• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.16-26
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• 2013

This study seeks solutions for two conflict values from the fair trade, one being fulfilling environment and social responsibility and the other being suggesting stylish designs within a reasonable price range. The purposes of this study were to establish fair-trade fashion product development process by investigating practices in fashion product development process within fair-trade company, and to identify the characteristics of fair-trade fashion product development. Qualitative research method was employed. Participant observation and in-depth interviews were conducted with practitioners working in fairtradekorea, Ltd. and producers in Bangladesh, from which case studies were compiled. The results were as follows: The case study provided evidence that fair-trade fashion product development has the same steps as practiced in general fashion brands, but has different characteristics such as fair-trade products going through a much slower process which led to early planning, having producer-centered product development, concentrating on spring/summer products, having a high cost structure, and having unpredictable quality control. Study implications and future research avenues are also discussed.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.279-291
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• 2015

Fair trade is international trade that pays just wages, supplies stable and eco-friendly products, and supports the sustainable development of economies. This study examined consumers 'cognition of fair trade, product intention of fair trade products, and consumer demand for fair trade education. We compare these variables between Korean and Chinese consumers and explored variables that affect consumers' cognition, purchase intentions and consumer education demand. This study randomly targeted 428 adult consumers in Seoul (219) and Beijing (209) to grasp the demand of customer education and a purchasing intention for fair trade products. The results of this study are as follows. First, participants showed a low cognition of fair trade and purchase intention, while consumer demand for fair trade education on concept, campaign and effect had a comparatively higher level. Chinese consumers showed a higher level of purchase intention, but a lower level of consumer education demand for fair trade concepts. Second, a higher education level resulted in a higher cognition of fair trade by Korean consumers and more experienced Chinese consumers had a higher cognition. Third, the cognition of fair trade affected the purchase intentions positively for both in Korean and Chinese consumers. Finally, cognition and purchase intention showed positive effects of the consumer demand for fair trade education on concept, campaign, and effect.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.656-669
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• 2017

Fair trade implies honest wages and eco-friendly products in keeping with the demands of ethical consumerism. Although consumers are presently more interested in fair trade products, it is hard to find aggressive marketing strategies for fair trade fashion products. Therefore, the purpose of this study investigates the effect of consumption propensity on fast and slow fashion goods consumption attitudes and purchase intention on fair trade fashion products. For method of this study, 229 questionnaires were distributed to consumers residing in Seoul, South Korea. The data from the 219 returned usable questionnaires was analyzed by Cronbach's alpha, factor analysis, regression analysis using SPSS 22.0. The results of this study were as follows: First, consumption propensities of spontaneity, histrionics, and imitative nature in descending order positively affect consumption attitude for fast fashion products. And green consumerism negatively affects consumption attitude for fast fashion products. Second, consumption propensity such as donation & sharing consumerism, ethical consumerism, green consumerism, histrionics, and imitative nature in descending order positively affect consumption attitude for slow fashion products. Third, slow and fast fashion products consumption attitude in descending order positively affect purchase intention on fair trade fashion products. Fourth, consumption propensities such as ethical consumerism, green consumerism, and donation & sharing consumerism in descending order positively affect purchase intention on fair trade fashion products. Therefore fair trade fashion products with various usages and sustainable high quality are promoted by differentiated marketing strategies.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.1-14
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• 2016

Consumers have been increasing their interests in firms' ethicality as well as in the features of the firms' products when they decide to purchase a certain product. Recently, fair trade is considered to be a type of ethical marketing in the business-to-consumer market. In this regard, the effects of fair trade-based marketing on firm performance have become the center of academic and managerial concerns. Despite this importance, few studies have investigated whether fair-trade is a source of competitive advantage or just a cost of doing business. The present research attempts to provide evidence of how fair trade-based marketing influences competitive advantage. Two experimental studies were conducted to explore consumers' purchase intention, which can be a proxy of competitive advantage, in a foreign product-consumption context. Drawing on the stakeholder theory, the first study was performed to examine the effects of fair trade marketing on consumers' purchase intention through a within-subjects design. In addition, building on the signal theory, the second study was executed to test the effects of a fair trade mark on consumers' purchase intention. The findings of the current research reveal that consumers prefer fair trade-based products to others and that when it comes to fair trade-certified products, consumers are more likely to purchase products with that certification than otherwise, even when those products are sold at higher costs than rival products. Interestingly, the results of this research present that there is a significant difference of consumers' purchase intention of a fair trade-based product between two different marketers. This implies that fair trade-based products should be differentially distributed and targeted at a certain type of consumers.

• International Journal of Costume and Fashion
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.41-57
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• 2017

The purpose of this research was to develop a typology of fair-trade apparel consumers and present a clear overview of the influence of product knowledge on consumer behaviors. A two-step cluster analysis was used to classify respondents into sub-groups based on their level of self-perceived knowledge and purchase experience. In addition, ANOVA was used to test the predictive validity of the cluster solution. Income was the only demographic variable that significantly differed across groups. The more familiar and more experienced group had higher income than the other groups. Psychographic data showed that attitudes and moral norms varied across groups. The more familiar and more experienced group had more positive attitudes and higher level of moral norms than the less familiar and less experienced group. In terms of behavioristic data, groups differed significantly in purchase intentions and willingness to pay more for fair-trade apparel. That is, the more familiar and more experienced group was willing to pay more and had higher purchase intentions than the less familiar and less experienced group. Overall, the level of product knowledge and purchase experience were considerably low. This study thus confirmed the need to increase consumers' familiarity related to fair-trade apparel products.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.23-33
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• 2021

Purpose: This study explored factors affecting the purchase of fair trade hand-made products. We focused on the difference between the mediating effect of purchase intention and purchase purpose, and verified the additional effectiveness of premium prices. Research design, data and methodology: The data was collected through an online survey. The reliability and validity of each variable used in the questionnaire were verified. Then, each hypothesis was analyzed through multiple regression analysis. Results: First, individual social responsibility and purchasing experience of general fair trade products have a definitive effect on the intention of purchasing fair trade hand-made products. Second, the willingness to pay premium prices varies depending on whether it is an individual's consumption or consumption for others. Third, the higher the individual's social responsibility and experience in purchasing fair trade products, the more willing he is to pay premium prices. Fourth, the purchase intention of fair trade hand-made products is to have the effect of partial mediation. Fifth, when choosing a gift for an adult, it was determined that the consumer was willing to pay premium prices the highest amount. Conclusions: In terms of factors affecting the purchase of fair trade hand-made products at premium prices, it was confirmed that individuals' social responsibilities and purchases of fair trade general products had an impact.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.291-305
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to explore the consumer responses such as willingness to pay premium and purchasing cost for fair trade coffee as an ethical product while considering the treatment effect of consumer knowledge. First, the levels of consumer knowledge, willingness to pay premium and purchasing cost were presented. Then, the influencing factors on willingness to pay premium and purchasing cost of fair trade coffee were analyzed by applying the treatment effect model. From the results, first, the level of willingness to pay premium was high and consumers having purchasing experience of fair trade coffee spent 9,923 won at once, while less than half of the consumers knew the fair trade coffee. Second, consumer knowledge, ethical judgement, perception of price value, education level and pocket money significantly influenced to willingness to pay premium, while consumer knowledge, information evaluation, importance of fair trade criteria and level of education significantly influenced to purchasing cost for fair trade coffee. Especially, consumer knowledge of fair trade coffee was an important influencing factor for willingness to pay premium and purchasing cost indirectly as well as directly. Thus, this study might provide some useful information for consumers to choose the ethical behavior and the related companies to create effective promoting strategies for ethical products.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1121-1133
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• 2011

Fair trade has received increasing attention from ethical consumers in the North Trans-Atlantic world. It is a movement establishing alternative trading organizations to ensure minimal returns, safe working conditions, and to provide continuity in the trading relationship for disadvantaged producers, especially women and indigenous people in the South. Despite of the growing fair trade movement in the U.S. and Europe, it is still in the introductory stage in Korea. Although fair trade has gained some attention because of the efforts of activists, most Korean consumers are still unaware of it. This paper is divided into four sections including an introduction and conclusions. In section two, I analysed sales of the fairly traded products and the websites of the fairly traded products sellers. In section three, I proposed two effective recommendations for the better marketing and promotion strategies of fairly traded products. One proposal is for providing consumer information, like fair trade certificates, consumer campaigns, and consumer information of the fair trade sellers' websites analyses. The other is for establishing the infrastructure to promote the consumption of fairly traded products such as consumer education, corporate social responsibility, social enterprise, fair trade town and school, and networking. This study is relavant to academics, non-profit fair trade organizations, manufacturers, retailers and governments.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.143-162
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the structure relationship through the empirical analysis between the factors that affect the perception of the consumer for the fair trade products. Most of the previous research on consumer reactions associated with fair trade products are limited to certain situations that are characterized as exploratory look. Specifically, this study suitability as a key factor associated with consumer awareness of the fair trade products through review of the literature, reliability, consumption values, attitudes and purchase intention presentation, and was to examine the effect relationship. Although most of the theories are employed through empirical analysis, the relationship between reliability and purchase intention (H5), there was no statistically significant effect relationship. The results of this study are expected to provide significant implications in the establishment of the company's marketing strategy to sell fair trade products with the comprehensive understanding of the consumer recognition of the fair trade products.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.403-411
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• 2017

When purchasing products or services, consumers tend to purchase multiple value attributes through the acquisition of a product rather than physical characteristics. This study empirically analyzed the relations between consumption value, brand attitude, and purchase intention of customers purchasing fair-trade coffee, by dividing consumption values that would have significant effects on consumers' actual purchase behavior into five levels. Among the consumption value factors of customers purchasing fair-trade coffee, the functional value, social value, emotional value, and rare value all had significant effects on brand attitude and purchase intention while the influence of situational value on brand attitude and purchase intention was not verified. These finding are partially concordant with those of preceding studies, and the consumption value of consumers purchasing fair-trade coffee has positive effects on purchase behavior; therefore, it would be necessary for companies selling fair-trade products to understand consumers' specific values. Moreover, analysis of the influence of brand attitude on purchase intention of customers purchasing fair-trade coffee revealed that purchase intention increased when brand attitude was higher. These finding indicate that it is necessary to identify measures to increase purchase intention by targeting consumer groups with high brand attitude with intensive promotions.