Custom Made Apparel and Individualized Service at Lands\u27 End

The case describes a hugely successful example of IT-driven strategy, the Lands\u27 End custom tailored apparel initiative. In less than a year, 40% of Lands\u27 End customers buying chinos and jeans from the firm\u27s web site were buying tailored products. Over 20% of these customers never made a purchase over the web before. The case explores mass customization and web-based customer service initiatives while providing a rich opportunity to discuss the sustainability of competitive advantage derived from IT-driven strategic initiatives. The case also describes the cross-organizational and cross-border supply chain that Lands\u27 End and its business partner, Archetype Solutions, Inc constructed as well as Archetype\u27s extension of that chain to other retailers

Individualized male dress shirt adjustments using a novel method for measuring shoulder shape

ArticleINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLOTHING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. 29(2):215-225 (2017)journal articl

Apparel mass customization: perceptions of young Chinese consumers

The purpose of this study was to explore young Chinese consumers' attitudes towards mass customized apparel products and its applications, including both body scanning and co-design. At approximately 200 million people, the young generation of Chinese, aged 19-28, are a growing spending force. This group of consumers is more into fashion compared other age groups (Kalish, 2005), and, having been exposed to western values, their consumption patterns and values are also changing. Using a qualitative methodology, in-depth interviews were conducted with twenty-seven young Chinese consumers aged 18 to 25. Interviews lasted from one to two hours, and were audio-taped with participant consent. Interviews were conducted in Mandarin Chinese, and were then transcribed, translated, and interpreted thematically. Three concepts related to customization emerged and were used to structure the interpretation: Awareness, Perception, and Experience. Several themes surfaced to provide depth information within each conceptual area. Based on the interpretation, participants were divided into three different profiles according to their fashion leadership and interest level: Fashion leader/high interest in mass customization; non-fashion leader/high interest in mass customization; non-fashion leader /low interest in mass customization. The majority of participants was found to be non-fashion leader/ high interest type, and would be interested in mass customization of apparel if given the chance. Results of the study can help marketers better understand young Chinese consumers' perceptions of mass customization in order to successfully market mass customization in China. Avenues of further research are discussed in light of study limitations

Websites Vs. Apps: A Comparison of Consumer Acceptance of Apparel Mass-Customization Across Channels

After 20 years of industrial practice, consumers now can shop for mass-customized apparel in various channels including websites and smart device applications (apps). Online apparel mass-customization (OAMC), which provides platforms and convenience for customers to communicate with retailers effectively, provides retailers with a growing opportunity in today’s evolving omni-channel environment. Meanwhile, product value and experiential value delivered to consumers will help increase customer satisfaction and lower the return rate. However, little is known about consumers’ beliefs, attitudes, and purchase intentions of mass-customized apparels when using different channels. Two studies were intended to fill the research gap. Study 1 is an exploratory, qualitative study with a focus on analyzing feedback from consumers who have had real experiences of purchasing online mass-customized apparel. Study 2 presents a comprehensive attempt to examine the factors that impact consumers’ attitude toward using OAMC and the willingness to purchase online mass-customized apparel (through an experiment) with the technology acceptance model applied as a theoretical foundation. An online self-administered questionnaire was utilized to collect participants’ responses including OAMC evaluations of usefulness, enjoyment, ease of use, choice variety, risks, attitude, and willingness to purchase after practicing OAMC in the experiment. A total of 388 responses were collected from a southeastern University in the United States. Factor analyses were conducted to test and confirm the measurement model with results showing that the reliability and validities were well achieved. Hypothesized relationships and moderating effects were tested using a structural equation modeling approach. Research results indicated that the proposed hypotheses were partially supported. A positive attitude predicted willingness to purchase. Ease of use, enjoyment, and choice variety significantly influenced customers’ attitude. Usefulness and risks did not influence attitude in this research model. The moderation effects of online mass-customization channels, consumers’ level of fashion involvement, and consumers’ need for uniqueness were tested separately through multi-group comparisons. The results showed that there was no significant difference among consumers with different levels of fashion involvement, or different levels of need for uniqueness, or consumers who shop online mass-customized apparel in different channels. Theoretical and practical implications were provided based on research findings

Drop-shipping apparel products to german football fans by pepperminds

The following master thesis is a business plan for an online marketing venture that is going to sell customized apparel products to German football fans. With a new supply-chain model called ‘Drop-Shipping’, this business is supposed to create flexibility and freedom for being able to operate from anywhere in the world with internet access. It is solely run by the author and by the help of several freelancers and partnerships, which the founded company Pepperminds connects with through the internet. A literature review explains the evolution of e-commerce businesses as well as the changing consumer behavior of customers online caused by the development of social media platforms and the Web 2.0. After identifying the problem and the need for customized apparels, an analysis of the market, competitors and the consumers has been developed in order to detect new trends and existing opportunities. Despite the economic crisis within the last decade, the apparel industry has been identified as very stable. People tend to increasingly shop online, given by new possibilities of mobile devices and internet access almost anywhere in the world. The new trend of ‘social commerce’ merges the invention of social media platforms and ecommerce opportunities into a powerful source to provide value to customers. In the western world, people define themselves through possessions (Belk, 1988), which is an important reason why this business model can be successful. Belk (1988) refers to a persons identity by telling who we are, where we come from and where we are going. Possessions, such as apparel products, are used to develop new relationships with like minded people. The first target of Pepperminds will be football fans in Germany, which have been identified as very passionate and loyal, and are equipped with a high purchasing power. This makes them a very attractive target. Sample apparel campaigns prove the successful business model by backing it up with real data. Facebook’s paid advertising platform makes it possible to precisely target a specific customer in order to create relevant and trustworthy advertisements. The final part of the plan reflects a financial plan, in which the advantages of this business model can be viewed through financial data.A tese de mestrado que se segue é um plano de negócios de marketing online de risco. Este plano consiste em vender produtos de vestuário personalizado a fãs alemães de futebol. Com um novo modelo de supply-chain chamado Drop-Shipping, este negócio tenciona criar flexibilidade e liberdade para que se possa operar de qualquer parte do mundo, desde que se tenha acesso à internet. É apenas executado pelo autor do modelo com a ajuda de vários freelancers e parcerias, que a empresa fundadora Pepperminds conecta através da internet. A revisão da literatura explica a evolução do negócio de e-comerce. Também aqui está presente as mudanças no comportamento do consumidor online causadas pelo desenvolvimento das plataformas de redes sociais e a Web 2.0. Depois de identificado o problema e a necessidade de vestuário personalizado, uma análise de mercado, competidores e clientes foi desenvolvida para detetar novas tendências e oportunidades. Apesar da crise económica que se instalou na última década, a indústria de vestuário personalizado foi identificada como estável. As pessoas tendem a comprar cada vez mais online devido às novas possibilidades de dispositivo móveis e à facilidade de acesso à internet por todo o mundo. A nova tendência de social commerce funde a invenção das plataformas de redes sociais e as oportunidades no e-commerce. Assim, obtém-se uma poderosa fonte de acréscimo de valor aos clientes. No mundo ocidental as pessoas definem-se a si próprias pelo valor das suas posses (Belk, 1988), o que demonstra mais uma razão pela qual este modelo de negócio pode ser bem-sucedido. Belk (1988) fala da identidade das pessoas com base em quem nós somos, de onde viemos e para onde vamos. As nossas posses, como o vestuário, são usadas para criar novas relações com as pessoas com quem nos identificamos. O primeiro alvo da empresa Pepperminds será fãs de futebol na Alemanha, que foram identificados como sendo aficionados e leais com um alto poder de compra. Tornam-se assim um alvo muito atrativo.Apoiadas em dados reais, amostras prévias de campanhas de vestuário provam o sucesso do modelo de negócio. O Facebook, plataforma utilizada neste modelo, pagou a plataformas de publicidade para que seja possível identificar um cliente específico de maneira a criar anúncios relevantes e de confiança. A parte final reflete o plano financeiro, onde as vantagens do modelo de negócio podem ser observadas através da informação financeira

Consumers\u27 Preferred Body Scanning Technology: A Comparison

Poor fit of apparel products has been troublesome for both the consumers and manufacturers for many years. The acquisition of a correct set of body measurements is crucially important for achieving proper fitting apparel. Three-dimensional body scanning technology has been recognized as a promising alternative to the traditional measuring tape method of obtaining body measurements. Three-dimensional body scanners are quick, efficient, highly reproducible, and largely free of error related to human intervention. The purpose of this study was to investigate consumers’ preferred type of body scanning technology. Three types of body scanners (traditional body scanner, suit-based body scanner, and mobile-based body scanner) were compared using the Technology Acceptance Model (Davis, 1989) as the theoretical framework. Consumers’ perception on usefulness and ease of use were compared among the three scanner types. An online survey was administered using Qualtrics® software for data collection. Data included 382 responses, out of which only 220 were valid. Data was analyzed using SAS® software to test formulated hypotheses. Findings indicated that participants’ perceived usefulness did not vary across the three types of body scanners, but the mobile-based body scanner was perceived to be easier to use than the traditional body scanner. The suit-based body scanner was perceived to be easier to use by men. Gender did not have any significant effect in the preference of the traditional and the suit-based body scanner, but gender was a significant source of variation in preference of the mobile-based body scanner

The Permissible Scope of Legal Limitations on the Freedom of Religion or Belief in the United States

This article summarizes the law of legal limitations on religious freedom in the UnitedStates, including sources and hierarchies of applicable law, structural limitations on religious freedom, grounds for limiting such freedom, an analytical description oflimitations, and background influences on limitations law, and applies this law to hypothetical situations. Federal judicial decisions interpreting the Religion Clauses are the principal source oflimitations law in the United States. RLUIPA and RFRA, federal anti-discrimination statutes, and executive orders are other important sources of religious freedom law. State constitutions, statutes, and regulations are important sources law when federal sources are absent or inapplicable. International human rights law plays virtually no role in the construction of limitations law in the United States. Structural limitations on religious freedom in the United States include a commitment to the separation of church and state, which permits and sometimes requires disadvantageous treatment of religion, and dilution of the church autonomy doctrine, which formerly protected a strong group right of internal church self-government. Since the Supreme Court\u27s Smith decision, the Free Exercise Clause has protected against intentional government burdens on religious liberty, but not against incidental burdens; government action that purposely targets religious activity for a regulatory burden is constitutionally invalid, whereas government action that burdens religious activity along with similarly situated secular activity in pursuit of a legitimate regulatory goal, is presumptively valid. Although this leaves freedom of religion exposed to government insensitivity or indifference, the equality-shaped contours of constitutional doctrine in the United States buffer religion from such burdens by enabling believers in many circumstances to claim the same protections enjoyed by those committed to secular ideologies and moralities. Three current trends are likely to undermine development of strong substantive protection for religious freedom in the United States, the persistence of controversies posed by judicial review, the revitalization of judicially enforced federalism norms, and the increase in religious diversity in the United States

A review and a conceptual framework of the key value drivers of mass customisation

The aim of this paper is to conceptualise the key value drivers of mass customisation in order to provide a structured approach to explain the added value that customers attribute to mass customised products. We assume that the added value of mass customisation is ultimately reflected in an increased willingness to pay. Previous studies show diverse results concerning customers' willingness to pay for mass customised products. We contribute to the existing body of research by suggesting and discussing the influence of general product characteristics and factors of the mass customisation approach on the key value drivers of mass customisation. Furthermore, the development of a conceptual framework offers explanations for the dissimilarity in customers' willingness to pay and advances the knowledge about the value increment of mass customised products as perceived by customers