Introduction In the current business environment, the value and importance of customers is not something that should be set aside by any organisations. Marketing plans and strategies would be incomplete without paying much consideration to the customers. Customers will and should always be a part of the agenda in any marketing plan of any company. According to Adrian Payne, an author in the United Kingdom who has written a number of writings about the Advances in Relationship Marketing, "Because of the implications for profitability and growth, customer retention is potentially one of the most powerful weapons that companies can employ in their fight to gain a strategic advantage and survive in today's ever increasing competitive environment" (Lindenmann, 1998). Apparently, online customization or the so-called "e-customisation" and build-to order features powered by the latest interactive technologies such as virtual model, web cam, and sizing technologies can attract consumers as well as enhance their loyalty for repeat purchasing (Lee and Nataraj 2002). According to Cho (2007), it is an online shopping process of creating individual values in products and services through interactions between e-retailers and their customers. Basically, these customised products attract customer attention and foster customer loyalty and lock-in. The customer loyalty that results from such personalization and targeting can translate into increased cash-inflows and enhanced profitability. Customization marketing solutions are useful for both customer acquisition and retention and can engender successful, long-term relationships (Ansari and Mela 2003, p.131). In this regard, this research paper discusses in detail the impact of e-customisation in fashion retailing as perceived by the surveyed respondents. The research will analyse and investigate the impact of e-customisation with respect to the satisfaction of the respondents. This shall include a discussion on the positive and negative variables related to fashion retailing. Particularly, the research will focus on examining the impact of the satisfaction of the customers and promotional strategies employed with regards to e-customisation. In this research, the background, context and theme of the study are presented. Moreover, the objectives of the study and the research statements are formulated. Here, vital concepts, questions and assumptions are stated. Aims and Objectives The research will focus on the status of online customisation in fashion retailing and perception of the customers. The research will also tackles the issues of promotions, marketing styles, consumer satisfaction and loyalty, economy's improvement and fashion retaining issues. Moreover, the researcher aims to review the different approaches of promotion and the effect it has on business growth. It is without question that fashion retailing businesses are enabling online or e-customisation services and that surely every nation sees it as the future of fashion retailing in the same way that other business have likewise been in the past. The author will survey customers of fashion retailing, as well as analyse the underlying theories/issues behind these issue. Moreover, the aims and objectives of this dissertation are the following:
Statement of the Problem Generally, the purpose of this study is to conduct a descriptive study on the impact of online customisation in accordance to the satisfaction and loyalty of customers in fashion retailing business. Research Questions This research seeks to investigate and evaluate the impact of e-customisation in fashion retailing business. Apparently, the issues about satisfaction and loyalty of customers will be discussed. Specifically, the following questions shall be answered: 1. What are the factors affecting the promotional styles and strategies of fashion retailing businesses? 2. What are the effects of online customisation in Fashion Retailing on consumer loyalty and satisfaction? 3. What are the factors that influence customer to buy customised products and to take part in online customisation? 4. What are the added value of customisation to customers? 5. What are the factors that must be considered in order to create an effective and efficient online customisation project in the field of Fashion Retailing? 6. What are the challenges in online customisation? 7. Is there any significant correlation between the satisfaction of consumer and e-customisation practices of fashion retailing businesses? 8. Based on the perception of the respondents, does the e-customisation issues in fashion retailing businesses has significant effect to its progress? Hypothesis "The consumer satisfaction and loyalty of customers in fashion retailing has significant relationship to their e-customisation practices." Research Method · For this study, primary research and secondary research will be used. · Moreover, the descriptive research method will be utilised. In this method, it is possible that the study would be cheap and quick. It could also suggest unanticipated hypothesis. Nonetheless, it would be very hard to rule out alternative explanations and especially infer causations. Thus, this study will use the descriptive approach. This descriptive type of research utilises observations in the study. To illustrate the descriptive type of research, Creswell (1994) guided the researcher when he stated: Descriptive method of research is to gather information about the present existing condition. · Primary research is conducted using questionnaire surveys that are sent to the clients of fashion retailing business who experienced e-customisation. Here, the questionnaires will be used to collect quantitative data. Apparently, secondary data are based from the recent literatures and reports related to e-customisation, customer satisfaction and loyalty, and quality service.
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Introduction Today's market is characterised by highly competitive organisations which are all vying for consumer's loyalty. Firms are faced with the challenge to maintain their own competitive edge to be able to survive and be successful. Strategies are carefully planned and executed to gain the ultimate goal of all: company growth. However, external factors are not the only elements which influence growth. There are also internal factors, components working within the organisation which shape the direction of the company. Along with the changing business world, customers change as well, becoming more demanding and knowledgeable than before. In turn, company management had shifted their focus on their clients or customers so as to stay successfully in business. This transition meant that organisations have to completely reformulate their conventional business aims and purposes from being process-focused to customer-centred. Hence, in order to bring out exceptional custome
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