Reasons to counterfeit: Supply, demand and distribution of counterfeit goods

This research empathizes with the opportunities that drive demand for counterfeit goods. Governments, organizations and rights holders struggle to regulate the distribution and consumption of counterfeit products, so that consumer awareness has emerged as to what goods people counterfeit, and most importantly, why people intentionally buy counterfeit items. This article illustrates the incentives that inspire buyers to purchase counterfeit products, tactics that brand owners use to fuel their interest. It involves the development of demand, marketing tactics, and the implementation of consumer approach strategies by brands. It also reveals the complicated logistics and transporting routes creating manufacturing and transit hubs for counterfeiting,; it also demonstrates the lack of government intervention as well as the desperate need for policy revision. This article shows counterfeiting is phenomenon that governments, organizations, and most importantly, consumers all have equal interest in fighting against.

Exploring Antecedents to the Attitude-Behavior Gap for Sustainable Fashion Consumption in Germany

Climate change is a major concern today. This concern has led to the emergence of pro- environmental market trends, such as ethical consumerism. Although many consumers hold positive attitudes toward purchasing sustainable brands, their actual behavior is often inconsistent with their attitudes. This phenomenon, referred to as the attitude-behavior gap, has been an ongoing topic in many research papers. However, this gap with regards to sustainable fashion consumption has received limited attention and few researchers have identified potential marketing tactics to bridge the gap. The first purpose of this study is to gain insight on reasons behind the attitude-behavior gap for sustainable fashion consumption in Germany. The SHIFT framework is then applied to identify potential marketing tactics that could help reduce this gap. Fourteen interviews of German consumers, who expressed concerns about environmental degradation and stated that they had changed at least some of the their consumption behaviors in line with those concerns, were conducted to better understand attitudes toward purchasing sustainable fashion as well as factors that may impede behavior consistent with those attitudes. Interviews were analyzed using the grounded theory method. Analysis revealed the following potential contributors to the attitude-behavior gap for sustainable fashion: price, lack of presence, information, fashionability, self-over-sustainability and powerlessness. Based on these findings and the SHIFT framework, marketing tactics that could potentially influence sustainable fashion consumption were then identified. These tactics may prove useful for marketers in the sustainable fashion sector.

Beliefs and Norms Associated with the Use of Ultra-Processed Commercial Milk Formulas for Pregnant Women in Vietnam

Commercial milk formula for pregnant women (CMF-PW) is an expensive, ultra-processed food with a high concentration of sugar, the consumption of which may be linked to negative health outcomes. However, CMF-PWs are promoted as beneficial for pregnant women and lactating mothers as well as their children. To date, little is known about the factors associated with the use of CMF-PW among pregnant women. We performed this analysis to examine the association between the use of CMF-PW and related beliefs and norms among pregnant women in Vietnam. We interviewed 268 pregnant women in their second and third trimesters from two provinces and one municipality representing diverse communities in Vietnam. Multinomial (polytomous) logistic regression, structural equation modeling (SEM), and propensity score matching (PSM) analysis were used to examine associations between beliefs and social norms related to CMF-PW and reported consumption, characterized as occasional, recent, and never during the current pregnancy. Overall, 64.6% of pregnant women reported using CMF-PW during the current pregnancy and 34.7% consumed CMF-PW on the day prior to the interview. Strong beliefs that CMF-PW will make a child smart and healthy (53.7%) and the perception that use of CMF-PW is common (70.9%) were associated with increased use on the previous day (beliefs: aOR: 3.56; 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI): 1.65, 7.71; p < 0.01 and social norms aOR: 2.29; 95% CI: 1.13, 4.66; p < 0.05). SEM and PSM analyses confirmed these findings for both occasional and regular CMF-PW use. Results are consistent with observations of CMF-PW product labels and marketing tactics in Vietnam. The prevalent use of CMF-PW in Vietnam is associated with the belief that these products make children smart and healthy and the perceived social norm that most mothers use these products, which mirrors marketing messages and approaches employed by the CMF industry.

Examining the Impact of Celebrity Endorsement on Student's Purchase Intention of Smartphone

Consumers in Malaysia have witnessed the use of smartphone expand dramatically and companies hire celebrity as their brand endorser to promote the smartphones. Substantial dollars has been spent on celebrity endorsement as marketing tactics. Hence, it is importance to understand it success. The objectives of this study is to examine the extent at which university students have been impacted by celebrity endorsements on their purchase intention of smartphones. Quantitative method and survey were used to captured 119 data from respondents. The results revealed that celebrity attractiveness has the greatest impact on the purchase intention of smartphones meanwhile celebrity trustworthiness shows the lowest impact on students. The results of this study provides an exclusive viewpoint concerning students’ purchase intention on smartphones and assists marketing practitioners to better understand the use of celebrity endorsement.

Highland haberdashery: Scottish kiltmaking in the twenty-first century

The Scottish kilt is one of the world’s most renowned cultural garments, and the Highland dress industry contributes £350 million annually to the Scottish apparel industry. However, outsourcing and deceptive marketing tactics have negatively impacted the kiltmaking industry. The purpose of this study was to investigate Scottish kiltmakers’ knowledge and experiences as a basis for industry protection. A qualitative, phenomenological method employed interviews, observations, video and artefact analysis and prototyping to understand participant’s (n=17) experiences with learning and practising kiltmaking. Findings indicated that: (1) kiltmakers’ experience life-long learning through scaffolding, (2) kilt customers are not well informed of quality differences between genuine Scottish kilts and imports, (3) gender plays a role in pay inequality, lack of respect and quality of life issues for female kiltmakers and (4) kiltmakers agree that protection is necessary, however, they are unsure of how it would be realized.

Effective and responsible marketing of online sports gambling to young adults in the UK

In an industry that has experienced rapid growth for a number of years, where product differentiation is minimal, the marketing tactics of online sports gambling (OSG) bookmakers are likely to push the boundaries of what can be considered responsible, as companies seek to stand out from competitors and take advantage of industry growth. This research aims to explore how the marketing tactics of OSG companies shape the gambling habits of young adult consumers, and whether this demographic considers these tactics responsible. Recommendations are made on how online bookmakers can remain responsible in their marketing to young adults. Findings revealed that the primary motivation behind young adults’ recreational gambling was the excitement induced through participation. Further, young adults’ OSG bookmaker preference is influenced by promotional offers for existing customers. Results from the study indicate that in general, young adults do not deem the varied marketing techniques employed by OSG companies as irresponsible practices. However there were concerns regarding the potential impact of the continued increase in OSG marketing on problem gamblers and children (under 18).

Impact of Promotional Tools on Consumer Buying Behavior: A Case of FMCG Industry

Instantaneous changes in the global socio-economic scenario due to rapid uncertainties and emerging technologies have framed a cutthroat competition between the market players across industries. This colossal change in business structures has altered the consumer demands and driven business focus to search for unique marketing tactics to attract, bring-in, and retain a larger customer pool through various promotional tools. The importance of unique marketing strategies for a business is undeniable as the exclusivity of marketing tools is the core idea to draw customer's attention towards the products. Marketers today are relentlessly trying to decipher new strategies through which changing customer demands can be catered to and seek innovative ideas to attain customer attention. This research project thus intends to test the effect of different promotional tools and their impacts on consumer buying behaviour. Every company hence tries to execute various forms of marketing tactics aimed to increase sales and to maximize business market share. Promotion is a mode of marketing that aspires to introduce and at the same time persuade consumers to buy the products offered by the business to enhance the sales volume and increase the firm’s profit margins. Hence, the purpose of this research study is to examine the impact of different promotion tools which include free samples, product price reductions, free coupons, and buy one get one free offer on consumer buying behaviour in the FMCG industry in Pakistan. This study was conducted in Karachi, and a total of 208 respondents were selected using the systematic random sampling technique. The data was collected through a self-administered structured questionnaire which was adapted from previous similar studies. Statistical tools were employed using SPSS and SmartPLS3 software to analyze the gathered data and find some meaningful results. The significance of this research is extensive as the key findings may help organizations devise appropriate promotional strategies to minimize their costs and maximize market share as well as profits. Moreover, the practical contributions of this research persist in the identification of sales promotion strategies that are pertinent to the management of clients in the FMCG market in Pakistan. Hence, this study will be beneficial for organizations to minimize their costs related to sales promotion and will provide the right promotional inducement, marketing strategies for businesses to increase sales by creating purchase behaviour practices for display.