New communication challenges for companies that use social media are: 1) the knowledge and control of the degree of alignment between communicated and perceived brand personality in order to measure the effectiveness of competitive positioning, and 2) the measurement of engagement among consumers who share comments about brands in online communities. Our research proposes research tools that can help fashion companies meet these challenges. In particular, we present an innovative methodological approach that combines netnography and text-mining to extract and analyze data from online communities of fashion brands.

In a period of crisis and uncertainty as the current, heritage marketing is a suitable strategic opportunity because it associates values and meanings to products and services by using corporate heritage or brand heritage in order to communicate identity, continuity and stability. Heritage marketing seems particularly appropriate for high symbolic fashion brand that require the ability to transmit identity and to generate symbolic meanings. In relation to high symbolic fashion brand, an opportunity for heritage marketing strategies is to narrate the myths associated with the brand. In fact, literature has highlighted that fashion brand can be associate to the concept of myth thanks to the presence of symbolic values and meanings. Heritage and myth are concepts linked to time and progression. Therefore, they should continually innovate and evolve in relation to the community of reference in order to find a balance between continuity and renewal. However, a risk of heritage marketing strategies is to merely celebrating the past thus losing the ability to generate and regenerate myths and symbolic values. This paper aims to provide a critical contribution to heritage marketing literature highlighting the risk of obsessive fixation in the celebration of the past. In order to avoid this risk, the paper proposes that a possible solution might be the integration of mythopoesis which is the ability to generate and regenerate myths in order to create and perpetuate sense and meaning through narrative.

This study was designed to investigate luxury brand co-value creation. A mixed method approach was used to 1) identify encounter attributes of value co-creation, consumer value and brand value and 2) examine the relationships among encounter attributes, consumer value, brand value, and purchase intention to explain the process of value co-creation.

This paper examines advertising images of fashion brands in vertical social network site (SNS) from the viewpoints of message strategies. Vertical social network sites are types of social curation systems applied to social networking, where information is selected, organized, and maintained. Fashion brands communicate with consumers by presenting images on vertical SNSs, anticipating improvements in brand image, popularity, and loyalty. Those images portray content for particular brands and seasonal concepts, thus creating paths for product sales information. Marketing via SNSs corresponds to relationship marketing, which refers to long-term interrelationship and value augmentation between the company and consumer, and viral advertising, which relies on word of mouth distribution via social network platforms. Taylor’s six-segment message strategy wheel, often used for analyzing viral ads, was applied to conduct a content analysis of the images. A total of 2,656 images of fashion brands advertised on Instagram were selected and analyzed. Results indicated that brand values were somewhat related to the number of followers. Follower rankings and comment rankings were also correlated. In general, fashion brands projected sensory messages most often. Acute need and rational messages were less common than other messages. Sports brands and luxury brands presented sensory messages, whereas fast fashion brands projected routine images most often. Fashion brands promoted on vertical SNSs should portray advertising images that combine message strategies.

Fast fashion brand marketers should develop marketing strategies that effectively satisfy the values consumers seek when purchasing fast fashion brands. This study aimed to identify the consumption value factors of fast fashion brands and to reveal the value factors that influence attitudes toward purchasing fast fashion brands. Data were gathered by surveying university students in the Seoul metropolitan area using convenience sampling. Three hundred and five questionnaires were used in the statistical analysis, which consisted of exploratory factor analysis using SPSS and confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis using AMOS. The factor analysis revealed the following six value factors: Emotional value, social value, price/value for money, durability value, eco-value, and consistency value. The fit statistic for the six-factor model was quite acceptable. Two of the six value factors, emotional value and price/value for money, positively influenced attitudes toward purchasing fast fashion brands. The overall fits of the revealed model suggested that the model fit the data well. The results suggested that fast fashion marketers need to understand the value factors that motivate consumers to purchase fast fashion brands. In addition, marketers should focus their efforts on satisfying emotional value and price/value for money in order to establish their brands in the increasingly competitive fast fashion industry.

This study aimed to identify the effects of fashion brand extensions types, preannouncing and consumers' regulatory focus on preference towards extension products. To that end, the study used a 2 (fashion brand extension types: similar vs. non-similar) × 2 (preannouncing: near preannouncing vs. far preannouncing) × 2 (regulatory focus: promotion focus vs. prevention focus) three mixed elements. The subjects of the study were 280 men and women in their 20~40s living in Seoul and Chungnam province and total of 229 data were analyzed. Data were analysed with SPSS 19.0 program and three-way ANOVA, simple interaction effects and simple main effects analysis were conducted. The results of this study are as follows: First there were significant differences in preference based on fashion brand extension types and preannouncing. Second, there were significant interaction effects in preference between extension types of fashion brand and regulatory focus. But there was no difference in preference toward extension products according to types of preannouncing and regulatory focus. Lastly, fashion brand extension types, preannouncing and regulatory focus showed significant interaction effects on preference. Thus even in cases of non-similar brand extensions which carry more risk of failing, the appropriate marketing communication strategies such as preannouncing will result in brand preference. Also marketing activities should be comprehensive and strategical based on consumers’ tendencies in order to derive positive evaluations.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of congruency of parent brand image with self-image, perceived risk, and product knowledge on the attitude towards extended product in fashion brand extension. A survey questionnaire was used to collect data from 170 female college students and collected data were subjected to descriptive analysis and regression analysis using SPSS Window program. The results of this study showed that the congruency of parent brand image with self-image and perceived risk had a positive effect on attitude towards extended product, whereas product knowledge had a negative effect on attitude towards extended product in fashion brand extension. Also, the congruency of parent brand image with self-image had a positive effect on the attitude towards extended product in fashion brand extension with positive moderating effect of perceived risk and negative mediating effect of product knowledge.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors that lead to continuous use intention of SNS marketing. The research model was designed to investigate the SNS factors that affect use intention based on TAM (Technology Acceptance Model) suggested by Davis (1986). The survey focused on age twenties to thirties male and female who had experience in receiving fashion brands message through Facebook. 329 questionnaires were used to analyze the results of study, and SPSS 12.0 was used to conduct factor analysis, reliability analysis, and multiple regression analysis. The results of this research are as follows. First, interaction/playfulness, information, reliability, and convenience of access were extracted as the characteristics of fashion brands SNS marketing. Second, all SNS factors had significant relation on perceived usefulness. But only interaction/playfulness and convenience of access showed significant relation on perceived ease of use. Third, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use affected continuous use intention. Forth, continuous use intention had significant relation on brand attitude and showed direct and indirect significant relation to purchase intention.

This research was designed to conduct research to apprehend fashion brand's mobile SNS characteristics in depth and the related consumer psychology and behaviors such as brand attachment and brand loyalty. The fashion brand's mobile SNS characteristics were differentiated from the web-based fashion brand's SNS. This study targeted women in their 20s using mobile Facebook and mobile Twitter, and residing in Seoul or Gyeonggi province. Total 412 observations were collected through online survey. The major findings of the study were as follows. First, as the characteristics of fashion brand's mobile SNS, ease of fashion data storage, fashion recentness, fashion usefulness, and fashion accessibility were extracted. As the factors of the flow, time distortion/focused attention and playfulness were extracted. Second, the fashion recentness and fashion usefulness showed positive influence to time distortion/focused attention factor in the flow. All four fashion brand's mobile SNS characteristics showed positive influence to playfulness factor in the flow. Third, time distortion/focused attention factor and playfulness factor both showed positive influence to brand attachment and brand loyalty from using fashion brand's mobile SNS. Fourth, brand attachment had positive influence to brand loyalty from using fashion brand's mobile SNS. Based on the above results, this study provided practical ways to develop effective mobile SNS marketing strategies in fashion brand. Also, this study demonstrated feasible future contents and necessary improvement for fashion brand's mobile SNS, which holds marketing implications.

This study investigated the relationship of fashion brand SNS characteristics, relationship quality (satisfaction, trust, and commitment) and purchase intention. The study focused on Facebook and also examined the difference between fashion involvement groups. This study targeted consumers who have used fashion brand Facebook and are aged between 20s and 30s. Data collection was conducted through surveys, and a total 205 questionnaires were collected for the final statistical analysis. The major findings of the study were as follows. First, three characteristics of fashion brand SNS, which were entertainment, interactivity, and providing information, influenced positively on SNS users' satisfaction. Entertainment had the greatest influence on satisfaction, and providing information and interactivity followed. Second, satisfaction for fashion brand SNS influenced positively on trust and commitment. Also, trust to fashion brand SNS demonstrated a positive influence on commitment. Third, trust and commitment on fashion brand SNS both influenced positively on purchase intention. Fourth, the fashion involvement groups showed differences in fashion brand SNS characteristics, relationship quality, and purchase intention. The high involvement group showed much higher results in all aspects then did the low involvement group. Based on the above results, this study has a significant value which suggests directions for future research. Also, this paper is expected to provide managerial implications to fashion companies which need to develop SNS marketing strategies.

The Consumer-Based Brand Equity (CBBE) literature has, in recent years, introduced various CBBE models and measurement scales. This study aims to compare the external validity of the two prominent CBBE models in the fashion retail industry; those introduced by Yoo and Donthu (2011) based on Aaker (1991)’s CBBE concept and Nam et al. (2011). In order to make this comparison, the study collected data from 285 respondents in Turkey. Research findings show that Nam et al.’s (2011) CBBE model is, in the fashion industry context, the more reliable and valid. When the concept of “brand awareness” is included in this model, the psychometric properties of the model are improved.

This paper considers the standardisation-localisation debate and analyses qualitative data from 22 luxury fashion retailers to reveal the decision-making process for marketing strategies that support entry into China, in terms of balancing the ‘global-local dilemma’ in an emerging marketplace alongside the need to maintain exclusivity of brand image across markets.

Today all nations in the world focus on remaining competitive advantage by adding high values to their fashion businesses. The most typical example of such added value is fashion collection. In case of London Fashion Week, which is among the world’s top 4 most famous fashion collections where more than 5,000 journalists and buyers from 25 nations can be expected every season, it has great contribution to the economic wealth of London. It induces consumption of 20 million GBP and economic production effects of one hundred million GBP. According to Joo (2009), one of the main purposes of fashion collections can be defined as the invigoration of international marketing and the creation of consumption demand. Fashion collections lead to increased direct sales and consumption demand by developing new products based on leading fashion trends that are presented in the collection. The so-called Big four collections in Paris, Milan, New York and London have their own Country of Origin (COO) image, which represents each country, cities, brands, products and services. For example, Paris collection has been established as luxury image with hand-made and Haute Couture. Not only fashion collection but also fashion brands have applied specific country characteristics to their fashion brand’s image. This serves as a critical factor of competitiveness that communicates an integrated image of brands to the customers. Also, within the purchase decision-making process, consumers consider COO as an important element. Therefore, organizer of fashion collections as well as brands that engage in such should consider COO as a key factor. Most of the previous studies about fashion collections focused on content analyses. For example, Joo (2009) compared characteristics and current situations between four major overseas cities’ collections and Seoul collection. Additionally, there are studies about fashion style, trend, design and textile. Characteristics of color change in 1990s fashion collection (Kim & Kim, 2007) and an analysis of design of hats and fashion images in collections (Jeong & Jeong, 2008) have been conducted as well. Previous studies related to COO mainly focused on the product (Bilkey & Nes, 1982) and how the image of the producing country affects product evaluation. Thus, the purposes of this study are 1) to examine of fashion collection’s COO and fashion brand image effects on brand evaluation and purchase intention, 2) to analyze differentiation factors of COO image, brand evaluation, purchasing intention on Seoul, New York and Paris collection. We surveyed Korean, American and French who have experience in their own country’s fashion collection and used SPSS 21 for data analysis. Fashion collection’s COO and brand image has a great effect on brand evaluation and purchase intention. Moreover, it seems to increase the purchase intention by affecting brand evaluation. Therefore, the results of the study are as follows. First, we can confirm that the better the fashion collection’s COO and fashion brand image, the higher brand evaluation and purchase intention is. Second, when assessing fashion collection’s COO image and fashion brand image, brand evaluation and purchase intention differ according to Korea, US and French national stereotypes. This study goes beyond the general product-centric COO studies and introduces the fashion collection’s COO that can be valuable research in terms of contribution not only to academia, but also to the industrial field.

In this paper, researchers investigated current fashion brands’ social media micro-blogging marketing strategy and consumers’ word of mouth reactions. More than 5,000 of the micro-blogs posted by fashion brands and 143,000 of customers’ comments were analysed in this study. Researchers firstly investigated the overall micro-blogging marketing structure for each fashion brand and compared them. Then researchers identified the type of expression pattern of each fashion brand currently in the micro-blogging context, negative or positive sentiments. Researchers found that fashion brands are using different micro-blogging marketing strategies. Forever21 used 61% micro-blogs for customer communication. H&M posted very diverse micro-blogs content to their official account. Their main micro-blogs were used for new product promotion (43%) and brand’s live event broadcasting (33%). Luxury brands, such as Burberry, more than 52% of micro-blogs posted last year were used for new product promotion and 36% of their micro-blogs contents included celebrities’ images of wearing Burberry product. Chanel used 60% of their micro-blogs to broadcast and introduce their brand events. There was no sale information posted on Chanel and Burberry’s micro-blogs account. Through sentiment analysis, researchers also found the brands have very positive electronic word of mouth (e-WOM). Particular, luxury fashion brands are having better e-WOM than fast fashion brands.

The objective of this paper is to understand consumers’ responses (attitude, perception of quality and luxury) to production delocalization in the luxury industry, based on brand origin matching consumers’ origin or not, in order to understand the interaction brand origin and consumer ethnocentrism on those responses.Two experiments were conducted. Study 1 exposes 166 respondents (French, Italian and other European) to a message of delocalization of either a French or Italian brand supposed to delocalize production to China. Study 2 assesses, among 62 French women, the implicit preference toward French luxury brands (through the Implicit Association Test, Greenwald et al. 1998) and the level of consumer ethnocentrism (through CETSCALE, Sharma et al. 1995). Then, the group is exposed between subjects to 2 delocalization messages X 2 country of delocalization (China, Poland EU) Although brand origin is not salient when consumers evaluate brands (no explicit preference for French brands over Italian brands across studies), it is nonetheless present below awareness, as part of the brand heritage and the brand identity (measured through an implicit preference for French brands over Italian brands among our French respondents). It manifests in context of brands delocalizing out of the home country. Across studies, the attitude toward the brand, the perception of quality and perception of luxury is affected negatively post-exposure to a message of delocalization. Yet, this result is moderated by consumer ethnocentrism and message framing. When the message induces positive consequences for the brand and for the national economy, French respondents (and Italian respondents in study 1) are less affected by the delocalization of their home brands than other respondents. In turn, when the message highlights a loss in national employment, respondents judge the brand more negatively. The effect is stronger for respondents higher in ethnocentrism. The country of delocalization does not influence those results. There is scarcity of papers investigating the CoO effect for luxury brands, although the luxury business model and luxury brand identity are rooted into brand origin. This paper is the first to our knowledge to investigate the effect of brand origin and consumer ethnocentrism on brand delocalization.

This research used an experimental design in an effort to assess the influence of brand gender and salespeople on the attitudes toward brands according to the males' gender identity traits. The study used a three-way split-plot experimental design, and data were analyzed by t-tests, and ANOVA. The subject of this research was men in their 20s and 30s, and a total of 178 people were selected through convenience- sampling. The findings are as follows: first, masculine male consumers preferred masculinity fashion brands; however, androgynous consumers preferred brands that reflect androgyny. Second, there were no differences in brand attitude according to the gender of the salesperson for the masculinity group, but the androgynous group estimated the brands as better when the salesperson was female. Third, there were no differences in the brand attitudes among consumers according to gender of the salesperson for the Galaxy; however, for Solid Homme, brand preference was stronger when the salesperson was a woman. Fourth, the influence of brand gender and salesperson gender on brand attitudes differed according to the gender of the consumer. Therefore, apparel companies must clearly understand the characteristics of consumer gender identity and execute proper marketing strategies in order to induce stronger positive attitudes toward their brands. Moreover, apparel companies should perceive that brand gender and the gender of the salesperson can consequently encourage brand preferences.

This study was an experimental qualitative study on the characteristics of fashion brand's mobile SNS. The study was focused on mobile Facebook and identified the characteristics of fashion brand's mobile SNS. In-depth interviews were conducted with 10 people in the 20s, who have used fashion brand's mobile Facebook application and currently live in Seoul or Gyeonggi province. After analysis of the in-depth interview data, four characteristics of fashion brand's mobile SNS were identified as follows. First, it was possible to access fashion brand's mobile SNS at any time anywhere, if users needed brand-related information. In this study, this characteristic was named 'fashion accessibility'. Second, it was possible to access update-information using fashion brand's mobile SNS or get up-to-date information about the brand in real-time. In this study, this characteristic was named 'fashion recentness'. Third, it was possible to store or capture fashion brand-related images and texts. In this study, this characteristic was named 'ease of storage of fashion data'. Fourth, fashion brand's mobile SNS was useful in various ways to fashion consumers, so this characteristic was named 'fashion usefulness' in this study. The study extracted 10 sub-characteristics of the characteristics of fashion brand's mobile SNS based on the results of a qualitative study. This study has significant value which suggests directions for future research. Also, this paper is expected to provide managerial implications to fashion companies that need to develop mobile SNS marketing strategies.

The purpose of the study was to give a help in making a successful expansion of fashion brand by making a close inquiry into an effect of the main brand in fashion brand on an image of the second brand and into an effect of satisfaction and loyalty for main brand on satisfaction and loyalty for the second brand. The study made a survey of the total eight brands including four main brands and each second brand, and used 217 questionnaires. The results of this study are as follows. First, The main brand image and second brand image did not match. Second, the satisfaction of the main brand affected the satisfaction of their second brand, especially in the main brand of the image, design, user experience, staff friendliness, variety of products and brands on display. Third, the ranking of main brand loyalty and the ranking of second brand loyalty were different. All the main brand loyalty had a significant effect on the second brand. The consumers who preferred the main brand had a high confidence and a strong tendency to repurchase.