Consumer perceptions of retail store attributes for a set of particular stores were examined to determine their effect on store preference. Respondents rated 13 stores. Four variables were found to affect store preference using forward stepwise logistic regression: type of clothing desired in stock, outside store appearance, shopping hours, and advertising. Significance of the effect of store attributes on store preference varied by store type. In addition, associations between customer perception of store attributes, education and age were observed. Implications for researchers and practitioners are discussed.

Purpose -To study college students' attitudes toward and behavioral intention of shopping online for apparel products by using the theory of reasoned action. Design/methodology/approach -Focus group interviews and a literature review identified specific items of interest related to the desirability of shopping online for apparel products. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to two groups of respondents: college students who lived in rural and urban areas. Findings -The students, in general, had positive attitudes toward shopping online for apparel products. ANOVA results showed that the students who intended to shop online for apparel products had more positive attitudes than those who did not have the intention. The GLM results showed that internet usage, employment status, and car access had significant influence on students' attitudes toward online shopping for apparel products.Research limitations/implications -The samples for this study were randomly chosen from two universities in the United States. This limited sampling frame may affect the generalization of findings. Practical implications -Both local retailers in rural college towns and online retailers can benefit from the findings of this study. Originality/value -This research contributes to the literature by studying college students attitudes toward online shopping for apparel products.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore student perceptions of job characteristics of their internships – and to explore the relationship between these job characteristics and overall satisfaction with their retail merchandising internship experiences in terms of contribution toward career development.Design/methodology/approachThree internship site categories were identified: stores, corporate settings, and other types. Students completed surveys after their internship experiences.FindingsThere were significant differences observed between site types and overall satisfaction with internships. Desire to recommend to others, variety of tasks, repetition of duties, similarity of activities, pay, opportunities for networking with others, extent of dealing with other people, and extent of receiving information from supervisors were different among sites. Information and feedback from supervisors, variety of activities, closure with tasks, clear results of tasks, autonomy, and networking opportunities were related to internship satisfaction.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is limited to US companies and focuses on retail merchandising internships, so results may not be generalizable in other settings.Practical implicationsRetailers may use this information to enhance the structure and tasks associated with their internships. Students and professors may use this information as academic internships are sought.Originality/valueThis paper provides a comprehensive look at job characteristics as they related to satisfaction in an internship environment and offers insight to companies who offer internships as well as students who seek them.

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Shear stiffness values for sample fabrics representing a range of weights and yarn types were determined on the Kawabata Tensile and Shear Tester and correlated with drape values measured on a specially designed drape tester. Shear behavior was also determined after application of fusible and nonfusible woven and nonwoven interfacings to the sample fabrics. Interfacing type signif cantly affected the shear stiffness of the composites. The nonwoven interfacings, because of their high shearing resistance, contributed to composite shear stiffness in an additive fashion. The nonwoven character was more important than the presence offusible resins in determining composite behavior. For woven interfacings, however, fusible resins significantly affected shear behavior by increasing the stiffness of the interfacing as well as of the face fabric. For both fusible and nonfusible woven interfacings, large differences in the shear stiffness of the componentfabrics also influenced the composite shear behavior.

Mother‐daughter pairs were surveyed to explore their fashion influences on one another and to investigate the interrelated roles of their Fashion Involvement, Fashion Leadership, Opinion Leadership, and Information Seeking behaviors. Mothers and daughters agreed on the level of fashion influence that mothers have on daughters, but daughters perceived that they had more fashion influence on mothers than mothers reported. Additionally, levels of Fashion Involvement, Fashion Leadership, and Opinion Leadership differed statistically between mothers and daughters, with daughters possessing higher levels of each. Mothers and daughters possessed similar levels of Information Seeking, although qualitative analysis revealed that the type of information sought was different. Insight regarding the nature of intergenerational fashion influences between mothers and daughters was revealed.

A total of 424 surveys that addressed the construct of corporate excellence were collected by 106 students in a sophomore-level professional development course for apparel merchandising and retailing majors. Students used the course project to network with career contact people, learn about the apparel merchandising and retailing employment environment, and participate in a research project directly related to their major fi eld of study. In general, employees in higher leadership positions tended to be more positive than their entry-level or unskilled counterparts about the companies' execution of criteria that contributed toward corporate excellence. Th e type of products sold by retailers did not aff ect employee perceptions of corporate excellence attributes. Additionally, the type of retail establishment did aff ect the companies' abilities to exhibit one criterion that contributes to corporate excellence: providing personalized attention to its customers. Students demonstrated achievement of learning objectives through refl ection.

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