Satisfying various preferences of consumers is a core element of business management in the modern society. To satisfy the consumers’ needs, many businesses are using brand diversification strategy. Korean food service industries are also using the ...
Satisfying various preferences of consumers is a core element of business management in the modern society. To satisfy the consumers’ needs, many businesses are using brand diversification strategy. Korean food service industries are also using the fusion/compound method, for instance, operating one business’ food service brands in one area. Such method of one business operating its several brands collectively in a single area is used internationally and the case of ‘restaurant complex’ is not only limited to food service industries. Recently, construction businesses and distribution enterprises are jumping in the formation of restaurant complex, and cases of not only large companies, but also of small companies or individuals operating restaurant complexes are increasing. Despite the increasing number of restaurant complexes, research on such phenomenon is yet nonexistent; thus related research is necessary.
This research is a probe to understand the usage motive of restaurant complex customers. Through this comprehension, this research aims to suggest elementary data needed for shop management/development and marketing.
To have a deep understanding of the usage motivation behind users of restaurant complex, this research used a mixed method study which simultaneously uses qualitative study and quantitative study. In the qualitative study, customers who have experience with restaurant complexes located in Seoul/Gyeounggi region were interviewed, and in the quantitative study, customers who have experience with restaurant complexes located in Seoul/Gyeounggi region were given surveys.
The result of qualitative study is as the following.
First, users of restaurant complexes have seven usage motives in which are ‘place found on the internet/SNS,’ ‘place with existence of preferable food or restaurant,’ ‘place of meeting others,’ ‘place of easy access,’ ‘place with diversity,’ ‘place of convenient dietary,’ and ‘place obliged to be used.’
Second, a commonly described usage motivation mentioned by many of the participants were ‘place with diversity,’ and ‘place of meeting others.’ Some participants had no intention of using restaurant complex but only went there for its easy accessibility while they were using nearby facilities such as shopping facilities or the movie theater. Also, in cases of other participants, they used restaurant complexes without any actual intention to use it.
The result of quantitative study is as the following.
First, analysis of primary factor on 36 items of the 47 usage motivation items extracted from precedent studies and qualitative study after eliminating 11 items with low capacity, deducted the items down to 7 primary factors. The primary factors are: ‘place of interest arousal,’ ‘place with preferable restaurant/food,’ ‘place of easy access,’ ‘place of diversity and novelty,’ ‘place of meeting others,’ ‘place of convenient dietary,’ and ‘no motivation.’
Second, average values of each usage motivation showed, ‘place of diversity and novelty,’ ‘place of meeting others,’ and ‘place of easy access,’ in the order for from highest to lowest. ‘Place of interest arousal,’ and ‘no motivation’ were below the average value and relatively low.
Third, excluding age, the participants’ demographic characteristics and use pattern such as, gender, education, income, frequency of dining-out did have meaningful differences on some usage motivation factors.
The implications and limitations of this research is as the following.
First, this research, as a probing research, is the starting point of comprehending the usage motivation of restaurant complex consumers.
Second, restaurant complex users are using the complex primarily for its diversity. Therefore, in constituting a restaurant complex, it would be essential to prepare diverse restaurants and various menus to maximize the consumer’s spectrum of choice.
Third, there were demographic characteristic differences in restaurant complex users. Therefore, formation of shop interiors and tables, menu composition, location condition, and marketing activities will need to consider such characteristics.
Fourth, customers of restaurant complexes had either one or more usage motivations. Also one customer’s usage motivations differed depending on different situations. Usage motivations such as nearby facilities will need be taken into consideration, in addition to diversity and convenience.
As this study used limited regions and consumers as subjects, application of the study results into the general population is difficult. Also as a starting point/probing study of restaurant complexes, immediate precedent studies lack. To complement, later on studies will need to progress with restaurant complexes and customers from wider regions as subjects. Lastly, in addition to usage motivations, studies related to use patterns and selection properties pertaining to restaurant complexes will need to be achieved.