• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.173-178
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• 2010

A privately held, third generation family owned company, Boom Technologies, Inc. (BTI), a provider of products and services to the electric utility, telecommunications and contractor markets, continues to make progress in exporting. Although export sales only equaled 5% of total revenue in 2008, BTI has an entire export division. Their export division's Managing Director reveals the trial and errors of a privately held company and their quest for success overseas. From its inception, BTI has always believed its greatest asset is its employees. When export sales struggled due to lack of strategy and direction, BTI hired a Managing Director for its export division. With leadership and guidance from BTI's president and from the Managing Director, they utilized the department's skills and knowledge. Structural changes were made to expand their market presence abroad and increase export sales. As a result, export sales increased four-fold, area managers in new countries were added and distribution networks were successfully cultivated. At times, revenue generation was difficult to determine due to the structure of the company. Therefore, in 1996, the export division was restructured as a limited liability company. This allowed the company to improve the tracking of revenue and expenses. Originally, 80% of BTI's export sales came from two countries; therefore, the initial approach to selling overseas was not reaching their anticipated goals of expanding their foreign market presence. However, changes were made and now the company manages the details of selling to over 80 countries. There were three major export expansion challenges noted by the Managing Director: 1. Product and Shipping - The major obstacle for BTI was product assembly. Originally, the majority of the product was assembled in the United States, which increased shipping and packaging costs. With so many parts specified in the order, many times the order would arrive with parts missing. The missing parts could equate to tens of thousands of dollars. Shipping these missing parts separately in another shipment also cost tens of thousands of dollar, plus a delivery delay time of six to eight weeks; all of which came out of the BTI's pockets. 2. Product Adaptation - Safety and product standards varied widely for each of the 80 countries to which BTI exported. Weights, special licenses, product specification requirements, measurement systems, and truck stability can all differ from country to country and can serve as a type of barrier to entry, making it difficult to adapt products accordingly. Technical and safety standards are barriers that serve as a type of protection for the local industry and can stand in the way of successfully pursuing foreign markets. 3. Marketing Challenges - The importance of distribution creates many challenges for BTI as they attempt to determine how each country prefers to operate with regard to their distribution systems. Some countries have competition from a small competitor that only produces one competing product; whereas BTI manufactures over 100 products. Marketing material is another concern for BTI as they attempt to push marketing costs to the distributors. Adapting the marketing material can be costly in terms of translation and cultural differences. In addition, the size of paper in the United States differs from those in some countries, causing many problems when attempting to copy the same layout and With distribution being one of several challenges for BTI, the company claims their distribution network is one of their competitive advantages, as the location and names of their distributors are not revealed. In addition, BTI rotates two offerings yearly: training to their distributors one year and then the next is a distributor's meeting. With a focus on product and shipping, product adaptation, and marketing challenges, the intricacies of selling overseas takes time and patience. Another competitive advantage noted is BTI's cradle to grave strategy, where they follow the product from sale to its final resting place, whether the truck is leased or purchased new or used. They also offer service and maintenance plans with a detailed cost analysis provided to the company prior to purchasing or leasing the product. Expanding abroad will always create challenges for a company. As the Managing Director stated, "If you don't have patience (in the export business), you better do something else." Knowing how to adapt quickly provides BTI with the skills necessary to adjust to the changing needs of each country and its own unique challenges, allowing them to remain competitive.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.171-185
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• 2009

We investigated the extent of recognition and the class practice rate of environmental education-relevant contents of the unit of 'Clothing Life' of the 7th 'Technology-Home Economics' curriculum in the students in Korea. Five hundred fifty students in the second and third grade in the middle school and in the first grade in high school, who had taken the course of 'Clothing Life' and responded to the questionnaires, were enrolled in this study. Questionnaires were sent and collected by mail from December 2007 to January 2008. Most students recognized that the environmental problems in their residences were serious enough to affect their own lives. Only 36.4% of the students, however, expressed the intention to join to the environmental groups and change their clothing lives in order to improve those problems. Also they conceived that the unit of 'Clothing Life' of the 7th 'Technology-Home Economics' curriculum containing only a few statements on the environmental pollution had little relevance to environmental education. According to the results on the class practice rate of environmental education-relevant contents of the unit of 'Clothing Life', the quality of the classes on the environmental education, except the unit of 'Planning and Purchasing Clothes', and the degree of practice of environmental preservation were proved to be low. Subgroup analysis showed that the second grade middle school students as well as female students had the higher interest and class practice rate. Teachers have to try to raise the recognition and the class practice rate of environmental education-relevant contents in the unit of 'Clothing Life' of the 7th 'Technology-Home Economics' curriculum of middle school in the class.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.11
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• pp.1639-1644
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• 2012

This study analyzed the Importance-Performance Analysis of selective attributes of Home Meal Replacement (HMR). This study was conducted using a primary field survey on department stores and wholesale markets in Seoul and Gyeonggi province. A total of 201 out of 234 questionnaires were analyzed. First, the highest intake frequency was 1~3 times a month (100 respondents: 48%), the most common purchasing place was wholesale market (148 respondents: 73.6%), and the most cited reason for preference was convenience (115 respondents: 57.2%). According to the IPA results, selective attributes with low satisfaction and high importance in the second quadrant were 'quality', 'health', 'hygiene', 'origin of food', and 'safety'. These results suggest that the microbiological and sensory qualities of HMR production should be improved to meet consumer's expectations.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.75-86
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• 2017

The development of web technologies and the generalization of smartphones have dramatically increased the number of social media users using the Internet. As a result, companies are perceived social media as a major marketing tool and operate a variety of SNS channels. In particular, start-ups conducting businesses with limited resources, social media is being used as an effective marketing tool to meet many potential customers at a low cost. Among them, facebook is the most used channel in the world and plays an important promotional tool not only in overseas but also in marketing activities of domestic start-ups. The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between satisfaction and purchase intention according to four personal characteristics of users who use social media contents and to measure the mediating effect of satisfaction on the relationship between content type and purchase intention. To this end, we classified into three types based on the previous research, and social media content is provided to 200 fans of Minbak Danawa(Minda), one of representative start-ups related to accommodation, The questionnaires were conducted for 3 weeks, and a total of 145 copies were collected. All the collected questionnaires were used for statistical analysis through SPSS 18.0. The empirical results show that all three types of content, such as task-oriented, self-oriented, and interaction-oriented, have a significant effect on the satisfaction level. Among them, it is confirmed that the satisfaction level plays a mediating role on the relationship between task-oriented contents and purchase intention. And the user 's personal characteristics showed a partially moderate effect on the satisfaction according to the content type. Therefore, social media content provided by corporations has an important effect on consumer satisfaction and purchasing, in order for start-up to prevail in the market, it is necessary to have an operational strategy to communicate with customers continuously through systematic contents analysis and planning. The result of this study suggests effective ways to build a social media marketing strategy for start-ups and suggests ways to utilize contents considering the characteristics of internet users.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.11-20
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use and perception of adults concerning bokbunja (Rubus coreanus Miquel) products. Self-administered questionnaires were collected from 502 residents in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk area. According to the survey more females in their 20s responded than males (45.2 and 54.8%, respectively). In total, 82.6% of respondents had an income of under 4,000,000 won per month and most were living in the city. The results regarding knowledge about bokbunja products showed that the bokbunja wine score was highest (3.66), and intake frequency showed that over half of the respondents had never eaten bokbunja products. The preference for bokbunja wine by males was higher than that for females, whereas the others products showed higher scores for females than for males. When asked about how they knew about bokbunja products, 37.0% of males and 46.9% of females responded a family member or neighbor. When purchasing bokbunja products, males and females answered that they considered taste, country of origin, and manufacturer, and price. Approximately 48% of the respondents answered that they purchased bokbunja products in the grocery and department store. As a result, popularization of bokbunja products was based on product development and sales promotion, and the product development factor significantly influenced preference for bokbunja products.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.12
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• pp.1865-1872
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• 2015

This study attempted to investigate consumer perceptions and attitudes towards reducing sugar intake by providing data to develop guidelines for the government and food-related industries to encourage Korean consumers to maintain appropriate levels of sugar intake. A survey was conducted on 238 adult consumers regarding their purchasing power for products with high sugar content in Seoul and Bundang, Gyeonggi area from September 1~30, 2013. Nutritional information on sugary products had a greater impact than media and others' recommendations on consumer awareness regarding need to reduce sugar intake. External factors such as health and weight control were stronger reasons for consuming reduced amounts of sugar or sugar-free products than internal factors such as sweetness. However, internal factors-such as taste-did not have a greater effect on consuming reduced amounts of sugar or sugar-free products than environmental factors-such as absence of purchase channels. Consumers indicated higher acceptance for 50% reduction in sweetness of existing commercial products. Regarding methods of lowering sugar intake, sugar replacement and reducing sugar consumption both generally and at home were preferred. In addition, consumers were likely to pay 10~14% more for sugar-reduced products than for existing products. Overall, consumers expressed positive attitudes towards reducing sugar intake in the future, although those in their twenties tended to be more passive than other age groups.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2002

The 'hands-on' craftsmanship of the 20th century has came and gone. Today, we are dealing with whole new, 'cerebral approach,' to concept and design with this new approach, design and function are very much dependant upon planning, sales, promotion, and the formative technique of the design industry. The innovative process of design constantly change as it reflects the needs and wants of society. It is and industry that constantly change as it reflects the needs and wants of society. It is and industry that constantly remakes and reshapes itself to suit current trend and outlook. The current idea being that consumers are looking for quality over quantity. Due to the 20th centuries dominant philosophy of functionalism, production intended to standardize the individual's purchasing choice. Aesthetic, or philosophic qualities played a second fiddle to the functional bias of a product, With production, Marketing, and research and development are integrated into the management process. This translates as good which include efficiency, quality, durability, and credibility an trademark and style. There is a definite 'post-modernist' movement and style in 21st century. Every possibility is available as the old boundaries of the 20th century are laid aside. There is a new, transformative quality to the current paradigm of design. The old "should" and "should not" of design no longerapplies. The integrated rative of design solves the usual disparity between aesthetic qualities and production. Design and profirability need not be stranger to one another. It can differentiate the image perceived of both enterprises and consumers by making use of integrated goods services. With an integrated system. both producers and designers win. While design gets full access to design in turn. All consumers make decisions based upon the evaluation of quality, service, and image ; even though it may not be a conscious decision to do so. Consumers are fully integrated human beings ; therefore producers who apply the new, integrated paradigmatic approach to concept, design, and production will reap the harvest of making a true relationship with individual buyer.

• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.237-255
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• 2010

The Korean Pharmacist Law has limited the sales of medicine to pharmacies. This has caused difficulty in purchasing medicine late at night or on holidays, which has limited the range of customers' selections and accelerated customers' discomfort, accordingly. Also, the rapid progress of aging has quickly boosted medical expenses for seniors, and has served as a factor that aggravates the budget of national medical insurance. Meanwhile, advanced countries, including the USA and Japan, have allowed the sales of general medicine, of which the safety and efficacy have been tested, in general retail stores such as convenience stores or super markets from the perspective of supporting self-medication. In particular, Japan, which has a strong tendency of pursuing safety in the world, diversified sales channels for general medicine in order to control quickly rising medical expenses. As a result, Japan has achieved the effect of easing various regulations as follows in the economic and social fields. First, the increasing distribution channels of general medicine from pharmacies to general retail stores provoked a potential demand, which also expanded related markets. Second, the competition between sales channels resulted in the reduction of the price of medicine. Third, the growing sales channels of medicine have extended the options of consumers and, subsequently, the convenience in the use of consumers has increased. Fourth, the creation of a competitive environment owing to the diversification of sales channels has accelerated an effort to enhance corporate competitiveness. Fifth, the foundation of enhancing the financial soundness of medical expenses has been prepared through the formation of a self-medication environment. In 2000, the Korean population aged 65 or over exceeded 7%, and it is anticipated to be over 14% by 2018; thus, the increase of national medical expenses will be sped up. As a way of being prepared for the era of aging, we, just as other advanced countries, need to create a self-treatment environment by diversifying the sellers of general medicine, and, thus, reduce spending on personal medical expenses, enhance the financial soundness of national medical insurance, and, further, promote the welfare of consumers.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.132-142
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception and information needs about food additives from the parents of elementary school children, and to develop a smartphone application (App) providing information about food additives, and finally to assess its educational effects. A survey was conducted in April 2013 by using a self-administered questionnaire, and total 358 responses were collected from the parents living in Seoul and Gyeonggi province. While purchasing processed foods, parents considered safety (40.5%) as the most important factor, and first checking item except production and expiration dates was origin labelling (35.4%), and chose foods with less food additives (63.1%). Parents recognized food additives as the most dangerous (42.7%), and 75.1% responded the level of danger as 'very dangerous'. However, 82.4% of parents didn't have experiences to get educations about food additives. Based on their information needs including the safety, legal standards and the foods containing food additives. a smartphone App designated as 'Catch up Food Additives' consisting of the definition, safety, food labelling guideline, management, animation about food additives was developed. When the App was exposed to the parents (n = 27), their negative perceptions on food additives were improved significantly. These results showed that providing information and education about food additives using smartphone App was very fast and effective for the promotion of risk communication on food additives with the parents.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.783-791
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• 2012

The purpose of the study was to provide baseline information that could encourage consumers and establish the direction of development for sprouts and leafy vegetables. A survey on the consumption and preference for sprouts and leafy vegetables of 823 people over 20 years of age in Seoul and Gyeonggi province was conducted. The preference for sprouts was higher in men ($3.75{\pm}0.96$) than in women ($3.64{\pm}0.84$), whereas the preference for leafy vegetables was higher in women ($4.06{\pm}0.74$) than in men ($3.88{\pm}0.90$). Based on age, the respondents in their 40s or above had high preferences for sprouts and leaf vegetables due to the importance that they accorded to health and nutrition (p<0.01). The sprouts and leafy vegetables were purchased mainly for their high nutritional value. The purchase frequency of once a month or more for leafy vegetables (82.7%) was higher than that for sprouts (57.1%). The consumers purchased sprouts and leafy vegetables mainly from a large discount store. The respondents in their 20s showed the highest percentage of purchasing from a local store whereas the older ones showed a high preference for traditional markets. The reason for the choice of the place of purchase was convenience. The freshness and price were important factors in the consumption of sprouts and leafy vegetables. In the case of leafy vegetables, the consumers preferred to buy them using the conventional weight measurement system rather than in small packages. On the other hand, mixed small packages were preferred for sprouts. The purchase frequency was correlated with the preferences, need for improvement and purchase intent for sprouts and leafy vegetables. The aspects that require improvement for producing high-quality sprouts and leafy vegetables were the nutritional and functional properties. To increase the consumption of sprouts and leafy vegetables, there is need for variations and improvement of the quality and safety of the products.