Impact of Lifestyles of Cultural Center Users in Discount Stores on the Store Usage Intention: Mediating Effect of Shopping Value

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to identify whether the operation of cultural centers in discount stores contributes to their profitability. Thus, this study is aimed at exploring how the lifestyles of customers who use the cultural centers influence their intention to use the discount stores. Specifically, the effect of shopping value on the correlation between the lifestyle types and usage intention of the customers were examined through a structured research model. To verify the effect, a survey on 139 customers of the Cultural Center of Nonghyup Hanaro Club's S branch was conducted and the valid questionnaires were used for analysis. Research design, data, and methodology – The findings are as follows. First, the lifestyles seeking self-realization had a positive effect on utilitarian value, and lifestyles seeking pop cultures had a positive effect on hedonic value. Second, the mediating effect of shopping value on the correlation between the lifestyle types and usage intention of the customers is as follows. Utilitarian value had a mediating effect only on the lifestyles seeking self-realization. In case of lifestyles seeking pop cultures, the use of Cultural Center had no effect on the intention to use the discount store. Third, an analysis of a revised research model revealed that the store usage intention of lifestyles seeking pop cultures can be enhanced by boosting the utilitarian value through hedonic value. Results – The findings suggest the following. Customers with lifestyles seeking self-realization, who value what is beneficial to them with little attention to the perceptions of others, are highly interested in the benefits they can gain from shopping. As for customers with lifestyles seeking pop cultures, they are highly likely to consume products popular in a particular culture such as new products and sports, based on financial stability they pursue. Thus, they prefer more subjective, personal experience, unlike consumer