The impact of self-congruity and virtual interactivity on online celebrity brand equity and fans’ purchase intention

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 783-801
Author(s):  
Chengchen Liu ◽  
Ya Zhang ◽  
Jing Zhang

Purpose There is growing interest among marketers in advertising and promoting their brands by adopting an online celebrity endorsement strategy. However, how online celebrities build their own brand equity and how online celebrity brand equity impacts fans’ purchase behavior have not been extensively researched in the extant literature. This paper aims to explore the factors that contribute to online celebrity branding and improving fans’ purchase intentions. Design/methodology/approach A survey and an experiment were conducted among consumers from the mainland of China. A total of 12 hypotheses were proposed to exam how self-congruity and virtual interactivity impact online celebrity branding and to explore the moderating role of perceived quality and product type. Findings This paper reveals that customers’ perceived self-congruity with online celebrities’ image and virtual interactivity positively impact the brand equity of online celebrities. Additionally, compared with virtual interactivity, the effect of customer perceived self-congruity on a brand is more significant. The brand equity of online celebrities thereby drives followers’ purchase intentions and the perceived quality of products positively moderates this relationship. Originality/value The research conclusions provide managerial implications for marketing practitioners for how to use human brands on social media platforms in the web 2.0 era and ultimately enhance consumer purchase intentions.

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-330
Author(s):  
Emerson Wagner Mainardes ◽  
Vinicius Costa Amorim Gomes ◽  
Danilo Marchiori ◽  
Luis Eugenio Correa ◽  
Vinicius Guss

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to verify the differences of the influence of customer experience quality on brand equity, brand trustworthiness, perceived quality, perceived risk and purchase intention of franchise customers and non-franchise customers. Design/methodology/approach After developing two questionnaires, the authors collected 523 responses from Brazilian franchise users (Questionnaire 1) and 574 of non-franchise users (Questionnaire 2). The authors proceed to a confirmatory factor analysis, based on covariance (CB-SEM). In order to compare the results between franchises and non-franchises, the authors have performed a multi-group analysis with support of AMOS. Findings The results show that customer experience quality of the franchise customers tends to result in a better purchase intention, giving indications of better quality and brand trustworthiness when compared to non-franchises. This comparison shows indications of the competitive advantage of franchises over non-franchises, justifying the investments that market companies have been making in the development of the customer experience quality. Originality/value The research contributes to the understanding of the impact of the customer experience quality on brand equity, brand trustworthiness, perceived quality, perceived risk and purchase intention that directly affects the performance of the franchises, empirically investigating the customer experience quality in the context of franchises using the adapted EXQ scale. Complementarily, it is compared with non-franchises to observe the differences between them.


2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (12) ◽  
pp. 1298-1316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magali Jara ◽  
Gérard Cliquet ◽  
Isabelle Robert

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to tackle the issue of store brand equity by considering two store brand’s positioning strategies: those with high perceived added value (the organic store brands), as opposed to economic brands. It takes place in the current environmental considerations showing the important role played by the packaging in determining the store brand equity. Design/methodology/approach A PLS Path model divided into four sub-models enables the authors to make specific predictions about customers’ purchase intentions. It also provides a concise operational calculation of the brand equity of each studied store brand. Findings Results show that economic brands build their equity with reinforced packaging, and organic brands maximise their brand equity by using simple packaging. In general, reinforced packaging improves the perceived quality of economic store brands but destroys that of organic brands. The calculations of overall equity scores for each studied store brand reveal that economic brands could benefit from further development whilst organic brands already maximise their equity. Practical implications Results will enable large retailers to develop effective campaigns focussing on perceived quality and more specifically by designing packaging that are suitable for the positioning of their brands – a simple packaging for organic brands and a reinforced packaging for economic brands to maximise customers’ value. Originality/value This is one of the first studies to deepen the store brand equity, comparing two contrasting types of brands, by studying specifically variations of the levels of customers’ perceived quality depending of two types of packaging.


2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 433-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Watson ◽  
Bethan Alexander ◽  
Leyla Salavati

Purpose Utilizing the stimulus-organism-response model, the purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of augmented reality (AR) (specifically augmentation) on consumers’ affective and behavioral response and to assess whether consumers’ hedonic motivation for shopping moderates this relationship. Design/methodology/approach An experiment using the manipulation of AR and no AR was conducted with 162 participants aged between 18 and 35. Participants were recruited through snowball sampling and randomly assigned to the control or stimulus group. The hypothesized associations were analyzed using linear regression with bootstrapping. Findings The paper demonstrates the benefit of using an experiential AR retail application (app) to positively impact purchase intention. The results show that this effect is mediated by positive affective response. Furthermore, hedonic shopping motivation moderates the relationship between augmentation and the positive affective response. Research limitations/implications Because of the chosen research approach, the results may lack generalizability to other forms of augmentation. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the proposed model using different types of AR stimuli. Furthermore, replication of the study with other populations would increase the generalizability of the findings. Practical implications Results of this study provide a valuable reference for retailers of the benefits of using AR when attempting to optimize experiential value in online environments. Originality/value The study contributes to experiential retail and consumer purchase behavior research by deepening the conceptualization of the impact of experiential technologies, more specifically AR apps, by considering the role of hedonic shopping motivations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-179
Author(s):  
Patrícia Monteiro ◽  
João Guerreiro ◽  
Sandra Maria Correia Loureiro

Purpose Wine bottles compete for consumers’ attention in the shelf during the decisive moment of choice. This study aims to explore the role that visual attention to wine labels has on the purchase decision and the mediating role of quality perceptions and desire on such purchase behaviours. Wine awards and consumption situation are used as moderators.. Design/methodology/approach The study was conducted in Portugal and 36 individuals participated in a 2 × 2 within subjects design (awarded/not awarded × self-consumption/social-consumption). For each scenario, individuals’ attention, perceptions of quality, desire and purchase intentions were recorded. Findings Data from eye-tracking shows that, during the purchase process, the amount of attention given to a bottle is determinant of individuals’ purchase intentions, a relationship that increases in significance for bottles with awards and for when consumers are buying wine for a consumption situation involving a social environment. In addition, both quality perceptions and desire are confirmed to positively influence wines’ purchase intentions. Originality/value By using an eye monitoring method, this paper brings new insights into the wine industry by highlighting the impact that wines’ labels and different consumption situations have on individuals’ attention and purchase intention. Wine producers and retailers may benefit from the insights provided by the current study to refine their communication strategies by either highlighting product characteristics and pictorial elements, as it is the case of the awards, or communicating about their products for different consumption situations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 403-437
Author(s):  
Jian Mou ◽  
Jason Cohen ◽  
Yongxiang Dou ◽  
Bo Zhang

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop and test a model of the uncertainties and benefits influencing the repurchase intentions of buyers in cross-border e-commerce (CBEC). Design/methodology/approach The authors draw on the valence framework to hypothesize effects of positive valences (utilitarian benefits) along with negative valences (pre- and post-contractual uncertainties) on buyers’ repeat purchase intentions. Data were collected using an online survey from 378 international B2C buyers on a CBEC platform in China. Findings Results explain 51.4 percent of the variance and reveal that overall value, as determined by monetary saving, convenience and product offerings as positive valences, exerts the strongest effect on repeat purchase intention. However, negative valences remain significant, and are particularly salient for female shoppers. Research limitations/implications The authors extend the valence theory into the study of repeat purchase behavior and contribute to much needed literature on why consumers return to repurchase from a CBEC platform. Practical implications Repeat purchase and loyalty of online consumers is essential for success of e-commerce providers. The results help online providers competing in international markets understand how buyers form repurchase intentions based on their evaluations of both value and uncertainty. Originality/value Buyer behavior in CBEC has received relatively less attention than domestic e-commerce. This paper is among the first to examine how both positive and negative valences combine to effect repurchase intention of international buyers in CBEC.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Devlin ◽  
Andrew C. Billings

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate occurrences of confirmation bias existing for sponsors whose brand is congruent to a sport. More specifically, this research investigates: if confirmation biases for congruent brands occur in the absence of exposure, the impact audience segmentation has on sponsorship evaluations by comparing highly identified fans to non-fans, and if congruent sponsors are recalled more often than incongruent sponsors after exposure. Design/methodology/approach An experiment was conducted to measure how exposure, type of sponsor, and fan identification impacts recognition, attitude, and purchase intention. Findings The results confirm sport-congruent brands are more likely to be falsely recognized as a sponsor than non-congruent sponsors in the absence of sponsorship participation. Sport consumers’ confirmation biases yield positive attitudes and purchase intentions for congruent brands even in the absence of immediate exposure. Lastly, exposure has no impact on recall or sponsor outcomes, suggesting the need for articulating the brand’s connection prior to the event to build stronger memory traces. Practical implications Congruent brands should carefully consider investment costs and expected return on investment, noting benefits of participation might be marginal as a result of confirmation biases. Potential sponsors should also understand cognitive benefits begin before exposure to the sponsorship occurs, and therefore need to articulate a connection to the event prior to exposure by consumers. Originality/value The findings suggest the importance of confirmation biases when attempting to reach sport consumers. Some brands may be able to increase recall and recognition even in the absence of exposure, thus helping decision makers when managing budgets.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-258
Author(s):  
Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of materialistic values on purchase intention (PI) toward green products among consumers in Vietnam and Taiwan, two Asian countries with different levels of economic development. Design/methodology/approach This research employs the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) with an integration of materialism. To serve the purpose of this study, two consumer surveys were conducted in Hanoi (Vietnam) and Taipei (Taiwan). The structural equation modeling was employed to test the proposed model and hypotheses. Findings This study examined the impact of some antecedents of green PI among consumers in Vietnam and Taiwan, focusing on the indirect impact of materialistic values (through attitude). All five hypotheses received support from the Vietnam data, confirming the significant impacts of materialistic values (i.e. success and happiness) on attitude, and all three antecedents from the TPB model (i.e. attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control) as positive predictors of green PI. For the Taiwan data, the findings were similar to those from the Vietnam data, except insignificant impact of success value on attitude toward buying green products. Originality/value This research is expected to contribute to the extant literature by enriching the knowledge of the interesting and important relationship between materialistic values and green purchase behavior among consumers in two Asian markets where, to the author’s best understanding, only modest research effort has been given to explore this topic.


2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 145-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chun Qiu ◽  
Peter Popkowski Leszczyc

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study firms’ decisions of voluntary disclosure of high product quality by sending their products to intermediaries for review, and how the nature of the reviews subsequently substitutes the brand names in terms of affecting the price of the product. Design/methodology/approach – Using data on camcorders and point & shoot digital cameras collected from multiple intermediary sources, this paper empirically tests the relationships among brand equity, send for review decisions, the nature of reviews and pricing, controlling for endogeneity. Findings – This paper finds that firms are likely to send their high-quality products to the intermediaries for review, but such likelihood varies across different brands. Relatively weak brands are more likely to send their products for review than relatively strong brands. By doing so, weak brands receive two benefits: first, intermediary reviews help eliminate price differentials between weak brands and strong brands. The more positive is the review, the higher is the price. When intermediary reviews are not obtained, some strong brands effectively charge a price premium over weak brands. Second, intermediary reviews subsequently attract more consumer word of mouth (WOM). The more positive is the review, the more consumer WOM is attracted. Researchlimitations/implications – One limitation is that this paper does not account for the influence of intra-brand competition. The second limitation is related to the assumption that intermediary reviews are accurate. Practicalimplications – This paper offers managerial implications to brand managers concerning send-for-review and pricing decisions. It proposes how managers leverage third-party endorsement in launching a new product. Originality/value – This paper is one of the few papers empirically studying the interaction of two communication approaches: disclosure and brand signaling. It modifies the commonly assumed relationships among brand, quality and price by demonstrating the substitute effect of intermediary reviews and brand names on price. This paper is also the first research that empirically examines the impact of firms’ “send-for-review” decisions on generating consumer WOM. Managerially, this paper substantiates Godes et al.’s (2005) framework on how firms should manage social interactions upon the release of new products.


2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 583-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chia-Chen Chen ◽  
Kuo-Lun Hsiao ◽  
Shan-Jung Wu

Purpose With the advent of the digital era, the internet has gradually become an essential factor in people’s lives. Its increasing popularity has also caused e-commerce to thrive, and has increased the power of online marketing. In recent years, social commerce has emerged as a new mode of operation which can be distinguished from traditional e-commerce. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach The main purpose of this study is to determine which factors influence a consumer’s behavioral intention in the context of social commerce websites, and to explore overall purchase intentions based on the consumer’s cognitive evaluation. The examination reveals that consumers’ multidimensional perceptions influence both their perceptions of value and their purchase intentions. Other related social awareness factors explored by this study are also shown to influence customers’ purchase intentions. Findings In summary, the results show that perceived value and social awareness factors influence customers’ purchasing decisions and behavioral intentions for different gender. These findings have significant theoretical and managerial implications. Originality/value Social commerce is a subset of e-commerce brought about by the development of social networking. Activities conducted on social networking websites can be considered as a form of social commerce. In Taiwan, social commerce is still in the early stages of development.


2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maja Šeric ◽  
Irene Gil-Saura ◽  
Alejandro Mollá-Descals

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to empirically test the impact of perceived information and communication technology (ICT) on creation of brand equity within service firms, more specifically upscale hotels. The relationships between ICT and three brand equity dimensions, i.e. brand image, perceived quality, and brand loyalty are examined. Design/methodology/approach – The empirical research was conducted in 20 upscale hotels in Rome-Italy, collecting data from 335 guests. Findings – Advanced ICT directly influences perceived quality and image, while the impact of ICT on loyalty is mediated by perceived quality. Additionally, positive and significant relationships are found between the three brand equity dimensions. Research limitations/implications – The lack of significance of ICT impact on loyalty needs further attention. Future studies could center on this specific relationship, examining whether hotel companies that implement technology efficiently are able to deal with loyalty. Practical implications – Managers are encouraged to invest in advanced technologies as their adoption and subsequent perception among guests can shape brand image and perceived service quality, thus influencing brand equity from the consumer perspective. Originality/value – The contributions of this paper are fourfold. First, the ICT and customer-based brand equity concepts are studied together in the hotel context. Second, the inter-relationship among the three brand equity dimensions is analyzed. Third, the model is tested from the guest perceptive, as customers themselves can provide the most valuable inputs for business strategies. Finally, the work contributes to the service field by providing an empirical evidence on the potential and impact of advanced technology.


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