The purpose of this study was 1) to identify differences in customers' behaviors of 3 groups(that is high, intermediate, low involvement groups) purchasing outdoor sportswear classified by the level of sport involvement 2) to suggest basic information...
The purpose of this study was 1) to identify differences in customers' behaviors of 3 groups(that is high, intermediate, low involvement groups) purchasing outdoor sportswear classified by the level of sport involvement 2) to suggest basic information for differentiated marketing strategies according to respective groups. To meet this objective, the study was employed a questionnaire, where ‘sport involvement and consumer behaviors’ consisted of questions about consumers' level of interest in mountaineering. The questionnaire's validity was evaluated by experts, and the Cronbach value was deemed to be reliable. Out of 500 mountain-climbers who have at least once purchased a outdoor sportswear, 463 persons exactly responded. They were selected from 4 mountains located in Seoul. And Cross table analysis, frequency study and Khai square analysis have been applied to research the differences for taking part in mountain, purchasing the outdoor sportswear among 3 groups classified by the level of sport involvement and ‘one-way ANOVA’ has been applied to research the differences for factors of purchasing decision, purchasing interest, intention of re-purchasing among 3 groups. using SPSS/PC version 12.0+. As a result, the following conclusions were drawn :
First, after verification the differences of participating in mountains among 3 groups based on the level of sport involvement, they showed significantly differences in average number of visit, period, type of mountaineering, purpose.
Second, purchasing traits among 3 groups were significantly showed differences in preferring brand, information sources, amount of outdoor sportswear, place of purchase.
Third, the analysis for purchasing interests among 3 groups through the average and standard deviation under descriptive statistics, the high involvement group was the highest points and the differences of purchasing interests among 3 groups under one-way ANOVA were significantly showed.
Forth, in case of the high involvement group, functionality is the most important factor for purchasing decision and the next places were practicality and service in order. In case of intermediate involvement group, important factors for purchasing decision was the very same with the high involvement group. Also as of the low involvement group, important factors for purchasing decision were functionality, practicality and aesthetic trait in order. and the differences of purchasing decision factors among 3 groups under one-way ANOVA were significantly showed.
Fifth, the analysis for repurchasing intent among 3 groups through the average and standard deviation under descriptive statistics, the high involvement group was the highest values and the differences of repurchasing intent among 3 groups under one-way ANOVA were significantly showed.
In conclusion, it has the difference in customers’ behaviors to purchase the outdoor sportswear classified by the level of sport involvement. The high involvement group has statistically differences in purchasing traits, purchasing interests, factors for purchasing decision and repurchasing intent from the others. In case of purchasing traits, the high involvement group prefers to domestic brand unlike other groups and has many outdoor sportswear than the others. Also in case of purchasing interests, the high involvement group is higher than other groups. And functionality is the most important factor for purchasing decision and the next places were practicality and service in order. Finally, repurchasing intent the high involvement group is also the highest among 3 groups.
Thus, to make a profit and efficient management, the corporations which made outdoor sportswear have to perceive who groups are highly interested in mountaineering and what patterns about the spending they have. After performing these, they have to grasp the groups’ needs, how groups act and how competitors behave for the customers. And then they can make a differentiated marketing strategy to meet customers’ needs for achieving objectives.