• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.59-69
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• 2008

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of appearance perception on sportswear benefits sought, evaluative criteria, and sportswear image preferences. The subjects were 530 female sportswear consumers who were residents in Seoul. The data were analyzed by factor analysis, multiple regression, ANOVA, and Duncan test. The results showed that there were two appearance perception factors: appearance interest and weight interest. Sportswear benefits sought had five factors of ideal figure/sex appeal, status ostentation, individuality/fashion, comfort, and youth-orientation. Sportswear evaluative criteria consisted of function, brand/fashion, and design factors. Sportswear image preferences had four factors: innovative, luxurious, simple, and active. Statistical analyses showed that there were significant effects of appearance perception on sportswear benefits sought, evaluative criteria, and sportswear image preferences. For example, the consumers who were interested in their appearances sought the benefits of ideal figure/sex appeal, status ostentation, individual/fashion in sportswear. Also, they considered brand/fashion and design as important criteria and preferred innovative and luxurious sportswear images.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.43 no.4 s.206
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• pp.65-78
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• 2005

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of the desired sportswear benefits on the sportswear image preferences and store patronage according to store type. The subjects were 773 male and female consumers who were residents in Seoul. The data were analyzed by factor analysis, multiple regression, and t-test. The results showed that there were five desired sportswear benefits: figure compensation, status ostentation, comfort, individuality, and youth-orientation. Sportswear image preferences consisted of four factors: innovative, luxurious, simple, and active. Store patronage encompassed department store, franchise store, discount store, wholesale store, internet, TV home shopping, and catalogue. Statistical analysis showed that there were significant effects of desired sportswear benefits on sportswear image preferences and store patronage. For example, the more consumers desired figure compensation/sex appeal benefits from sportswear, the more they preferred innovative, luxurious, and active sportswear images and the stronger was their patronage of department stores. The study also showed differences between male and female consumers in regard to sportwear benefits sought and store image preferences. The implications of the research were discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1742-1753
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• 2007

The purposes of this study were to segment consumer groups by evaluative criteria and to find the differences among the groups in regard to sportswear benefits sought, domestic and imported brand attitudes, and sportswear image preferences. The subjects used for the study were 773 male and female consumers who were residents in Seoul. The data were analyzed by factor analysis, cluster analysis, t-test, and chi-square test. The results showed that there were two sportswear segments : brand/design-oriented group and function-oriented group. Statistical analyses showed that the two sportswear segments were different in regard to sportswear benefits sought, domestic and imported brands attitudes, sportswear image preferences, and demographics. Brand/design-oriented group sought the benefits of sex appeal/impression improvement, individuality, and conspicuousness, had a more favorable attitude toward imported brands, and preferred a prestigious image. They were relatively younger and had a higher income. In the meanwhile, function oriented group sought a comfort benefit from sportswear, had a more favorable attitude toward domestic brands, and preferred simple and active images. There were more high school graduates and home makers in function-oriented group. The implications of the study were discussed.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.642-648
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• 2013

This study investigates the changes inconsumer sensibility and product preferences according to theirecofriendly productperceptions. Stimulants (released by three companies of sport casual brands)include three shirts made of recycled polyester and three made of organic cotton. A surveymethod was used to respond to the emotion and image while watching the presented pictures of the clothes. The change in the reactions was analyzed before and after the presentation of eco-friendliness information. The questionnaire consists of sensibility adjectives, open-ended questions about the associated image of eco-friendliness, color attractiveness, product favorability, price satisfaction, and reasons for an eco-friendly productpurchase. The survey was conducted on 200adult male and female participants. Two factors ('eco' and 'design')were identifiedthrough the factor analysis of image adjectives. There was a statistically significant increase in the evaluation of sensibility, color attractiveness, product favorability, and price satisfactiondue to the re-evaluation of the same products after consumers recognized the eco-friendly information of apparel products. When consumers recognize products aseco-friendly, they evaluate the products more positively than before. The result of the analysis of the increases by textile materials shows no significant difference in the sensibility changes depending on the materials. However, with regard to 'eco', the increase of sensibility change for organic cotton products was larger than for recycled polyester products.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.47-58
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• 2009

The marketing environment has become competitive to an extent that requires firms to target their products at markets that span national boundaries. However, competitive clout cannot be achieved in global consumer markets unless firms thoroughly understand and adequately respond to the core values and needs of those consumers. Brand equity is one of the most important assets to a company. Especially in sportswear markets, brand equity is the crucial value added to a product by its brand name. Factors such as country of origin also influence customer's attitude towards brand equity. Therefore, this paper discusses the relationship between country of origin effect and brand equity, and how they influence consumers' loyalty for respective brands. This paper focused on the sports shoes market, because it is an increasing area of opportunity for world manufacturers. The objectives of this study were the following. (1) Test the effect of country of origin on brand equity. (2) Test how brand equity influences consumers' brand loyalty. (3) Find whether there are differences in the effects of country of origin and brand equity among the three countries. (4) Find whether there are differences in the effects of country of origin and brand equity among the different lifestyles. Based on the review of literature results, the hypotheses are concluded as the following: H1-a: Country image has positive influence on country of origin. H1-b: Product perception has positive influence on country of origin. H2-a: Perceived quality has positive effect on brand equity. H2-b: Perceived price has positive effect on brand equity. H3: Country of origin has positive effect on brand equity. H4: Brand equity has a positive impact on brand loyalty. Research model was constructed (see Fig. 1). After data analysis, the following results were concluded: sports shoes purchase behavior showed significant differences among Korean, Chinese, and American consumers for favorite brand, purchased brand, purchased place, information usage, and favorite sports games. The results of this study also extend the research of the relationship among country of origin, brand equity and brand loyalty to the sports shoes market. Brand equity was proven to have a significant relationship with brand loyalty for all countries. The factors which can influence brand equity are different for different countries. The third finding of this paper is that we identified different three lifestyles, adventurer, follower, and laggard, for Korean, Chinese and American consumers. Without the nationality boundary, seeing the emergence of a new group of consumers who have similar preferences and buy similar brands is more important. All of the consumers consider brand equity to keep their brand loyalty. Perceived price is the only factor which can influence brand equity for adventurers; brand is more important for them. The laggards were not influenced by any factor. All of the factors expect perceived price are important for the followers. Marketing managers should consider brand equity when introducing their brand into a new market. Also localization is the basic strategy that all the sports shoes companies should understand. But as a global brand, understanding the same characteristics for each country is more important to build global strategy.