• Journal of Distribution Science
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.33-47
• /
• 2024

Purpose: Most emerging-market countries are concerned about the technology boom, which is accompanied by an increase in revenue from online sales and services. This finding has been demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, is this tendency continuing in the new normal, and what factors are driving the increase in consumer decisions? The purpose of this research is to investigate how the decision to utilize online services will be affected in the new normal as well as propose a new research approach in this field. Research Design, Methodology and Approach: By following a deductive research method associated with positivist philosophy, a survey in South Vietnam with 426 respondents using a convenience sampling method was conducted. The reliability of the measurement scales was examined by using the SPSS program. The SmartPLS programme was utilised to assess the measurement and structural models as well as test hypotheses by using partial least squares structural equation modelling. Results: According to the research findings, decision-making has been impacted by social influences, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived trust, perceived price, and perceived convenience. Conclusions: The research results also bring significant contributions not only in practice in providing management implications but also in theory. The research model has also demonstrated the feasibility of employing the stimuli-organism-response framework and combining the theory of perceived risk with the technology acceptance model via the explanation of decision-making.

• Information Systems Review
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.103-123
• /
• 2023

One of the valid perspectives in the e-commerce platform literature is the seller signaling strategy in the information asymmetry situation. In this study, a research model was constructed based on signaling theory and shopping goal theory to systematically explore the effects of a seller's signaling strategy on consumer decision-making. Specifically, the study examined whether the signaling effects (i.e., reputation, electronic word-of-mouth, price) provided by the seller differed based on consumers' shopping goals. For the empirical analysis, the Gaussian Copula method was employed, utilizing 26,246 data collected from Amazon, a leading e-commerce platform. The analysis revealed that the signals provided by the seller positively impacted sales, and this effect was moderated by consumers' shopping goals. Drawing on shopping goal theory, this study contributes to signaling theory and e-commerce literature by discovering differences in the effectiveness of a seller's signaling strategy based on the keywords input by consumers.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.119-138
• /
• 2016

Since the Industrial Revolution, which made the mass production and mass distribution of standardized goods possible, machine-made (manufactured) products have accounted for the majority of the market. However, in recent years, the phenomenon of purchasing even more expensive handmade products has become a noticeable trend as consumers have started to acknowledge the value of handmade products, such as the craftsman's commitment, belief in their quality and scarcity, and the sense of self-esteem from having them,. Consumer interest in these handmade products has shown explosive growth and has been coupled with the recent development of three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies. Etsy.com is the world's largest online handmade platform. It is no different from any other online platform; it provides an online market where buyers and sellers virtually meet to share information and transact business. However, Etsy.com is different in that shops within this platform only deal with handmade products in a variety of categories, ranging from jewelry to toys. Since its establishment in 2005, despite being limited to handmade products, Etsy.com has enjoyed rapid growth in membership, transaction volume, and revenue. Most recently in April 2015, it raised funds through an initial public offering (IPO) of more than 1.8 billion USD, which demonstrates the huge potential of online handmade platforms. After the success of Etsy.com, various types of online handmade platforms such as Handmade at Amazon, ArtFire, DaWanda, and Craft is ART have emerged and are now competing with each other, at the same time, which has increased the size of the market. According to Deloitte's 2015 holiday survey on which types of gifts the respondents plan to buy during the holiday season, about 16% of U.S. consumers chose "homemade or craft items (e.g., Etsy purchase)," which was the same rate as those for the computer game and shoes categories. This indicates that consumer interests in online handmade platforms will continue to rise in the future. However, this high interest in the market for handmade products and their platforms has not yet led to academic research. Most extant studies have only focused on machine-made products and intelligent services for them. This indicates a lack of studies on handmade products and their intelligent services on virtual platforms. Therefore, this study used signaling theory and prior research on the effects of sellers' characteristics on their performance (e.g., total sales and price premiums) in the buyer-seller relationship to identify the key influencing e-Image factors (e.g., reputation, size, information sharing, and length of relationship). Then, their impacts on the performance of shops within the online handmade platform were empirically examined; the dataset was collected from Etsy.com through the application of web harvesting technology. The results from the structural equation modeling revealed that the reputation, size, and information sharing have significant effects on the total sales, while the reputation and length of relationship influence price premiums. This study extended the online platform research into online handmade platform research by identifying key influencing e-Image factors on within-platform shop's total sales and price premiums based on signaling theory and then performed a statistical investigation. These findings are expected to be a stepping stone for future studies on intelligent online handmade services as well as handmade products themselves. Furthermore, the findings of the study provide online handmade platform operators with practical guidelines on how to implement intelligent online handmade services. They should also help shop managers build their marketing strategies in a more specific and effective manner by suggesting key influencing e-Image factors. The results of this study should contribute to the vitalization of intelligent online handmade services by providing clues on how to maximize within-platform shops' total sales and price premiums.

• The Journal of Society for e-Business Studies
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.55-66
• /
• 2021

The mobile application (APP) market is growing at an unprecedented speed. Amid such growth, the global platform providers are mandating exclusive in-app payments and charging 30% for platform commission fees. A serious tension has arisen between mobile global platform providers and local content providers. The present study attempts to analyze the domestic mobile game market and in-app payment commission fees. This study estimates the size of the domestic mobile game market and platform commission fees by directly using publicly available financial statements and footnote information of some representative listed mobile game firms. Also, the study analyzes the cost structures of the same sample firms and attempts to draw some implications on sustainable growths of the mobile game ecosystem. We estimated that, in 2019, the domestic mobile game market is around 4.9 trillion Won and the ensuing in-app payment commission fees market was 1.5 trillion Won. High market share firms display a proportional increase in in-app payment commission fees in relation to sales growth. This, in turn, makes the in-app payment commission fees a primary cost item far exceeding employee salaries and R&D expenses. During the same period, low market share firms generated a mere profit or experienced net loss. Analysis of the cost structure reveals that these firms are even more liable to higher in-app payment commission fee cost structure than high market share. Most constituents of the mobile game ecosystem are small business entrepreneurs. By employing a micro-level analysis, the study estimates that, in 2019, a representative median firm generates 530 million Won in sales. At the same time, it spends 190 million Won in employee salaries, 50 Won million in R&D and 190 million Won in in-app payment commission fees, respectively. In the absence of other cost items, these three cost items alone account for 73.8% of sales revenue. The results imply that a sustainable growth of the local mobile game market heavily depends upon the cost structure of such representative median firm, the in-app payment commission fees being the primary cost item of such firm.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.56 no.4
• /
• pp.496-523
• /
• 2018

The objective of this study is to evaluate the economic feasibility of two fast pyrolysis and biooil upgrading (FPBU) plants including feed drying, fast pyrolysis by fluidized-bed, biooil recovery, hydro-processing for biooil upgrading, electricity generation, and wastewater treatment. The two FPBU plants are Case 1 of an FPBU plant with steam methane reforming (SMR) for $H_2$ generation (FPBU-HG, 20% yield), and Case 2 of an FPBU with external $H_2$ supply (FPBUEH, 25% yield). The process flow diagrams (PFDs) for the two plants were constructed, and the mass and energy balances were calculated, using a commercial process simulator (ASPEN Plus). A four-level economic potential approach (4-level EP) was used for techno-economic analysis (TEA) under the assumption of sawdust 100 t//d containing 40% water, 30% equity, capital expenditure equal to the equity, $H_2$ price of $1050/ton, and hydrocarbon yield from dried sawdust equal to 20 and 25 % for Case 1 and 2, respectively. TCI (total capital investment), TPC (total production cost), ASR (annual sales revenue), and MFSP (minimum fuel selling price) of Case 1 were $22.2 million, $3.98 million/yr, $4.64 million/yr, and $1.56/l, respectively. Those of Case 2 were $16.1 million, $5.20 million/yr, $5.55 million/yr, and $1.18/l, respectively. Both ROI (return on investment) and PBP (payback period) of Case 1(FPBU-HG) and Case 2(FPBU-EH) were the almost same. If the plant capacity increases into 1,500 t/d for Case 1 and Case 2, ROI would be improved into 15%/yr.

• Information Systems Review
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.89-110
• /
• 2013

Affiliate marketing is classified as a type of online advertising, where merchants share a percentage of sales revenue generated by each customer, who visited the company's website via a content provider. Content provider, referred to as an affiliate, usually places an online advertisement at its website. For the past few years, there have been a lot of companies or individuals who participate in affiliate marketing. Generally speaking, most of them have websites and post the merchant's ads on their own websites. However, building and maintaining websites have some technology requirements. The widespread use of Social Network Service (SNS), especially microblog-based SNS such as Twitter and Sina Weibo, provides opportunities for individuals who want to be content providers of affiliate marketing. Since information spreads quickly on microblog-based SNS and the easy in targeting customers, it is both an effective and an efficient tool to do affiliate marketing. The relationship between a content provider and the potential customer, which is referred as "tie strength", is quite an important issue in such situation. This paper proved that service characteristics of the microblog-based SNS (security, community drivenness and navigability) and content quality all had positive influence on click-through intention, while tie strength played a moderating role. For the group with strong tie, tie strength is crucial in influencing click-through intention. While for the weak tie group, content quality was very important. Finally, we proposed some implications for both academics and practitioners.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.85-98
• /
• 2018

This study aims to investigate the effects of venture & inno-biz companies' technological innovation competences on technological performances and economic competitive advantage, using VRIO framework. The empirical data for this study were based on the technology assessment results of Korea Technology Finance Corporation (KOTEC) on 3,462 venture & inno-biz companies and the following 2 years' financial data. Sample companies with technological innovation resources, such as technology management strategy(Value), differentiation of technology(Rarity), imitation difficulty of technology(Imitability) and technical organization capability(Organization), made efforts to expand their intellectual property rights, technological development and commercialization of new products, thereby ensuring technological competitive advantage. Furthermore, technological competitive advantage were proved to improve sales growth, increase in operating revenue, and financial soundness. Compared with four VRIO factors' influence on business performance, imitation difficulty of technology(Imitability) and organization technological capability(Organization) had much more influence than any other internal resources or capabilities respectively.

• International Journal of Costume and Fashion
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.63-83
• /
• 2011

This study aims to prove the changes, development and social background of Korean male cosmetics over the period of 2000-2010. There were total 574 articles written about male make-up and cosmetics in Chosun Daily, Joongang Daily and Donga Daily, which are the top three Korean local daily newspapers in terms of sales revenue for that period. These articles were analyzed together with social background research from various books and daily newspapers. The analysis of articles was divided into different categories; such as foundation cosmetics, color cosmetics, hair, and the social background. It was found that the articles related to foundation cosmetics were written the most, the articles related to male appearance management were second, articles on other items including how to manage the skin being the least. As for the social background of Korean male cosmetics, first of all, a change in social recognition can be pointed out. The traditional understanding of gender roles has changed, men's appearance management has started to be regarded as a competitive talent, and at the same time, the esthetic viewpoint for men also has changed. One example is the newly made popular term, "flower-handsome man", which shows the new trend of favoring males with nice skin. Second, the expansion of mass culture can be pointed out. As consumers can get information and fashion trends easier and faster, the fashion spreads fast, and this has led to the generalization and popularization of the sense of beauty. Third, the development of scientific technology and medical science can be pointed out. Thanks to the progress in those areas. the extension of youthfulness has become possible and the cosmetics industry was also affected greatly, as shown in the market spread of functional products for anti-ageing and wrinkle control as the interest in anti-ageing has grown. There are benefits from the development of scientific technology, but the problem of environmental pollution has appeared due to machinery and industrialization and thus the issue of well-being has been raised. Rising interest in naturalism, pro-environmentalism and organic cosmetics has influenced the cosmetics industry. In addition, the quantity of ultraviolet rays exposed to our skin has increased due to the air pollution caused by the destruction of environment, leading to increased usage of sun block lotion. Lastly, the influence of consumer society and the expansion of consumerism culture can be pointed out. In the modern society, consumption acts not only as the use of products and services but it also has an important role of mediating individuals with others and the society. The market for male cosmetics has been expanding and the number of men putting on make-up has been increasing rapidly. Therefore, this study is meaningful in that the analysis of the mode of change and the social background are an essential process in order to provide a direction for the future market for male cosmetics.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.557-566
• /
• 2018

Shopping malls have been developed to increase sales revenue and attract visitors. This study focused on the sense of the outdoor characteristics of these shopping malls by comparing open and enclosed types of shopping malls in common spaces in LA and Korea through case study analyses. This research through case studies will form the foundation of comfortable shopping mall space design. The results are the follows. 1. Enclosed shopping malls tend to provide large indoor space to create a sense of outdoors. 2. The common space of enclosed shopping malls is developed through space expansion with horizontal and vertical connections that appear in different combinations depending on the space constraints and contexts. 3. The architectural planning of enclosed shopping malls are largely dependent on the concept of everyday life portrayed in the identity of each space, which usually involve the inclusion of sizable atriums to host indoor sports or special performances.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.18 no.8
• /
• pp.544-560
• /
• 2018

Cause-Related Marketing is the process of formulating and implementing marketing activities that are characterized by an offer from the firm to contribute a specified amount to a designated cause when customers engage in revenue-providing exchanges that satisfy organizational and individual objectives. Many companies obtain benefits such as increasing sales profits and fulfilling social responsibility activities from Cause-Related Marketing as a strategic marketing activity. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of message of Cause-Related Marketing on consumer attitude, and to examine the moderating effects of ethical consumption propensity, social trust and types of product(utilitarian vs. hedonic) on consumer's product attitude. The research results show that consumers tend to adopt a positive attitude towards those advertisements with Cause-Related Marketing message. In the meanwhile, the ethical consumption propensity and social trust also have moderating effects on Cause-Related Marketing message's influence, but the types of product have no moderating effect. Based on the findings, the theoretical and managerial implication are discussed. In addition, some limitations of this study and future research directions are discussed.