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The purpose of this research is to develop an established assortment-planning model identifying procedures and activities for women's wear retail buyers. This research built three assortment-planning models: (a) a conceptual moddel based on a secondary data analysis, (b) a practical-use model based on interviews using questionnaire and a set of activity cards, (c) the suggested model based on the conncetion analysis of the previous two models. Integrated DEFinition (IDEF) Functional modeling method was used to describe procedures and variables of functional activities of assortment planning and to increase the consistency of a model developing process. The variables of functional activities were determined as input, mechanism, constraint, connection, and output based on IDEF0 diagram format. Other research and pilot interviews confirmed the reliability of methodology. Experts and interviewees validated the three models. The abstract level of the suggested assortment-planning model included following concepts: (a) problem recognition, (b) information search, (c) qualitative evaluation, (d) quantitative evaluation, (e) product selection plan, and (f) plan sales. / Ph. D.

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

The Islamic dress code has been forcibly imposed on the women in Sudan, since 1983, and many feminists researchers have criticized the practices of the veil as a tool to oppress women. This study aimed to explore a group of Sudanese women, currently living in South Africa, experiences and perceptions of the veil, whether the veil is a religious dress code or a tool that has been used to exercise inequality.

The UK market in fashion retailing is recognised as being the most concentrated in the world and companies in this sector are constantly striving to improve their market share and profitability. To do this requires a strong market position, which is developed, maintained and communicated to the target customer. This thesis explores the key issues of consumer and retailer perspectives of store positioning, how customers and retail employees perceive this image; and how image variables can be manipulated to defend or enhance market positioning. It concludes by developing a framework to indicate how image can be strategically managed. The literature review commences by setting out the historical perspective of the study of consumer behaviour and discusses a number of models, which aim to explain shopper attitude towards store and product selection. It moves on to investigate the attributes contributing to store image perception and to explore a number of methods of measuring store image. Past and current trends in retailing are examined and marketing strategies in the formation of retail image are discussed. The methodological pluralism used to obtain, generate and analyse data, is justified and results from four separate research phases. The exploratory research phase utilised qualitative methods to identify factors contributing towards store choice. In the second phase a multi-attribute model was applied to data to measure consumer and retail staff perception of store image. Furthermore, the congruence of customer and employee perception was evaluated. The third phase considered how con'sumers make store choice decisions by trading off attributes and allowed segmentation of sub-groups of customers with similar purchasing characteristics. The fourth phase used an interpretative approach to understand and compare key marketing strategies for two retailers. The conclusion highlights the issues that retailers have to manage in a fragmented market of consumers with high expectations of product quality, customer service and store environment. The research identifies that store choice factors vary not only between sectors but also significantly within sectors and shows product quality to be the prime factor. In addition, employee store image perception is acknowledged to be a useful indicator of customer purchase intention and the research emphasises the importance of companies having an organisational culture, which nurtures employee attitudes, motivation and skills to anticipate consumer behaviour and to provide quality service.

by Lai Hau-yee, Lee Siu-ling. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 68-70). / ACKNOWLEDGMENT --- p.iii / ABSTRACT --- p.iv / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.v / Chapter / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Scope --- p.1 / Statement of Problems --- p.2 / Motive for Shopping --- p.3 / Source of Product Information --- p.3 / Choice of Outlet/Product --- p.3 / Influencer of Purchase Decision --- p.3 / Type of Salesperson Preferred --- p.4 / Chapter II. --- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY --- p.5 / Research Design --- p.5 / Exploratory Research --- p.5 / Descriptive Research --- p.6 / Data Collection Method --- p.7 / Secondary Data --- p.7 / Primary Data --- p.7 / Fieldwork --- p.8 / Analysis --- p.9 / Chapter III. --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.10 / Chapter IV. --- ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS --- p.14 / Purpose --- p.14 / External Environment --- p.14 / Population Demographics --- p.15 / Economic Environment --- p.15 / Infrastructure --- p.16 / Taxation --- p.16 / Legal Environment and Government Bureaucracy --- p.17 / Political Environment --- p.19 / Competitive Environment --- p.20 / Culture --- p.20 / Marketing Environment --- p.22 / Market Segmentation --- p.22 / Product --- p.23 / Price --- p.24 / Distribution --- p.24 / Promotion --- p.26 / Chapter V. --- SURVEY FINDINGS --- p.29 / Results of Descriptive Research --- p.29 / Cross-Tabulation --- p.29 / Hypothesis Testing --- p.39 / Chapter VI. --- CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS --- p.45 / Chapter VII. --- LIMITATIONS --- p.49 / APPENDICES --- p.53 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.68

Summary in Chinese. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong. / Bibliography: leaves 63-64.

Summary in Chinese. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong. / Bibliography: leaves 81.

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio State University, 1984. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 48-52). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center