In modern society, a brand has an important value. The world we are living in is equalized and full of everyday goods. When a new product is released, it is soon copied into others and then fill up the world, which inevitably causes the shortening o...
In modern society, a brand has an important value. The world we are living in is equalized and full of everyday goods. When a new product is released, it is soon copied into others and then fill up the world, which inevitably causes the shortening of the products' life. A solution to this problem is a powerful brand, on which many marketing types, such as brand convergence and brand cooperation, are now being formed. Nowadays, cooperation between technology and art has become the marketing trend, and has been successful in gaining good reaction from consumers. Techart is a coined word combined of Tech (technology) and Art, and stands for an implementation of design and function to satisfy the consumer's emotion. Modern consumers value the design of a product no less than the function of it, and want to fulfill their desired values. In this context, this study reviews the recent marketing trends such as the cooperation of Tech and Art, Descartes marketing, and explores the reason why these products are preferred to the existing ones, that is, the consumers' reason of purchase. Also, it is aimed at preparing the marketing data by an objective research on recent Techart marketing.
In order to achieve this research goal, Techart product was defined in operational terms, and then examined were Halo Effect theory, brand convergence, brand cooperation, brand property, etc. As the product theme, two Techart products (Samsung Hausen air-conditioner and LG Shine designer's edition) were selected, and 200 surveys have been made. Analytic method of the survey consists of a frequency analysis to examine the answerers' demographic characteristics, a confidence test to verify the survey's confidence, an one-way ANOVA to explore the correlation between recognition of the designer and brand attitude(?), a multiple regression analysis to explore the correlation between advertising activity and purchase of the product, an one-way ANOVA to figure out the reason of preffering the product.
The result of this study is as following.
Firstly, it turned out that there is not much correlation between the brand / designer recognition and the product attitude, in Techart products. This could be interpreted as that digital electronics and Techart mobile phones in Korea have not benefited much from Halo Effect of the brand or the designer.
Secondly, designer recognition has positively affected the product purchase through advertisements of Techart products. People had a confidence and good impression in designer Andre Kim, while designer Sang-bong Lee was not well known but to young generation and was only partly supported by them (but the impression they had was highly positive). Hence, if the advertisements emphasizing the positive aspects of a designer can provide consumers with information or value, they might arouse an emotional feedback and a good impression of the product and the designer.
Thirdly, it appeared that the reason why consumers preferred Techart products - Samsung Hausen air-conditioner and LG Shine designer's edition - was their decorations(design) adding a premium on them. In other words, while the Techart products show functions and benefits similar to the existing ones, it is their design that make them distinguished and effective, which stresses the image or value more than other things. In addition, it is well verified that consumers' belief has changed into the desire to make themselves look like sensitive to design and the fashion trend. Hence, it could be said that the reason the Techart products are preferred is not their brand, nor Halo Effect of the designer, but the design itself, which adds a premium to the products. This is an example showing that the consumers' belief for purchase is being changed. Experts predict from the cases of the developed countries that these products will be affected by Halo Effect of the designer in the near future, though it is not observable at the moment.
However, if flaws are detected in the product's quality or service, it will exert a bad influence on the designer's image and fame, needless to say that the Halo Effect can no more stimulate the purchase. Therefore, companies should maintain the quality and service of their products, regardless of the recognition and popularity of the designer, etc., and the design itself should be well managed as well.