• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.783-795
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• 2014

This study investigates how the physical attractiveness of salespeople and other customers and self-image congruence influence customer perception and brand attitude. As a result of a pretest, four types of pictorial stimuli were developed: physical attractiveness of salespeople (high/low) ${\times}$ that of other customers (high/low). Stimuli were developed using Photoshop CS. A total of 550 samples in two experiments were used and all respondents were women in their 20s and 30s. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and SEM. The result of analysis shows that the physical attractiveness of salesperson had a significant impact on perceived quality, but that of other customers did not. However, self-image congruence with other customers shows a significant effect on perceived quality; however, salespeople did not. The impact of the perceived product quality on brand attitude is higher than perceived service quality. This study adds to fashion retailing literature by demonstrating that physical attractiveness and self-image congruence can influence a customers' perception of product or service quality and brand attitude. It provides interesting insight into how retailers can use social factors as a strategic tool in a retail setting.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.219-230
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• 2013

To generate future profits, luxury brands need to recognize and understand customers as individually important and analyze the impact factors that improve specific customer equity. With the growing recognition that customer equity is a key strategic asset, this study empirically investigates the effect of customer equity drivers on customer loyalty based on the study of Vogel et al.(2008) which expanded the Rust et al.(2000)'s study on customer equity. We empirically examine if the customer equity drivers have a different impact on customer loyalty. This study hypothesizes that the relative effect of customer equity drivers would be different depending on the purchasing behavior of consumers and examines the effects of them on the relationship of the drivers of customer equity and customer loyalty. We use stepwise multiple regression analysis to empirically test the relationship of value equity, brand equity, and relationship equity and customer loyalty. Relationship equity influences customer loyalty more strongly than value equity and brand equity. Customers seem to build loyalty based on the careful assessment of all costumer equity drivers (value equity, brand equity, and relationship equity). In addition, their relative impact is different depending on the purchasing behavior of consumers. A company cannot maintain all customer equity drivers at a high level with limited marketing resources; therefore, marketing investment for all customer equity drivers need to be allocated differentially depending on the purchasing behavior of consumers.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.128-138
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to explore the characteristics and recent trends of Korean herbal medicine cosmetics brand logos and to shed light on the identities of herbal medicine cosmetics in Korea. Ultimately this study aims to seek ways to develop strategic global brands distinguished from other brands, and providing the basic data for such development. In order to investigate the characteristics of brand logos, the researcher of this study chose 11 Korean Herbal Medicine Cosmetics Brands marketed today and collected information related to the brands from their websites. The visual characteristics of the logos currently used by Korean herbal medicine cosmetics can be summarized as follows. Most brand logos include marks consisting of Chinese letters written in calligraphy styles to represent the brand information of'Korean herbal medicine.' As for colors, most brands use mostly black and gold to present luxurious images, or convey strong impressions through stark contrast between black, red and white, hoping to distinguish themselves from other cosmetic products. An analysis of the linguistic characteristics of herbal medicine cosmetics in South Korea revealed that most brands use associative and freestanding brand names which suggest that the user's appearance will improve by using the products they represent. Using such names that convey oriental purity and mysterious meanings, trying to capture the deepest beauty with the best quality, the brands construct brand images that are luxurious and high-class. Most of the brands currently used by Korean herbal medicine cosmetics employ components that emphasize the functional aspect of Korean herbal medicine cosmetics. To secure the status of world-class brands, however, it is imperative to conduct research on brand logos capable of establishing identities distinguished from others.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.49-59
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• 2018

The purpose of this research is to study the semantic characteristics of men's cosmetics brand names by analyzing 51 brand names in the domestic market, so as to find ways to develop strategic brand names. In order to investigate this area, the study looked at the Interbrand Company's Name Spectrum, and the results are as follows. The men's cosmetics brand names turned out to be freestanding brand names, descriptive brand names, and associative brand names, in that order. The freestanding brand names were found to be the initial combinations of the words that have the desired benefits in the concepts of the pertinent brands; in other words, coined brand names that were made by synthesizing words such as nice men, naturalism, eco-friendly plant-derived materials and ideal skin. Associative brand names are generally used to express the effect of enhancing brand awareness by considering the phonetic image of the word or prompting a masculine and favorable image. Descriptive brand names use language symbols such as men, homme, man, monsieur and gentle to represent specific business and product categories for men, and also use stem, plant, flower, skin, beauty, moisturizing, tosowoong and so on to provide the properties and beneficial information related to the products. In conclusion, the men's cosmetics brand names embody an important factor that symbolizes the concepts, functions or features of the brand, and there is a need for men's cosmetic brands to develop more unique and distinctive brand names to promote their brand names as constitutional factors that can build brand power and strengthen brand image.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.116-126
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• 2019

South Korea is known for its major manufacturing capabilities in semi-conductor, automobile, and IT industries. However, little is known about the competitive capabilities of South Korea's textile industry. The present study presents information about how Korean textile firms build their competitive capabilities on multiple fronts. Through a case study of two businesses operating in the South Korean textile and apparel industry, this paper illustrates a series of competitiveness enhancing initiatives, starting with the implementation of radio frequency identification (RFID). The main contribution of this article is the focus on how the interdisciplinary nature of the textile and apparel industry can benefit from and optimize the use of Information Technology through sustained efforts on multiple fronts. This study suggests that Korean textile firms approach their competitive capabilities in terms of strategic direction, innovative priorities, and operational focus. In the competitive global business environment, this could be the solution for the textile and apparel industry, by helping for the survival in the upcoming information age. Specifically, by adopting RFID-based SCM, firms can gain a competitive capability that promises sustainable growth in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.27-39
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• 2010

In addition, an intense competition depending on the diversity of consumer demands women's clothing brands show changes in market organization such as diversification of the circulation market and general market depression in this rapidly changing fashion environment. Companies tend to use fashion VMD (a marketing-strategic approach) as a differentiation method to create a fashion brand shop image as brand differentiation becomes difficult due to generalization of techniques. This study analyzes forms and types of VMD recognized by consumers within this marketing communication environment and Q methodology was adapted to analyze the subjective internal order of individuals. First, a set of stimuli that presented the brand name and another without it were prepared (two sets in total) to examine the effects in the presentation of the brand name. Stimulants with the brand name were presented to the subjects by the same method after an experiment through stimuli without the brand name presented. As a result, VMD recognition factors were classified into 4 Q factors in cases of stimuli without brand names and 2 factors in cases of stimuli with brand names. This indicates that among brand functions, the role of simplifying information management and grasping the thoughts of consumers was applied. This study has a practical value of presenting VMD directions of each brand image based on the factors discovered.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.15-26
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• 2010

Due to the globalization across various industries and cultural trade among many countries, oriental concepts have been attracting world’s attentions. In fashion industry, one's traditional culture is often developed as fashion theme for designers' creation and became strong strategies to stand out among competitors. Because of the increase of preferences for oriental images, opportunities abound to introduce traditional fashion goods and expand culture based business to global fashion markets. However, global fashion brands that include Korean traditional culture are yet to be developed. In order to develop a global fashion brand with Korean taste, it is very important for native citizen to accept their own culture in domestic apparel market prior to expansion into foreign market. Loungewear is evaluated to be appropriate for adopting Korean traditional details into clothing since this wardrobe category embraces various purposes which will easily lead to natural adaptation and wide spread use. Also, this market is seeing an increased demand for multipurpose wardrobes and fashionable underwear (Park et al. 2009). Despite rapid growth in the loungewear market, specific studies of loungewear is rare; and among research on developing modernized-traditional clothing, fashion items and brands do not always include the loungewear category. Therefore, this study investigated the Korean loungewear market and studied consumer evaluation toward loungewear with Korean traditional fashion design elements. Relationship among antecedents of purchase intention for Korean traditional fashion design elements were analyzed and compared between lifestyle groups for consumer targeting purposes. Product quality, retail service quality, perceived value, and preference on loungewear with Korean traditional design elements were chosen as antecedents of purchase intention and a structural equation model was designed to examine their relationship as well as their influence on purchase intention. Product quality and retail service quality among marketing mixes were employed as factors affecting preference and perceived value of loungewear with Korean traditional fashion design elements. Also effects of preference and perceived value on purchase intention were examined through the same model. A total of 357 self-administered questionnaires were completed by female consumers via web survey system. A questionnaire was developed to measure samples' lifestyle, product and retail service quality as purchasing criteria, perceived value, preference and purchase intention of loungewear with Korean traditional fashion design elements. Also, loungewear purchasing and usage behavior were asked as well in order to examine Korean loungewear market status. Data was analyzed through descriptive analysis, factor analysis, cluster analysis, ANOVA and structural equation model was tested via AMOS 7.0. As for the result of Korean loungewear market status investigation, loungewear was purchased by most of the consumers in our sample. Loungewear is currently recognized as clothes that are worn at home and consumers are showing comparably low involvement toward loungewear. Most of consumers in this study purchase loungewear only two to three times a year and they spend less than US$10. A total of 12 items and four factors of loungewear consumer lifestyle were found: traditional value oriented lifestyle, brand-affected lifestyle, pursuit of leisure lifestyle, and health oriented lifestyle. Drawing on lifestyle factors, loungewear consumers were classified into two groups; Well-being and Conservative. Relationships among constructs of purchasing behavior related to loungewear with Korean traditional fashion design elements were estimated. Preference and perceived value of loungewear were affected by both product quality and retail service quality. This study proved that high qualities in product and retail service develop positive preference toward loungewear. Perceived value and preference of loungewear positively influenced purchase intention. The results indicated that high preference and perceived value of loungewear with Korean traditional fashion design elements strengthen purchase intention and proved importance of developing preference and elevate perceived value in order to make sales. In a model comparison between two lifestyle groups: Well-being and Conservative lifestyle groups, results showed that product quality and retail service quality had positive influences on both preference and perceived value in case of Well-being group. However, for Conservative group, only retail service quality had a positive effect on preference and its influence to purchase intention. Since Well-being group showed more significant influence on purchase intention, loungewear brands with Korean traditional fashion design elements may want to focus on characteristics of Well-being group. However, Conservative group's relationship between preference and purchase intention of loungewear with Korean traditional fashion design elements was stronger, so that loungewear brands with Korean traditional fashion design elements should focus on creating conservative consumers' positive preference toward loungewear. The results offered information on Korean loungewear consumers' lifestyle and provided useful information for fashion brands that are planning to enter Korean loungewear market, particularly targeting female consumers similar to the sample of the present study. This study offers strategic and marketing insight for loungewear brands and also for fashion brands that are planning to create highly value-added fashion brands with Korean traditional fashion design elements. Considering different types of lifestyle groups that are associated with loungewear or traditional fashion goods, brand managers and marketers can use the results of this paper as a reference to positioning, targeting and marketing strategy buildings.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.1719-1732
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• 2009

A firm seeking to enter a foreign market must make an important strategic decision of which market entry mode to use. Because entry modes involve resource commitments, the initial choice by a firm on a particular entry mode is difficult to change without a considerable loss of time and money. Substantial prior research has been undertaken to explain why firms select a particular entry mode into global markets. However, there exists limited research on this area in the field of foreign apparel brands in Korea, although some research has analyzed influential entry mode factors when Korean textile and clothing companies went overseas. This study reviews prior research on the entry mode choice and analyzes the factors that influence the entry mode choice for 510 foreign clothing brands in Korea. Price range, clothing types, distribution strategy, and cultural distance were considered as influential determinants for different entry mode choices. Crosstabs with a chi-square test and logistic regression are used for analysis. This study shows that high-priced brands and luxury brands are associated with the export orientated entry mode in the Korean market. Brands that pursued the strategy of multiple distribution channels showed a preference for a licensing mode or direct investment over other entry modes, and brands from higher-cultural-distance countries entered the Korean clothing market by licensing mode. The findings of this study are appropriate for the strategic planning of foreign apparel intent on entering the Korean market or for Korean apparel firms planning to enter the global market.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.57 no.2 s.111
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• pp.69-85
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• 2007

Despite the recovery of consumer expenditure and retailing in the Korean economy after 2001, the domestic apparel industry has been aggravated by negative growth in both productivity and production. The purpose of the stud? is to diagnose the develop competitive of the Korean apparel industry and derive implications for this after estimating the efficiency of the Korean apparel companies with Data Envelopment Analysis. Data Envelopment Analysis(DEA) is a methodology based in non-parametric analysis and linear programming. It was developed for measuring the relative efficiency of a set of firms that use inputs to produce outputs. Data used fer input and output variables in the analysis are drawn from financial statement recorded by the Korean Financial Supervisory Service. The initial input data comprise the number fo the employees, fixed assets, general management and selling expenses, and cost of sales. The initial outputs are the operating profit and the gross margin. To summary the results, the efficiencies of the Korean apparel companies has increased yearly in spite of being overabundance of investment in Labour and Capital. According to correlation between input and output variables, the Korean apparel industry has been revamping gradually from labor intensive industries to the capital. The companies need to reduce costs in the results from the number of employees, fixed asset and cost of sales to transform into an efficiently enterprise. The companies owning or obtaining a brand had bitter establish an outsourcing strategic in production, while OEM corporations are called far setting up a manufactory in domestic or abroad. Although the paper is derived some implications with production efficiencies, the relation between apparel companies and brand power, consumption level of consumer, and social trend is remained on a limitation to the study. The next research necessitates a topic with Fashion industry or examining the correlation between brand value, social propensity and profit margin.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.53-66
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• 2023

In recent times, more fashion brands have been seeking ways to use metaverse platforms, in which users can actively participate, as their new brand touch-points. This study aims to compare the brand experiences of the fashion brand Gentle Monster's offline store and its equivalent metaverse store. By changing the order of offline and metaverse visits, two groups participated in the field study that allowed them to experience directly the offline and metaverse stores. As a result of the analysis, the following findings were discovered: (1) In the overall experiential response, the frequency of sensory modules responding to new information was much higher than that of feeling experiences; (2) Experiential responses were more active in the offline store where the subjects could touch and use products directly rather than in the metaverse; (3) Among the four types of theme space, the experiential response was the most frequent in the product space; (4) The first group that visited the metaverse store before the offline store showed a more active experience than the second group that visited the offline store first. Finally, the results of this study show that metaverse brand stores in virtual space not only provide differentiated experiences beyond the spatiotemporal constraints of real space but can also be used as a strategic tool to make offline store experiences more meaningful and rich.