• Title/Summary/Keyword: consumers' attitudes

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Examining the Relationships among Attitude toward Luxury Brands, Customer Equity, and Customer Lifetime Value in a Korean Context (측시이한국위배경적사치품패태도(测试以韩国为背景的奢侈品牌态度), 고객자산화고객종신개치지간적관계(顾客资产和顾客终身价值之间的关系))

  • Kim, Kyung-Hoon;Park, Seong-Yeon;Lee, Seung-Hee;Knight, Dee K.;Xu, Bing;Jeon, Byung-Joo;Moon, Hak-Il
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.27-34
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    • 2010
  • During the past 10 years, sales of luxury goods increased significantly to more than US$ 130 billion in 2007. In this industry, more than half of the revenue comes from Asia where the average income has risen significantly, and the demand for luxury products is forecast to grow rapidly. Purchasing luxury brands appears to be an intriguing social phenomenon that is profitable for companies in this region. As a newly developed country, Korea is one of the most attractive luxury markets in Asia. Currently, a total of 120 luxury fashion brands have entered the Korean market, primarily in luxury districts in Seoul where the competition is fierce. The purposes of this study are to: (1) identify antecedents of attitude toward luxury brands, (2) examine the effect of attitudes toward luxury brands on customer equity, (3) determine the impact of attitudes toward luxury brands on customer lifetime value, and (4) investigate the influence of customer equity on customer life time value. Previous studies have examined materialism, social need, experiential need, need for uniqueness, conformity, and fashion involvement as antecedents of attitude toward luxury brands. Richins and Dowson (1992) suggested that that materialism influences consumption behavior relative to quantity of goods purchased. Nueno and Quelch (1998) reported that the ownership of luxury brands conveys information related to the owner's social status, communicates an image of success and prestige, and is a determinant of purchase behavior. Experiential need is recognized as an important aspect of consumption, especially for new products developed to meet consumer demand. Since luxury goods, by definition are relatively scarce, ownership of these types of products may fulfill consumers' need for uniqueness. In this study, value equity, relationship equity, and brand equity are examined as drivers of customer equity. The sample (n = 114) was undergraduate and graduate students at two private women's universities in Seoul, Korea. Data collection was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire survey in March, 2009. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, factor analysis, reliability analysis, and regression analysis using SPSS 15.0 software. Data analysis resulted in a number of conclusions. First, experiential need and fashion involvement positively influence participants' attitude toward luxury brands. Second, attitude toward luxury brands positively influences brand equity, followed by value equity and relationship equity. However, there is no significant relationship between attitude toward luxury brand and customer lifetime value. Finally, relationship equity positively influences customer lifetime value. In conclusion, young consumers are an important potential consumer group that tries different brands to discover the ones most suitable for them. Luxury marketers that use effective marketing strategies to attract and engender loyalty among this potentially lucrative consumer group may increase customer equity and lifetime value.

A Reexamination of the Impact of the Fit of Corporate Social Responsibility on the Brand Attitude: The Perspective of Brand Hierarchy (기업의 사회적 책임(CSR)활동의적합성이 브랜드 태도에 미치는 영향에 관한 재고찰: 브랜드 계층구조 관점에서)

  • YANG, JAEHO;Seo, Hae-Jin;Song, Tae-Ho
    • (The) Korean Journal of Advertising
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    • v.27 no.8
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    • pp.59-90
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    • 2016
  • Consumers demand that corporates fulfill their social responsibility by exerting influence over not only economical values but also social values in markets. Given such a social mood, most corporates are actively engaging in Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) activities, and marketing scholars continue to study the effects of such CSR activities. Numerous such studies examined the relationship between CSR activity and brand equity. Moreover, virtually, a majority of these studies focused on consumer responses to CSR activity from an individual brand perspective. In a situation in which brand management must consider the spillover effects of brands, firms holding various brands should consider these spillover effects when they establish CSR activity strategies. Therefore, we examine the effects of CSR activity using a comprehensive approach that considers the hierarchy of brands. Additionally, we develop a new perspective on fit that has been used as a major influence on the effects of CSR activity. We argue that the mixed results of the impact of fit regarding the effect of CSR activities is attributed to the influence of connections among brands based on the hierarchy of brands. We then examine the effect of two types of CSR activity strategies that reflect the relativity of fit. The results reveal that there was no difference in impact of the two strategies based on unique roles and traits of corporate brand and effects of low fit. Also, we found that the corporate brand focused strategy creates a greater change in consumers' attitudes than does an individual brand focused strategy in the case of a particular brand. This finding is meaningful because it indicates that a hierarchy of brands may relatively reduce the impact of the role of fit, unlike general arguments from previous related research. Second, the spillover effects from the CSR activities of individual sub-brands belonging to the same corporate brand were confirmed. Therefore, we clearly verified the role of the hierarchy of brands. Although both strategies cause changes in consumer attitude toward brands engaged in CSR activity, overall, a corporate brand focused strategy turned out to be more effective than an individual brand focused strategy because of the spillover effects of brands. Third, this study verified the effect of a corporate brand focused strategy through a moderating effect analysis of the degree of association between individual brands and corporate brand. Given these results, we identified a moderating role in the degree of association and the changes in consumer attitudes toward both main brands engaged in CSR activities and other different individual brands, which were caused by the spillover effects of brands. Finally, this study addresses implications and limitations.

The Effect of Attributes of Innovation and Perceived Risk on Product Attitudes and Intention to Adopt Smart Wear (스마트 의류의 혁신속성과 지각된 위험이 제품 태도 및 수용의도에 미치는 영향)

  • Ko, Eun-Ju;Sung, Hee-Won;Yoon, Hye-Rim
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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    • v.18 no.2
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    • pp.89-111
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    • 2008
  • Due to the development of digital technology, studies regarding smart wear integrating daily life have rapidly increased. However, consumer research about perception and attitude toward smart clothing hardly could find. The purpose of this study was to identify innovative characteristics and perceived risk of smart clothing and to analyze the influences of theses factors on product attitudes and intention to adopt. Specifically, five hypotheses were established. H1: Perceived attributes of smart clothing except for complexity would have positive relations to product attitude or purchase intention, while complexity would be opposite. H2: Product attitude would have positive relation to purchase intention. H3: Product attitude would have a mediating effect between perceived attributes and purchase intention. H4: Perceived risks of smart clothing would have negative relations to perceived attributes except for complexity, and positive relations to complexity. H5: Product attitude would have a mediating effect between perceived risks and purchase intention. A self-administered questionnaire was developed based on previous studies. After pretest, the data were collected during September, 2006, from university students in Korea who were relatively sensitive to innovative products. A total of 300 final useful questionnaire were analyzed by SPSS 13.0 program. About 60.3% were male with the mean age of 21.3 years old. About 59.3% reported that they were aware of smart clothing, but only 9 respondents purchased it. The mean of attitudes toward smart clothing and purchase intention was 2.96 (SD=.56) and 2.63 (SD=.65) respectively. Factor analysis using principal components with varimax rotation was conducted to identify perceived attribute and perceived risk dimensions. Perceived attributes of smart wear were categorized into relative advantage (including compatibility), observability (including triability), and complexity. Perceived risks were identified into physical/performance risk, social psychological risk, time loss risk, and economic risk. Regression analysis was conducted to test five hypotheses. Relative advantage and observability were significant predictors of product attitude (adj $R^2$=.223) and purchase intention (adj $R^2$=.221). Complexity showed negative influence on product attitude. Product attitude presented significant relation to purchase intention (adj $R^2$=.692) and partial mediating effect between perceived attributes and purchase intention (adj $R^2$=.698). Therefore hypothesis one to three were accepted. In order to test hypothesis four, four dimensions of perceived risk and demographic variables (age, gender, monthly household income, awareness of smart clothing, and purchase experience) were entered as independent variables in the regression models. Social psychological risk, economic risk, and gender (female) were significant to predict relative advantage (adj $R^2$=.276). When perceived observability was a dependent variable, social psychological risk, time loss risk, physical/performance risk, and age (younger) were significant in order (adj $R^2$=.144). However, physical/performance risk was positively related to observability. The more Koreans seemed to be observable of smart clothing, the more increased the probability of physical harm or performance problems received. Complexity was predicted by product awareness, social psychological risk, economic risk, and purchase experience in order (adj $R^2$=.114). Product awareness was negatively related to complexity, meaning high level of product awareness would reduce complexity of smart clothing. However, purchase experience presented positive relation with complexity. It appears that consumers can perceive high level of complexity when they are actually consuming smart clothing in real life. Risk variables were positively related with complexity. That is, in order to decrease complexity, it is also necessary to consider minimizing anxiety factors about social psychological wound or loss of money. Thus, hypothesis 4 was partially accepted. Finally, in testing hypothesis 5, social psychological risk and economic risk were significant predictors for product attitude (adj $R^2$=.122) and purchase intention (adj $R^2$=.099) respectively. When attitude variable was included with risk variables as independent variables in the regression model to predict purchase intention, only attitude variable was significant (adj $R^2$=.691). Thus attitude variable presented full mediating effect between perceived risks and purchase intention, and hypothesis 5 was accepted. Findings would provide guidelines for fashion and electronic businesses who aim to create and strengthen positive attitude toward smart clothing. Marketers need to consider not only functional feature of smart clothing, but also practical and aesthetic attributes, since appropriateness for social norm or self image would reduce uncertainty of psychological or social risk, which increase relative advantage of smart clothing. Actually social psychological risk was significantly associated to relative advantage. Economic risk is negatively associated with product attitudes as well as purchase intention, suggesting that smart-wear developers have to reflect on price ranges of potential adopters. It will be effective to utilize the findings associated with complexity when marketers in US plan communication strategy.

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Electronic Word-of-Mouth in B2C Virtual Communities: An Empirical Study from CTrip.com (B2C허의사구중적전자구비(B2C虚拟社区中的电子口碑): 관우휴정려유망적실증연구(关于携程旅游网的实证研究))

  • Li, Guoxin;Elliot, Statia;Choi, Chris
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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    • v.20 no.3
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    • pp.262-268
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    • 2010
  • Virtual communities (VCs) have developed rapidly, with more and more people participating in them to exchange information and opinions. A virtual community is a group of people who may or may not meet one another face to face, and who exchange words and ideas through the mediation of computer bulletin boards and networks. A business-to-consumer virtual community (B2CVC) is a commercial group that creates a trustworthy environment intended to motivate consumers to be more willing to buy from an online store. B2CVCs create a social atmosphere through information contribution such as recommendations, reviews, and ratings of buyers and sellers. Although the importance of B2CVCs has been recognized, few studies have been conducted to examine members' word-of-mouth behavior within these communities. This study proposes a model of involvement, statistics, trust, "stickiness," and word-of-mouth in a B2CVC and explores the relationships among these elements based on empirical data. The objectives are threefold: (i) to empirically test a B2CVC model that integrates measures of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors; (ii) to better understand the nature of these relationships, specifically through word-of-mouth as a measure of revenue generation; and (iii) to better understand the role of stickiness of B2CVC in CRM marketing. The model incorporates three key elements concerning community members: (i) their beliefs, measured in terms of their involvement assessment; (ii) their attitudes, measured in terms of their satisfaction and trust; and, (iii) their behavior, measured in terms of site stickiness and their word-of-mouth. Involvement is considered the motivation for consumers to participate in a virtual community. For B2CVC members, information searching and posting have been proposed as the main purpose for their involvement. Satisfaction has been reviewed as an important indicator of a member's overall community evaluation, and conceptualized by different levels of member interactions with their VC. The formation and expansion of a VC depends on the willingness of members to share information and services. Researchers have found that trust is a core component facilitating the anonymous interaction in VCs and e-commerce, and therefore trust-building in VCs has been a common research topic. It is clear that the success of a B2CVC depends on the stickiness of its members to enhance purchasing potential. Opinions communicated and information exchanged between members may represent a type of written word-of-mouth. Therefore, word-of-mouth is one of the primary factors driving the diffusion of B2CVCs across the Internet. Figure 1 presents the research model and hypotheses. The model was tested through the implementation of an online survey of CTrip Travel VC members. A total of 243 collected questionnaires was reduced to 204 usable questionnaires through an empirical process of data cleaning. The study's hypotheses examined the extent to which involvement, satisfaction, and trust influence B2CVC stickiness and members' word-of-mouth. Structural Equation Modeling tested the hypotheses in the analysis, and the structural model fit indices were within accepted thresholds: ${\chi}^2^$/df was 2.76, NFI was .904, IFI was .931, CFI was .930, and RMSEA was .017. Results indicated that involvement has a significant influence on satisfaction (p<0.001, ${\beta}$=0.809). The proportion of variance in satisfaction explained by members' involvement was over half (adjusted $R^2$=0.654), reflecting a strong association. The effect of involvement on trust was also statistically significant (p<0.001, ${\beta}$=0.751), with 57 percent of the variance in trust explained by involvement (adjusted $R^2$=0.563). When the construct "stickiness" was treated as a dependent variable, the proportion of variance explained by the variables of trust and satisfaction was relatively low (adjusted $R^2$=0.331). Satisfaction did have a significant influence on stickiness, with ${\beta}$=0.514. However, unexpectedly, the influence of trust was not even significant (p=0.231, t=1.197), rejecting that proposed hypothesis. The importance of stickiness in the model was more significant because of its effect on e-WOM with ${\beta}$=0.920 (p<0.001). Here, the measures of Stickiness explain over eighty of the variance in e-WOM (Adjusted $R^2$=0.846). Overall, the results of the study supported the hypothesized relationships between members' involvement in a B2CVC and their satisfaction with and trust of it. However, trust, as a traditional measure in behavioral models, has no significant influence on stickiness in the B2CVC environment. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on B2CVCs, specifically addressing gaps in the academic research by integrating measures of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors in one model. The results provide additional insights to behavioral factors in a B2CVC environment, helping to sort out relationships between traditional measures and relatively new measures. For practitioners, the identification of factors, such as member involvement, that strongly influence B2CVC member satisfaction can help focus technological resources in key areas. Global e-marketers can develop marketing strategies directly targeting B2CVC members. In the global tourism business, they can target Chinese members of a B2CVC by providing special discounts for active community members or developing early adopter programs to encourage stickiness in the community. Future studies are called for, and more sophisticated modeling, to expand the measurement of B2CVC member behavior and to conduct experiments across industries, communities, and cultures.

Children′s Attitudes Toward Food Advertisement on Children′s Television Program (어린이 시간대 식품광고에 대한 어린이들의 수용 태도)

  • 김경희;강금지
    • Korean journal of food and cookery science
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    • v.13 no.5
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    • pp.648-660
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    • 1997
  • The study was conducted to investigate children's attitudes toward food advertisement on children's television programs. A total of 868 subjects were selected from two KangNam and KangBook elementary schools (4, 5, 6th graders). First, it was reviewed food ads. On children's television program on 3 channels between 5∼7 pm from April to July in 1997. Among the total television commercials, 58% were food product ads.. Among the advertised food, the largest number of ads. was for beverages (21.6%) and the next was for cookies (19.7%), followes by sharbet and ice cream (19.5%), fast food (12.4%), cereal (5.5%) and milk and milk products (2.9%). This review revealed that the mostly advertised food are high in calorie, fat and sugar. Secondly, it was conducted a survey. The results of the survey were as follows: weekly average TV watching hours per child: 13.5. 50.8% of the children watched children's program on TV. 83.9% of the subjcts answered that they get their information about new food through TV ads.. 59.2% of children tried to buy the food advertised on TV program. The relationship between TV food ads. and health, 49.4% of the children answered that advertised food were not good for one's health. When we asked them to choose between advertised and non-advertised food, they preferred the advertised ones, such as cookies, beverages, fast food restaurants and cereals (p<0.001). The results of this study suggest that children's purchasing and selecting of food were influenced by TV food advertisement. Therefore, education is needed which will help children's make responsible, informed consumers choices.

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The Purchasing Status of the Avatars and Digital Fashion Items in Metaverse and Consumers' Purchase Satisfaction and the Future Purchase Intentions According to Usage Motivation (메타버스 디지털 아이템 이용 실태 및 이용동기에 따른 만족도 및 추후 구매의사)

  • Kim, Nam Eun;Lee, Jeong Ran
    • Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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    • v.34 no.3
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    • pp.133-148
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    • 2022
  • This study aims to explore the status and motives for using avatars and digital fashion items in the metaverse and to examine consumers' purchase satisfaction and future purchase intentions. We intend to provide implications for the development of avatars and fashion items, and the direction of the fashion industry and clothing education. For this purpose, the purchasing status, consumer motives for using avatars and digital fashion items, purchase satisfaction, and future purchase intentions were investigated, through a survey with 149 consumers aged 19 years or older, with the experience of using avatars. The results are as follows. First, the percentage of avatar ownership was high among women aged between 19 and 29, and those with low or high incomes. The younger group was more likely to make mobile phone purchases than the older group, and the older group was more likely to use credit cards. Even those respondents who owned avatars did not purchase frequently or spent a lot on items. On the other hand, in the case of fashion item purchases, the group spending more than 8,000 won was aged between 19 and 29, and the frequency and amount of purchases increased as income increase. Second, among the motives for using avatars and fashion items, the pursuit of pleasure had the greatest influence, and men paid more attention to self-expression through avatars than women. Third, the motive for vicarious satisfaction influenced purchase satisfaction, and the factors that influenced future purchase intention were vicarious satisfaction and stress relief. The results of this study suggests that avatars and fashion items should be developed considering factors that can relieve stress for all age groups, create a sense of unity among metaverse users, and provide satisfaction in a virtual world that is different from reality. In addition, education on how to use fashion items and consumption attitudes in education related to clothing life will be required.

Infant Feeding Practices and the Factors that Influence feeding Practices among Women in Seoul and the Chungbuk Area (여성들의 수유양상 및 수유방식의 선택에 영향 주는 요인들)

  • 김기남;현태선;강남미
    • Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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    • v.8 no.3
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    • pp.288-301
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    • 2003
  • In order to obtain baseline data for the development of an educational program on breastfeeding, a survey was carried out to investigate infant feeding practices, the characteristics the subjects have in common, and the factors that influence the feeding methods among women in Seoul and the Chungbuk area. Subjects included 671 lactating mothers who visited public health centers or pediatric clinics between December 1999 and February 2000, and were interviewed using a questionnaire. The results were as follows : With respect to feeding methods, the incidence of breastfeeding, formula feeding, mixed feeding and formula feeding switched from breastfeeding was 20.6%, 29.8%, 11.6%, and 38.0%, respectively. With respect to the characteristics the subjects had in common, the incidence of women who planned their infants' feeding methods before pregnancy, during pregancy, and after delivery was 48.7%, 31.0%, and 20.3%, respectively. The incidence of women who started breastfeeding in the hospital after delivery was 38.8%. About seventy seven percet of the subjects had not previously attended an educational program on breastfeeding, and most of these wanted to participate in the future in an educational program to learn about breastfeeding. Some of the topics they were interested in were“Nutritional Management for Sufficient Breast Milk”(60.3%),“Breast Care”(25.0%), and“Correct Nursing Positions”(9.8%). Most (88.2%) of the women who breastfeed suffered from physical discomforts including discomfort of the waist, and legs and discomfort due to cracked or sore nipples. “Insufficient breast milk”was the main reason for breastfeeding cessation or for switching to formula feeding. With respect to formula feeding practices, the main reasons for selecting a specific brand of formula were“the same brand the hospital used after delivery”(34.3%) and“an advertised brand”(23.3%). The strongest factor for promoting breastfeeding was“the support of husband or parents”, next were “breastfeeding in the hospital after delivery”and“planning to breastfeed before pregnancy”in that order. The characteristics the subjects had in common relating to formula feeding were“mother's job”,“high economic level”,“Caesarian section”and “planning to breastfeed after delivery”. In conclusion, it is recommended that breastfeeding be pro-moted, and educational programs be developed and offered as soon as possible to each group which had unfavorable attitudes toward breastfeeding. In addition, the monitoring and supervision of formula advertisements is required to protect consumers from the adverse effects of exaggerated advertising.

A Study on the Effects of the Consumer Attitude toward Visual Merchandising on Brand Equity and Brand Attitude: Focused on Bakery Shops (VMD에 대한 소비자태도가 브랜드자산과 브랜드태도에 미치는 영향:베이커리전문점을 중심으로)

  • Cho, Joon-Sang
    • Journal of Distribution Science
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    • v.11 no.6
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    • pp.67-80
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    • 2013
  • Purpose - This study aims to establish the relationships among brand equity, brand attitudes, and Visual Merchandising (VMD) in bakery stores. The results will help bakery franchisees and franchisers in devising appropriate strategies for successfully managing their bakery shops. Research design, data, and methodology - The VMD model for bakery shops comprises harmony, attractiveness, suitability, pandemic, functionality, and reliability. Further, brand equity encompasses brand awareness, perceived quality, and brand image. In this study, the VMD factors of bakery shops are used as independent variables, while brand equity and brand attitude are used as dependent variables. This study aims to ascertain the extent of the influence VMD components of bakery shops have on brand equity and brand attitude. Regression analysis was used to verify those effects. The measurement items, deemed reliable and valid in a previous study, were modified for this study. Questionnaires were distributed to 500 consumers nationwide, of whom 340 were used for the sample. The SPSS 19.0 statistical program was used for the analysis. Results - First, among the VMD bakery shop components, harmony, attractiveness, and pandemic have a positive impact on brand equity (brand awareness and brand image). Second, amongst the VMD components of bakery shops, attractiveness, pandemic, and reliability have a positive impact on brand equity (perceived quality). Third, amongst the VMD components of bakery shops, harmony, attractiveness, and reliability have a positive impact on brand attitude. Fourth, brand equity (brand awareness, brand image, and perceived quality) have a positive effect on brand attitude. Conclusions - This study identifies the relationships between the VMD components of a bakery shop and brand equity and attitude in order to propose a new model. The study has several practical implications. First, the development of brand equity and management can be important components in bakery shops' determination of whether their VMD components have an impact on brand equity. Second, among VMD components, harmony and attractiveness have a positive influence on the choice of bakery shop, while reliability and pandemic have a partly positive influence on the choice of bakery shop. Therefore, store atmospheres should be attractively designed, and store menus and interiors should be reviewed periodically to conform to the latest trends. This study suggests marketing strategies for brand equity formation. First, providing collateral product quality, hygiene, and safety benefits as well as product offerings to complement the season and employees' services should be considered. Second, display methods, illumination designs, and new product ideas should be periodically reviewed. Third, these should complement the overall harmony of the interior and exterior and of the store atmosphere in order to be attractive. Funds should thus be dedicated specifically for the facilities and their interiors. Fourth, it is necessary to build a friendly and relaxed image that can be easily called to mind by the customers.

The Effect of Radish Liquid Naturally Fermented Bread Selection Motive on Consumer Attitude and Purchase Intention (무우액종 천연발효 빵 선택동기가 소비자태도와 구매의도에 미치는 영향)

  • Woo, Iee-Shik;Go, Geon-Oh
    • Culinary science and hospitality research
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    • v.22 no.2
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    • pp.151-162
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    • 2016
  • This study examined the factors that affect the relationship between radish liquid naturally fermented bread selection motive, consumer attitude and purchase intention. A total of 300 questionnaires were distributed to the consumers, of which 279 were deemed suitable for analysis after the removal of 21 unusable responses. In order to perform statistical analyses required in the study, SPSS 18.0 statistical program was employed for frequency analysis, factor analysis, and reliability analysis, correlations, regression analysis. The results of exploratory factor analysis showed that four factors regarding naturally fermented bread selection motive were extracted from all measurements with a KMO of 0.735 and a total cumulative variance of 65.759 %, with regard to consumer attitude, one factor was extracted with a total cumulative variance of 72.421% and a KMO score of 0.684. One factor for purchase intention was extracted that accounted for a total cumulative variance of 67.139% and a KMO score of 0.683. All factors were significant at 0.000 and the correlation between variables was significant. Thus, based on the results, the main research hypothesis that identifies the relationships selection motive between consumer attitudes and purchase intetion was adopted.

The NHS Over-the-Counter Drugs Policy in UK: Its Experiences and Implications (영국의 일반의약품(Over-the-counter drugs) 관리법의 의료정책적 함의)

  • Han, Dong-Woon
    • The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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    • v.12 no.2
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    • pp.265-291
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    • 2011
  • Changes in a drug's availability from prescription only to over-the-counter (OTC) status is of concern to physicians from both public health and individual patient perspectives. Government has generally been supportive of changes in medications from prescription(Rx) to over-the-counter (OTC) status in Korea, however, recognizing that there are both benefits and risks to any health care intervention, health care professionals are conservative in implementing changes to either the process or structure of health care. Changes in status of a drug from Rx to OTC can represent a change in both structure and process. Cost and convenience seem to be major factors in determining whether, given the choice, patients purchase a medicine over the counter or obtain it on prescription. With current arrangements, exemption from prescription charges provides an incentive to continue to obtain products on NHS prescription even when they are available over the counter. There is therefore no simple relation between the availability of over the counter medicines and the level of prescribing of deregulated products. The appropriate use of over the counter medicines-particularly those that have only recently been deregulated-places a burden of care on community pharmacists and calls for closer working relationships with general practitioners. In particular, systems for referral and for recording details of both prescribed and over the counter medicines need to be developed, and a direct route needs to be established for community pharmacists to report adverse drug reactions to over the counter products. Reclassification of prescription medicines-by making them available through pharmacies without a prescription-provides the opportunity for consumers to purchase a wider range of medicinal products without making a demand on NHS resources. There is, however, no simple relation between availability of over the counter medicines and demand for NHS prescriptions. In the late 1980s the UK government fuelled the over the counter market by making it easier to reclassify certain medicines from prescription only status to allow over the counter sale in pharmacies. To explore the influence of deregulation of medicines on NHS prescribing, this article presents analyses of consumer behaviour in using medicines and prescribers' attitudes to over the counter medication and collates findings from research. Policy makers should be aware that patients' expectations in relation to OTC medicines may be in conflict with evidence-based practice.

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