Shifting consumers into gear: car sharing services in urban areas

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 552-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Prieto ◽  
Valentina Stan ◽  
George Baltas ◽  
Stephanie Lawson
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
Consumer Behaviour ◽  
Sharing Economy ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Target Market ◽  
Car Sharing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mobility Service

Purpose Recently, the sharing economy has attracted considerable attention. This emerging paradigm is driven by powerful technological forces and has the potential to change the way consumers access very important markets such as the car market. Indeed, access-based consumption may attract more participants as it enables consumers’ freedom of lifestyle and more flexible identity projects. The empirical literature has so far paid very little attention to car sharing services; when it has, it has focussed mainly on people who are already using them. The purpose of this paper is to consider the drivers behind the adoption intention of car sharing services. Design/methodology/approach A large multinational survey is carried out in three European capitals: London, Madrid and Paris. Using quota sampling, 2,159 licensed car drivers are recruited through the online panel of TNS Sofres. The sample is representative of the population of licensed car drivers in each city. The questionnaire is developed using established scales from previous research. An OLS regression analysis is performed to test our hypotheses, with a likelihood of choosing a car sharing option as the dependent variable. Findings The study demonstrates that knowledge, environmentalism, possession-self link and involvement with cars are important determinants of consumer behaviour in the car sharing services market. In addition, the user demographics suggest a target market of younger, predominantly male and urban customers. The empirical findings are consistent across the three capital cities, implying that providers can market their car sharing services in a similar manner. Practical implications As important determinants of consumer behaviour in the car sharing services market are underlined, several managerial implications arise from the study. Car sharing providers should promote awareness to help people not only to expand their experience with the service but also to be informed about the potential environmental benefits. Further, a stronger possession-self link in the automotive context is suggestive of a greater willingness to use car sharing systems. Managers should also take into account that it is much more difficult to engage individuals in car sharing services who are highly involved with car, than those who express very little attachment to the product. As people under 45 years old are far more likely to use these services, this generation effect is progressively moving the frontiers of the car retailing sector to a broader mobility service sector. Originality/value The foremost contribution of this paper is to demonstrate empirically how consumer intention to use car sharing is driven. To do so, the study addresses the general population of car drivers, interviewing users of the service as well as non-users.

Transition to circular economy in Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Xocaira Paes ◽  
Gerson Araujo de Medeiros ◽  
Sandro Donnini Mancini ◽  
Flávio de Miranda Ribeiro ◽  
Jose A. Puppim de Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Public Policies ◽  
Local Economy ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Municipal Solid Waste Management ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate how improvements in municipal solid waste management systems (MSWMS) can contribute to a transition toward circular economy (CE) in urban areas, outlining actions and guidelines for public policies. Design/methodology/approach The research was carried out in three municipalities located in the state of São Paulo in terms of: diagnosis; elaboration of more positive scenarios in terms of CE and scaling of economic and environmental benefits; and outline actions and guidelines for public policies of MSWMS. Findings In developing countries like Brazil, MSWMS can contribute to a transition toward a CE through new public policies and management practices, or even through the improvement of those that already exist. Examples of this are the integration of the informal sector of the recycling chain and service sector related to repairs of clothing, shoes, furniture and electronics as well as composting at the food production site. This could be strengthened by legal and financial mechanisms, training and carbon credit projects. Moreover, there is a need for integration of public policies between different levels of governments and sectoral policies. Originality/value This paper developed a methodology to examine the potential for a transition toward a CE through the MSWMS in different scenarios and cities. This methodology allows to advance the implementation of the concept of CE in urban areas of developing countries and generating co-benefits to the local economy and the global environment.

scholarly journals Operational risks and coping strategies of micro-enterprise in peer-to-peer accommodation service sector: evidences from China

2020 ◽  
Vol 120 (9) ◽  
pp. 1759-1775
Author(s):  
Wanfei Wang ◽  
Chengcheng Su ◽  
Jin Hooi Chan ◽  
Xiaoguang Qi
Keyword(s):  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
Sharing Economy ◽  
Peer To Peer ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Chinese Market ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Operational Risks ◽  
Accommodation Sector ◽  
And Coping

PurposeFocusing on the supply side of peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation service sector, this study identifies the emerging types of micro-enterprise operators in the growing Chinese market, and investigate their respective operational risks and coping strategies.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative study was adopted to explore the micro-enterprise in peer-to-peer accommodation in China. Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore the operators' behaviors in the service sector.FindingsBased on the types of property ownership and forms of interaction, four groups of operators were identified, i.e. hospitable sharers, remote sharers, roommates and butlers. This study uncovers their operational risk factors (safety, cost, legal and social, psychological) and respective coping strategies.Originality/valueMost prior studies on P2P accommodation sector are conducted from the demand side about customer behaviors. This study not only enhances the understanding of the hosts in the sharing economy by developing a novel typology of operators, but also provides insights into the operational behaviors on an individual operator perspective.

Skyworth TV: channel dynamics and growth in China's rural market

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Sherriff T.K. Luk ◽  
Ivy Siok Ngoh Chen ◽  
John Coombes
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Consumer Behaviour ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Distribution Channel ◽  
Distribution Channels ◽  
Channel Network ◽  
Household Appliances ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Brand Reputation

Subject area Marketing. Study level/applicability Target audience this decision case has been tried and tested in a classroom setting with final-year undergraduate BBA students and postgraduate students studying an MSc in marketing. The specific course in which this case was used was marketing management in China. This case may also be suitable for an undergraduate or masters level courses in consumer behaviour, distribution management or marketing in China. The case covers environment analysis, market segmentation, consumer behaviour and distribution channels. Case overview Skyworth, a Chinese manufacturer of television sets, was faced with some major decisions. Government subsidies on consumer purchases of household appliances had stimulated demand for TV sets especially in rural areas. However, there were limited distribution channels serving rural areas. Large-scale nationwide chain stores like Gome and Suning served mainly urban areas and top-tier cities. These retailer chains were less interested in selling TV sets as their profit margins were lower. How should Skyworth set up its distribution network to take advantage of the growth in rural markets? Establishing its own channel network would involve huge investments that would affect Skyworth's profits in the next few years. Relying on existing retailer chains may not give it the coverage it wanted. Skyworth's brand reputation had also suffered because of poor product quality and customer support. Can the distribution channel network help to improve its brand reputation and customer loyalty? This case highlights how government policies in China can shape the growth of the household appliance market and change consumption patterns. Expected learning outcomes By studying this case, students will: 1. Examine how environmental factors affect television manufacturers in China; 2. Understand the buying behaviour of rural households for household appliances; 3. Examine distribution channels in an emerging market; 4. Evaluate a company's product portfolio strategy; and5. Suggest segmentation bases for the market for television sets in China. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or e-mail [email protected] to request teaching notes.

Modularity matters: a critical review and synthesis of service modularity

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nofie Iman
Keyword(s):  
Service Sector ◽  
Manufacturing Sector ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Service Development ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Development Context ◽  
High Level ◽  
Service Perspective

Purpose – The literature on modularity is extensive, but most research has been concerned with the manufacturing sector and much less with the service sector. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the existing research, to provide a critique of the empirical literature on service modularity and to discuss future research opportunities. Design/methodology/approach – To perform this analysis of service modularity, a list of top-tier journals in the field of business management and organisation was compiled. From there, each and every article was identified, examined, coded and classified into high-level themes. These were then reviewed, analysed and interpreted. Findings – This paper argues that the application of modularity in services will likely be influenced by certain characteristics that distinguish services from products. Second, modularity, from the service perspective, has been closely connected to productisation of services, and the discussion of modularity related to services has been greatly influenced by the earlier discussion on product modularity. This paper concludes that modularity in the service development context is still seeking its theoretical “identity” and requires further theoretical and empirical work on service design modularity conceptualisation, methods and measures. Originality/value – This paper has reviewed several significant fields with which research on service modularity has been concerned. It captures and presents the core notion of service modularity in a critical way that might spur further research in the field.

Characteristics of closed car-sharing services for urban public housing residents

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanhee Byun ◽  
Jung-Beom Lee ◽  
Hoyoung Kee ◽  
Myungsik Do
Keyword(s):  
Public Housing ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
House Of Commons ◽  
Car Sharing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Private Service ◽  
User Groups ◽  
Apartment Complexes ◽  
Public Housing Residents ◽  
Relevant Factors

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the characteristics of closed car-sharing services and present the relevant factors to provide reasonable service locations. Car-sharing service locations have been arranged to allow customers to easily access locations. However, the particular car-sharing service in this study, enforced through an agreement between residents of the House of Commons, is operated as a closed service, limited to public housing residents. This closed car-sharing service in the House of Commons differs from typical services in that, after use, the users return the vehicle to the same parking location. In addition, determination of the general car-sharing locations is based on the profits of the service operator. The service can be stopped as there are a number of other alternatives for mobility. However, if the closed car-sharing service in the House of Commons is canceled, there is no other alternative for existing users. Therefore, the site selection for the initial introduction of the House of Commons in a closed car-sharing service is a very important issue. Design/methodology/approach This study uses nine months of data from 39 complexes for location analysis for public housing residents in urban areas. The LH Happy Carsharing is a closed private service, used by people residing within approximately 50 rental LH-apartment complexes. As closed car sharing is unfavorable in comparison to other car-sharing services, it is important to demonstrate that the service can succeed in securing a sufficient amount of users. To analyze the viability and usage of the service, the authors have considered ten potential variables. Findings On the basis of the regression analysis result, the adopted significant variables are the number of households, the percentage of residents in the 40’s age group and the number of households with registered vehicles. Originality/value In general, for car-sharing research, specific user groups are not generally identified. However, LH Happy Carsharing is specifically targeted to residents in rental apartments. The LH Happy Carsharing is a private service, used by people residing within approximately 50 rental LH Apartment complexes. Since closed carsharing is unfavorable in comparison to other carsharing services, it is important to demonstrate that the service can succeed in securing a sufficient amount of users. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the characteristics of private carsharing and present the relevant factors to provide reasonable service locations.

China service sector growth driver can only go so far

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
Sharing Economy ◽  
Chinese Economy ◽  
Service Industries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Services Sector ◽  
The Government ◽  
New Jobs

Subject China's services sector. Significance Service industries now account for more than half of the Chinese economy. The government hopes that continued growth in the service sector will boost domestic consumption and create enough new jobs to absorb those lost from heavy industry and manufacturing. However, many of the service positions created so far are low-paid and insecure. Moreover, large numbers of workers are effectively excluded from these new jobs because of their age, skill level or geographic location. Impacts Jobs created by e-commerce and the 'sharing economy' will negatively affect workers in traditional retail and taxi services. Employers' reluctance to train staff and local governments' inability to offer retraining will hamper efforts to bridge the skills gap. Elderly workers laid off in China's north-eastern rust belt will be particularly hard-hit and the least able to adapt. Frustration and anger among the workforce caused by long-term unemployment and underemployment will lead to greater social instability.

Patrons’ behaviours towards Malaysian slimming centres: paradigm of marketing mixes

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-239
Author(s):  
Hasliza Hassan ◽  
Abu Bakar Sade ◽  
Muhammad Sabbir Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Behavioural Intention ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
High Price ◽  
Target Market ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Correlation Relationship ◽  
Content Type

Purpose Slimming centres have become a hot spot for people to reduce their size and reshape their body figure through the sophisticated and modern treatments that are provided by the therapists. The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of price, place and promotion on the behavioural intention to consume the slimming treatments. Design/methodology/approach This research is a cross-sectional study in which 308 primary data were collected for descriptive analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling. The data were collected through a survey questionnaire that was distributed to respondents who have experience in consuming slimming treatment at a slimming centre. Findings The majority of slimming centre consumers are working women aged 25 and above from urban areas. As an attraction, the pricing strategy is a very important influence on consumers to consume the slimming treatment at slimming centres. Although the main target market for slimming centres is career women who are earning an above average income, an excessively high price might weaken the behavioural intention of the consumer to consume the service since Malaysian women are very price conscious. The findings also indicate that there is a significant correlation relationship between price and promotion as well as place and promotion. Originality/value This research is expected to contribute in terms of providing more knowledge about this industry, since there are still limited findings pertaining to slimming centres, especially in the Malaysian market.

Regional export advantage of rising power SMEs

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 236-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaya Prakash Pradhan ◽  
Keshab Das
Keyword(s):  
International Business ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Training Institution ◽  
Western India ◽  
Indian States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Rising Power

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the subnational regional dimension of exports by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in India, one of the prominent emerging economies or “rising powers”. Design/methodology/approach – To understand the forces driving the variation in subnational region’s share in international business of rising power SMEs, an analytical conceptual framework on regional export advantage (REA) was formulated based on the review of relevant theoretical and empirical literature. The model was estimated for Indian states using the most appropriate and recently developed econometric technique of fractional logit model. Findings – The paper provides evidence that the emergence of exports by rising Indian power SMEs is geographically limited to a few select regions/states. Southern Indian states alone accounted for half of exports from SMEs in the organized manufacturing sector during 2000-2008, followed by Western India. The REA analysis has brought to the fore that regional stock of technological knowledge, availability of skill, port facilities, urban areas and foreign direct investment stocks are crucial factors determining states’ share in SME exports across technological subcategories. However, the size and sophistication of local demand continue to influence states’ efforts at enhancing exports by SMEs, at least those belonging to the medium- and high-technology categories. Research limitations/implications – The proposed empirical framework could be extended to include institutional and political economy factors. Its application to subnational regional shares in total exports by all firms taking into account fixed effects for regions may be another feasible line of future research. Practical implications – Empirical findings recognize that appropriate strategies by subnational policymakers are important for a region to achieve a higher contribution in national SME exports. Subnational policy measures aimed at upgradation of regional technological assets and skill base through the promotion of technology clusters and R & D of local firms, facilitation and creation of better industry-university linkages and investments in education and training institution may help the states to gain higher export advantage. Originality/value – This paper provides new analytics and insights into the role of subnational spaces in the internationalization of rising power SMEs from India and serves to contribute to the extant international business research that is predominantly occupied with “nation” as the unit of location.

scholarly journals Consumer Choice Modelling in Sharing Economy

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 1153-1161
Author(s):  
A.O. Gostilovich
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Choice ◽  
Consumer Behaviour ◽  
Choice Model ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Sharing Economy ◽  
Target Market ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Choice Modelling ◽  
Industrial Enterprises ◽  
New Business

Development of sharing economy creates new challenges and opens unprecedented business opportunities. In this economic environment, industrial enterprises can expand their direct selling strategies with the new business model “product as a service”. This option is the result of a shift in consumer preferences among clients of industrial enterprises. The development of the consumer choice model applied to sharing economy is a topical agenda, perhaps now more than ever. Such a model, if available, would help predict multiple scenarios of consumer behaviour and prepare the manufacturing companies for better interaction with their target market. This article makes an attempt to offer a consumer choice model in sharing economy, based on 4 types of possible consumer behaviour. The results of the article serve as a foundation of multi-agent modelling and quantitative assessment of abstract situations in the business-to-consumer market.

scholarly journals Investigating consumer behaviour for environmental, sustainable and social apparel

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerri Byrd ◽  
Jin Su
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Data ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Consumer Behaviour ◽  
Apparel Industry ◽  
Target Market ◽  
Market Information ◽  
Environmental Practices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Production Methods

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate consumers' perceptions of and consumer behaviour towards apparel labels and environmental, sustainable and social apparel.Design/methodology/approachQuantitative research was conducted, and empirical data were collected from 399 US consumers.FindingsFindings indicate that consumers expressed positive sentiments towards apparel sustainability, yet they lacked knowledge about socially and environmental practices within the apparel industry. Overall, it is apparent that the respondents have an interest in environmental and social labelling; but they are not aware of brands that sell these types of garments nor their validity. It was also found that consumers may not have much knowledge regarding environmental, sustainable and social apparel or their meanings.Originality/valueBy surveying the consumers about their perspectives on apparel labels and environmental, sustainable and social apparel, valuable market information was obtained. Sustainably and ethically produced garments are of demand as transparency in the apparel industry grows. Brands looking to become more transparent about their production methods will need to find new ways to reach their target market by accurately labelling products and educating their consumers about these label claims.

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