You Shall (Not) Fear

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 628-644
Author(s):  
Heejin Lim ◽  
Moonhee Cho ◽  
Sergio C. Bedford
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Nonprofit Organizations ◽  
Emotional Arousal ◽  
Ethical Consumption ◽  
Animal Cruelty ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Fashion Industry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supportive Behavior ◽  
Threatening Condition

Purpose In the age of transparency, nonprofit organizations have attempted to raise awareness of unethical business practices through diverse social media platforms, putting firms under great pressure to incorporate sustainability in their operations. Focusing on the issue of animal cruelty which is a relatively under-investigated topic in the fashion industry, the purpose of this paper is to examine how different levels of animal cruelty depicted in nonprofit organizations’ ethical consumption campaigns influence viewers’ negative emotions and lead to their supportive behavior and ethical consumption intention. Design/methodology/approach In the main study, undergraduate students (n=82) from a big public University in the USA were recruited in exchange for extra credit and randomly assigned to one of the three experimental conditions of animal cruelty in a single-factor, three-level, between-subjects experimental design: non-threatening condition (n=26), low-threatening condition (n=27) and high-threatening condition (n=29). Findings The results indicated that the levels of negative emotional arousal are positively related to levels of perceived animal cruelty in social media campaigns. In addition, negative emotional arousal mediates the effect of perceived animal cruelty on the intention of supportive behavior, but no mediation effect on ethical consumption intention was found. Additionally, the findings of this study revealed that the indirect effect of perceived animal cruelty on supportive behavior intention is moderated by participants’ moral justification such as the reality of economic development and government dependency. Originality/value The findings of this study contribute to the literature by advancing the current understanding of the role of negative emotional images in ethical consumption campaigns in the context of animal cruelty in the fashion industry.

scholarly journals Do ethical concerns and personal values influence the purchase intention of fast-fashion clothing?

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara Stringer ◽  
Gary Mortimer ◽  
Alice Ruth Payne
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Personal Values ◽  
Ethical Consumption ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Fashion Industry ◽  
Fast Fashion ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ethical Concerns ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe rise of fast fashion has changed the face of global fashion. Despite sector growth, critics have questioned the level of obsolescence, encouragement of over-consumption and fast fashion's unsustainable business practices. Specifically, mounting concerns surround the impact on environmental, worker and animal welfare. Accordingly, the aim of this current work is to understand the influence of consumer's values on ethical consumption in a fast-fashion context.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey was designed to collect responses relating to personal values and ethical concerns towards animal and worker welfare issues, as well as environmental concerns. A total of 350 US-based fast-fashion consumers completed the survey via Amazon MTurk. Factor analyses and structural equation modelling were used to analyse and test a theoretically hypothesised model.FindingsThis study found that self-transcendence values and openness to change values have a positive impact on consumers' levels of ethical concern towards animal welfare, the environment and worker welfare concerns within the fashion industry. Furthermore, a consumer's level of concern towards animal welfare and the environment positively influences a consumer's likeliness to purchase ethically marketed fast fashion.Originality/valueThis is the first study to investigate the role of consumer values and their influence on ethical concerns within the fashion industry and the impact of these concerns on intentions to purchase ethically marketed fast fashion. Responding to calls for further research into ethical consumption of apparel, this study includes all elements of ethical consumption identified, including animal welfare. This study identifies ethical areas of concern salient amongst fast-fashion consumers and provides a deeper understanding of the values impacting the level of ethical concerns surrounding animal welfare, the environment and worker welfare.

Moving social marketing beyond personal change to social change

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 240-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanine P.D. Guidry ◽  
Richard D. Waters ◽  
Gregory D. Saxton
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Nonprofit Organizations ◽  
Social Marketing ◽  
Community Building ◽  
Social Changes ◽  
Media Communication ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Personal Changes ◽  
Social Media Communication

Purpose – This paper aims to examine what type of messaging on Twitter is most effective for helping move social marketing beyond focusing on personal changes to find out what messages help turn members of the public into vocal advocates for these organizations’ social changes. Social marketing scholarship has regularly focused on how organizations can effectively influence changes in awareness and behaviors among their targeted audience. Communication scholarship, however, has repeatedly shown that the most influential form of persuasion happens interpersonally. As such, it is imperative that organizations learn how to engage audiences and facilitate the discussion about organizational messages between individuals. Social media provide platforms for such conversations, as organizational messaging can be shared and discussed by individuals with others in their networks. Design/methodology/approach – Through a content analysis of 3,415 Twitter updates from 50 nonprofit organizations, this study identifies specific types of messages that are more likely to get stakeholders retweeting, archiving and discussing the organizations’ messaging through regression analysis. Findings – Messages focusing on calls-to-action and community building generated the most retweets and Twitter conversation; however, they were also the least used strategies by nonprofit organizations. Originality/value – Research has regularly examined the types of messages sent out by nonprofit organizations on Twitter, but they have not tested those messages against measures of engagement. This study pushes the understanding of social media communication to the next level by analyzing those message categories against metrics provided by Twitter for each tweet in the sample.

Identifying target audience on enterprise social network

2019 ◽  
Vol 119 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianhong Luo ◽  
Xuwei Pan ◽  
Shixiong Wang ◽  
Yujing Huang
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Latent Dirichlet Allocation ◽  
Topic Model ◽  
Information Service ◽  
Target Audience ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Enterprise Social Media ◽  
Enterprise Social Network

Purpose Delivering messages and information to potentially interested users is one of the distinguishing applications of online enterprise social network (ESN). The purpose of this paper is to provide insights to better understand the repost preferences of users and provide personalized information service in enterprise social media marketing. Design/methodology/approach It is accomplished by constructing a target audience identification framework. Repost preference latent Dirichlet allocation (RPLDA) topic model topic model is proposed to understand the mass user online repost preferences toward different contents. A topic-oriented preference metric is proposed to measure the preference degree of individual users. And the function of reposting forecasting is formulated to identify target audience. Findings The empirical research shows the following: a total of 20 percent of the repost users in ESN represent the key active users who are particularly interested in the latent topic of messages in ESN and fits Pareto distribution; and the target audience identification framework can successfully identify different target key users for messages with different latent topics. Practical implications The findings should motivate marketing managers to improve enterprise brand by identifying key target audience in ESN and marketing in a way that truthfully reflects personalized preferences. Originality/value This study runs counter to most current business practices, which tend to use simple popularity to seek important users. Adaptively and dynamically identifying target audience appears to have considerable potential, especially in the rapidly growing area of enterprise social media information service.

Nonprofits meet millennials: a hybrid approach of uses and gratifications and TAM to identify the drivers of monetary donation intention

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 435-449
Author(s):  
Bela Florenthal ◽  
Manar Awad ◽  
Susan Godar
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Nonprofit Organizations ◽  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Uses And Gratifications ◽  
Hybrid Approach ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Donation Behavior ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Nonprofit organizations (NPOs) are increasingly using social media outlets to target millennials for donations of time and money. This study aims to investigate the motivational drivers of millennials’ intention to donate money to charities on social media sites (SMSs). Design/methodology/approach A partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method was used to test the proposed model. Findings The results indicate that both information seeking and entertainment, coupled with subjective norm, directly affect millennials’ intention to donate money to NPOs via SMSs. In addition, attitude toward engagement with NPOs on SMSs mediates the impact of credibility (fully, positively), irritation (fully, negatively) and entertainment (partially, positively) on behavior intention. Implications for practitioners are discussed. Originality/value An integration of two leading theories, Uses and An integration of two leading theories, Uses and Gratifications (U&G) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)—is used to examine the antecedents of donation behavior of this cohort as related to their engagement with NPOs on SMSs. Such an approach has not been used in the past to examine Millennials’ engagement with NPOs on SMSs.

Service co-creation on social media: varieties and measures among nonprofit organizations

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatuma Namisango ◽  
Kyeong Kang ◽  
Junaid Rehman
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Nonprofit Organizations ◽  
Nonprofit Sector ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Mixed Methods Design ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multidimensional Measure ◽  
Strategic Value ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Service Experiences

PurposeLittle is known about the variations in service co-creation on social media, despite the resource integrating capabilities and co-creator roles afforded by these platforms. The gap is even more troubling in the nonprofit sector, where leveraging public interaction on social media is prevalent and vital to charitable and philanthropic endeavors. Arguably, such interaction is embedded in resource integrating activities leading to nonprofit service co-creation. This paper reports the forms, dimensions or service co-creation measures enabled by social media use in the nonprofits' sector.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted a sequential exploratory mixed methods design. First, the authors interviewed 19 social media managers in education, health and social service nonprofit organizations to identify the varieties in service co-creation realized. Second, the authors surveyed 73 nonprofit organizations on social media and gathered 267 useable responses, which were used to analyze and validate the identified forms of service co-creation.FindingsThe authors found that nonprofit organizations realize up to seven forms of service co-creation using social media. These include co-ideating to tweak service ideas, co-diagnosing social needs and problems, co-assessing service events, co-transforming services to targeted communities, co-advocating for community and service reach, co-resourcing in service delivery, and co-experiencing through a pool of diverse service experiences.Originality/valueThis study develops a reliable and valid multidimensional measure for nonprofit service co-creation enabled by social media platforms. Theoretically, this study offers a nonprofit service co-creation model to drive nuanced explanatory research and service co-creation perspectives in other contexts and engagement platforms. Managerially, this research illustrates the variations in service co-creation, which inform the strategic value of social media to nonprofits and will assist nonprofit practitioners in planning and evaluating their service co-creation outcomes.

scholarly journals IMC, social media and UK fashion micro-organisations

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 668-691 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Elisabeth Henninger ◽  
Panayiota J. Alevizou ◽  
Caroline J. Oates
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Integrated Marketing Communications ◽  
Fashion Industry ◽  
Integrated Marketing ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Online Platforms ◽  
Use Of Social Media ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to analyse the practical applicability of integrated marketing communications (IMC) to micro-organisations operating in the UK’s fashion industry, focusing specifically on the use of online platforms. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative methodological tools including semi-structured interviews, semiotics, Twitterfeed and Facebook analysis are used to examine to what extent micro-organisations apply IMC. Findings The findings suggest that these micro-organisations have a limited understanding of IMC. Although they utilise various channels, including social media, there is a disconnect between reaching the audience, understanding their needs and linking these aspects. External factors influence the use of various communication channels, leading to further fragmentation of sent messages. Research limitations/implications This research focuses on five micro-organisations within the fashion industry and thus may be seen as limited in nature. Whilst implications of the findings are discussed in terms of their impact to the wider industry and other sectors, this needs to be further researched. Practical implications Micro-organisations are underdeveloped in terms of both IMC and social media and require practical advice. Originality/value This study investigates two under-researched areas, IMC in micro-organisations and the use of social media within IMC, thereby moving forward our understanding of IMC in practice.

scholarly journals As cheap as humanly possible: why consumers care less about worker welfare

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara Stringer ◽  
Alice Ruth Payne ◽  
Gary Mortimer
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Ethical Consumption ◽  
Fashion Industry ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Fast Fashion ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Modern Slavery ◽  
Area Of Concern

PurposeWorker welfare and modern slavery within the fashion industry remain a key supply chain challenge for many retailers, consumers, governments and advocacy groups. Yet, despite publicised worker-welfare violations, many fashion retailers continue to post record sales and profits, indicating that consumer concern does not always translate at the cash register. Research has shown that worker welfare is a less salient area of concern for fashion consumers, and the aim of this research is to investigate the reasons why this may be the case.Design/methodology/approachDue to the exploratory nature of the research, a qualitative methodology was deemed the most appropriate. Twenty-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with Australian fast-fashion consumers to investigate the underlying reasons worker-welfare violations are less likely to elicit pro-social consumer behavioural change and are a less salient area of concern.FindingsThis study found that consumers perceive worker-welfare concerns at both a proximal and cultural distance to themselves, and therefore struggle to connect with the issues associated with modern slavery. Additionally, there was an underlying social consensus that exploitative practices are an accepted part of the fast-fashion supply chain to ensure the continuation of low-cost clothing. Despite an underlying awareness of exploitative practices and acknowledgement that modern slavery is ethically wrong, other consumer values often influenced purchase behaviour and the level of concern expressed towards garment workers.Originality/valueThis is the first study to apply psychological distance in a fast-fashion context to better understand consumer perceptions towards modern slavery. Responding to calls for further research into ethical consumption of apparel, this study develops an in-depth understanding of the reasons why worker welfare is a less salient area of concern for fast-fashion consumers. Extending on current literature, this study qualitatively investigates consumer sentiment towards worker welfare, identifying the greatest barriers to consumers' levels of concern. In addition to a theoretical contribution to the fashion, ethics and business literature, this article provides key insight to guide practice.

Chinese entrepreneurs’ experience of social media marketing: perception, strategy and challenge

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Huan Chen ◽  
Dalong Ma ◽  
Ruowen Wang
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Social Media Marketing ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Entrepreneurial Marketing ◽  
Marketing Activities ◽  
Chinese Entrepreneurs ◽  
Emic Perspective ◽  
Media Applications

Purpose This paper aims to explore Chinese entrepreneurs’ perceptions and interpretations of social media marketing (SMM) in their daily business practices. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative approach was adopted to explore the phenomenon. Specifically, 18 in-depth interviews were conducted among Chinese entrepreneurs to obtain their experiences of and perceptions on SMM. Findings Findings revealed that Chinese entrepreneurs have good understandings of SMM. They believe SMM is a necessary way to interact with customers and SMM can provide flexibility and sensitivity which are important for entrepreneurial marketing and are not easy to achieve through traditional marketing activities. When they choose social media applications, they will match the purpose of marketing activity with the characteristics of the social media. They have developed the specific strategies for different social media applications. In the meantime, they are facing some challenges, such as breaking the communication clutter, measuring the results and over depending on social media. Originality/value Findings of the current study extend the uses and gratifications theory to the context of business-oriented media usage. In addition, findings of the study expand previous literature by enriching the theoretical understanding of the concept of entrepreneur and entrepreneurial marketing in new social and cultural contexts. Finally, findings of the current study also supplement previous research on social media advertising by uncovering rich meanings of SMM from business owners’ emic perspective.

scholarly journals Impulse buying behaviour: an online-offline comparative and the impact of social media

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Aragoncillo ◽  
Carlos Orus
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Impulse Buying ◽  
Fashion Industry ◽  
Delayed Gratification ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Online Retailers ◽  
Buying Behaviour ◽  
Offline Channels ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to explore the phenomenon of impulse buying in the fashion industry. The online and offline channels are compared to determine which is perceived as leading to more impulsive buying. Design/methodology/approach As the result of the literature review, three research questions are proposed and examined through an online self-administered survey with 212 valid responses. Findings Results show that the offline channel is slightly more encouraging of impulse buying than the online channel; factors that encourage online impulse buying explain this behaviour to a greater extent than do discouraging factors; social networks can have a big impact on impulse buying. Research limitations/implications Findings are limited by the sampling plan, the sample size and the measurement of some of the variables; only one product type is analysed. Further research is needed to confirm that shipping-refund costs and delayed gratification (traditionally, discouraging factors of online buying) encourage online impulse buying; clarify contradictory results regarding the role of online privacy and convenience. This research contributes to the validation of a scale to measure the influence of social media on impulse buying behaviour. Practical implications Offline companies can trigger the buying impulse to a greater extent than online retailers. Managers must carefully select social networks to encourage impulse buying, Facebook and Instagram being the most influential; Twitter has the least impact. Originality/value This study compares the impulse buying phenomenon in both the physical store and the internet. Moreover, the influence of social networks on impulse buying is also explored.

User engagement in social media – an explorative study of Swedish fashion brands

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Geissinger ◽  
Christofer Laurell
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
Fashion Industry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Explorative Study ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Media Applications ◽  
Over Time

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to add to the literature by exploring how curvilinear manifestations of user engagement can be explained in the setting of fashion-oriented social media. Design/methodology/approach – This study analyses how ten Swedish fashion brands have been integrated in expressions of user engagement in social media. In total, a material of 11,173 user-generated contents from different types of social media applications over a period of 12 weeks was collected and analysed. Findings – The results of this paper show that user engagement fluctuates considerably over time in social media. It also shows that the degree of engagement varies between different forms of social media applications. Originality/value – This study contributes to the literature on fashion marketing and user engagement by adding empirical support for the suggestion that expressions of engagement found in social media are curvilinear in their nature. It also concludes that highly involved and engaged users, instead of being brand activists, tend to be variety seekers in the studied setting that when taken together represents an emerging managerial challenge for the fashion industry and particularly fashion firms.

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