Supply chain relationships in apparel retail product development. (open access)

Supply chain relationships in apparel retail product development.

The purpose of this study was to investigate supply chain relationships within the apparel retail product development process under a single site case study setting. Relationship determinants (i.e. drivers, facilitators and barriers) that facilitated or impeded the degree of collaborative efforts between the retailer and the supply chain members were identified. As the retailer integrated its product development process with its suppliers, a triangular relationship was formed between the retailer, the overseas manufacturers, and the designated suppliers. The study found that the retailer sought operational efficiency in its business relationships with supply chain members, but continued to seek long-term commitment in these relationships to establish a virtual vertical company.
Date: May 2002
Creator: Lee, Daton
System: The UNT Digital Library
Exploring Lifestyle Orientation, Attitudes Toward Lifestyle Merchandising, and Attitudes Toward Lifestyle Advertising as Predictors of Behavioral Intention to Purchase Lifestyle Home Furnishing Products (open access)

Exploring Lifestyle Orientation, Attitudes Toward Lifestyle Merchandising, and Attitudes Toward Lifestyle Advertising as Predictors of Behavioral Intention to Purchase Lifestyle Home Furnishing Products

A number of lifestyle merchandising and advertising strategies are being used in the home furnishings industry. However, there is limited research regarding the effectiveness of these strategies. The purpose of this study was to explore consumers' attitudes toward the lifestyle concept. Analyses of several consumer behavior variables and descriptors offered noteworthy findings for the home furnishings industry. This study found that although lifestyle orientation is a valuable tool for delineating consumer markets, these segmentations were not significant determinates of consumers' preference for elements of the lifestyle construct. Retailers and manufacturers are not simply creating home furnishing collections that target the needs of specific psychographic segment, but rather creating lifestyles being aspired to obtain. Although respondents scored the attitude variables neutral, the current market environment offers many examples of successfully home furnishing implementations of the lifestyle concept. These success stories coupled with additional findings indicate consumers' positive response to lifestyle merchandising.
Date: May 2005
Creator: Wilbanks, Jennifer Kay
System: The UNT Digital Library