SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF FASHION CONSCIOUSNESS OF CONSUMERS

Fashion conscious people allocate a large part of their budget on a latest fashion. The present study assessed the socio-economic and psychological factors that play significant role in fashion consciousness. A convenient sample of 200 individuals (men=100 and women=100) of age between 22 and 44 years from Multan, Pakistan was taken to study the correlates of fashion consciousness. The estimates of ordinary least square showed that education, monthly income, materialism, and media exposure had significant positive impact, and price consciousness had significant negative impact on fashion consciousness of the sample, which partially support consumption theories (e.g., Absolute Income Hypothesis’ and ‘Relative Income Hypothesis). The study has implications for both consumers and producers. Key Words: Fashion consciousness, materialism, price consciousness, absolute income hypothesis, relative income hypothesis

A Study of Chinese Consumers towards Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability

This research explores how Chinese consumers adopted a lifestyle of health and sustainability (LOHAS). To investigate this, a questionnaire survey was conducted examining the impact of LOHAS on consumer decision making styles in Macau SAR, China. After completion, a total of 619 usable questionnaires were collected. The results showed that the two most significant criteria for LOHAS among the Chinese consumers were environmental consciousness and a desire for health and fitness. In turn, the most preferable consumer decision making styles were price consciousness and perfectionism. Moreover, consumer who is environmental consciousness tends to be more quality and price conscious. Consumer who cares about health and fitness tends to look for quality and novelty products. The results also show that Chinese consumers who are the females, older in age or have a higher income tend to be more LOHAS. Therefore, if companies want to expand their business in the LOHAS market in China, they should target these segments when they are developing their marketing strategies.

Organic Foods Purchase Behavior among Generation Y of Bangladesh: The Moderation Effect of Trust and Price Consciousness

This study aims to identify the factors influencing the purchase behavior of organic foods among young generation customers in Bangladesh. The study adopted the theory of planned behavior as a base and developed 11 hypotheses based on the extant empirical literature. Adopting the purposive sampling method, the primary data were obtained from a cross-sectional sample of 464 young Bangladeshi consumers using a survey method. In order to identify the key relationship among the study variables, the structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was employed using AMOS software, version 25. The study employed a purposive sampling method to pick young respondents through online media. The study revealed that health consciousness, environmental consciousness, food safety consciousness, price consciousness, novelty consciousness, and trust are factors that significantly affect purchase intention and subsequently, the actual purchase of organic foods. The novelty consciousness factor got the highest predicting power, followed by food safety concerns among Generation Y. The research also found that trust and price consciousness exhibit positive and negative moderating effects, respectively, on the relationship between purchase intention and actual purchase. However, the study did not find any moderating role of price consciousness on the association between environmental consciousness and purchase intention. As policy recommendations, informing and educating young consumers about organic products, their novelty, and other benefits of consuming is critical for fostering their purchase.

A Study of Chinese Consumers towards Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability

This research explores how Chinese consumers adopted a lifestyle of health and sustainability (LOHAS). To investigate this, a questionnaire survey was conducted examining the impact of LOHAS on consumer decision making styles in Macau SAR, China. After completion, a total of 619 usable questionnaires were collected. The results showed that the two most significant criteria for LOHAS among the Chinese consumers were environmental consciousness and a desire for health and fitness. In turn, the most preferable consumer decision making styles were price consciousness and perfectionism. Moreover, consumer who is environmental consciousness tends to be more quality and price conscious. Consumer who cares about health and fitness tends to look for quality and novelty products. The results also show that Chinese consumers who are the females, older in age or have a higher income tend to be more LOHAS. Therefore, if companies want to expand their business in the LOHAS market in China, they should target these segments when they are developing their marketing strategies.

The antecedents of price consciousness and value purchase in crisis’s times

The successive economic crises around the world have resulted in social uprisings and a negative impact on the psychological behavior of consumers. This research aims to study the antecedent’s price perception in times of crisis, and to test their impacts on the price sensitivity and consciousness value. This leads to a new valuation of the purchase experience for consumers. A quantitative study of 362 people. The main results of our study are the main history of price sensitivity in times of crisis: the concern for purchasing power, the reduction of financial well-being and financial fear. Moreover, that the perceived value of the shopping experience is no longer valued by the hedonistic aspect but rather by an economic value linked to value for money and a spiritual value linked to the social aspect of consumption

Determinants of Indonesian Muslim consumers’ willingness to pay for Taiwanese snacks

Indonesia is a country that has enormous market potential in terms of the halal food industry. The government has been attracting foreign food manufacturers to venture into the country's market; this includes snacks from Taiwan, one of them being Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks. The public has been highly critical of Shihlin's food products of late due to doubts about its halal status and compliance with halal standards in manufacturing and supply chain activities. The company responded to the public's concern by obtaining the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) halal certification, increasing prices and affecting consumers' willingness to pay. In the form of a case study, this research aims to analyse the factors that influence Muslim consumers' willingness to pay for Taiwanese snacks in Indonesia, specifically Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks. A total of 326 Indonesian Muslims took part in our survey, which data was analysed using SmartPLS. The study results revealed that animal slaughter, halal logos, price consciousness, food quality, and religious commitment positively influence Muslim consumers' willingness to pay for the snacks. The findings can benefit halal food companies in formulating strategies to guarantee consistent compliance of the halal standards in the manufacturing processes. Besides, we urge halal food regulators to provide better clarity in developing the halal and tayyib food criteria to earn better trust and confidence from Muslim consumers.

“Waste not, want not”: fostering frugality amongst Muslim tourists in the Malaysian hotel industry

Purpose The prevailing overconsumption issue in the hotel industry is attributable mainly to the irresponsible consumption behaviour of hotel guests. In parallel with Islamic principles, which advocate abstinence from excess consumption and frugality, the “waste not, want not” notion can be considered as one of the effective solutions to this problem. However, little is known about the factors that drive frugality amongst Muslim tourists. In addressing this gap, this study aims to predict the effect of environmental advertising and green attitude on frugality in the context of the Malaysian hotel industry. The study also tests the mediating role of the green attitude between environmental advertising and frugality. Furthermore, it examines the role of price consciousness as a moderator of the green attitude-frugality link. Design/methodology/approach The stimulus-organism-response theory was used to develop the conceptual framework of this study. A cross-sectional method was used to collect 222 usable questionnaires from Muslim tourists in Malaysia. The hypothesised relationships were tested using the structural equation modelling, partial least squares approach. Findings The study found support for the direct effect of environmental advertising and green attitude on frugality. It also confirmed the mediating effect of the green attitude in the environmental advertising-frugality link. However, price consciousness did not moderate the relationship. Practical implications The findings of the study provide valuable insight for hoteliers in developing a green strategy that will foster frugality amongst Muslim hotel guests. It will also help them develop better strategies for the frugal segment, especially for the Muslim community. Originality/value The study is amongst the pioneers in investigating frugality in the tourism industry. It is also the first to introduce price consciousness as a moderator of the relationship between the green attitude and frugality. Furthermore, its examination of frugality amongst Muslim hotel guests is a new contribution to the literature.

Healthy food exposition attendees’ purchasing strategies: a mental budgeting perspective

Purpose Grounded in the theory of mental budgeting, this paper aims to investigate how the regret and perfectionism of exposition attendees influences their purchasing strategy. Design/methodology/approach This research collected on-site data at a well-established specialty food exposition in China. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were applied to test the proposed model. Findings The findings confirm the effect of psychological mechanism (regret and perfectionism) on exposition attendees’ purchasing strategy as one that boosts/impairs their confidence in purchasing healthy food at the exposition. Specifically, regret and perfectionism show differential contributions to purchasing strategy dimensions. Variety seeking has a positive effect, whereas price consciousness has a negative effect, on purchase confidence. Practical implications Event organizers and exhibitors should understand attendees’ consumption-related psychological mechanism and devise effective management and marketing strategies for optimal consumption experiences at expositions. They can create an informative and worry-free experience that facilitates a pleasant thought process to reduce uncertainty in attendees’ on-site decision-making. Originality/value The current research pioneered a unique model conceptualizing the important, yet underexplored, phenomenon of purchasing mechanism in the exposition setting. Addressing the emerging interest in food expositions, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first for examining purchasing mechanism from the perspective of mental budgeting, providing insightful knowledge about how the psychological mechanism affects exposition attendees’ pre-purchase evaluation and confidence toward purchasing healthy food at expositions.