Abstract

The purpose of this study was to 1) segment female adolescent consumers into consumer groups displaying different consumer decision-making styles 2) to determine the consumer characteristics(clothing involvement information search store patronage and demographic variables) that related to each consumer segment and 3) to identify the interrelationship between the consumer characteristics. Decision-making styles were measured by 32 seven-point Likert type scales adapted from Sproles & Kendall and Shim & Kot A total of 78 statements dealing with three aspects of consumer characteristics was adapted from previous research. Data were collected from 567 2nd grade female middle and high school students in Seoul via self-administered questionnaires. and were analysed by frequency factor analysis ANOVA cluster analysis χ2 -test and Duncan's multiple range test. The results of this study were as follows: As a results of cluster analysis and ANOVA on seven factors of desion-making styles(1. brand-consiousness 2. novelty/fashion-consciousness 3. recreational/hedonis-tic orientation, 4. impulsive/carelessness, 5. price-consciousness/value-for-money, 6. perfectionism/high quality orientation 7. habitual/brand-royal consciousness) three consumer groups were identified and labeled as puality-oriented/non-utlitarian shoppers price-oriented shoppers and apathetic shoppers. Quality-oriented/non-utilitarian shoppers showed the highest clothing involvement scores of all aspects the highest consumer knowledge/experience most active ongoing information search and prepurchase information search. They preferred department store and franchise store for apparel shopping and considered service/reliability atmosphere variety of goods as important store attributes, Price-oriented shoppers showed prepurchase information search and planned purchase behavior actively. They preferred factory outlet store specialty stre and considered price very important as store attributes. Apathetic shoppers showed the lowest scores of all aspects of clothing involvement and most passive behavior in information search activities except showing the highest planned purchase. They preferred regional markets.

Keywords