A Look at the New Online Consumer Behavior on Social Media Platforms

Technological advances have caused great business changes. In this new business environment, the internet has become an indispensable technology tool in the creation of new business models, based on the exchange relations between customers/suppliers/distributors/partners, with a significant increase in online purchasing transactions. This virtual environment has provided the development of e-commerce and efficiency gains and influences changes in consumer habits, thus changing consumer behavior. The online purchase presents an important change in consumer behavior; thus, the understanding of online consumer behavior is essential to understand the impact of this behavior on business. This chapter follows a systematic analysis of the literature with a qualitative approach to online consumer behavior in the last 5 years (2015-2020) in order to verify research topics and development patterns. The aim is to identify trends in online consumer behavior and recognize research gaps by providing avenues for further research into online consumer behavior.

FINANCIAL EDUCATION FOR WELFARE BENEFICIARIES IN POLAND. NECESSITY OR REDUNDANT ACTIVITY?

Article discusses issue of professionalization of welfare assistance institutions in Poland in topic of financial education service for beneficiaries. Supporting welfare beneficiaries in making financially reasonable decisions is common practice among developed countries, where massive consumption favors consumer habits, that contribute to fall into poverty trap. Actions taken in aim to raise consumer awareness won’t replace social security institutions but may have positive impact as a preventive measure. Article is based on experiences from the project “Potentials – new forms of social capital in city Przasnysz”.

Air-Travelers’ Perceptions of Service Quality during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Tripadvisor Sites

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted both healthcare and the economy on a global scale. This pandemic has changed consumer habits and behaviors significantly, primarily because of confinement-related issues. While numerous research has been undertaken to study customer satisfaction using surveys and online passenger ratings, the effect of COVID-19 on passenger satisfaction has not been explored. It is vital to assess satisfaction indicators gathered from online consumer reviews to ascertain consumers’ preferences for airline services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of this study is to determine the primary themes that emerged from airline travelers’ internet reviews during the COVID-19 outbreak. Additionally, it attempts to determine which of these themes relate to higher and lower passenger satisfaction. The article uses qualitative (i.e., narratives) analyses to examine the main components of passengers’ subjective experiences of the airline. Data are represented by passenger reviews posted on the TripAdvisor website. The analyses revealed ten themes in descriptions of airline travel experiences. These include “flight”, “service”, “staff”, “food”, “check-in”, “cancellation”, “COVID-19”, “airport”, “class”, and “luggage”. Dissatisfying concepts are linked with the “cancellation”, “check-in”, “refund”, and “airport” concepts.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Consumer Habits: New Aspects of Research

Aim. The presented study aims to propose and substantiate new research directions with allowance for the impact of COVID-19 on consumer habits.Tasks. The authors investigate the problem of the pandemic’s impact on common consumer behavior stereotypes; identify major trends in changing consumer habits; propose new directions for research on the transformation of consumer habits in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods. This study is based on specialized scientific publications accessible via the Scopus and WoS databases and uses complementary methods of analysis, synthesis, comparison, generalization, etc.Results. Isolation and social distancing measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic have changed consumer habits. Consumers are learning to improvise based on their existing habits and are developing new habits associated with the digitalization of sales, changing demographics, and innovative ways that allow them to solve the problems of blurring boundaries between work, leisure, and education. The authors propose several new research questions for the next decade.Conclusions. Isolation and social distancing in the fight against the COVID-19 virus have significantly changed consumer behavior, limiting consumption by time and location. Due to the flexibility of time and the fixed nature of location, consumers have learned to improvise creatively and innovatively. The use of digital technologies can fundamentally and irrevocably change many existing habits. Government policy also forms new consumption habits, especially in public areas: airports, concert halls, public parks, etc. The most important objective is to investigate ongoing processes and to implement the obtained scientific results in the activities of government authorities, educational institutions, and marketing activities of Russian companies.

Features of the formation of consumer choice in modern retail trade

Today, the process of communication with potential consumers is largely determined by the preferences of the target audience. The article discusses such an approach as the theory of generations, designed to systematize consumer preferences by identifying generations of consumers. Consumer habits of representatives of different generations are considered. A number of recommendations for attracting consumers, based on the identified preferences, are given.

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE CHANGES IN CONSUMER HABITS AND BEHAVIOR

In a short time, the COVID-19 pandemic transformed people’s behavior, undermining firms and businesses and changing the global economy. In this context, the study aimed to understand the impacts the COVID-19 pandemic caused on consumer behavior. The research method adopted was the literature review, investigating the Scopus and Web of Science databases, two of the main scientific databases. A total of 205 articles published in 2020 were identified, and, based on the proposed criteria, 30 studies showed high adherence to the topic and contributed to the understanding of changes in consumer habits and behavior. The main themes identified were: e-commerce growth, panic buying, repressed demand and stricken sectors, do-it-yourself, increased apps usage, machine learning methods, data internet security, and online marketing and shopping platforms.

Projective mapping of preferences on milk and dark chocolate bar fortified nanocapsules Arthrospira carotenoid

The characteristics in milk or dark chocolate Arthrospira products require testing before the product is released to the market. The purpose of this study was to use the Projective Mapping (PM) method to determine the characteristics and preferences of consumers toward milk or dark chocolate Arthrospira carotenoid products compared to commercial milk or dark chocolate products on the market, and to analyze the factors that can influence consumers’ purchasing intention. The chocolate samples tested were Arthospira milk chocolate and ten commercial milk chocolate samples (SQ, DF, LD, DV, CB, MG, VH, BB, TB, and WD). The dark one compares to ten commercial dark chocolates (SQ, M5, M6, M7, DC, WD, TB, BB, LD, and DV). The factors that influence consumers’ purchasing intentions are identified through an online survey and analyzed using chi-square. A total of 159 people (68 PM respondents and 91 non-PM respondents) took part in the milk chocolate poll, while 92 people (41 PM respondents and 51 non-PM respondents) took part in the dark chocolate poll. PM test shows consumers perceive milk chocolate and dark chocolate fortified with nanocapsules Arthospira carotenoid to be similar in taste, appearance, texture, and price to some commercial chocolate bar products, implying that both chocolate products fortified with nanocapsulesArthospira carotenoid can compete in the market. The results of the chi-square test for milk chocolate show that for PM respondents, socio-demographic factors, consumer habits of buying chocolate bars, knowledge of Arthrospira, and the benefits of consuming Arthospira influence their buying interest, whereas for non-PM respondents, consumer habits of buying chocolate bars influence their buying intention. The results of the dark chocolate chi-square test show that respondents’ knowledge of the benefits of consuming chocolate bars and the emotion conducted to consume chocolate bars and influence their purchasing interest.

POST-PANDEMIC ADAPTATION OF LUXURY RESTAURANTS

Background. The biggest losses during the global COVID-19 pandemic were in the restaurant business, in particular in the premium segment, which is the flagship of global market trends. New challenges of the external environment force enterprises to find innovative adaptation mechanisms for further development and competition in the market. The aim of the studyis to analyze, determine and predict the adaptability of the current state of the world market of restaurant services, in particular – luxury segment, in a viral pandemic. Materials and methods.The methodological basis of the research was statistical and graphical methods, which in combination allowed to analyze the dynamics of development and adaptability of luxury services in the global market of restaurant services. The information base for the study was the work of domestic and foreign scientists and Internet sources. Results.The state of the world market of restaurant services in pandemic conditions is investigated. Based on the analysis of world ratings and opinions of business experts, the issue of pandemic challenges of restaurants of various formats is substantiated, probable directions of changes and development of the world market of restaurant services are determined. To restart the operation of the restaurant business in the post pandemic period, adaptive mechanisms for its restoration and development have been identified, taking into account the features and requirements of the luxury services restaurant market. Conclusion. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant negative impact on the activities of most restaurant establishments of various formats, including premium segment restaurants. At the same time, the global pandemic crisis has provoked institutions to seek innovative adaptive approaches. During the period of destabilization and adaptive resumption of activities, the main priorities of institutions should be, first of all, updating operating procedures, updating the customer base to return them to the restaurant, adjusting the menu to change consumer habits and preferences, improving delivery service and more. Given the prognostic data of world experts on the future of the restaurant industry in post-pandemic conditions, the modern restaurant business is in an active phase of its restart and innovative development. Keywords: premium segment restaurants, luxury service, fine dining, digitalization of business, the global market of elite restaurant services, pandemic COVID-19, Michelin star, adaptive development mechanisms.

Compras en línea durante la crisis sanitaria por COVID-19: Estudio exploratorio sobre la conducta del consumidor en Quito-Ecuador

Este artículo explora la conducta del consumidor residente en Quito (Ecuador) respecto de las compras en línea efectuadas entre marzo y agosto 2020, período caracterizado por el confinamiento al que la sociedad se sometió, producto de la pandemia originada por el COVID-19. El estudio reviste interés científico como consecuencia del cambio de hábitos de consumo al pasar de las compras físicas a las compras digitales, tendencia actual cuyos principales protagonistas son los consumidores con necesidades cambiantes y las empresas que satisfacen dichas necesidades. Se realizó un análisis exploratorio de los parámetros de conducta y de las tendencias del consumidor objeto de estudio. La información fue obtenida mediante una encuesta en línea aplicada a 165 personas utilizando el método de bola de nieve. Se concluye que la pandemia generó un cambio en el comportamiento de los consumidores residentes en Quito, caracterizado por una mayor utilización de medios digitales para la compra de bienes y servicios. Palabras clave: Psicología del consumidor, comportamiento del consumidor, compras en línea, COVID-19 AbstractThis article explores the behavior of consumers residing in Quito (Ecuador) regarding online purchases made between March and August 2020, a period characterized by the confinement to which society was subjected, as a result of the pandemic caused by COVID-19. It is of scientific interest as a consequence of the change in consumer habits when moving from physical purchases to digital purchases, a current trend whose main protagonists are consumers with changing needs and companies that satisfy these needs. A descriptive analysis of the behavior parameters and trends of the consumer under study was carried out. The information was obtained through an online survey applied to 165 people using the snowball method. It is concluded that the pandemic generated a change in the behavior of consumers living in Quito, characterized by a greater use of digital media for the purchase of goods and services.Keywords: Consumer psychology, consumer behavior, online shopping, COVID-1

TRAVELLING HABITS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Accessible tourism is an under-researched area in Hungary. Based on the results of a questionnaire survey, the aim of the present study is to present several specific features of the travel demand of people with disabilities, the foremost focus being the examination of the most popular tourism products in the demand of people with disabilities. 268 Hungarians responded to the survey in online and face-to-face contexts. In addition to the Hungarian survey, the article also covers small-sample research results from four other countries (Germany, Italy, Spain and Croatia). The results show that members of the target group reject segregation solutions during their travels, and, as opposed to integration, clearly demand inclusion. Their travel frequency is above average of the entire population, with interests as diverse as those without disabilities. The issue of accessible tourism affects 10% of the European population, and thus, besides the significance of the issue from a social and societal point of view, this segment cannot be neglected in terms of its market value either. Understanding the expectations of stakeholders and their specific consumer habits is an essential requirement in the development of appropriate tourism supply and in ensuring equal access to services.