• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.69-102
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• 2012

Owing to increased number of luxury brand users, both genuine and counterfeit luxury product consumption continues to increase every year. Luxury brand is defined as use or display of a particular branded products which brings the ownership prestige apart from its functional utility(Grossmand and Shapiro 1988). Some luxury brands have imitations sold in marketplace due to their popularity. These imitations or counterfeits have been jumping on the bandwagon of the upturn in sales of their originals. The purpose of our study is to understand consumer's underlying motives to consume luxury brands, genuine and or counterfeits. To do this, we propose functional theories of attitudes, decision-making styles, and life attitudes to form the determining causes for different consumption choices of luxury brands: genuine brands, counterfeit brands, both genuine and counterfeit brands, and no consumption on luxury brands types. In proposed causal pathways, we examine moderated effects of socio-psychological factors to further investigate if consumer profiles would exert influences in causal relationships. From the existing theories of functional attitudes: value-expressive and social-adjustive attitudes, we developed and introduced a new measure of rationality-consumptive attitude. From the existing eight decision-making characteristics of consumer styles inventory(CSI), three measures of high-quality, hedonic-shopping, and price-shopping styles were primarily applied in the study along with newly introduced measure of 'high-price' being added, which makes four total. Seven life attitude measures of life purpose, life control, will to meaning, goal seeking, future mean to fulfill, life satisfaction, and religiosity were applied. Finally, such socio-psychological measures as age, gender, marital status, income, and age-gap between couples were assumed to function as moderators. With 430 valid study samples, ages from 20s to 50s, with more females(316) than males(114), with average personal possessions of 5 genuine and 9 counterfeit luxury brands, we conducted questionnaire survey. Results indicated that social-adjustive function is totally disappeared in the relationship due to current social trend of widespread consumptions on both genuine and counterfeit brands which in turn, make consumers feel less special on wearing or carrying them unlike in the past. Self-expressive function and rationality-consumptive functions act as strong catalysts for genuine brand consumption and counterfeit brand consumption, respectively. On consumers' decision-making styles, high-price sublation is the most powerful indicator anticipating counterfeit consumption, even more powerful than personal incomes. In life attitude, the overall model fit was not validated, and only life control and life satisfaction are proven to be significant on both genuine and counterfeit product consumptions. Employment of socio-psychological factors in the model improved understanding of users further. Young consumers tend to go for genuine products over counterfeits. Consumers in different income groups; low, medium and high, all significantly consume genuine products for reasons of different decision-making styles. The results indicated that consumers whose personal disposition is predisposed to consume products in the form of reflection of his or her personality, go only for genuine brands for quality reason, while consumers who rationally consume products for its function or usability, go only for counterfeits for high-price sublation reason. Meanwhile, both product users support for high-price orientation who are not well off.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.922-934
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• 2013

This study investigates the motivations to purchase luxury brands by examining how individual characteristics (need for uniqueness, self-monitoring, and vanity) influence affective luxury brand attitudes and purchase intentions through two social function attitudes (self-expression attitude and self-presentation attitude) based on the functional theory of attitudes. On-line surveys were implemented and 314 consumers between the ages of 20 and 50 were recruited. Using SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 18.0, confirmatory factor analysis for measurements and structural equation modeling analysis for hypotheses testing were implemented. The results show that the need for uniqueness and self-monitoring by consumers have positive influences on self-expression and self-presentation attitudes toward luxury brands, respectively. The results indicate that the need by consumers for uniqueness motivates a self-expression attitude toward luxury brands and that the trait of self-monitoring motivates a self-presentation attitude toward luxury brands. Consumer vanity also positively influences both social function attitudes toward luxury brands. Self-expression and self-presentation attitudes toward luxury brands have positive influences on luxury brand purchase intentions through an affective attitude that facilitates a mediating role between two social function attitudes and the purchase intentions of consumers. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the formation process of Korean consumers' purchase intentions for luxury brands and the literature on the role of related variables (need for uniqueness, self-monitoring, vanity, self-expression, self-presentation, affective attitude, and purchase intention). The findings provide a theoretical background to launch a cross-cultural study. The conclusion discusses the practical implications and limitations.

• Journal of Wellbeing Management and Applied Psychology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.11-14
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the structural causal relationship between the SNS marketing attributes of luxury brands on brand awareness, brand involvement, and brand attachment. Research design, data and methodology: To this end, a survey was conducted on 427 users of large Internet communities and SNS. The results of the empirical analysis are summarized as follows. Results: First, among SNS marketing attributes, information, reliability, and update had a significant positive (+) influence on purchase intention. Second, among SNS marketing attributes, informativity, interaction, playability, and update had a significant positive (+) influence on brand recognition. Reliability, interaction, and update had a significant positive (+) effect on brand involvement. In addition, in brand attachment, playability and up-to-dateness had a significant positive (+) influence. Conclusions: Looking at the causal relationship between brand attitudes, there was a significant positive influence on brand involvement, and a significant positive influence on brand involvement, but the effect of brand awareness on brand attachment was not significant.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.260-286
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• 2024

This study investigates consumer experiences and word-of-mouth (WOM) intentions in luxury brand pop-up stores, including standalone and department store setups. Grounded in experience economy theory, this study examines the experiential elements based on the types of pop-up stores and the relationships among consumer experience, pop-up store image, and WOM intentions for each type. Data were collected from 300 visitors to luxury brand pop-up stores between January and July 2023 and analyzed using Smart PLS 4.0. The findings reveal several key insights. First, standalone pop-up stores offer educational and escapist experiences, while pop-ups within department stores have a single identified factor of consumer experience. Second, regardless of the store type, luxury pop-up store experiences significantly influence pop-up image perceptions. Third, luxury pop-up store image drives WOM intentions for both standalone and department store pop-ups. Notably, the unique image significantly impacts solely department store pop-ups and does not influence standalone pop-ups. Moreover, image perceptions in both pop-up store types do not significantly affect brand WOM intentions. Finally, WOM intentions for pop-up stores significantly influence WOM intentions for brands. This study contributes to the theoretical understanding of consumer experiences in luxury pop-up stores, providing practical insights for stakeholders in the luxury brand industry to enhance pop-up store image perceptions and WOM intentions.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.181-192
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• 2003

This study examined college students' propensity for materialism and conspicuous consumption, and their preference for imported-luxury brand products. This study also identified the factors that influence college students preference for the imported-luxury brands. The data were obtained from a questionnaire completed by 4-year-college students (N=309), and were analyzed by t-tests, ANOVA, and multiple regression analyses. The findings of this study are as follows: First, college students' propensities for both materialism and conspicuous consumption were a little higher than the middle points of the scales. Their preference for imported-luxury brands was a little below the middle point of the scale. Second, the propensity for materialism was higher among first- and second-year students than among third- and fourth-year students. The occupation of household head was significantly related with the levels of materialism and conspicuous consumption, as well as the preference for imported-luxury brand products. Female students were more likely to prefer imported-luxury brands. Those with a higher income and subjective level of living were more likely to have the propensity for conspicuous consumption and preferences for imported-luxury brands. Third, the imported-luxury brands preferences were positively associated with the propensities for both materialism and conspicuous consumption.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.741-757
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• 2021

In addition to direct sales to consumers, the direct-to-consumers (D2C) strategy, which provides specialized experiences and services, communicates closely with a consumer's perspective. This tendency is related to the recent trend wherein the luxury fashion system is being transformed into a new luxury. Therefore, this study analyzes the development of online D2C platforms and investigates the characteristics of new luxury from the functional, symbolic, and experiential dimension perspectives based on mobile apps, which is becoming increasingly important among online D2C platforms. Based on the study results, the premium of new luxury fashion displayed in Louis Vuitton's mobile D2C platform in terms of product utility and functionality is newly defined as a usable luxury experience. Moreover, from the heritage perspective, based on the cultural sympathy of the brand contents, we determine that an attachment can be formed between new luxury fashion consumers and brands. Additionally, the personalization service and experiential content on the D2C platform can directly afford emotional and bonding induced brand immersion in a playful way.

• Asian Journal of Business Environment
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.17-27
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• 2018

Purpose - Current study aimed at investigating the symbolic and evaluation relevance to global luxury brands as the causes of inducing social identity verification, and also explored whether the social identity verification will affect the attitude toward the brands. Research design, data, and methodology - 323 questionaries from Chinese consumers were used to test hypotheses by structural equation model of AMOS 22.0. Results - First, social identity verification positively affected on the brand attitude. Second, both the symbolic relevance and the evaluation relevance positively affected on social identity verification. Third, the mediation roles of social identity verification were identified. Social identity verification played a full mediation role in the effect of the symbolic relevance on the brand attitude, and played a partial mediation role in the effect of the evaluation relevance on the brand attitude. Conclusions - This study could contribute to the advancement of theory concerned with the roles of consumers' social identity verification which induces positive attitude toward the global luxury brands. Global brand managers in China should try to search ways by which consumers can feel both the symbolic relevance and evaluation relevance to their luxury brands, and should make efforts to improve the symbolic relevance and evaluation relevance to their brand.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.56-70
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• 2011

The purpose of the study was to analyze the purchasing status of luxury brand counterfeit goods of female college students, and to investigate the influence of students' social self-concept on their attitude towards luxury counterfeit products. The study was implemented by a descriptive survey method using a self-administerd questionnaire. The sample consisted of 224 female college students residing in Seoul and Busan. The data were analysed through frequency, factor analysis, and regression analysis. The results were as follows. First, it was observed that 42.40% of the respondents have had the experience of purchasing counterfeit items. The major reasons for purchasing counterfeit goods, it was discovered, were not only the low price but also their perceived good quality. Among the reasons for not purchasing counterfeit products, the emotional reason was more significant than the intellectual reason. Second, female college students' social self-concept was found to have an influence on their social negative attitudes towards luxury brand counterfeits. Third, it was found that the social self concept was closely related to the satisfaction with the counterfeit purchases. Fourth, it was discovered that the social self-concept of the students significantly affected the intention to repurchase.

• International Journal of Costume and Fashion
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.19-37
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• 2015

Expanding upon Zhang and Kim's (2013) study involving Chinese consumers, this study investigated key factors that influence U.S. consumers' attitude towards purchasing luxury fashion goods and purchase intent and examined what similarities and differences exist between the two consumer groups in relation to the key factors. A total of 414 respondents completed the online survey questionnaire. Structural Equation Modeling was utilized to analyze data. Brand consciousness, materialism, fashion innovativeness, and fashion involvement were significant factors that affect U.S. consumers' attitude towards luxury fashion goods. Overall, the findings of the current study were greatly inconsistent with Zhang and Kim's Chinese study. The inconsistency provides vital implications to luxury fashion retailers by showing that one size does not fit all and one strategy does not fit all markets.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.23-44
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• 2019

A decade has passed since the first generation of Genesis was launched in the U.S. with the plaque of Hyundai-Genesis. Genesis Motors was separated from Hyundai Motor in 2015, and has struggled to have the Genesis stand alone in the competitive U.S. luxury sedan market. The present case study aims to find challenges facing the Genesis, which Hyundai has positioned as a luxury sedan competing against conventional luxury brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Lexus; evaluate Genesis Motors' strategic response to meet these challenges; and explore an alternative positioning strategy. Specifically, the present case study addresses barriers against the Genesis' market performance, by focusing on the obstacles rooted in the consumer perception as well as the obstacles that stem from the change in the U.S. automobile industry and the nascent network of the Genesis dealership. Genesis Motors' current strategies are evaluated, and an alternative strategy is explored that is largely based on the American consumers' perceptions of the Genesis vis-a-vis conventional luxury brands and outperforming midsize brands.