This study was conducted to investigate the effect of relationship and service marketing on the brand interest and behaviors among Korean and Chinese active senior consumers and whether this effect differed between the two groups. A survey was conducted by having participants complete questionnaires administered by a research firm. For empirical analysis, frequency, EFA, CFA, SEM, the metric invariance test, and multiple-group comparison analysis were performed. The analysis results revealed that relationship marketing positively affected both brand interest and consumer behavior. Although service marketing positively affected brand interest, it did not have a significant effect on consumer behavior. In other words, brand interest positively affected consumer behavior through relationship and service marketing. Multiple-group comparison analysis demonstrated that no difference existed between Korean and Chinese active consumers in terms of how relationship marketing affected their brand interest, but a difference existed in how it affected their behavior. Service marketing had a greater influence on Chinese active senior consumers’ brand interest than on Korean active senior consumers. However no difference existed between the two groups with respect to how service marketing affected their behaviors. Finally, brand interest had a positive effect only on Korean active senior consumers’ behavior through relationship and service marketing, but not on Chinese active senior consumers. In conclusion, relationship and service marketing should be used to enhance the brand interest among Korean active senior consumers, and business activities should be planned by building relationships with Chinese active senior consumers to affect their behavior.

This paper aims to analyze the characteristics of the contemporary Chinese fashion market and the competitiveness of Korean fashion brands in China. Fashion professionals experienced in both the Korean and Chinese fashion markets participated to investigate the Shanghai market and consumers. The results of in-depth interviews show that Shanghai is the most favorable city among Tier 1 cities for Korean fashion brands planning on entering into the Chinese market. Shanghai consumers are open to international brands and highly prefer newness in fashion. Contemporary menswear was selected as a potentially big market due to the increase of unique, young, upper-middle-class male consumers. The Korean fashion brands’ strength is that they are capable of satisfying Shanghai consumers with excellent product planning and sensory design capabilities. Their disadvantage is that their brand recognition is weaker than that of global and international brands, and their ability to localize to the Chinese market is weak. The opportunity comes is from the Korean Wave, which is a positive for Korea's products and has good geographical access. The threat is that the Shanghai market is fiercely competitive; having access to many worldwide brands, and the competitiveness of Chinese brands is on the rise. To enter the Shanghai market, creative design ability, trendy product development, skill, and appropriate PR methods such as using Korean culture contents would be required to satisfy the young, powerful consumers in Shanghai.

With the increased importance of design creativity in global fashion marketplaces, there have arisen numerous promotional strategies for new fashion designers in Korea, yet little research has been done on this subject. This study examines the new fashion design promotion policies in Korea and their effects from the designer's perspective. First, we analyzed the contents of twenty-one strategies from thirteen organizations regarding the types of support from the strategies. As a result, four distinct types are identified: new designer recognition; information and consulting support; brand incubating; and marketing support. Next, we performed in-depth one-on-one interviews with eleven designers who had been awarded from one or more of the fashion design incubation policies. The results reveal that the incubating policies' cash rewards and space support are found to be most effective. In terms of the revised fashion and brand consulting policy, “brand operation” had an influence. In addition, fashion the new brand advertisement and marketing policy had positively influenced the “brand development.” However, throughout the interview, designers note that the quality of education and information provisions need some improvement. Furthermore, the designers indicate the lack of supervision and professionalism from the marketing departments. Based on this content, this study emphasizes the necessity of an effective fashion design promotion policy, and strategic and consistent support for the whole fashion promotion team. At the minimum, an integrated and united supervision by the organization is necessary and should be taken into consideration.