Skills and knowledge required for merchandising professionals in the South African apparel retail industry

The purpose of this study was to investigate skills and knowledge for merchandising professionals in the South African apparel retail industry. An exploratory, sequential mixed method research design was implemented in two phases. Phase I followed a phenomenological approach focused on: (a) examining merchandising positions and responsibilities and (b) identifying skills and knowledge required for apparel merchandising professionals to fulfill their positions and perform their responsibilities. Data were collected through semi-structured individual in-depth interviews from a purposive sample of 16 merchandising professionals employed within the South African retail industry. The successive Phase II employed an adaptive conjoint analysis survey to prioritize the skills and knowledge identified in Phase I. A total of 172 merchandising professionals completed the electronic, self-administered survey generated through Sawtooth Software Inc. The results of the individual interviews revealed that four distinct positions in the South African retail industry correspond with merchandising positions suggested in international literature. In most retailers, merchandising departments consisted of discrete positions such as buyers, planners, product developers, and sourcing coordinators that perform a range of complex responsibilities to execute the product and profit strategy of retailers. Analysis of interviews identified 29 skills and knowledge types and 116 individual skills and knowledge dimensions describing the types, that merchandising professionals need to do their jobs. The 29 skills and knowledge types were prioritized based on their relative importance score (RIS) ranging from 4.55 - 1.57. With communication receiving the highest RIS (4.55) and sustainability the lowest RIS (1.57). The average utility value of individual dimensions determined the most important ones to have within each skills and knowledge type. Fifty-eight individual skills and knowledge dimensions with positive average utility values were retained, that were deemed important for merchandising professionals in the South African retail industry. Based on the prioritized merchandising skills and knowledge in Phase II, an apparel merchandising competency framework, developed from on extensive analyses of extant studies, was adapted specifically for the South African retail industry. The apparel merchandising competency framework provided a typology for organizing the prioritized merchandising skills and knowledge required for merchandising professionals in the South African apparel retail industry. This study contributes to the literature in terms of skills and knowledge required for apparel merchandising professionals in the 21st century and the importance of competent professionals in a consumer-led and profit driven industry such as apparel retail. The apparel merchandising competency framework, that to date was not available in theory, is a valuable tool for educators, industry, and government. The framework (a) is apparel merchandising specific; (b) indicates the priority of skills and knowledge that should be stressed in curricula and professional development and where to allocate resources; and (c) can be adapted to the ever-changing needs and requirements of the apparel industry

Professional South African women's adoption of the internet for apparel purchasing

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this documentDissertation (MSc(Consumer Science))--University of Pretoria, 2003.Consumer Scienceunrestricte

Black urban consumers' status consumption of clothing brands in the emerging South African market

Status concerns are noteworthy within a modern society as it is a key feature of individuals’ social reputation. Engaging in this form of thinking results in particular patterns of consumption within consumer groups. In South Africa, Black urban consumers have newfound spending power and social mobility. This study investigated motivators of Black urban consumers’ status consumption across different demographic variables (age, income and profession) in the South African (SA) emerging market. A survey research design was used to provide insights into the relationship of normative receptiveness (value expressive and utilitarian influences) and high self-monitoring as status consumption motivators of clothing brand consumption. The sample consisted of 246 Black urban consumers between the ages of 24 and 36, residing in Gauteng, South Africa and currently working in professional positions. The results of the study indicated that when purchasing clothing Black urban consumers are motivated by factors related to status consumption. This study found no significant differences between age and gender variables in terms of status consumption. In terms of profession, all three motivational factors were significant. They proved to be very aware of the image that they communicate and how they are seen by others indicating that they are motivated especially by value expressiveness, utilitarian influences and high self-monitoring aspects across various professions.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1470-64312017-11-30hb2017Consumer Scienc

Diagnostic cues used by female consumers to evaluate work wear assortments of major South African department stores

This study investigates the relative importance of diagnostic cues used by female consumers in an emerging market to evaluate work wear assortments in major South African department stores. The cue diagnostic framework was used as a theoretical perspective for the study together with conjoint analysis to provide insights into the relative importance of diagnostic cues in terms of specified attribute levels as well as attribute ranking of importance. A survey research design was employed for the study. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire and completed by 121 (N=121) female consumers residing in Gauteng. A non-probability sampling technique was used to recruit these working women who were between the ages of 20 and 60 years with some form of higher education or training. The results indicate that these female consumers have set preferences when purchasing work wear from department stores in South Africa. Certain product cues/attributes were found to be more prominent than others while some were used in conjunction with other attributes to collectively strengthen the importance of these attributes in the decision making process. The findings of this study contribute to existing literature on consumer preferences in emerging markets and the apparel attributes that inform these preference structures. This research will be useful for researchers as well as marketers who are interested in marketing campaigns, product assortment planning and retail settings.http://www.unisa.ac.za/Default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=257842017-01-30am2016Consumer Scienc

The role of information exposure in female university students’ evaluation and selection of eco-friendly apparel in the South African emerging economy

Increasing consumption in the South African emerging economy necessitates stringent effort toward developing environmental information campaigns that stimulate preferences for eco-friendly alternatives. This qualitative study explores the role of exposure to information about the environmental impact of the apparel supply chain in female students' evaluation and selection of apparel. Based on the outcome of garment selection exercises and focus group discussions, participants were not swayed by exposure to hang tags, audio-visual or printed information sources to prioritize eco-friendly features in their choice of product, nor were they willing to compromise on attributes such as price for the sake of the environment. Participants' recommendations include standardized eco-labels to facilitate identification of eco-friendly alternatives and message content that is short, precise and factual. Interpersonal communication could represent an influential source of information and merits further investigation into the relevance of normative social influence on pro-environmental apparel behavior in the South African emerging economy.http://ctr.sagepub.com/hj201

Effects of the four realms of experience and pleasurable experiences on consumer intention to patronise pop-up stores

This study explores the effects of the four realms of experience and pleasurable retail experiences on consumers’ intentions to patronise pop-up stores. A survey research design was followed. Data were collected through a pre-tested, online questionnaire, completed by a convenience sample that resided in and around Johannesburg and Pretoria, South Africa. The questionnaire was developed by adapting existing scales. A total of 257 usable questionnaires were analysed. The results support the positive effect of the realms of experience and pleasurable experiences on intention to patronise pop-up stores and ultimately a positive brand image. The multiple regression analysis indicated that the most predictive factors for patronage intention were esthetic and escapist experiences and intellectual pleasure. Although conducted pre-Covid 19, this study advances our understanding of how incorporating specific experiential elements (e.g., exciting store design, immersive activities, participation in events and engagement with knowledgeable brand representatives) can influence consumers’ intention to patronise pop-up stores and positively direct brand image.This paper stems from E Cassel’s Masters dissertation "Effects of the four realms of experience on pleasurable pop-up retail and patronage intention" (URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2263/50850)https://www.ajol.info/index.php/jfecs/am2022Consumer ScienceFood ScienceScience, Mathematics and Technology Educatio

The role of important values and predominant identity in the dress practices of female Muslim students attending a South African university

This study explores the role of important values and predominant identity in the dress practices of female Muslim students attending a university in South Africa. Data were collected through a selfadministered questionnaire using a purposive convenience sample of 200 female Muslim students. A cluster analysis was used to divide participants into groups based on their dress practices. The sample could be divided into two groups: those who follow less modest and those who follow more modest dress practices. An independent t-test was calculated to determine if there was a significant difference between the important values and predominant identity of the less modest and more modest groups. The results revealed differences in the significance of certain values and predominant identity. The more modest group placed more importance on religious values, while the less modest group attributed more importance to social values than the more modest group. For the more modest group their Muslim identity was more predominant than for the less modest group. Despite these differences, both groups tended to communicate a hybrid identity, as aspects of Islamic and Western thought and behavior were synthesized in each individual’s dress practice. The study offers benefits to scholars interested in the social-cultural aspects of clothing by showing how people manipulate their appearances and cultural forms to create a specific reality and to adapt to multicultural environments (e.g. campuses).http://ctr.sagepub.comhb2016Consumer ScienceStatistic

Female Muslim students' dress practices in a South African campus context

Suid-Afrikaanse vroulike Muslim-studente volg 'n verskeidenheid van kleding-praktyke. Terwyl party individue baie tradisionele Islamietiese drag dra, volg ander Westerse modes. Hierdie verskille in klere kan aan die akkulturasieproses toegeskryf word. Die kampusomgewing het 'n multi-kulturele konteks. Vroulike Muslim-studente word omring deur nuwe waardes, identiteite en nuwe kledingpraktyke. Die doel van die studie was om die akkulturasie strategieë wat deur vroulike Muslim-studente (wat aan die Universiteit van Pretoria studeer) toegepas word in hul kledinggebruike te verken en te beskryf. 'n Kulturele perspektief is as teoretiese raamwerk gebruik. Die navorsingsontwerp was 'n verkennende ondersoek. Data is met 'n gestruktureerde vraelys ingesamel. Die vraelys is gebaseer op bestaande skale en relevante literatuur om die akkulturasie praktyke van vroulike Muslim-studente aan die hand van hul kledingpraktyke te analiseer. Die akkulturasie praktyke is deur middel van 'n 5-punt Likert-tipe skaal gemeet en 'n „prent‟ skaal is met die samewerking van 'n senior Muslim-student in die Departement Verbruikerswetenskap ontwikkel. Hierdie skaal het nege beelde van klere ingesluit wat verskil het in terme van pas en mate waartoe die liggaam bedek word. Die teikenpopulasie was ingeskrewe vroulike Muslim-studente aan die Universiteit van Pretoria. In 2011 was daar 354 vroulike Muslim studente ingeskryf by die Universiteit van Pretoria. 'n Totaal van 200 voltooide vraelyste wat deur vroulike Muslim-studente tussen die ouderdomme van 17 en 25 jaar voltooi is, is geanaliseer (n=200). Die oorkoepelende doel van hierdie studie was om die verskillende akkulturasie strategieë wat deur vroulike Muslim-studente se kledingprak-tyke gereflekteer word, te ondersoek en te beskryf. Die resultate het daarop gedui dat die respondente nie in drie groepe verdeel kon word na aanleiding van die akkulturasie strategieë wat hulle volg soos aanvanklik verwag is nie. Die respondente kon wel in twee groepe verdeel word, namens dié wat minder kuise kledingpraktyke volg teenoor dié met meer kuise, tradisionele kledingpraktyke. Die studie het aangetoon dat vroulike Muslim-studente verskillende grade van ‟n bi-kulturele identiteit aanvaar. Hierdie studie maak ‟n bydrae tot kulturele navorsing en kledingge-dragnavorsing in Suid-Afrika. Die feit dat die respondente slegs in twee groepe verdeel kon word op grond van die akkulturasie praktyke wat hulle toepas, dui daarop dat die respon-dente in hierdie studie onwillig is om Muslim herkoms, en gevolglik hul tradisionele klere-drag, te negeer. Hulle verkies om in wissel-werking te tree met ander kultuurgroepe soos tipies van 'n Suid-Afrikaanse universiteits-kampus, en kombineer hul tradisionele drag met elemente van Westerse drag om hul bi-kulturele identiteit te kommunikeer. Sodoende verbeeld hulle beide hul Muslim en Suid-Afrikaanse identiteite.http://www.up.ac.za/saafecsam201

Male fashion leadership : hedonic and utilitarian clothing shopping motivations within the South African context

This study aimed to explore how male fashion innovators and opinion leaders differ regarding hedonic and utilitarian shopping motivations for clothing. The survey data were collected using an online self-administered questionnaire that was developed from existing scales. A total of 220 usable questionnaires completed by a purposive sample of male respondents residing and working in urban metropolitans around Gauteng, South Africa, were analysed. MANOVA tests were run to determine the differences between fashion innovators and fashion opinion leaders in terms of hedonic and utilitarian shopping motivations. The findings indicated that fashion innovators were significantly more motivated by hedonic shopping motivation, especially escapism, role, social, and idea shopping. Fashion opinion leaders, alternatively, were more motivated by efficiency shopping. Interestingly, achievement shopping motivation was the most influential shopping driver for both fashion opinion leaders and fashion innovators.https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tfdt202023-09-21hj2023Consumer ScienceFood ScienceScience, Mathematics and Technology Educatio

Evaluation of resource usage and throughput processes in a clothing production system

Hierdie artikel fokus op die Suid-Afrikaanse kledingproduksie industrie wat in die laaste dekade aansienlik gekrimp het. Die doel van die ondersoek was om die interaktiewe bydrae van die menslike- en fisiese hulpbronne en die deurvoerprosesse in terme van die werking van 'n geslekteerde Suid Afrikaanse kledingproduksie maatskappy te verken en te beskryf vanuit die werkers se perspektief. 'n Sisteemteorie benadering is gebruik om 'n bespreking van die interaktiewe bydrae van die hulpbronne en deurvoerprossesse van die kledingprduksiesisteem te struktureer. 'n Kledingproduksie maatskappy in die Bronkhorstspruit area, Gauteng, is gekies as die eenheid van analise vir die gevallestudie. 'n Voorafgetoetste, gestruktureerede vraelys is deur 103 werkers (stiksters en uitknippers) ingevul. Beskrywende resultate is verkry, wat bruikbare bewyse verskaf het om die interverwantskappe van die fabriek se hulpbronne te bevestig en dui ook daarop dat die optimalisering van elke hulpbron 'n beteknisvolle bydrae sal maak tot 'n meer effektiewe uitset. Die verwaarlosing van menslike hulpbronne is hoofsaaklik verantwoordelik vir die werkers se onvermoë en magteloosheid om probleme te hanteer. Die kwaliteitsbeheer en fisiesie hulpbronne het ook nie aan die verwagte standaarde van 'n mededingende maatskappy voldoen nie. Spesifieke probleme is in die studie aangespreek en aanbevelings is gemaak om hierdie hindernisse te oorkom.http://www.up.ac.za/saafecs/am201