With the increasing popularity of nonprofit thrift shopping, new marketing strategies are needed to respond to accelerated competition in the secondhand market. To help guide the development of marketing strategies for nonprofit thrift stores, this study aims to identify factors impacting consumers’ buying behavior for secondhand fashion items sold in nonprofit thrift stores. Specifically, this study investigated 1) the effects of secondhand fashion selection criteria (i.e., design, brand name, lower price) and personal factors (i.e., gender, household income, beliefs about environment) on the secondhand fashion consumption experience in nonprofit thrift stores and 2) the moderating effects of point of purchase (POP) messages (i.e., “50% Off Sale,” “New Arrivals,” “Helping Others”) on the relationships between purchase intention and impulsive buying in nonprofit thrift stores. An online survey was used to collect the data, and a total of 197 usable responses were received. The results showed that 1) gender, household income, beliefs about environment, and brand name affected the secondhand fashion consumption experience and 2) the POP message “Helping Others” negatively moderated the relationship between purchase intention and impulsive buying in nonprofit thrift stores. These results can help nonprofit thrift stores’ managers to develop effective marketing strategies to increase their profits, which can be used to accomplish their mission of addressing social issues.

Purposes of this research were to examine characteristics of contractors and the relationship between contractors and wholesalers of apparel products. Influence of such variables on wholesalers’ satisfaction was also assessed. Location, reputation and service were factors of contractor characteristics. Dependence, cooperation and power were three factors that were considered for contractor-wholesaler relationship variable. Survey data from 109 wholesalers located in Dongdaemun Fashion Town in Korea was used for analysis. Empirical results confirmed the importance of service factor of contractor characteristics. Service and location of the contractor had positive influence on cooperation. Location had negative influence on power. Reputation had positive direct influence on wholesaler satisfaction. Cooperation between contractors and wholesalers had significant influence on wholesaler satisfaction.

The current research focused on exploration of a well known Korean fashion and clothing industry cluster, Dongdaemun Fashion Town(DFT). Many clothing and fashion wholesalers in DFT with various business formats are trying to obtain competitive advantages. For the empirical study, a questionnaire was developed. Items measuring descriptive statistics for each business and contractor selection criteria were included in the survey. 161 data from Employees of various wholesalers of DFT were used for statistical analysis. Majority of DFT customers were buyers of Internet shopping malls and street retail shops. 64% of them used domestic contractors for sourcing products. Most of them managed less than three contractors. Contractor selection criteria were factorized as flexibility, production ability, stability, fame and location. Wholesalers were segmented into three groups: product oriented, flexibility oriented and stability oriented groups. Group differences in terms of business practices were assessed and strategic implications were included.

UNUSUAL FLORAL ORGAN (UFO), a novel gene, is involved in controlling flowering initiation and development. In Arabidopsis, UFO is required for floral organ identity in the second and third whorls. However, the mode of expression and function of TaUFO have not been studied yet. The cDNA sequence of TaUFO is comprised of 1344 bp open reading frame which encodes 50.82 KDa polypeptide consisting amino acid residues. F-box protein, the components of TaUFO, plays an important regulatory role in a wide diversity of developmental and physiological responses. In almost all F box proteins, the N terminus of the protein contains the F-box motif, and the rest of the protein contains the protein-protein interaction domains required for target protein binding. In order to elucidate the function of the TaUFO, various phytohormones and abiotic stresses were applied on young seedlings (14 day after germination) and its transcripts were evaluated. TaUFO:GFP fusion construct was transformed into onion epidermal cells by particle bombardment to elucidate the subcellular localization of the TaUFO protein. The function of the F-box protein is to interact with target proteins. With the use of a yeast two-hybrid screen to isolate proteins interacting with the TaUFO (F box protein), we identified potential TaUFO interactive protein in wheat spikelet library.

Pectin, one of the main components of plant cell wall, is deesterified in muro by PME (Pectin methylesterase). PME activity is particularly regulated by inhibitor proteins known as the pectin methylesterase inhibitor (PMEI). The PMEI plays a key role in wounding, osmotic stress, senescence and seed development. However, the role of PMEI in plant species still remains to be demonstrated especially in wheat. To facilitate the studies on the expression of the TaPMEI gene, RT-PCR was performed using leaf, stem and root tissues in response to exogeneous application of phytohormones and abiotic stress treatments. Transcription of the TaPMEI gene was significantly induced in NaCl, H2O2 and SA treatments, and reduced when plants were treated with ABA. To elucidate the subcellular localization of the TaPMEI protein, TaPMEI:GFP fusion construct was transformed into onion epidermal cells by particle bombardment. The fluorescence signal was exclusively detected in cell wall of the cells. In order to obtain recombinant TaPMEI protein, the TaPMEI protein, expressed in E.coli as a MBP (~42.5 kDa) fusion protein recombinant. Purification and functinal analysis of TaPMEI as an inhibitor of PME activity are described.