In modern society, a company must place top priority on consumers in order for it to increase sales and survive competition. Consumer’s desire, attitude and behavior have effect upon all the areas of marketing strategy. The area of the theater in th...
In modern society, a company must place top priority on consumers in order for it to increase sales and survive competition. Consumer’s desire, attitude and behavior have effect upon all the areas of marketing strategy. The area of the theater in the area of performing arts, for the present, places top priority not on consumers but on supplier-centered contents supply in reality. This practice has caused the decrease of visiting rate in the market of the theater, together with the standstill state of visitor numbers. In this regard, it is urgently necessary for the market of the theater to understand consumers correctly and then establish an appropriate strategic measure.
A brand is an agreement, and a total recognition of products, services or businesses seen, heard, read, understood, felt and thought. A brand has such an attribute as taking a special place in consumer’s mind, differentiating objects, reducing complexity, and simplifying the process of decision-making, based on consumer’s experience in the past, their association of ideas, or their expectation for the future.
A systematic study on branding for the area of culture and art seems to be in its initial stage. Some studies have been carried out on the brands in the performing arena or works for the present, but analysis and research on the brands of companies that producing contents are insufficient.
This study was initiated to grope after a strategic measure to enhance the competitiveness of the theater. For this, this study chose the National Theater Company of Korea (NTCK), which had a representative nature on the basis of its traditionality, among domestic theater groups. And then, a questionnaire survey of 307 general visitors and audience who watched the performance of NTCK and a regression analysis were carried out, thus examining the effect of NTCK’s brand equity on ticket purchase.
Study findings are as follows:
Such sub-variables of brand equity as brand awareness (r=.568, p<.001), brand image (r=.631, p<.001), perception of quality (r=.628, p<.001) and brand loyalty (r=.736, p<.001) had statistically positive (+) effect upon ticket purchase.
As for the correlation of sub-variables of brand equity with ticket purchase, brand loyalty was highest, and it was followed by brand image, perception of quality and brand awareness in order. In this regard, brand loyalty seemed to have a highest correlation with ticket purchase.
Based on the above study findings, this study presents following suggestions;
First, it is necessary for employees to understand the creation of a brand and its management measure. In order for a brand to form an image, it is necessary to invest much time and money in it, and in order to change the image formed, it is also necessary to invest much time and money in it. On this account, it is necessary to understand consumer’s desire, preference and purchase intention, and then develop a brand accordingly, and implant a positive image. A well-developed and managed brand seems to have significant effect on a market share and price elasticity.
Second, NTCK’ brand has not been recognized and perceived well by general visitors whose major is not the theater, for the present, Therefore, it is necessary for channel brands which producing contents in the area of culture to secure reliability and establish a brand. In addition, it is necessary to clearly examine NTCK’ present brand, and then create an image, thus enhancing awareness and loyalty.
Third, it is necessary to study on NTCK itself. So far, nearly no studies or researches on NTCK, the only theater company which has been supported and funded by the government, have been carried out. Regarding such a fact that NTCK is the only theater company that bearing the brand name of ‘national’ among domestic theater groups, and there has been no study on it, it is necessary to examine its directivity and operational strategy. In other words, it is necessary to carry out researches and studies on NTCK which representing domestic theater companies, and then discuss on and find out a strategy for the measure of development.
Since this study presented practical suggestions of improvement and developmental strategies in the future in the marketing area of domestic theater contents producing companies, this study seems to have positive effect on the activation of performing art industry. The author hopes study findings will be used as basic data on highlighting the unique characteristic of ever-increasing theatrical production companies and on establishing the strategy of their brand marketing.