Family and Consumer Sciences

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  Online Food Delivery: The Role Of Drivers' Service Quality In Consumer Satisfaction

  Dylis-Judith Mensah

  Over the last several years, and particularly during the global hit COVID-19 pandemic, many food enterprises transact businesses with consumers with just a click of a button. There are many studies on online food delivery (OFD) and consumer satisfaction. They report how consumers are driven positively towards using OFD because they perceive that the system saves them time and effort than conventional options. It is also well documented that working conditions influence employee output, consequently, the service quality they provide to customers. In OFD services, the drivers are the last contact to customers. Therefore, their service has a great potential of leaving a good or a wrong lasting impression on the consumer. In light of this truth, how the drivers feel about work is pivotal for a wonderful customer experience. Despite the revelation that consumers are not entirely satisfied with OFD services, there is no study specifically linking consumer dissatisfaction to OFD drivers. The aim of this study is to determine how employee engagement influences OFD drivers' performance and how OFD drivers' performance is related to consumer dissatisfaction with OFD services. Two online surveys created using Qualtrics will be used in this study, one for drivers and the other for consumers. Amazon Mturk will facilitate data collection from consumers, and a market research company will distribute the survey to the drivers. Both surveys will remain open for four weeks. The data will be analyzed using SPSS version 27. The variables will be measured using a fivepoint Likert scale, with available responses ranging from 1) Strongly disagree to 5). The study will add novel literature to the foodservice management research field. The strategies and approaches that will be proposed can be employed by OFD operators in the education, training, and re-training of their drivers and in motivating them to exhibit quality in service delivery.

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  Case Study Of Durability, Abrasion Resistance, And Colorfastness Pertaining To Crocking And Frosting On Faux Leather Fabrics

  Haley Parks

  This study investigated faux leather’s durability, abrasion resistance, and colorfastness related to various abrasions, surface contact, and rubbing. Authentic leather is not ideal to fashion designers and brands because it can produce an excessive polluting substance due to the use of harmful chemicals in the production process. This is why faux leather would be a prime alternative choice for environmentally conscious production. Our main focus was to test faux leather fabrics’ abrasion resistance because there could be potential issues with the coatings involved. Two different types of faux leather fabrics were tested in this study: 1) faux leather fabric with PU coating (base: 100% polyester, coated: 100% polyurethane), 2) textured faux leather fabric without PU coating (100% polyester). The faux leather fabrics were tested by using ASTM and AATCC standard test methods in relation to durability, abrasion resistance, and colorfastness to crocking (surface contact) and frosting (flat abrasion). Results indicate the PU coating faux leather fabric was durable and abrasion resistant against flat and flex abrasions, and pilling; also had good colorfastness to crocking and frosting. The textured faux leather fabric without PU coating was resistant against flex abrasion and pilling only. The different results from each faux leather fabrics requires more research and investigation as to what may make one faux leather superior to another faux leather.

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  A Comparison of Qualities of Colorfastness for Non-Stretch versus Stretch Faux Suede Fabrics

  Meara Walsh

  Faux suede textiles have caught the attention of many consumers looking for an ecofriendlier way of wearing leather and animal cruelty-free alternatives. According to prior studies, faux suede fabrics made of microfibers could have unevenness in dyeing because microfibers require more dyestuffs than regular fibers to attain a given shade depth. Since microfibers contain greater amounts of dye than regular fibers, fabrics made of microfibers may have poor wet colorfastness. As few studies have investigated colorfastness of faux suede fabrics made from microfibers, the purpose of this study was to examine the colorfastness of faux suede fabrics. Two faux suede fabrics with and without stretch, commonly used in the textiles market, were selected as samples in this study, including a 100% polyester non-stretch faux suede fabric and a 90% polyester/10% spandex stretch faux suede fabric. These two fabric samples were tested, using AATCC standard test methods about colorfastness. Results indicate the non-stretch suede fabric had significant color staining to other fibers due to laundering and poor colorfastness due to frosting, while the stretch faux suede fabric had significant color staining to other fibers, due to perspiration, laundering, and poor colorfastness to crocking. Both fabrics did not have shade changes due to perspiration, laundering, crocking, and frosting. The stretch faux suede fabric showed more severe color staining/transfer due to perspiration, laundering, and crocking, compared with the non-stretch faux suede fabric. Considering the test results, more detailed care instructions for these suede fabrics should be given to consumers to help them prevent severe color staining on other materials.