• Journal of the Korean Operations Research and Management Science Society
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.107-120
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• 2011

The increased availability of store brand suppliers now provides retailers with opportunities to create their own lines of vertically differentiated multiple store brands within a product category. As the number of store brands increase, the retailer's shelf space becomes more crowded, which may force the retailer to consider dropping some national brands from its assortment. Despite these trends, the problem of product line design in a vertically differentiated product category has been analyzed mainly from a manufacturer's perspective in the marketing literature and it is not known to what extent the findings of the existing product line design literature provide applicable strategic guidelines for the new problem faced by retailers. In this study, we address this deficiency in the literature and conduct an in-depth study of the retailer's strategic design of a line of store brands and its assortment decision within the context of retail category management. We analyze the retailer's decision about not only how to design a line of store brands but also which national brand to drop from its assortment. The results of our analysis are as follows. First, if the retailer has to drop one of national brands from its assortment, it is the best for the retailer to drop the low-quality national brand rather than the high-quality national brand. Second, the retailer has to position the high-quality store brand relatively close to the high-quality national brand, remained on its shelf, in terms of quality so as to maximize the size of retail margin from the national brand. On the other hand, the retailer should set the quality of the low-quality store brand at a lower level than that of the low-quality national brand to increase the total category demand by attracting more price sensitive consumers. By doing so, the retailer can also minimize cannibalization between two store brands. Lastly, our analysis shows that the introduction of a line of store brands improves consumer welfare by increasing real values of all products on the shelf.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.14
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• pp.195-214
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to find proper strategies for the reinforcement of brand image in the online insurance retail stores. First, from theoretical backgrounds, I have investigated acquisition effects, strategies for changing brand image, decisions on a product position and product differentiation under various strategic marketing factors based on the reinforcement strategies of brand image. Second, there is a significant difference between corporate/on-line insurance retail store names recalled first and brand names recalled first. Third, in terms of consumers' preferences, there exists a substantial difference between corporate/on-line insurance retail stores and brands. From this study, the following conclusions are drawn. First, on-line insurance retail stores and brand image should be carefully developed and used as a tool to secure competitive advantages. Second, on-line insurance retail stores and brand image should be considered and continuously enhanced as an important asset for the on-line insurance retail stores. As the importance of brands grows, brand management is an essential step for powering brands.

• International Journal of Costume and Fashion
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.32-40
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• 2007

American trendy casual styles can be characterized as fitted to body and rendering sexy and fashionable images and now very popular in Korea. This paper aims to identify diffusion channels of Amreican trendy casual style among Korean market and the characteristics of imitation for American trendy casual styles made by Korean casual brands. American trendy casual style was introduced and diffused mainly through 3 channels: American films and TV dramas, on-line communities, on-line shopping mall speciallized for purchasing American apparel brands. Some of American celebrities became fashion ikons and played critical roles in diffusing American trendy styles. After searching websites and fashion magazines and visiting brand stores, several Korean casual brands imitated the styles of American trendy casual brands and the scope of imitation was vast across items. Imitation was found mainly among T-shirts,jacket, jumper, pants, skirt and accessaries. Also imitation was found in almost every aspects of clothes such as shape, sihlouette, color, prints and stitching, belt, and drawstring.

• International Journal of Costume and Fashion
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.55-70
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• 2016

The existing research on sustainability in the apparel industry provides no clear consensus on the definition of sustainability for the apparel brands and how sustainability of apparel brands as it is perceived by consumers can be measured. To fill this gap in research, the present study proposes and tests a confirmatory model of sustainability for apparel brands based on the three pillars of sustainability (i.e., economic, environmental, social sustainability) theorized in the Triple Bottom Line model. A survey of 754 U.S. consumers provided data for empirical testing. The results support the three-dimensional factor structure of sustainability for apparel brands and reveal that a second-order sustainability exerts a significant impact on both brand image and brand trust. The findings provide theoretical implications for researchers and practical managerial suggestions for marketers.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.96-113
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to examine acutely effective marketing strategies for bridge line imported handbag brands in order to succeed in launch and establishment in local market. Based on the successful bridge line imported handbag brands status in local market, this selected the brands, "LeSprotsac", "Longchamp", "Sequoia" that execute brand strategy including positioning strategies such as basic concept, prices, materials, promotion, distributions in order to succeed in local launching. For corroborate analysis, three staffs in each brands, consecutive in-person interviews and continuous telephone interviews, mail survey were used for this study. The results were as follows; First, differentiate brand positioning strategy that has considered accurate analysis of niche market and domestic market environment when brand launch effects on brand value enhancement. Second, marketing mix activity based on positioning strategy effects on establishing brand image and spreading brand awareness. Third, marketing activity based on positioning strategy should be executed based on consistent brand strategy.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.101-111
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• 2015

This study aims to analyze the current state of menswear in the domestic fashion market and the trend of new menswear brands. In addition to this, a comparative analysis of domestic and foreign menswear brands will be done to provide baseline data for the domestic brands in regards to strategic direction in the coming years. The study used reports published by Samsungdesign.net, which provided trends of 110 new brands from 2005 to 2014, in order to analyze the trends of new menswear brands launched during that period. Menswear brand information in the Korean Fashion Brand Annual, of which there were 168, were utilized to research the current state of the brands in the domestic market. As a results, menswear is expected to become more sensitive to trends and designs thanks to steady launchings of menswear brands within character casual zoning for the past 10 years and active brand launchings within contemporary zoning in the last 5 years. Also, as more brands are targeting men in their 20's as their main customers, it suggests that menswear brands are striving for a younger mindset. In terms of pricing, prestige and budget line launchings they seem to be dwindling, while bridge brands are increasing. This shows that customers are demanding luxury items at a reasonable price. Since there are higher ratio of foreign brands in dress shirts and contemporary zoning, domestic brands need to develop and produce more high quality clothes within these zonings.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.169-181
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• 2016

This study analyzed the characteristics and patterns of men's drawers panties to get basic data for their design. For this, drawers panties in 7 different brands (4: domestic brands, 3: imported brands) in terms of a front-center shape were collected, and the shape of men's drawers panties, characteristics of the materials, dimensions & type of patterns by the part and front-center patterns were analyzed. The study results found the followings: First, in terms of the shape of men's drawers panties, the front-center part were designed to rest the penis and scrotum in a natural and comfortable manner without a pee slit. They were seamless on the sides except for one product with side seams. Second, the drawer panties were made of elastic polyurethane materials. Specifically, domestic brand items used warm, elastic and durable nylon, polyester and rayon and polyurethanes while imported brands were mostly made of absorbent and sanitary polyurethanes. Third, regarding a size of drawer panties by part, imported brands were large in waist circumference. In terms of waist breadth at the front center, there was difference depending on an oval type. In addition, the front length at the front center differed by product, revealing difference in three-dimensional effect at the front center. The side length also differed greatly by product, which means that there might be a great difference in wear comfort. Fourth, in terms of the patterns of men's drawers panties, there was difference in side seams, center back seam and front-center patterns. Among a total of 7 products, only one product had side seams, and center back seams were found in two products only. Fifth, in terms of front-center patterns, the drawer panties can be divided into three types, creating three-dimensional effect not to give any pressure on the crotch: i) the cutting line only at the bottom of the front center part where the penis is rested, ii) puff created at the front center by adding a transverse line to the center line, iii) cutting transverse line to separate the penis from the testicles.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.127-141
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• 2016

Korea traditional dresses are making news everyday through popular media and a number of exhibitions and fashion shows that have been held as a way to activate the use of the hanbok. This study intends to examine the current status of handbook brands and analyze the aesthetic characteristics of the hanbok. This study defined the terms related with the hanbok and examined the chronological changes in the hanbok through a literature review, an examination of the aesthetic characteristics of Korean traditional clothing, and an analysis of the aesthetic characteristics by dividing currently available hanbok brands in to the traditional hanbok. According to the results of the study, hanbok brands were divided into Traditional Hanbok, Life Hanbok, and New Hanbok. The Traditional Hanbok brands represented traditional beauty, the beauty of formality, symbolic beauty, and the beauty of nature. The Life Hanbok brands represented symbolic beauty, natural beauty, the beauty of blending, and the proportional beauty. The New Hanbok brands represented natural beauty, unproportaional beauty, the beauty of line, and the beauty of moderation. Therefore the New Hanboks gave changes to the traditional clothing and the unique clothing of our nation. Its formative elements coexist according to their characteristics.

• The International Journal of Costume Culture
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.123-134
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• 2004

This study tried to suggest the effective future marketing strategies by analysing marketing strategies of five brands which were selected by sales amount and the growth rate among young casual brands in the L-Department store from 2001 to 2002. According to analysis, brand marketing could summarize to five marketing strategies such as culture marketing, emotion marketing, co-marketing, on-line marketing, and propose marketing. Culture marketing includes 'BB family marketing, star marketing, core marketing, experience marketing. One of the emotion marketing is 'Kidult marketing' which affects cute concept. Co-marketing includes 'Charisma marketing' that cooperates with distribute industry, 'Movata marketing' which cooperates with mobile communication industry, and 'Game marketing' which cooperates with game industry. There are some other marketing strategies such as consumer calling marketing, A.S.A. marketing which is for buyers, QR marketing for quick response, Web site's differentiate marketing and Logo marketing. The suggested marketing strategies for on-coming brands are 'distinguished strategy of the online contents', 'consumer calling strategy' and 'loyalty maximizing strategy'.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.158-175
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to provide basic information to Korean fashion designers who wish to advance to the overseas collection. This is done through analyzing the design characteristics of Japanese young fashion designers, Tsumori Chisato, Commuun, and Limi Feu, who have successfully launched their designs into the Paris collection and became global fashion brands. Collections of each brand were analyzed by the overall fashion style and design elements. For the overall fashion style, Tsumori Chisato used a romantic style using details with various ornaments, whereas Commuun shows minimal style with a simple silhouette. Limi Feu expressed avant-garde style with experimental patterns. Moreover, these brands expressed different style to other brands by applying Japanese traditional clothes, patterns, and Japanese techniques in modern view point. In terms of design elements, these three brands used the H-line silhouette. Tsumori Chisato used loose fit; Commuun, slim line; and Limi Feu, boxy silhouette. In the case of colors, materials, patterns and details, Tsumori Chisato showed mix & match with various colors, materials, patterns and details. Commuun used mono tone with black & white using only one or two materials. Limi Feu usually used the color black with cotton. According to the style of the brand and region of the collection, the main characteristics of the design and the application of Japanese traditional elements can be different.