• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-24
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• 2010

I. Introduction The industry of domestic discount store was reorganized with 2 bigs and 1 middle, and then Home Plus took over Home Ever in 2008. In present, Oct, 2008, E-Mart has 118 outlets, Home Plus 112 outlets, and Lotte Mart 60 stores. With total number of 403 outlets, they are getting closer to a saturation point. We know that the industry of discount store has been getting through the mature stage in retail life cycle. There are many efforts to maintain existing customers rather than to get new customers. These competitions in this industry lead firms to acknowledge 'store loyalty' to be the first strategic tool for their sustainable competitiveness. In other words, the strategic goal of discount store is to boost up the repurchase rate of customers throughout increasing store loyalty. If owners of retail shops can figure out main factors for store loyalty, they can easily make more efficient and effective retail strategies which bring about more sales and profits. In this practical sense, there are many papers which are focusing on the antecedents of store loyalty. Many researchers have been inspecting causal relationships between antecedents and store loyalty; store characteristics, store image, atmosphere in store, sales promotion in store, service quality, customer characteristics, crowding, switching cost, trust, satisfaction, commitment, etc., In recent times, many academic researchers and practitioners have been interested in 'dual path model for service loyalty'. There are two paths in store loyalty. First path has an emphasis on symbolic and emotional dimension of service brand, and second path focuses on quality of product and service. We will call the former an extrinsic path and call the latter an intrinsic path. This means that consumers' cognitive path for store loyalty is not single but dual. Existing studies for dual path model are as follows; First, in extrinsic path, some papers in domestic settings show that there is 'store personality-identification-loyalty' path. Second, service quality has an effect on loyalty, which is a behavioral variable, in the mediation of customer satisfaction. But, it's very difficult to find out an empirical paper applied to domestic discount store based on this mediating model. The domestic research for store loyalty concentrates on not only intrinsic path but also extrinsic path. Relatively, an attention for intrinsic path is scarce. And then, we acknowledge that there should be a need for integrating extrinsic and intrinsic path. Also, in terms of retail industry, this study is meaningful because retailers want to achieve their competitiveness by using store loyalty. And so, the purpose of this paper is to integrate and complement two existing paths into one specific model, dual path model. This model includes both intrinsic and extrinsic path for store loyalty. With this research, we would expect to understand the full process of forming customers' store loyalty which had not been clearly explained. In other words, we propose the dual path model for discount store loyalty which has been originated from store personality and service quality. This model is composed of extrinsic path, discount store personality$\rightarrow$store identification$\rightarrow$store loyalty, and intrinsic path, service quality of discount store$\rightarrow$customer satisfaction$\rightarrow$store loyalty. II. Research Model Dual path model integrates intrinsic path and extrinsic path into one specific model. Intrinsic path put an emphasis on quality characteristics and extrinsic path focuses on brand characteristics. Intrinsic path is based on information processing perspective, and extrinsic path emphasizes symbolic and emotional dimension of brand. This model is composed of extrinsic path, discount store personality$\rightarrow$store identification$\rightarrow$store loyalty, and intrinsic path, service quality of discount store$\rightarrow$customer satisfaction$\rightarrow$store loyalty. Hypotheses are as follows; Hypothesis 1: Service quality perceived by customers in discount store has an positive effect on customer satisfaction Hypothesis 2: Store personality perceived by customers in discount store has an positive effect on store identification Hypothesis 3: Customer satisfaction in discount store has an positive effect on store loyalty. Hypothesis 4: Store identification has an positive effect on store loyalty. III. Results and Implications We examined consumers who patronize discount stores for samples of this study. With the structural equation model(SEM) analysis, we empirically tested the validity and fitness of the dual path model for store loyalty in discount stores. As results, the fitness indices of this model were well fitted to data obtained. In an intrinsic path, service quality(SQ) is positively related to customer satisfaction(CS), customer satisfaction(CS) has very significantly positive effect on store loyalty(SL). Also, in an extrinsic path, the store personality(SP) is positively related to store identification(SI), it shows significant effect on store loyalty. Table 1 shows the results as follows; There are some theoretical and practical implications. First, Many studies on discount store loyalty have been executed from various perspectives. But there has been no integrative view on this issue. And so, this research was theoretically designed to integrate various and controversial arguments into one systematic model. We empirically tested dual path model forming store loyalty, and brought up a systematic and integrative framework for future studies. We want to expect creative and aggressive research activities. Second, a few established papers are focused on the relationship between antecedents and store loyalty; store characteristics, atmosphere, sales promotion in store, service quality, trust, commitment, etc., There has been some limits in understanding thoroughly the formation process of store loyalty with a singular path, intrinsic or extrinsic. Beyond these limits in single path, we could propose the new path for store loyalty. This is meaningful. Third, discount store firms make and execute marketing strategies for increasing store loyalty. This research provides real practitioners with reference framework needed for actual strategy formation. Because this paper shows integrated and systematic path for store loyalty. A special feature of this study is to represent 6 sub dimensions of service quality in intrinsic path and 4 sub dimensions of store personality in extrinsic path. Marketers can make more analytic marketing planning with concrete sub dimensions of service quality and store personality. When marketers of discount stores make strategic planning like MPR, Ads, campaign, sales promotion, they can use many items which are more competitive than competitors.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.8 no.11
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• pp.286-295
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• 2008

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the relationships between brand satisfaction and store loyalty by examining the role of brand trust, store satisfaction and store trust in determining store loyalty in retail service firms. The results of the study are as follows: First, in case of relation exchange consumers, which are characterized by cooperative actions and mutual adjustment of both buyer and seller, brand satisfaction has a positive influence on brand trust, brand trust has a positive influence on store trust, and then store trust a strong positive influence on store loyalty. That is, store loyalty can be build up by combined benefits both brand trust and store trust in relation exchange consumers. Second, in another case of transaction exchange consumer, which are discrete buyer-seller exchange of commodity or performance with minimal personal relationships and no anticipation or obligation of future exchange, brand satisfaction has a positive influence on store satisfaction, and then store satisfaction has a direct influence on store loyalty. So, retailers have to developing strong brands which could help ensure both satisfaction and loyalty.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.1274-1285
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to investigate influences of perceived price dimensions and store attributes on store choice behavior. Three major retail formats, department store, discount store, and internet shopping mall in retail industry were compared with respect to store attributes and intention to purchase fashion products. Data were obtained from 427 consumers aged 25-49 years old. The results were as follows. (1) Multidimensional aspects of the price construct were identified: price-quality schema, prestige sensitivity, price mavenism, value consciousness, price consciousness, and sales proneness. (2) Store attributes included product assortment, quality per price (Q/P), service, and symbolic image in general. However, store attribute factors of three retail formats consisted of slightly different items. Department stores presented the highest level of mean scores on product quality, customer service, and symbolic images, while internet mall exhibited highest on product variety, information comparison, and quality per price. (3) Respondents presented high level of intention to purchase fashion products at internet mall, department store, and discount store in that order. (4) Purchase intention at department store was predicted by Q/P, service, symbolic image, prestige sensitivity, product assortment, clothing consumption, and age in order. Purchase intention at discount store was influenced by assortment & Q/P, symbolic image, clothing consumption, and sales proneness, whereas internet mall was predicted by product assortment, Q/P, service, price mavenism, and price-quality schema.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.935-945
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• 2003

This study attempts to understand perceived switching barriers of customers and fashion stores service quality as a core of store loyalty. Medium variations of switching barriers are interpersonal relationships, attractiveness of alternatives and switching costs. Date were collected from 485 subjects who finished their shopping with a self-administered questionnaire. The results were as follows: 1. Classified service quality of clothing stores into 4 ways: VMD of stores or atmosphere, store policy which are involved in store service, sales persons respond and sales persons conviction which are involved in sales service. 2. Service quality of fashion stores is related with switching barrier medium variations. 3. Service quality have an influence on switching barrier medium variations. Its mutual influences increase switching barriers and it gets to be related to the store loyalty. 4. Compared influences of variations to store loyalty between the H department store and the L department store which are research objects. The main difference is that the H department store evaluated personal relationships among service quality, customers and sales persons high compared with the L department store. As the results showed, service quality consists of store service of nonpersonal service area and sales service of personal service. Service quality is related with interpersonal relationships, attractiveness of alternatives and switching costs. It also affects switching barriers and store loyalty.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.950-961
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• 2004

This study was attempted to examine consumers＇ pursuing benefits and satisfaction at outlet store, to analyze the differences of pursuing benefits and satisfaction at outlet store among the consumer groups segmented by the pursuing benefits, and to provide useful information for establishment of marketing strategies. The subjects were 500 female consumers experienced in purchasing clothes at outlet non. For analysis of questionnaires, $\chi$$^2$-test, ANOVA, cluster analysis, factor analysis, and Duncan＇s multiple range test were performed. The results were as follows: 1. Pursuing benefits at outlet store were composed of 6 factors: store＇s atmosphere, variety of products and brands, service and reputation of store, product quality, location＇s convenience, and price. Consumers were segmented into three groups by above 6 factors: product pursuing group, store convenience pursuing group, and price pursuing group. 2. Satisfaction at outlet store was composed of 5 factors: product, atmosphere, service and reputation of store, location convenience, and price. Satisfaction at outlet store such as service and reputation of store, location＇s convenience, and price were significantly different among the segmented groups. Product pursuing group was most satisfied with service and reputation of store, store convenience pursuing group was most satisfied with location＇s convenience and price, and price pursuing group was most satisfied with price. 3. The demographic variables such as an age, marriage, occupation, academic background, and total income were significantly different among the segmented groups.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.10 no.11
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• pp.61-70
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• 2012

Purpose - The entry of Super Supermarkets (SSM), operated by large corporations, into the retail distribution market weakens the competitive power of local supermarkets (SM) and their families leading to a rapid collapse of the local-SM market. Accordingly, this is a very sensitive and urgent issue in Korean society and politics. Therefore, the government is required to take steps to activate a local-SM market and regain the loyalty of their customers. However, in spite of the urgent need of a comparative study on the advantages and competitive power of local-SM in relation to the SSM, little research has been done on this issue to date. One purpose of this study is to analyze the differences in store characteristics of the local SM and SSM, and to explore the relationships amongst various store characteristics, such as consumption emotion, relation quality, and store loyalty between store types to provide an efficient solution to activate a local-SM market. Research design, data, methodology - To analyze the differences in the evaluation of store characteristics between store types, and to test the moderator and mediator effects, data were collected from 488 customers in Seoul, Incheon,and Gyeonggi Province. The theoretical model consists of four hypotheses, and data was processed to test these using factor analysis, t-test, regression analysis, hierarchical regression, and the three step regression proposed by Baron and Kenny. Results - First, the analysis shows that local-SM customers evaluate location characteristic factors significantly higher compared to SSM customers. However, SSM customers evaluate quality of merchandise, sales promotion activities, and store environment significantly higher. Yet, there are no significant differences in the evaluation of consumption emotion, relation quality,and store loyalty between the store types. Second, the analysis of moderator effects of the store type show that sales promotion and store atmosphere factors have a significantly negative moderating effecton positive consumption emotion, while positive consumption emotion has a significantly positive moderating effect on absorption of relation quality, while there are no significant moderating effects between consumption emotion and store loyalty. Third, while both trust and absorption of relation quality are partially mediated between consumption emotion and store loyalty, only absorption is partially mediated between positive consumption emotion and store loyalty. There are no significant mediating effects of absorption between negative consumption emotion and store loyalty. Conclusions - We strongly recommend that location restrictions on entrance of SSM into local-SM market should either be further strengthened or sustained for the activation of the local store market. Government should strengthen financial support to improve the quality of merchandise, sales promotion, employee education, store environment of the local-SM by providing appropriate business consulting. Moreover, the result implies that the owners of alocal-SM should take measures to increase customers' absorption and store loyalty, such as store cleanliness, maintaining a delightful atmosphere at the store, and training employees on attitudes towards customers. As this study is restricted within Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province, care needs to be taken in generalizing the interpretation and application to the national level.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• no.16
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• pp.161-167
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• 1998

The Study to verify the relations between the store choice behavior and the interior environmental image. the point of view is that the image of store affects the behavior of customers when they choose the store for shopping. The method used for this study is library survey for constructing the store choice model and the field survey for veryfying the model. The store choice behavior of customers occurs according to the procedure : environment exposure-development of cognitive structure-image developing by the emotional response-attitude decision- purchasing. The image of a store is one of the very important elements in marketing stragy. The group which showed the affirmative response to the emvironmental design aspects also showed the high affirmative response to the store image. The group which showed consistent response to the image of store and the image of him/herself showed more affirmative response to the environmental design aspects. Good image to a store affects affirmative attitude of customers and it consequently the store choice behavior

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.571-582
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• 2000

The purposes of this study were to segment department store customers based on patronage orientations of service facilities in a department store and to develop a profile of each segment using store visit behaviors, clothing purchase behaviors and demographics. A total of 453 responses collected from an on-site questionnaire survey to female department store customers was analyzed. Cluster analysis on patronage orientations of department store service facilities identified four groups including: Active patrons(27.3%); Comparison patrons(27.6%); Convenience seekers(27.3%); and Minimum patrons(17.8%). ANOVA and $\chi$$^2$ analyses revealed significant differences among the four groups on store visit behaviors(the extent of store visits and the extent of service facility visits), clothing purchase behaviors(6 store choice criteria and the extent of clothing purchase), and 5 demographic characteristics. The study developed a profile of each segment and provided marketing implications.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.940-949
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• 2000

The purposes of this study were to examine the differences in consumers’perceived shopping situations by store format and to examine the effects of shopping situations on the within-store emotion and in turn on purchase behaviors of fashion products. Shopping situations included 16 general situations and 15 within-store situations, and four different store formats were selected for the study. Data were obtained from an on-site questionnaire survey to a convenience sample of young consumers. Four hundred fifty six responses were analysed. There were significant differences in shopping situations(3 general and 6 within-store) by store type. Eight shopping situations affected the within-store emotion, which, in turn, affected the purchase of fashion products.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.474-486
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to investigate on the shopping orientation and the importance of store attributes of luxury brand consumer. A questionnaire survey was administered to 350 female consumers over twenties who live in Seoul metropolitan area and Kyung-ki area. 324 data were analyzed by factor analysis, chi-square, ANOV A, correlation, and t-test. The results were as follows. 1) As a result of factor analysis, five dimensions were identified for shopping orientation: pursuit of ostentation and fashion, pursuit of pleasure, pursuit of economy, pursuit of personality, and pursuit of store convenience. 2) According to the factor analysis, the importance of store attributes were categorized in three factors: product and store service-conscious, price-conscious, and buying convenience-conscious. 3) Regarding the relation between shopping orientation and importance of store attributes, significant differences were found. 4) There were significant differences in according to demographic variables in terms of shopping orientation and importance of store attributes and store patronage.