisfaction and these results indicate that the service enterprises should focus on the employees' psychological ownership in order to maximize the customers' satisfaction.

• 유통과학연구
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• 제14권6호
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• pp.53-63
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• 2016

Purpose - This study examines the effects of the influence strategies on sales representative and headquarter trust, and investigates how sales representative trust plays a mediating role in the relationship between influence strategies and headquarter trust. For these purposes, a structural model which consists of several constructs was developed. In this model, influence strategies that consist of relational influence strategies (information exchange, recommend, promise) and mandatory influence strategies (legal plea, request, threat) were proposed to affect the sales representative trust and in turn, increase the headquarter trust. Thus, this study proposed that sale representative trust plays a core mediating role in the relationship between relational and mandatory influence strategies and headquarter trust in B2B food materials distribution context. Research design, data, and methodology - For these purposes, the authors collected the data from 208 B2B specialized complex agents. We used the 2,200 B2B specialized complex agents which trade with CJ, Ottogi, and Daesang firms and supply food materials to restaurant, school cafeteria, supermarket and traditional market as a sample frame. Once we identified 330 B2B specialized complex agent owners, CEOs, and/or Directors who had agreed to participate in this study, we dropped off a questionnaire at each B2B specialized complex agent and explained the purpose of this study. The survey was conducted from October 1, 2015 to December 15, 2015. A total of 230 questionnaires were collected. Of these collected questionnaires, 28 questionnaires excluded since they had not been fully completed. The data were analyzed using frequency test, reliability test, measurement model analysis, and structural equation modeling with SPSS and SmartPLS 2. Results - First, information exchange, recommendation, and promise of relational influence strategies had positive effects on sales representative trust. The threat of mandatory influence strategies had a negative effect on sales representative trust, but legal plea and request did not have a significant effect on sales representative trust. Second, information exchange and recommendation of relational influence strategies had positive effects on headquarter trust, but promise did not. Also, legal plea, request, and threat of mandatory influence strategies did not have a significant effect on headquarter trust. Third, this findings show that sales representative trust plays a partial mediator between information exchange and headquarter trust, and threat and headquarter trust, and a full mediator between promise and headquarter trust, and recommendation and headquarter trust. Conclusions - The aim of this study was to examine the effects how diverse dimensions of relational and mandatory influence strategies relate to sales representative trust and headquarter trust. To do so, we integrated the influence strategies and the trust transfer theory to hypothesize that various influence strategies increase sales representative and headquarter trust. The findings of this study suggest that headquarter firms should establish and enforce proper influence strategies guidelines to make clear what proper actions sales representatives should implement in relationship with B2B specialized complex agents. Also, relational and mandatory influence strategies must be regarded as a long-term and ongoing strategy that eventually build a long-term orientation with B2B specialized complex agents and guarantee a company's sustainable growth and success.

• 유통과학연구
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• 제14권6호
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• pp.65-73
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• 2016

Purpose - Recently, the management conditions of small independent retailers are getting worse everyday as large-scale marts and franchised convenience stores are increasing. The objective of this research is to find out the antecedents and consequences of cooperation in voluntary chain in order to enhance small independent retailer's competitiveness. Voluntary chains, also called affiliation or symbol groups, or allied group represent a high market shared in some European countries like Italy, France, and Germany. Nevertheless, there are still limitations in this research from academic fields. Drawing from network theory, the author investigates the relationship between antecedent factors in voluntary chain cooperation, such as participation benefits, justice of compensation, and autonomy in voluntary chain, and relationship specific asset. The author also attempts to examine the relationship between the relationship specific asset and cooperation of voluntary chain member shop and cooperation and consequence factors of voluntary chain cooperation, such as efficiency, group cohesiveness, and long-term relationship. Research design, data, and methodology - The author presented conceptual framework integrating the major antecedents and consequences of voluntary chain cooperation. The data were collected from 174 independent small retailers who joined K-voluntary chain. K-voluntary chain consists of small independent retailers. In accordance with their status, each entrepreneur associated with the voluntary group can own one or more outlets and can be a part of the life and the decision-making process of the group. This participation is not based on company turnover or on the number of outlets, but based on a one member, one vote system. To verify the research model and test hypotheses, the author carefully investigated the reliability, content validity, convergent validity, and discriminant validity of the proposed model. The data were analyzed by using SPSS 18.0 and AMOS structural equation modeling program. Results - The results of this study are as follows. First, as antecedent variables, participation benefits and justice of compensation have positive effect on the relationship specific assets of voluntary chain members. Second, voluntary chain members' relationship specific asset also directly related to the level of its cooperation to chain headquarter. Third, cooperation of voluntary chain member shop facilitates efficiency, group cohesiveness, and long-term relationship. Unexpectedly, there are no effect autonomy in voluntary chain to relationship specific asset. Conclusions - This research shows several theoretical and practical implications to both marketing scholars and marketers. In terms of theoretical implications, this study applies to network theory and network theory variables to explain the antecedent and consequence factors of cooperation in voluntary chain. From the point of view from business management, most of all, this study shows the way how to reinforce competitiveness of voluntary chain. Specifically, it is necessary for voluntary chain headquarter to give higher level of participation benefit and justice of compensation to its members. Second, the results also indicate what the consequence factors of cooperation in voluntary chain. In other words, to increase the level of marketing efficiency, group cohesiveness, long-term orientation in retail voluntary chain, and chain headquarter need to facilitate participants' cooperation.

• 유통과학연구
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• 제14권6호
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• pp.89-98
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• 2016

Purpose - This article tackles risk communication issues and aims to address the characteristics of MERS risk information distribution in South Korea, and secondly to examine the communicative behavior of the public health authority in terms of the quality of communication strategies. Thirdly, the study attempts to figure out the risk communication to cope with MERS through the applications of SMCRE model in chronological order. We employ the social amplification of risk framework for analyzing the emergent public response as one of the main approaches. Research Design, Data and Methodology - The main framework of this study is theoretically based on the social amplification of risk, which describes signals about risk transmitted and processed by individuals and social groups. The model also reflects the interactions between social groups and institutes about disaster-related risk issues, which are potential amplifiers or attenuators of communication signals. S-M-C-R-E Model is methodologically employed to examine the social amplification for MERS risk information in each period, which we defined operationally. The proposed methodology allows the assessment of effectiveness and ineffectiveness on risk communication to be conceptualized as a countermeasure against disasters. The paper focuses on exploring how social risk amplification can be applied and organized in each stage. Results - The SMCRE model describes the exchange of risk information and is also applied to all forms of communication between stakeholders including public health authority, local government and media. Each factor of risk communication includes source, message, channel, receiver and effect. The results support that the effective risk communication involves not only the improved reliability of public health authority as a key factor of risk communication, but also a close cooperation and good collaboration with local governments. It does not seem to be possible that the government-initiated risk communication based on controllability and management cope effectively with infectious disease in early stage. The results of this study imply that the shared risks between local, regional and national authorities can enhance risk communication system. Conclusions - The study supports that the disparities in how disaster-related risk information is interpreted and coded, have made effective risk communication and public sense-making impeded. Our findings support a more communicative discussion about the role of risk information sharing between governments for the improvement of emergency management and underline the importance of social elements in the risk communication, such as relationship and trust building. Findings suggest that trust building between stakeholders could be added to help explain the processes of social amplification and attenuation of risk. It would be recommended that the continuous risk communication with all the involved stakeholders will be able to help national health promotion policy to be improved regarding emergency management. Furthermore, risk communication has to be a scientific approach for the communication pertaining to potentially sensitive or controversial situations with public concerns and low public trust.

• 유통과학연구
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• 제13권5호
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• pp.103-111
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• 2015

Purpose - When it comes to first impressions of family restaurants, people basically think of the following factors: cozy, a refreshing space, indoor lighting, atmospheric music, the best-quality service through mutual interactions with employees, birthday events, follow-up customer management, brand image, and many others. Focusing on such family restaurants characteristics, with consumption experience and customer satisfaction determined as mediator variables, this study looks into the selection factors that affect customer loyalty when choosing a family restaurant. Subsequently, the study conducts an empirical analysis of these selection factors with the greatest influence. Research design, data, and methodology - This study analyzed 200 total surveys of family restaurant customers including college students, workers, housewives, and others. The survey was conducted over two weeks in May 2014. For statistical processing, SPSS 21 was used for factor analysis and reliability analysis as well as AMOS for structural equation analysis. In terms of a variable that would influence either consumption experience or customer satisfaction at the restaurants, the study introduced the concept of customer equity. The study designed a model based on a hypothesis developed using the following factors: customer encounter service value, customer convenience value, brand equity, relationship equity, and other factors defined as components of customer equity by Rust et al. (2000) determined as independent variables as well as with customer experience and customer satisfaction set as mediator variables. The hypothesis, after all, assumed that customer loyalty would be positively (+) influenced. Results - The analysis results from the study reported that brand value, customer encounter service value, and relationship value have positive (+) effects on consumption experience and customer satisfaction. However, as for customer convenience value, this turned out not to have a statistically significant influence on consumption experience and customer satisfaction. In regard to a relation between consumption experience and customer satisfaction, the results showed that the former affects the latter, and in terms of intervening variables, both of these appeared to have a positive (+) effect on customer loyalty. Conclusions - This study suggests that family restaurants should look for strategies that focus on how to promote customer relationships. For example, restaurants could try birthday events or discount events to achieve this goal. Since the study ended up realizing relatively low levels of suitability and statistical significance, the path of the study changed. After all, in order to increase suitability and statistical significance, the study had to eliminate factors such as service quality and others and for this reason the study was unable to conduct the analysis as initially planned. In addition, the data samples of the research were mainly gathered from students, which made it hard to say that the analysis was carried out on samples from every different group. Future research should analyze the characteristics of each group of customers for factors affecting customer satisfaction and customer loyalty in the family restaurant chain.

• 유통과학연구
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.37-49
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• 2013

Purpose - This research identifies the meaning of the core capability level of Car Master and the reason why its service at the Moment of Truth should be demonstrated through empirical cases. It can be seen that this study differs from existing research because it proposes that the recognized core capability level to achieve customer satisfaction should focus on the mediating effect of Moment of Truth quality. This paper examines the effect of Car Master's recognized core capability level on customer satisfaction by using the variables mentioned above. Moreover, this study uses regression analysis to verify that the mediating effect of Moment of Truth quality on Car Master's capability level achieves customer satisfaction. Research design, data, and methodology - First, we present evidence that could apply to Car Master's recognized core capability level by detailing the relationship between customer satisfaction and a structuring factor for Car Master's core capability level. Our proposed research model observes the relationship between the structuring factor of core capability and customer satisfaction. Second, we had an opportunity to define how the core capability and Moment of Truth quality affect customer satisfaction by performing empirical analysis on the partial mediating effect of Moment of Truth quality at a recognized core capability level and Moment of Truth quality affecting customer satisfaction. Results - First, the results indicate that Car Master's recognized core capability level (product professionalism, marketing skill, and reliability) positively affects customer satisfaction. Second, the results show that an ability to listen and a sense of dedication positively affect customer satisfaction, and are among the Moment of Truth quality factors; but performance capability, which is one of the Moment of Truth quality factors, does not positively affect customer satisfaction. These results clearly differ from prior studies focused on Moment of Truth quality and consumer satisfaction. Third, the results show that Moment of Truth quality has a partial mediating effect in terms of the impact of Car Master's recognized core capability level in achieving consumer satisfaction. Conclusions - This research indicates that the company will be able to expand if they investigate and show an interest in more training and education for Car Master. The study verified that outstanding Car Masters show differentiated performance on customer satisfaction at the Moment of Truth in various instances. Thus, we believe that this is the time for a discussion on systematic and empirically recognized core capability levels and the Moment of Truth quality. The study on Car Master's recognized core capability level offers suitable solutions for Car Masters to respond to customers at the Moment of Truth. Further, this study emphasizes the importance of service as a critical factor having a direct relationship with the company's success and failure and contributing to building trust with the customer. Thus, an investment in continuous education and training for Car Master will help the growth of the business.

• 유통과학연구
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• 제11권10호
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• pp.17-25
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• 2013

Purpose - This study analyzes the effect of customers' perceived service innovativeness of service centers for electronic goods, on repurchase intentions of customers, using behavior intentions of service centers as a mediator variable. In customer management and customer relationship marketing, service centers can be the most representative customer relationship management departments because they are most closely placed at the interface with customers. In addition, this study intends to investigate if continuous relationship with customers during one-time product-selling can affect their repurchase intentions. Specifically, this research aims to investigate if the expansion of the saturated physical market of the manufacturing business, to intangible service markets, can be competitive enough to satisfy customer needs. Research design, data, and methodology - This study targets college students, and especially those who have computers, digital cameras, or cell-phones, and often use electronic products and services. In order to investigate our hypothesis, we analyzed dates through SEM (structural equation modeling) using SPSS for Windows 18.0 and AMOS 18.0. In addition, we measured Cronbach's α coefficient using SPSS for Windows 18.0 in order to measure reliability. Further, using AMOS 18.0, this research statistically measured convergent validity as well as discriminant validity, and examined mediation models and path models in which service innovativeness leads to customers' repurchase intentions of electronic products. Results - As a result, this research shows that customers' perceived service innovativeness of service centers for electronic goods has significant positive influence on customers' behavior intentions of service centers. In addition, service innovativeness of electronic goods' service centers also has significant positive influence on repurchase intentions of customers. Conclusion - This study investigates the effect of customers' positive relation with the innovativeness of electronic service center on their behavior intention and product repurchase. The more concrete, important results of the study are as follows. Through the mediating effect, the findings of the study suggest that customers' behavior intentions of service centers partially mediate the effect of customers'perceived service innovativeness of service centers for electronic goods on customers' repurchase intentions. This research also provides an insight that the importance of service innovativeness and innovative approaches in managing customers should be recognized in the process of repurchase and service roles of manufacturing business as a way for customer management. As a result, the relationship between customer satisfaction and service quality of service centers for the electronic products is very sensitive. Although previous studies focus on certain aspects of the case for enhancing service innovation (Kim, 2012), this research recommends that the service centers need to understand the customers'desire first and try to adapt to achieve customer satisfaction by being innovative. This innovativeness of service centers would make customers visit them consistently, which in the long run, will also influence their repurchase decisions.

• 유통과학연구
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• 제12권12호
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• pp.43-54
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• 2014

Purpose - This study examines how perceived benefits and costs of traditional market support affect relationship quality and support for a marketeer. In addition, it investigates whether support for traditional market aid programs leads to support for the government. The author developed a structural model comprising several variables, in which perceived benefits and costs comprising economic, social, and environmental costs were proposed, to affect the relationship quality (satisfaction and trust) of traditional market aid programs and the government. Consequently, marketeers satisfied and trusted by traditional market aid programs and the government would support the traditional market aid program, resulting in higher support for the government. The model proposed that customer satisfaction would improve customer loyalty and business performance. Thus, the relationship quality (satisfaction and trust) of the traditional market aid program and government was proposed as a core mediating variable between perceived benefits and costs and support. Research design, data, and methodology - To analyze the proposed model, this study investigates the scenario with a traditional marketeer. Data were collected from 331 respondents, and analyzed with SPSS/PC 18.0 and AMOS 18.0. To test the unidimensionality and nomological validity of the measures of each construct, we employed a scale refinement procedure. The result of the reliability test with Cronbach's and confirmatory factor analysis warranted unidimensionality of the measures for each construct. In addition, nomological validity of the measures was warranted from the result of correlation analysis. Results - First, perceived benefit affects the relationship quality of traditional market aid programs and government. Second, perceived costs affect the satisfaction of traditional market aid programs and government. Third, the relationship quality of a traditional market aid program affects the support of a traditional market aid program, and the relationship quality of government affects the support of government. Finally, the support of traditional market aid program affects support of government. The results confirm the findings of previous studies that local development positively influences support, based on the social exchange theory. Conclusions - The theoretical and managerial contributions of this study are as follows. First, it is the first such study, and defines mediating variables, analyzing relationship quality (satisfaction and trust) between perceived benefits and costs and support for the traditional market industry. Further, it investigates the structural relationships between them with the AMOS program. Second, while most previous studies investigating the relationship between similar variables and those of the present study analyzed how perceived benefits and costs influenced support, this study identified the transfer relationship between the support for traditional market programs and support for the government. This study confirms that support for traditional market aid program increases support for the government. Therefore, government policy makers for traditional market aid programs should explain to marketeers the benefits and costs of traditional market development in terms of economic, social, and environmental factors. At the end, limitations, further research directions, and implications are suggested.

• 유통과학연구
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• 제11권10호
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• pp.47-53
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• 2013

Purpose - Six months have passed since the amendment of the SSM regulation law; however, as yet, there is no confirmed research or report on the effects of this amendment, which are indefinite. Further, there have been no attempts to study the effects of the SSM regulation law from the consumers' viewpoint, which is important because consumers are the main agents that are greatly influenced by the amendment law. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the consumers' attitude toward the SSM regulation law as well as the effects of the SSM regulation law on the changes in purchase behavior. Research design, data, and methodology - This study was initiated from four research problems that are linked to consumer reaction to the SSM regulation law. Research problem 1: What is the consumers' reaction (perception, attitude, and perceived fairness) to the SSM regulation law? Research problem 2: How do the consumers' reactions to the SSM regulation law differ by consumers' characteristics? Research problem 3: Could the SSM regulation law change a consumer's purchase behavior? Research problem 4: Is it necessary to amend the SSM regulation law? This study collected the data through the interview and survey of housewives for the purpose of solving the research problems. The interview was conducted as a pilot study for the field survey. We interviewed three housewives, who were: an employed housewife, a full-time homemaker, and a manager of a housewife club, respectively. We then conducted a field survey of 232 housewives who were housewife club members or elementary school parents in Chunghcheong-do. Results - We verified the reliability and validity of the data, and analyzed it to solve the research problems. The main findings of this study were as follows. First, consumers still have a positive attitude toward large discount chains and SSM, which has been the case since the law was introduced. Second, perceived risk of consumers associated with traditional markets and small neighborhood shops was low. Third, consumers think that amendments of the SSM regulation law are important, and they positively assess the satisfaction, necessity, and propriety of the law. Fourth, although the SSM regulation law caused inconvenience to consumers, this law did not have any influence on the usage frequency and the use-behavior of large discount chains. Finally, consumers reacted very negatively to the toughening up of the SSM regulation law. Conclusions - In short, consumers still have a positive attitude toward the SSM regulation law. However, this act did not have any influence on the use-behavior of large discount chains (General Super Market). Thus, policy making authorities require active communication and promotions to enhance the effect of the SSM regulation law. This study was of the nature of exploratory research, which did not focus on hypothesis testing, but on finding solutions to the research problems. Therefore, this study is no more than a simple data analysis. Future studies should attempt to investigate the actual effects of the SSM regulation law, on the basis of sufficient literature review and real sales data.

• 유통과학연구
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• 제11권10호
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• pp.81-92
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• 2013

Purpose - This study empirically analyzes the effect of improvements in the quality of service management performance of college education on traders' conscious change of business management innovation and diverse sales expertise for a year. The use of traders' conscious changes and sales expertise as variables for the verification of the effects of parameters related to the active trader's traditional education market is a desirable direction. The method of research reflects the quality of education service, management result, traders' conscious changes, and sales expertise to understand the precise essence and definition of teaching quality at merchant colleges through theoretical consideration. Moreover, its impact on traders' conscious changes and sales expertise in empirical analysis acts as an intermediary. Research design, data, methodology - The hypothesis of this study leverages the SPSS statistical program. To gather actual proof, sample survey for theoretical research examined 262 valid papers of the 300 papers written by 10 merchants who graduated from merchant's university. First, using the SERVQUAL model, Parasuraman et al. (1996) indicated that for quality of education service, the configuration of factors is the same as the sympathetic performance, that is, responsiveness and empathy, and traders are aware of these elements. However, our preliminary investigation revealed that traders' university education has been excluded as a component of quality of service in the earlier studies. Moreover, we found that certainty of knowledge, reliability, and sympathy are influenced by challenges and by the changing intentions of merchant consciousness. In addition, our study confirms that improvements in convincing abilities and sales technique have a positive impact. Second, merchants' and traders' expertise are proven to affect business performance. In other words, university education of traders and merchants affects the consciousness of consumers, and changes patterns of sales. Third, the quality of service management education and change in the consciousness has a considerable impact on the trader, thereby maximizing business performance and acting as an intermediary for verification. Fourth, the quality of service management education affects the trader's sales expertise to maximize business performance. Results - To summarize, the quality of college educational services relates to the improvement of business performance and the role of the resulting virtuous cycle. Consequently, we can look for suggestions in the traditional markets, where the Government pays attention to the exterior environmental factors as well as to the changing business environment. However, the most important aspect is the merchant awareness. That is, a merchant should understand the distribution environment. Several competitor and trend analyses should be conducted to meet customers' expectations positively and proactively cope with any challenges related to changes. Further, expertise in sales and marketing skills need to be acquired to improve customer convincing abilities and develop a customer-oriented mindset. Conclusions - According to the changes in consumption trends of business enterprises, new management techniques are required to survive competition by improving traditional markets, which will necessitate more competitive education programs in merchant universities.