Hyo Jung Chang

Online Consumer Complaints About Southeast Asian Luxury Hotels

This article has been retracted.

Consumers With Disabilities: A Qualitative Exploration of Clothing Selection and Use Among Female College Students

As the presence of disabled consumers has become more prevalent in social and occupational life, attention to the clothing needs of consumers with disabilities has increased. However, research about disabled consumers and their dress behavior remains scant. This study is designed to understand disabled consumers’dress behavior, specifically clothing selection and meanings. In-depth interviews were conducted with 10 disabled consumers. Five themes emerged as important to understanding their clothing behaviors: form and function, self-expression, social identity, self-efficacy, and symbols of victory. Themes are discussed relative to the literature on apparel meaning and consumer behavior, and findings are discussed within the framework of self-efficacy theory. Potential implications of this study and directions for future research are discussed.

Effects of store attributes on retail patronage behaviors

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify selected store attributes of activewear specialty retailers that impact consumers’ satisfaction, which in turn influence word-of-mouth (WOM) and retail patronage behavior. Design/methodology/approach – Using an on-site store intercept, 150 responses were collected to answer hypothesized relationships. An exploratory factor analysis was first performed followed by a confirmatory factor analysis and a structural equation analysis. Findings – Results revealed that sales employees and store atmosphere attributes of activewear specialty stores had a positive influence on consumer satisfaction, which in turn had a direct impact on WOM and repatronage intentions for activewear specialty stores. Therefore, in order to satisfy consumers, activewear specialty retailers need to ensure that they provide an attractive and pleasant shopping atmosphere. Furthermore, satisfied consumers are likely to spread positive WOM about the retailer and display their intention to r...

Exploration of factors influencing body image satisfaction and purchase intent

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine which factors impact body image satisfaction of Generation Y college age and young professional females born between the years of 1980 and 1993, age 20-33 years in the State of Texas. Design/methodology/approach – An online survey created in Qualtrics was e-mailed to recruit research participants. Quantitative data were collected and analyzed in IBM SPSS Statistics 21. Exploratory factor analysis, reliability, computing variable mean, and linear multiple regression were performed. The variables explored were divided and grouped into major factors. Findings – Millennial females are influenced by their own personal preferences, morals and beliefs, and certain occasions, seasons, climate, and the weather. These factors significantly influence body image satisfaction. The model developed in this study provides researchers with a new perspective on body image satisfaction and purchase intent. This study extends the theory of reasoned action by identifying spe...

Is fast fashion sustainable? The effect of positioning strategies on consumers’ attitudes and purchase intentions

Purpose - – The purpose of this study is to examine the strategies that fast fashion retailers use to position sustainability by applying the stimulus-organism-response model. Specifically, this study investigated how sustainability positioning strategies influenced perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR) effort, price value and brand equity. Design/methodology/approach - – A between-subject Web experiment was used to test the research model. Four versions of the questionnaire were developed on a commercial online survey Web site, in which the surveys were randomly distributed to participants and data were collected. Findings - – The findings of this study suggest that sustainability positioning strategies can lead to the positive perceived CSR effort, thus giving support to the effectiveness of sustainability marketing for fast fashion retailers. Furthermore, purchase intentions are significantly influenced by perceived CSR effort, price value and brand equity. Originality/value - – This study provides important input for practitioners by suggesting that they focus their managerial attention to sustainability and should also promote it through their positioning strategies carefully.

The hunt for online hotel deals: how online travelers’ cognition and affection influence their booking intentions

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that influence travelers’ decision-making process while searching and booking hotel deals. This study indicated that consumers’ cognition directly and significantly influenced their intent to book hotel deals. Although consumers’ affection did not have a positive and significant influence on booking intentions in general, consumers’ tendency toward being a market maven moderated the effect in consumers’ emotions of deal-searching. The findings suggested that hospitality marketers should develop promotional messages that are tailored to evoke consumers’ cognitive and affective states in terms of their tendency to be a market maven.

Who are sustainably minded apparel shoppers? An investigation to the influencing factors of sustainable apparel consumption

Purpose Consumers’ environmental behaviours are not only the result of their positive attitudes towards environments, but also different reasons and motivations exist. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to find out important factors affecting sustainable apparel buying behaviour. Applying the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), this study further examines how knowledge about sustainable apparel, perceived money availability, and perceived accessibility to the store influence sustainable apparel consumption. Design/methodology/approach Using a purposive college student sample, 235 usable responses were collected to answer the questions. An exploratory factor analysis with principal component analysis was first performed followed by confirmatory factor analysis, and a structural equation modelling analysis. Findings Results revealed that the TPB was successfully applied in the context of sustainable apparel buying behaviour. Furthermore, it was found that consumers’ perceived money availability and perceived store accessibility are important factors that affect control beliefs and sustainable consumption. Research limitations/implications This study found the needs of educating college students for contexts of environmental apparel and textiles issues. Originality/value Even though previous literature often found the gap between the behavioural intentions and the actual behaviour, this study found the respondents of this study walk their talk. This study successfully applied the TPB to explain consumers’ sustainable apparel buying behaviour.

An examination of body size discrepancy for female college students wanting to be fashion models

ABSTRACT This study is designed to understand body sizes of female college students wanting to be fashion models. Also, this study examines body size discrepancies between the actual and perceived body sizes for college students involved in fashion. Data were collected from 127 female college students who applied to be fashion models. The actual body dimensions were assessed with Body Mass Index weight status, and ASTM D 5585-11e1 standard size charts for adult female misses figure types. The result indicates that college students with fashion involvement tend to be confident about their body sizes. They seem to know or pretend not to know about their body sizes. Although this might be related to current inconsistent sizing systems in the apparel industry, we found that students involved in fashion have a discrepancy between the actual and perceived body sizes. This result is beneficial to the fashion industry’s understanding of the young generation.

An Exploration of Body Image Perceptions and Education Needs of Military Parents of Preschool Children

ABSTRACT Military service members and their families have unique environmental factors that may influence their lifestyle and behaviors. This study, using the social ecological model, was designed to explore the body image perceptions among military family members. Exploratory qualitative focus group interviews were conducted at child development centers on two military bases in the southwest United States. Researchers conducted a total of 8 group discussions with 24 parents. Four themes emerged from the discussions, including: military requirements, partnership, negative fat talk, and encouraging communication. These themes can inform future research about body image perceptions and weight management in military families and guide education programs.