How do foreign customers' perceptions of product-harm crises affect their transfer of capability- and character-based stigma?

PurposeCustomers often trace a product-harm crisis to the deviant firm's capability- or character-relevant issues. This study examines how capability- and character-based stigma associated with product-harm crises influence foreign customers' product preferences (i.e. brand affect and purchase intention) for other firms from the same country of origin.Design/methodology/approachQualitative survey data are used to test hypotheses with a structural equation model.FindingsThe authors find that negative capability judgment significantly affects foreign customers' product preferences for other firms from the same country of origin, whereas negative character judgment does not. However, customers' national animosity and product knowledge moderate the stigma spillover effects. Specifically, national animosity and product knowledge weaken the spillover effects of capability-based stigma but strengthen those of character-based stigma.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research could examine strategies for uninvolved firms to avoid the stigma-by-association effect. Moreover, due to the lack of resources to collect data, this study does not investigate how customers' generalized favorability and familiarity with crisis-stricken firms and uninvolved firms moderate the stigma-by-association effect.Originality/valueThe findings of this study advance our knowledge on product-harm crises and the stigma-by-association effect.

The Impact of the Covid 19 Pandemic on Consumer Behaviour in the Vietnam Market

This study was conducted to identify new trends in the consumer behaviour in Vietnam under the impact of the Covid 19 epidemic. The pandemic has impacted many aspects of working, communication, and contacting. This has also changed purchasing habits such as product preferences and the way of buying things. The changes in consumer behaviour in the Vietnam market have similar characteristics to the world market but still have their own characteristics. Therefore, the aim of this study is to find out these changes and suggest implications for businesses to better meet consumer demands as well as contribute to building positive experiences in shopping during the pandemic. In addition, the study also impresses the significance of having more studies about the impact of Covid 19 on consumers to have more thoughtful understand about the market in Vietnam

Market Segmentation Analysis in Tourism: A Perspective Paper

No two tourists are the same. This insight stands at the core of market segmentation. Pursuing a segmentation strategy as a tourist destination or a tourism business means catering to the specific needs of certain types of tourists (market segments), rather than attempting to satisfy the needs of the entire tourist market by effectively targeting the average tourist. But which market segments should a tourist destination or business target? Market segmentation analysis helps answer this question. Market segmentation analysis is “the process of grouping consumers into naturally existing or artificially created segments of consumers who share similar product preferences or characteristics” (Dolnicar, Grün & Leisch, 2018, p. 11).

When self-threat leads to the selection of emotion-enhancing options: the role of perceived transience of emotion

Purpose This study aims to examine whether consumers’ lay theories of emotion play a moderating role between self-threat and their choice of threat-coping strategies (direct resolution and escapism) and product preference. Design/methodology/approach The present research uses the methods of experimental design and surveys to collect data and verify the hypotheses we assumed. Findings Study 1 indicates that in self-threatening situations, people who perceive emotions as fleeting (lasting) are more likely to use a threat-coping strategy of direct resolution (escapism). Study 2 demonstrates that people who believe emotions are fleeting are more likely to choose problem-solving products; people who believe emotions are lasting are more likely to choose emotion-enhancing products. Study 3 further demonstrates that the direct resolution (escapism) strategy plays a mediating role between the interaction effect and consumer preference for problem-solving products (emotion-enhancing products). Study 4 replicates the results of Study 2 by incorporating the manipulation of lay theories of emotion transience in a product evaluation context. Research limitations/implications A limitation of the present research is that this paper puts focus on exploring the effects of self-view threat (e.g. intelligence and competence) on consumer product preferences. Another issue for future research is the extent to which emotion-transience theories hold for specific emotions. Given that distinct emotions of the same valence differ in their antecedent appraisals and that specific emotion could lead to different subsequent behaviors (Lerner and Keltner, 2000), future research may need to explore the roles of specific negative emotions triggered by self-threat in consumers’ product choosing behaviors. One potential direction for future research is to examine whether the perceived locus of control affects consumers’ choice of threat-coping strategies and product preferences. Practical implications Marketers could use product tactics for motivating consumers to restore their self-perceptions on the threatened attributes and address the self-threat, such as product attributes, advertising copy or promotional appeals that insert people who are more motivated to directly resolve the threat. Marketers can nudge consumers toward a direct resolution strategy by posting prompts such as, “I can do it!” For example, the slogan of Nike – “Just do it” and the 2012 award-winning campaign by Nike Spain have told consumers: “If something is burning you up, burn it up by running” (Allard and White, 2015), which suggests that consumers experiencing self-threat may resolve the negative self-discrepancy through the acquisition of the products in the advertisement. Another important implication suggested by the findings is that product consumption can be a way of helping consumers escape from self-threats. For example, the slogan of Coca-Cola – “Taste the feeling” resonates with consumers and stimulates their basic hedonic needs. Originality/value First, this research extends previous research by demonstrating that lay theories of emotion serve as a motivator of the selection of threat-coping strategies. Second, this research is conducive for literature to examine how differences in lay theories of emotion affect consumers’ product-choosing behaviors to cope with self-discrepancies. Third, the present research extends the broad marketing literature by differentiating problem-solving products from emotion-enhancing products.

Determinants of Food Choice and Perceptions of Supermarket-Based Nudging Interventions among Adults with Low Socioeconomic Position: The SUPREME NUDGE Project

Nudging has received ample attention in scientific literature as an environmental strategy to promote healthy diets, and may be effective for reaching populations with low socioeconomic position (SEP). Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate how the determinants of food choice shape the perceptions regarding supermarket-based nudging strategies among adults with low SEP. We conducted semi-structured interviews among fifteen adults with low SEP using a pre-defined topic list and visual examples of nudges. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and content analysis was used to analyse the data. The results show that food costs, convenience, healthiness, taste, and habits were frequently mentioned as determinants of food choice. However, the relative importance of these determinants seemed to be context-dependent. Interviewees generally had a positive attitude towards nudges, especially when they were aligned with product preferences, information needs, and beliefs about the food environment. Still, some interviewees also expressed distrust towards nudging strategies, suspecting ulterior motives. We conclude that nudging strategies should target foods which align with product preferences and information needs. However, the suspicion of ulterior motives highlights an important concern which should be considered when implementing supermarket-based nudging strategies.

THE EFFECT OF PACKAGING COLOR SCHEME ON PERCEPTIONS, PRODUCT PREFERENCES, PRODUCT TRIAL, AND PURCHASE INTENTION

This study aims to understand the effect of different color scheme in perceptions and food product preference, product trial, and purchase intention. Using quantitative approach, the questionnaires data were cross tested by chi square and one-way ANOVA. The study found there were no significant differences between the price perception, the perceived quality, product preferences, product trial and intense to buy in the different color schemes, except white dominant color in perceived quality aspect. Respondents assessed the use of monochrome color schemes tended to have higher price perceptions and higher quality than white, yellow, analog, and complementary color schemes. It is expected to be a reference to provide an understanding of packaging design strategy especially food products by using color scheme. Keywords: Color scheme, packaging, product preference, perception, SME.

Perceived Threat of COVID-19 Influences Product Preferences: The Moderating Role of Consumers’ Mindset

Recent research has suggested conflicting evidence on how consumers respond to threat (from diseases) concerning their product preferences. Specifically, consumers might exhibit higher versus lower preferences for typical (vs. atypical) products. Drawing upon the literature on consumption-based affect regulation and consumers’ mindset, this research seeks to reconcile these seemingly conflicting findings by establishing the moderating role of consumers’ mindset. In three experimental studies, we show that among consumers with a fixed (vs. growth) mindset, perceived threat of COVID-19 would lead to higher (vs. lower) preferences for typical products. Furthermore, these divergent effects are explained by two distinct affect regulation strategies. The effect of threat among consumers with a growth (vs. fixed) mindset will be mediated by regaining a sense of control (vs. self-protection). These findings contribute the literature on disease cues, affect regulation, and consumers’ mindset, and offer practical implications for marketers during COVID-19 pandemic.

Knowledge, Utility, and Preferences for Beef Label Traceability Information: A Cross-Cultural Market Analysis Comparing Spain and Brazil

The consumer environment determines consumers’ buying behavior and product preferences, and understanding these factors allows businesses in the industry to identify market demands. In view of the different contexts, Spain and Brazil, there are differences in the consumption of beef, in the production and the regulatory process concerning beef, and in particular the traceability system. The traceability system is mandatory in Spain and voluntary in Brazil. From these prerogatives, this cross-cultural study carried out through a self-administered questionnaire with 2132 Spanish and Brazilian beef buyers/consumers, aimed at comparing and understanding the familiarity with the bovine traceability system and traceability information of the label as a food security indicator. It is concluded that traceability information is well received by consumers as an attribute of credibility, and consumers are interested in ensuring that the item they buy is of known and reliable origin. But more incentives may help clarify the advantages of purchasing food with certified traceability, making it more effective for consumers to use this knowledge.