The GNI (per capita income) of Korea has increased 11.6% yearly from 280 dollars in 1970, and it is expected to reach twenty thousand dollars this year. With such continuous economic growth, consumers who are experiencing increases in family income an...
The GNI (per capita income) of Korea has increased 11.6% yearly from 280 dollars in 1970, and it is expected to reach twenty thousand dollars this year. With such continuous economic growth, consumers who are experiencing increases in family income and improvements in standards of living are moving towards more high class consumption based on higher consuming power. As seen in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, people who have filled their physiological and safety needs go further to focus on self actualization, and great consumer groups, which have gained certain income increases, have formed a consuming trend while carrying out their own self-actualizing consumption. Such consumption changes have brought about premium products, which are products with better quality harmonized with higher prices. Premium products are achieving high sales volumes, overturning the traditional ideas of economics. Such occurrences are even appearing in the confectionary market which is included in low-involvement products with its characteristics.
The confectionary market, which has been going through continuous sales declines after the Harm Crisis last year, has been broadening its target groups and using high quality ingredients and non-toxic additives, creating products with higher quality and prices to break through the well-being trend and sales depressions.
Such premium products need visual elements which are different from existing products in order to make them distinct from normal products in the confectionary sales stand.
Therefore, judging that package design is the most core strategy in forming premium brand images and in stimulating consumer minds in this present time in which premium products are appearing as a new change in the confectionary market, this essay attempts to find a defining plan to express characteristics which are distinct from existing products. Individual studies on package design are extremely important as a whole and concrete substance in forming premium brand product uniqueness.
This is because, in points of consumption of direct contact with consumers, package design not only displays the brand's image but also acts as the greatest factor in distinguishing products which appear similar to the naked eye. Therefore, this study was put into effect with focus on the role of premium confectionary product package design in connection with brand image and identity formation of package design and in presenting future direction.
As a result, it was found that while premium products are distinct in quality, ingredients, and price when compared to average products, consumers feel trust in that distinction and recognize a high-quality image in the package designs. Also, it was shown that unique visual elements that had not been experienced in existing products heightened perceptions of premium products to consumers and products which were perceived as premium products to consumers influenced repurchasing as well.
Therefore, it seems that businesses should put more interest and effort into developing package design for the success of the premium products which they have developed with great expense. This is to remain as a strong brand in a rapidly changing marketing environment. For this, a unique brand image can be formed through continuous research in package design distinction and plans should be made more strategically and sharply so that brands can be favored on their own.