Consumer Perceptions of Apparel Fit Satisfaction and Sizing Based Upon 3D Body Scanning and Block Garment Assessment
The objectives of this study were to first, determine whether Walmart, Inc. customers are purchasing the correct size garments for their body measurements, and their perceptions of the fit of Walmart, Inc. clothing prior to trying on the current block garments. The next objective was to determine which factors influence fit satisfaction after the participants have tried on the current block garments. Hypothesis 1 tested participants' perceived size and their actual size, Hypothesis 2 tested participants' pre and post try on fit satisfaction perceptions, and Hypothesis 3, 4, and 5 tested which factors have a significant effect on garment fit satisfaction. Through the utilization of a 3D body scanner and two questionnaires, the hypotheses were tested. There were a total of 55 usable responses (100% female) and all participants were Walmart, Inc. consumers. Participants were found to purchase the incorrect size garments more often than the correct size garments based on the results. Fit satisfaction increased post garment try on from pre garment try on. Age, garment type, and size were all statistically significantly influencing factors on fit satisfaction for shirts. Only garment type was found to be a statistically significant influencing factor on fit satisfaction for pants. (c)2015 by Nicole L. Coury All Rights Reserved ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my sincerest gratitude toward my thesis committee, Dr. Laurie Apple, Dr. Kathy Smith, and Dr. Kevin Fitzpatrick for the numerous hours they have spent teaching me and supporting me through this process. I would like to give a special thank you to Dr. Apple, my thesis director and academic advisor, for her support and guidance, and also for facilitating the relationship with Walmart, Inc. that allowed this all to be possible. To Dr. Smith, I would like to thank you for your encouraging words, extensive proofreading, and reminding me to breathe whenever I was feeling overwhelmed. Dr. Fitzpatrick, I cannot thank you enough for your assistance with the statistics and data analysis, and for answering my never ending list of questions. As a team, you all have provided me with your wisdom and understanding as I have voyaged through this learning process. I will forever be grateful, and could not have completed this thesis without you all. I would like to thank all of the Apparel Merchandising and Product Development faculty members, Dr. Leigh Southward, Dr. Eunjoo Cho, Dr. Ja Young Hwang, Ms. Stephanie Hubert, and Mr. Lance Cheramie for their support, understanding, and assistance throughout this process. I would especially like to thank Dr. Leigh Southward, Dr. Eunjoo Cho, and Dr. Ja Young for their guidance with coursework, and support of the completion of this thesis and my degree. I would also like to thank the students in the program who helped me with my pilot study and who supported me throughout my graduate studies. I would like to thank all of the Walmart, Inc. employees who made this thesis possible and who assisted me in the process: Ken Lanshe, Dontai Nash, Eleanor Butler, Libby Wilson, Kristen Veit, Dominika Lipecka, Pamela Pelletier, and everyone else at the Walmart, Inc. apparel offices who contributed. This thesis would not have been possible without all of your help and support. I would also like to thank my fellow graduate students, Jennifer Rose and Shan Gao, for their words of encouragements, support, and friendship. Finally I would like to thank my friends and family, for always believing in me and encouraging me, and lifting my spirits when I needed it most. DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my parents, my sister, and my grandmother. I don't know how I would have made it through the last two years without your constant encouragement and prayers. Thank you for always believing in me, even when I didn't, and cheering me on until the end. Words cannot express how much I love you all and appreciate everything you all have done for me. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1