본 연구는 한국 여성의류소비자의 한국형아유르베다 성격유형과 의류 구매후기의 관계연구를 하는 것이 목적이며, 이러한 연구 목적을 위해 연구대상은 수도권 거주하는 20대 이상 설문 대상자 542명이었으며, 이 중 최종적으로 불성실한 응답을 제외한 519부를 본연구의 자료로 사용 하였다. SPSS 26프로그램을 통해 주요변수의 타당성, 신뢰성을 확보하 기 위하여 탐색적 요인분석, 인구학적 특성을 확인하기 위해 빈도분석, 성격유형에 따른 구매후기 점수의 차이를 확인하기 위해 세 집단 이상의 평균차이를 확인할 수 있는 일원배치분산분석(One-way ANOVA)을 실 시한 분석결과는 여성소비자의 한국형아유르베다 기본심리유형 중 하나 인 카파형(K)이 피타형(P)에 비해 구매후기를 중요하게 본다는 것을 알 수 있다. 이는 피타형(P)이 카파형(K)에 비해 구매후기를 중시하는 경향 이 낮은 이유는 자기주장이 강하고 주도적이며, 강한신념을 지니고 믿음 이 확고한 성격을 갖고 있는 것과 관계가 있음을 확인할 수 있다. 연령 을 구분하여 분석한 결과, 20~30대에서 유의한 차이가 나타났으며, 사후 검정 결과 피타형(P)의 평균보다 카파형(K)의 평균이 높은 것으로 확인되 었고 다중회귀분석을 통해서도 유사한 결과가 도출되었다. 이는 기성세 대에 비해 20~30대에서 구매후기를 중요시하는 경향은 모바일을 사용한 온라인, 디지털 환경에 익숙하기 때문이라 분석된다. 따라서 본 연구는 여성소비자의 성격유형과 구매결정후기 관계를 분석함으로써 마케팅 및 경영적 기초자료로 활용할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

We conducted this study to determine the TikTok usage status of Chinese consumers, and the effect of fashion advertisement type preference and TikTok characteristics on fashion product purchase intentions. For this study, we conducted a literature review and survey method. The following conclusions were drawn by collecting data online and performing statistical analysis. Firstly, the period of use was 2–4 years, and 95.1% of people used it for 2–3 hours a day, and 95.1% of the people had a purchasing experience on TikTok. Secondly, the most people were interested in self creating and editing videos in TikTok. With regards to TikTok content, groups aged 30 are significantly more interested in fashion coordination suggestions and influencer’ recommendations than groups aged 20. Thirdly, this study found that the characteristics of TikTok fashion advertisements significantly influenced purchase intention. Among the characteristics of fashion advertisements, this study conclude that the “fashion entertainment” characteristic factor that fashion advertisements are fun and entertaining was the most influential variable on purchase intention, followed by useful information, reliability, and interactivity related to fashion. Fourthly, the types of preferred TikTok fashion advertising had a statistically significant effect on product purchase intention. The influential types of preferred advertising are top view, live advertisement, hashtag challenge, in-feed ads, and sticker ads.

본 연구는 여성 소비자의 외모만족도가 아이 메이크업 관심도 및 메이크업 관리행동에 미치는 영향을 검증하고, 아이 메이크업 화장품 시장에서의 마케팅 전략 수립 및 화장품 개발의 기초 자료를 제공 하고자 하였다. 수도권 지역의 20-50대 여성을 대상으로 399부의 자료를 최종 분석하여 사용하였다. 연구 결과, 첫째, 일반적 특성에 따른 외모만족도, 아이 메이크업 관심도, 아이 메이크업 관리행동에서는 각 요 인에 따라 차이가 나타났으나, 아이 메이크업에 대한 관심은 자신에 대한 관리로부터 시작되며 유행을 따 르는 것에 관심을 가지는 것을 알 수 있었다. 둘째, 외모만족도가 아이 메이크업 관심도에 미치는 영향에서 는 이목구비에 대한 외모만족도가 높을수록 아이 메이크업 관심도가 높게 나타났다. 셋째, 외모만족도가 아이 메이크업 관리행동에 미치는 영향에서는 피부상태에 대한 외모만족도가 높을수록 유행선도형 메이크 업 관리행동이 높게 나타났다. 결론적으로 외모만족도가 높을수록 아이 메이크업 관심도가 높아지고 메이 크업 관리행동에 영향을 미치는 것을 알 수 있었다.

본 연구는 뷰티 인플루언서 마케팅의 중요한 소비계층인 20-30대 여성 소비자를 대상으로 뷰티 인플루언서의 특성이 메이크업행동과 색조화장품 구매의도에 어떠한 영향을 미치는지 규명하고자 하였다. 더불어 뷰티 인플루언서를 활용한 색조화장품 마케팅 및 시장 확대에 도움이 되는 기초정보를 제공하기 위해 수행되었다. 설문지는 서울 및 수도권 지역에 총 563부를 배포하였으며, 최종 531부를 분석 자료로 사용하였다. 연구 결과, 인구통계학적 특성(연령별)에 따른 뷰티 인플루언서 특성의 영향 요인은 신뢰도, 전문도에 따라 차이가 있는 것을 확인하였다. 뷰티 인플루언서 특성의 하위요인별 신뢰도와 전달능력은 모든 메이크업행동에 정(+)의 영향, 전문도는 베이스 메이크업에만 정(+)의 영향, 색조화장품 구매의도에는 신뢰도, 전달능력, 매력도가 정(+)의 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났으며, 그 중 신뢰도가 가장 큰 정(+) 의 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 따라서 뷰티 인플루언서 특성을 바탕으로 소비자와 소통·공감하고, 보다 다양한 메이크업 및 색조화장품 관련 정보를 더욱 정직하게 전달함으로써 장기적인 관계 유지를 위해 노력해야 할 것이다.

The objectives of this study are to explore the information source, assessment, and preferred styles of 3D virtual influencers(VI), to investigate the expected impact of advertisements with 3D VIs on brands, and to explore ways of expanding the use of 3D VIs. In-depth interviews with 40 males and females in their 20s and 30s were conducted and qualitative data were analyzed. The study results are summarized as follows. First, the information source of the 3D VI was SNS, acquaintances, and broadcasting. Second, 3D VIs were considered positively due to their attractive appearance, wide utilization, innovative use, freshness, separation from private identity, and time and cost savings, while considered negatively due to their unrealistic appearance and antipathy against replacing a person’s role. Third, the preferred appearance styles of the 3D VI differed according to the level of virtuality although the majority of interviewees preferred similar looks to real people with low virtuality. Fourth, diverse image qualities such as innovative, differentiated, trendy, high-value, professional, and future-oriented were considered as transferred to the brand advertised by 3D VIs. Fifth, advertisements with 3D VIs may help build positive perceptions of advertised brands that may lead to purchase behaviors for some consumers. Lastly, to expand the use of 3D VIs, the specific advantages of virtual models should be maximized with consideration of how to implement a variety of body types and images of models. Findings present an important foundation to generate strategies to better apply 3D VIs to the fashion market.

중국 소비자들의 소비영향력이 커지고 있음에도 불구하고 라이프스타일과 명품소비에 관한 연구는 매우 부족 한 실정이다. 본 논문은 중국의 소비 주체인 여성 소비자 중에서 특히 명품소비의 새로운 계층으로 등장한 20대 젊은 여성 소비자 321명에 대해 설문조사를 실시하였으며 그들의 라이프스타일을 분석하고 명품소비행동을 연구하였다. 연구 결과에 따르면 20대 중국 여성 소비자들의 라이프스타일(의생활, 식생활, 주생활, 소비생활, 여가생활, 가치관)을 분류한 결과 전통적 보수형, 계획적 성공추구형, 비계획적 소비추구형 3가지 라이프스타일로 분류되었다. 전통적 보수형은 소득수준이 낮고 모든 요인들에 있어서 보수적이고 소극적 태도를 보였며, 계획적 성공추구형은 여성의 사회진출 증가로 인해 사회적 성공을 추구하면서 계획적으로 생활하는 집단이며, 비계획적 소비추구형은 쇼핑을 즐기며 지출을 많이 하는 특성을 보여주었다. 구입한 명품 브랜드의 종류, 연간 명품 구매 수량, 연간 명품 구매 금액 및 명품 구매 이유는 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 있었으나 명품 품목, 명품 구매 장소와 정보원은 유의한 차이가 없었다. 최근 중고명품 시장이 크게 증가하고 있어 새 명품과 중고 명품에 대한 태도와 행동을 비 교한 결과 새 명품의 구매의도와 추천의도가 중고 명품에 비해 더 높은 것으로 나타났다. 본 논문은 중국 소비자들에 대한 체계적 연구의 틀과 방법 및 유용한 자료를 제공함으로써 중국 소비자 행동 연구와 라이프스타일 연구, 명품 소비 연구의 학문적 발전에 기여할 수 있는 것으로 기대된다. 또한 명품 브랜 드들이 20대 중국 여성들을 위한 마케팅 전략을 수립하는 데 있어 실무적인 시사점도 제공할 수 있는 것으로 기대된다.

The purpose of the current study was to examine the role of information on shapewear’s functionality in consumers’ purchase decisions in an online shopping context. Through two steps of stimulus development process, four mock websites were developed to conduct a main study. In the main study, a 2 (visual information: absent vs. present images of the shapewear’s functionality) x 2 (verbal information: absent vs. present descriptions of the shapewear’s functionality) between-subject factorial design was employed to examine the impact of visual and verbal information regarding the functionality of shapewear on the consumer decision-making process (i.e., attitudes and purchase intentions). The results showed that verbal information about how shapewear reduces the size of specific body parts (i.e., waist, abdomen, hips, and thighs) were effective in increasing perceived attractiveness in an online context, which increased attitudes and purchase intentions. In addition, attitudes toward the shapewear mediated the effects of expected physical attractiveness on purchase intentions. The results of this study provided empirical support for the importance of expected physical attractiveness in consumers’ online purchase decision on shapewear and useful managerial implications for enhancing the effectiveness of online shapewear presentations by including descriptions of the functionality of shapewear in decreasing the size of body parts.

This study defines Korean wave stars as Korean wave human brands and examines the influence of the characteristics, attachment, and self-congruity of the Korean wave human brand on brand equity. For this, this study surveyed Chinese female consumers in their 20s and 30s who consume many Korean wave products from May 2018 to June 2018. First, human brand characteristics, attachment, self-congruity, Korean wave aspiration level, and brand equity according to demographic characteristics were identified. Second, characteristics, attachment, self-congruity, and the aspiration level of the Korean wave human brand showed correlations with brand equity. However, brand awareness, a sub-factor of brand equity, does not show correlations with self-congruity. Third, characteristics, attachment, self-congruity, and Korean wave aspiration level had a positively influenced brand equity. Fourth, when looking into the mediated effect of attachment on brand equity, both human brand characteristics and self-congruity showed a partially mediated effect. Fifth, when analyzing the adjustment effect in the Korean wave aspiration level, a group with higher Korean wave aspiration level showed more correlations with attachment and brand equity. This study found that attachment and self congruity are important elements in forming human brand and brand equity. This study is significant in that it verified the influence of Korean wave brand power that has been on the rise recently on brand equity and provided a theoretical basis that has allowed researchers to determine that the characteristics, attachment, and self-congruity of Korean wave human brand significantly influence brand equity.

A paucity of research investigates the salient predictors of web-store quality. Through web-stores, loyalty can be enhanced by proffering a secure and easy to use shopping arena. The findings of this research provide a simplistic model to assist fashion strategists when targeting female consumers of cosmetic products thereby supplementing emerging online retailers to compete at par with multi-national enterprises.

본 연구는 시판 김치에 대한 소비자 인식을 통해 재료의 비율을 최적화하여 최적의 김치양념장을 개발하기 위한 연구이다. 189명의 20대이상 여성을 대상으로 조사를 실시하여 김치양념 재료 중 액젓, 젓갈, 물의 비율을 반응최적화 도구을 통해 최적 김치양념장 레시피를 선정하였다. 조사 대상 중 30대가 41.3%로 가장 많았고, 직업은 주부, 기타 직업, 학생순으로 조사되었다. 시판되는 김치를 구매하고 싶은 이유로 가정에서 김치를 만들기 번거로운 면과 경제 적인 면을 많이 꼽았으며, 나이가 어릴수록 김치를 만드는 방법을 모르기 때문이라는 답변이 많았다. 또한 가족 구성원 수가 적을수록 김치를 적게 먹어서 시판김치를 구매하는 경향이 있었다. 시판김치를 구매하지 않고 싶은 이유로 재료에 대한 믿음과 비싼 가격에 대한 이유가 높게 나타났고, 수입이 많을수록 인공조미료 사용 때문에 시판김치를 구매하지 않는다는 의견이 많았다. 김치에 대한 선호 맛은 감칠맛, 매운맛, 젓갈맛, 짠맛, 단맛 순이었으며, 나이가 어릴수록 짠맛을 선호하고, 41세 이상은 젓갈맛을 선호하는 것으로 조사되었다. 사전 조사 및 설문조사를 통해 김치 양념장제조시 조정 해야 할 재료를 멸치액젓, 물, 새우젓으로 선정하여 배합 비율을 조정하여 기호도에 대한 최적화를 잡은 결과 ‘–11.00A + 4.30B + 1.70C + 31.37AB + 33.56AC – 7.35BC’ (A: 멸치 액젓, B: 물, C: 새우젓)의 회귀식을 나타냈고, 멸치 액젓, 물, 새우젓의 최적 비율은 27.12 : 62.88 : 10.00 (w/w)이었다. 이 같은 연구 결과는 김치 양념 의 최적화를 통해 보다 좋은 맛과 품질의 김치를 개발할 데이터로 활용 가능하며, 고객 맞춤형 김치 양념장 개발에도 사용가능 할 것으로 보인다.

The current study aimed to segment Mongolian female consumers based on luxury consumption values and to compare lifestyle, demographic characteristics, purchase behavior, and perceived brand personality among the segments. The survey was administered to consumers who had purchased luxury products in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. A total of 184 surveys were used for data analysis. Exploratory factor analysis revealed five luxury values: quality value, hedonic value, conspicuous value, social value, and unique value. Using the five luxury values, clustering analysis was conducted, showing that there were four distinct segments: passive shoppers, showoffs, rational value groups, and hedonists. ANOVAs and chi-square analyses revealed that these four segments differed in consumption values, demographic characteristics, lifestyle dimensions (including appearance consciousness, leisure orientation, life enjoyment, and achievement orientation), and purchase behavior (including purchase frequency, price of products purchased, and product selection criteria). Moreover, value segments showed differences in five dimensions of luxury brand personality: sincerity, professionalism/attractiveness, excitement, materialism, and sophistication. The results suggest that consumption values serve as a significant basis for segmentation. Furthermore, the current study indicates that value segments can be described as consumers’ perceived brand personality. The study concludes with a discussion of the results, theoretical and practical implications, and limitations.

The current study aims to segment Chinese female consumers using their lifestyle dimensions in the cosmetics market, and analyze their cosmetics purchasing behavior based on that segmentation. Specifically, lifestyle groups were examined to see if there is any group difference(s) in consumer behavior for Korean cosmetics. Lifestyle groups were examined based on: consumers’ demographic characteristics, perceived brand attributes, loyalty toward Korean cosmetics, usage of Korean cosmetics products, preferred stores of shopping for Korean cosmetics, and use of information sources in purchase decisions. An online survey was administered to female consumers who live in Beijing and Shanghai. A total of 493 surveys were used for data analyses. The results of the study were as follows: First, factor analysis revealed 11 significant lifestyle dimensions. Second, using these 11 lifestyle dimensions, cluster analysis was conducted, which revealed four distinct groups of consumers: (1) “timid inactive group,” characterized by having low scores in most lifestyle dimensions; (2) “showcase goers,” who tend to be highly fashion/appearance-conscious and brand-oriented; (3) “practical buyers,” who tend to be price-conscious, sensitive and timid; and (4) “sensible buyers,” who enjoy finer meals and wellbeing lifestyles, as well as hardworking in everything and impulse-buy things. Third, consumer behavior of purchasing Korean cosmetics brands were examined; significant differences among the four lifestyle groups were found. The study concludes with a discussion of the results and practical implications.

With its fast growing economy and huge population, China has become one of the most lucrative markets for luxury brands (Zhan and He 2012). In fact, China has surpassed Japan and become the No.1 luxury products spender in the world, accounting more than one-quarter of the global luxury brand expenditure (Artsmon et al. 2012). Chinese middle-class consumers thus have become important targets of luxury brands (Zhan and He 2012). However, China’s culture is different from Western cultures (Li, Li and Kambelle 2012), and Chinese luxury consumers have their distinctive characteristics (Buchwald, 2015). Therefore, Chinese luxury consumption may not follow the trends of Western world (Li, Li and Kambelle 2012). Previous studies have explored Chinese luxury consumers’ perceptions and receptivity of luxury brands in different cultural contexts (Bian and Forsythe 2012; Wang, Sun and Song 2011; Zhan and He 2012; Wang, Sun and Song 2011; Li, Li and Kanbelle 2012; Oswald 2010, Li and Su 2007; Wang and Ahuvia 1998). However, all those studies have only investigated luxury brands’ marketing strategies in traditional offline worlds. With the emergence of digital technology, luxury brands have started building presence in online world through different digital marketing strategies (Okonkwo 2009). Among all the digital marketing tools, social media marketing has become an increasingly important marketing communication weapon (Kim and Ko, 2012). While the luxury brands have widely accepted social media marketing, the academic research largely lags behind, Only limited number of studies have examined luxury brands’ social media marketing strategies (Tynan, McKechnie, and Chhoun, 2010; Kim and Ko, 2012). No study, to the authors’ knowledge, has been conducted to investigate luxury brands’ social media marketing strategies in connecting with Chinese consumers. In addition, previous studies on luxury brands marketing have conducted either quantitatively (Bian and Forsythe 2012; Wang, Sun and Song 2011; Zhan and He 2012; Wang, Sun and Song 2011; Li, Li and Kanbelle 2012) or qualitatively (Oswald 2010, Li and Su 2007; Wang and Ahuvia 1998) from either consumers’ or marketer’s perspective. In order to fill the research gaps, the current study is designed to explore the phenomenon with a mixed method by integrating both marketers’ social media marketing strategies and consumers’ interpretation of those marketers’ social media marketing in the contextof China. Specifically, a quantitative content analysis was conducted to examine marketers’ social media marketing strategies on a Chinese social media platform: WeChat; in the meanwhile, a qualitative study was conducted to explore Chinese female affluent consumers’ interpretations of those social media strategies transmitted via WeChat. Based on the research purpose, two overarching research questions were proposed: R1: Do Western luxury brand use social media platform of WeChat to build social presence, create self-presentation or interact with consumers? R2: What are Chinese female affluent consumers’ perceptions and interpretations of luxury brands’ social media marketing communication strategies via WeChat? Methodology The current study used a mixed methodological approach (Creswell 2014). Specifically, a quantitative content analysis (Krippendorff 2012) and a phenomenological study (Creswell 2012) were conducted to investigate luxury brands’ social media marketing communication strategies via WeChat and Chinese female affluent consumers’ perception toward those marketing communication strategies. Initial Findings Study 1 So far, 50% (N = 60) of the sample was analyzed. RQ1 asked about the luxury brands’ marketing communication strategies. The initial frequencies of each coded variable are reported in Table 1. Table 1. Frequencies of Coded Variables The results showed that more than half of the coded messages had images, showed products/brands in images or videos, provided event, discount and other promotional information, described products’ physical features and attributes, contained celebrities, sought action-based participation, and applied hyperlinks. The initial data suggest that a major use of social media in luxury brand advertising is to build the brand’s social presence by extensively using visuals. Images were found in 44 messages, and 25 of them used 6 or more images. Most of these images showed products or brands. Video also appeared in 14 messages. The initial results also suggest consumer interaction and engagement is restricted to the lowest level. The two major ways of interaction were hyperlinks and action-based participation. A close examination showed that these two were often used together. A hyperlink used anchor text that contained a call for action-based participation, like “read more,” “get the coupon,” etc. A lot of these actions related to consuming content, like reading, downloading or sharing, which is the lowest level of brand related-activeness on branded social media sites (Muntinga, Moorman, and Smit 2011).Additionally, product/brand information and physical features and attributes were frequently mentioned, suggesting that luxury brands use social media for information dissemination. WeChat has a large size of active users, and self-disclosure of information on social media can create a sense of close relationship (Kaplan and Haelein, 2010). High product quality, especially in terms of design and craftsmanship were frequently addressed, suggesting that that social media are used to communicate the nuances of brand’s social meanings. For example, some messages described the conceptualization of the design, the processing of handcrafting, and the meaning of the design, etc. These deeper meaning of a brand is often left out of traditional methods of advertising because of limited space or time. Celebrity was one of the major methods to create social meaning, suggesting that luxury brands use social media to leverage parasocial interaction between celebrities and consumers. Parasocial interaction refers to consumers’ perception of personal relationship with media personalities (Men and Tsai 2013). Among the sample messages, there were interviews with famous designers, advices and recommendations from celebrities about luxury brand and fashion, etc. These messages offer an opportunity for consumers to connect with celebrities, and subsequently, associate luxury brands with these iconic figures (McCraken, 1989). All in all, Western luxury brands largely use social media to build social presence, disseminate information, and communicate brand’s social meanings. Luxury brands frequently interact with audiences on social media but the level of consumer engagement is restricted. Study 2 The participants’ interpretations of WeChat provide a unique context and form a crucial referential framework for them to interpret luxury brands’ marketing communications on this particular social media platform. Specifically, the themes that emerged regarding those Chinese female affluent consumers’ perceptions of the social medium are an intimate friend vs. an everyday assistant, simple vs. complicated, and stickiness vs. interactivity; and, the themes regarding the participants’ interpretation of luxury brands’ marketing communications include inactive, conservative, and distance. Based on their own experiences of social media marketing and from consumers’ perspectives, the participants also provided insightful suggestions for luxury brands to improve their social media marketing to better connect with their consumers. Interpretation of WeChat An Intimate Friend vs. An Everyday Assistant According to the participants, their usage and composition of friends on WeChat has kept changing and evolving. At the initial stage of their usage, all the friends on WeChat were family members and close friends. At that time, WeChat constructed a small, closed, and intimate social circle for them to communicate, socialize, and entertain themselves and their WeChat friends in a carefree and relaxing way. In this sense, WeChat is like a good friend, who can accompany them and chat with them whenever they need him/her. Later, with the number of WeChat friends increasing and expanding, the composition of theirWeChat friends has also become complicated: different social relationships have been added to their WeChat friend list. Accordingly, based on the closeness and remoteness, they categorize their WeChat friends and communicate and socialize with them in a more cautious and delicate way. In this sense, WeChat has also changed to an office assistant who helps them to manage and maintain their social relationships. Simple vs. Complicated With the change of WeChat and the revolution of participants’ usage and experiences, in the life-worlds of the participants, WeChat has transformed from a simple chatting app to a multi-functional personal service hub. At the initial usage of stage, according to the participants, the major function of WeChat is a chatting app to communicate with their friends conveniently. Later, with more functions to be added to WeChat, WeChat has evolved to a complicated personal service hub to serve various personal and commercial purposes for the participants. Stickiness vs. Interactivity According to the participants, WeChat is a unique social media platform with high stickiness but low interactivity. The participants indicated that they use WeChat all the time, and they have to check their WeChat numerous times during a day. In other words, WeChat is considered as a high frequency social media app. In the meantime, the participants felt that WeChat is lacking interactivity when comparing to other social media platforms such as microblogging. They stated that the possible interactive activities on WeChat are very limited. In other words, in the life-world of the participants, WeChat is perceived as a less reciprocative social media platform. Interpretation of Luxury Brands’ Marketing Communication on WeChat Inactive According to the participants, the luxury brands’ WeChat public accounts are less active than other brands’ public accounts. Those luxury brands’ WeChat public accounts post information less frequently and seldom interact with followers. This is actually put those luxury brands in a relatively negative marketing position on WeChat. The participants indicated that they follow many public accounts. Because the luxury brands’ public accounts are not very active, without constant reminder, the followers may gradually forget about those luxury brands’ public accounts and stop checking their accounts’ updates. Conservative In addition to be seen as inactive, the luxury brands’ WeChat public accounts are also perceived to be conservative. According to the participants, compared to other brands, luxury brands’ WeChat public accounts are too serious, less interesting, and lacking entertainment. The participants felt that the luxury brands are very cautious and careful regarding their WeChat presence. Therefore, their WeChat posts are generally too conservative and formal, lacking creativity and uniqueness. As a result, the participants couldn’t remember any impressive and unforgettable post from those luxury brands’ WeChat public accounts.Distance In the participants’ eyes, the luxury brands are perceived to intentionally keep a certain distance from WeChat users. The participants felt that on the one hand the luxury brands are trying hard to connect with their consumers on social media, on the other hand, they are also trying to preserve their luxury brand image on this media platform by alienating general WeChat users. However, the participants felt it is not easy for luxury brands to achieve those two purposes successfully on WeChat. Suggestion of Luxury Brands’ Marketing Communication on WeChat Based on their perceptions and experiences of luxury brands’ social media marketing, the participants offered several insightful suggestions for luxury brands to improve their social marketing endeavors to better connect with their consumers. According to the participants, the most important marketing communication strategy via social media that luxury brands could adopt is to collaborate with opinion leaders (Katz and Lazarsfeld 1957) on social media to humanize, personalize, and entertainize their marketing communications. As the participants indicated, there are many successful and popular personal fashion public accounts on WeChat which have millions of loyal followers. Those personal fashion public accounts usually have unique styles and characteristics that are attractive to and well-liked by their followers. Compared to luxury brands’ official public accounts, those personal public accounts are perceived more humanized, personal, and closer to consumers. In addition, those accounts also have more flexibility to be creative and entertaining thus providing a better social media experience for luxury brands’ consumers. For luxury brands’ own public accounts on social media, the participants suggested that those luxury brands should become more active on social media by posting messages more frequently and constantly reminding consumers of their social presence. In addition, the participants think those luxury brands should be more adventurous on social media by being more creative and expressing more entertaining spirit.

Towards the 21st century, the whole world is regarded as one market. Globalization is spreading all over the world as many cosmetics companies pioneering new market abroad, overcoming relatively limited domestic markets. Korean cosmetics companies are not the exception and they are aiming Chinese consumer market, the largest one in Asia, which is growing steadily since government’s open door policy. So, the necessity to compare and figure out the difference between Korean and Chinese consumer’s cosmetics buying behavior is very high for those companies that have their eyes on the Chinese Market. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to compare buying behavior between Korean and Chinese female consumers related to Korean cosmetics brand level. Cosmetics buying behavior is examined in 4 areas; purchasing motives, information sources, purchasing criteria, and the level of satisfaction. Subjects were selected through a convenient sample technique and a questionnaire was developed in Korean and Chinese by translation and back translation method. Data were collected from the sample of 187 out of 233 in Beijing for Chinese female consumers, and 188 out of 200 in Pusan for Korean female consumers. Respondents’ age varied from 20’s to 50’s. Korean cosmetics brands were divided into high /low levels; low brand level included Micha, The face shop, and Laneige while high brand level included Sulhwasu, O’hui, and The history of who. Among many types of cosmetics, this study focused on the basic types of cosmetics product such as lotion, moisture cream, nutrition cream, mask pack with the exception of color based cosmetics products. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and cluster analysis using SPSS 20.0. Respondents were divided into 4 groups: Korean high brand purchasing consumers, Korean Low brand purchasing consumers, Chinese high brand purchasing consumers, and Chinese low brand purchasing consumers. 1. For purchase motives, Chinese consumers affected by Korean celebrities and had more motives to experience Korean cosmetics. To relax and to relieve from stress was the main reasons to buy Korean cosmetics for Chinese high brand consumers. Price was the main reason to buy Korean cosmetics for both low brand purchasing groups. 2. For information sources, Chinese consumers had tendency to collect information from personal relations such as friends and family. Korean and Chinese low brand consumers used internet advertising. Chinese high brand consumers collected information from department salesman. Korean high brand consumers showed lowest use of any kinds of information sources. 3. Korean high brand group put on importance on color and scent as cosmetics purchase criteria. Chinese high brand consumers showed importance on brand image, ingredients, containers/packing, skin fit, and feeling. Korean and Chinese low brand groups have importance on brand image, ingredients, and skin fit. 4. Concerned satisfaction level, Korean high brand group showed lowest satisfaction level. Chinese consumers had satisfied with container design and feelings.

The purpose of this paper is to understand Taiwanese mature consumers’ attitudes and behaviour toward aging, clothing choice and consumption experience. Eighteen females aged from 47 to 59 years old were recruited, and in-depth interview was used to explore the purchasing motives, the salient impact of product attributes, and fashion information sources. Simple descriptive analysis and content analysis were employed for this study. According to the interview transcripts, Taiwanese mature consumers were generally satisfied with the offers of apparel products in the market. Respondents also expressed that they were concerned about individual interests, self-cultivation and social network when they enter their semi-retirement stage of life. Our results also indicated that clothing selection and consumption were closely associated with individual’s profession, social status and daily activities. In terms of fashion information source, respondents cited window display and store catalogues as the two most important sources, followed by fashion magazines.

This study examined the understanding and use of information on nutrition labels based on one serving size among female consumers above the age of 20 in Seoul area. According to the survey, 69.9% of respondents were aware of the current system of nutrition labeling based on one serving size, and 51.8% of the respondents expressed their dissatisfaction with the system because the nutrition labels were difficult to understand or appeared unreliable. The nutrition label literacy of the consumers varied with respect to different packaging units. The respondents were likely to be less accurate in calculating the expected caloric intake when only portions of a multi-serving package were used. Initially 69.0% of respondents reported that they had read the nutrition label before purchasing a product but 91.9% of respondents said that they would check the label after learning how to read the label properly. It is very important to make consumers aware that the labels are very reliable sources of nutrition information. A public education campaign on the use of nutrition labels should focus on developing the consumers' ability and skills in using the label information when choosing foods.