Abstract:
The promotion of the clothing retail business as the center of fashion is a key policy for moving the Thai clothing market forward to international markets. Technologies, online channels and other platforms have been implemented to promote continuous growth. Thus, the different business contexts have encouraged entrepreneurs to create a business identity and adapt themselves to gain more knowledge to further understand the business world. The objectives of this research were to study the direct, indirect and total impacts of the variables affecting the clothing retail business performance by implementing e-business in Thailand, to develop a structural equation model (SEM) of the variables affecting the clothing retail business performance, and to examine the consistency of the developed SEM of the variables affecting the clothing retail business performance and the empirical data. This research applied a mixed method research. The quantitative data were collected from a questionnaire and analyzed with the percentage, mean, standard deviation, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and structural equation analysis. The qualitative data were collected by an in-depth interview with the clothing retail business entrepreneurs or experts in the clothing retail business.
The research results showed that firm characteristics, innovation characteristics, environment context, and e-business adaptation had a direct and indirect impact on the clothing retail business performance by implementing e-business in Thailand via e-business adaptation, which was the mediator. The results of the CFA for examining the consistency of the model and the empirical data indicated that the adjustment model was appropriate, and the indicator was able to measure the latent factor with a statistical significance. From the SEM and the analysis of the consistency of the model, it was found that the consideration of the modification index and adjustment model had a model fit, where the Chi-square (X²) = 160.089, df = 88, CMIN/DF (X²/df) = 1.819, p = .000, GFI = .949, CFI = .984, AGFI = .921, NFI = .966, RMR = .035, RMSEA = .046, and PCLOSE=.681, which followed the international standard when considering the relationship between the moderate variables of the adjustment model.
However, it was discovered that consumers could easily and conveniently access electronic media for searching for information, checking email, watching movies, or listening to online music. Moreover, the Internet has become a major activity in peoples daily life, so the clothing retail business should implement e-commerce to approach customers while the basic business components remain the same. This could be conducted by offering in demand products and services, producing a perception for recognition, and creating a continuous relationship with the target group and current customers. Therefore, the entrepreneurs of clothing retail businesses should adapt and conduct more online selling. At present, new entrepreneurs can easily join e- commerce. From the promotions and encouragement from the government sector and associations, the business sector via the activities could navigate the adaptation and utilization of information and technologies to construct appropriate competitiveness to the size of the business to gain a competitive advantage that would finally result in efficient and effective business performance.