E-Commerce Commons^™

Integrating Social Media And Entrepreneurship: A Study Of Social Media, Creativity, Strategy, And Innovation In Building A Successful Brand Presence In The Digital Era, Lys Ishiari

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Social media has completely changed what it means to start a business. It was once just a place for personal interactions but is currently a powerful channel that drives the growth of multiple industries (Felicia, 2022). Now, anyone can use their personal creativity and hobbies to build a brand, especially on apps like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. The purpose of this study is to identify the common themes behind social media entrepreneurs’ success, which allows individuals to become both creators and business owners in the digital age. Furthermore, a key part of writing this paper is personal; it connects to …

Paid Search Marketing Vs. Search Engine Optimization: Analytical Models Of Search Marketing Based On Search Engine Quality, Kai Li, Chunyang Shen, Mei Lin, Zhangxi Lin

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

As search engines are leading revenue growth in online marketing, search marketing has become a popular area of academic research. Although search engine advertising has interested researchers for decades and much has been learned, one thing that puzzles scholars is why search engine optimization companies are tolerated rather than excluded from the market, even though they capture a significant share of the advertising market. In this paper, we shed light on this phenomenon and establish an analytical model based on organic search quality. Through analysis of the model, we were able to draw several intriguing conclusions. First, there is no …

A Holistic Approach To Country Branding: Examining A Master Brand And Sub-Brand Framework, Musa Pinar, Aycan Duran Tekoglu, Tulay Girard

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Recently, nation branding has drawn the attention of policymakers worldwide, as nations recognize its strategic importance in achieving and sustaining success in the global competitive landscape. This study provides a conceptual framework based on master brand and sub-brand architecture to examine country branding holistically by integrating macro and micro perspectives, country brand equity, and their effects on consumer preferences. The specific objectives are to 1) identify the dimensions of master brand, sub-brand, and country brand equity and develop reliable and valid measurement scales for each dimension, and 2) develop a conceptual framework that integrates the master brand, sub-brand, and brand …

Workplace Appearance Norms And The Shame Of Baldness: Implications For Consumer Behavior, Shiyun Chen, Achira Mudiyanselage, Terry S. Damron, Jaycie Luster

Atlantic Marketing Journal

In this research, we investigate how shame can affect consumer behavior. Specifically, we examine how baldness induced shame from workplace expectation and norms can affect consumer decision making related to the purchase of hairpieces and consumers’ preferences towards packaging of the product. Drawing on self-discrepancy theory, identity theory, shame and compensatory consumption research, we investigate the direct connection of shame and purchase intention, and the mediating roles of self-efficacy and the devaluation of masculine identity in shaping consumers’ responses to shame. We tested our hypothesis using survey-based experiments. Across two studies, we demonstrate that shame associated with baldness, positioned as …

Slow Fashion Behavior In Young Consumers, Melissa Clark

Atlantic Marketing Journal

The purpose of this research is to better understand the gap between Generation Z’s (Gen Z) knowingness and attitude toward sustainable clothing and their behavior including repair and disposal. A theoretical model was created based on the known relationships among Knowledge-Attitude-Behavior (KAB), specifically considering environmental sustainability knowingness (ESK), environmental sustainability attitude (ESA), and slow fashion behavior (SFB) while extending it with the addition of repair and disposal. The data were collected via online survey of consumers identifying as Gen Z and analyzed via regression analysis in SPSS. The findings suggest that the established construct relationships (ESK, ESA, and SFB) held …

Are Loyalty Programmes Still “A Thing” In High-Fashion Retail? Understanding Generation Z’S Perspective, Živa Kolbl, Lori Šušulić

Economic and Business Review

This study investigates the relevance and perception of loyalty programmes (LPs) among Generation Z (Gen Z) consumers in the high-fashion retail sector. While LPs are well-established tools for fostering customer retention, their effectiveness among Gen Z, a cohort characterized by digital fluency, a preference for authenticity, and distinct consumption values, remains underexplored. Given the high-fashion context, where exclusivity and identity are critical, this study examines the extent to which LPs resonate with this generation. Utilizing a qualitative methodology and with the help of thematic analysis, we reveal four key dimensions: drivers of high-fashion consumption, shopping preferences, customer loyalty patterns, and …

The Token-Effort Effect: Trivial Redemption Effort Increases Price Promotions Effectiveness, Kuangjie Zhang, Thomas Allard, Nidhi Agrawal, Rajesh Bagchi

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

This research documents how introducing redemption tasks requiring a token (i.e., trivial) amount of effort—for instance, by asking the consumer to enter a promo code or solve a CAPTCHA to receive a discount—increases price promotion effectiveness compared with equivalent straight discounts (i.e., applied automatically). Eight studies (including two field experiments) and three additional Web Appendix studies provide robust evidence for the beneficial effect of token-effort requirements on redemption rates. This effect occurs because the easy-to-attain redemption task induces a high perceived return on effort. Thus, this effect only occurs when the redemption task requires token-type effort but not when it …

A Capstone Review: Strategic Solutions For A Small Macrame Business, Jenna Sarieddine

University Honors Theses

This essay presents an overview of the Business Capstone project, focusing on a macramé business currently facing a $10,000 debt due to limited marketing and financial management skills. The purpose of the project is to support the business in developing an effective elevator pitch, improving its social media presence, strengthening its financial statements, and enhancing both personal and business financial practices. The essay explores the company's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, as well as the team's collaborative approach to addressing these challenges. It outlines the goals established for the company, the strategies selected based on our academic backgrounds and business …

Trusted Advisor: Reality Or Fading Myth?, Stephen C. Carlson, Susanna Warnock, Gerald Sullivan, Margaret Ryder

Atlantic Marketing Journal

The role of trusted advisor has long differentiated the role of community banking from traditional national banks in its relationship with small businesses. This study serves two purposes. First is to confirm presence of a trusted advisor relationship and secondly, understand the impact of digital banking services on the community banker – small business owner relationship. Using data collected in a survey of community bankers and small business owners in five southeastern United States, this study assesses the viability of the trusted advisor construct by applying the Integrative Model of Organizational Trust (Mayer, Davis, & Schoorman, 1995, 2007), trust-building behaviors …

Investigating The Relationship Between Noun Classes And Plant Folk Taxonomy In Chasu Language Of Kilimanjaro Region In Tanzania, Peter Rabson Mziray

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

The current study investigates the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu (G 22). The study focuses on two objectives: the first objective is to describe the plant folk taxonomy in Chasu and the second objective is to determine the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu. Data were collected from rural villages in Same and Mwanga districts by using free listing, field interviews (jungle-walk-and-identify), and written texts containing Chasu plant names. The findings reveal that Chasu folk taxonomy reflects different ethnobotanical categories; including a unique beginner which is mmea/mimea ‘plant(s)’, and three life …

Technology Discontinuance: A Systematic Literature Review And Research Agenda, Birgit Altrichter, Sabine Benoit

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Technology discontinuance by users who quit digital services such as social media or lose interest in their devices after a few weeks is a common phenomenon. Yet it has received little research attention; the few studies that address it are scattered across disciplines. Research into customer churn is more prevalent, but it implies switching providers rather than halting usage altogether. By moving beyond discipline-based knowledge boundaries and conducting a systematic literature review, the current article proposes a technology discontinuance framework, which details seven technology discontinuance types (overuse, overload, proficiency, disenchantment, social, circumstantial, and solution) and their drivers. For example, guilt …

The Effect Of Customer Perception Of Service Failure And Recovery On Relationship Dissolution Behavior: Evidence In Airline Services, Jihyo Moon, Sang-Lin Han, Jong Won Lee

Asia Marketing Journal

Many previous studies have been conducted on service failure and recovery, but the existing preceding studies are mainly focused on positive behavioral intentions such as loyalty, word of mouth intention and recommendation intention. Therefore, there is relatively little interest in customers’ negative behavioral intentions.

In today’s society where SNS is very developed, customers’ complaints or retaliatory actions can be spread to other customers without time and space limitations, which can have a great negative impact on the company’s image. In this respect, it is a very important task for service companies to examine the impact of service failure and recovery …

The Effect Of National Brand Failure On Micro-National Image And Attitudes Toward Other Brands: The Moderating Role Of Ethnocentrism, Lingge Jia, Seong Do Cho

Asia Marketing Journal

This study examines the effect of failures by prominent Korean brands on Korea’s micro-level national image and other Korean brands among Chinese consumers, focusing on technological capability and design dimensions, and the moderating role of consumer ethnocentrism. Data was collected through surveys that presented scenarios of varying degrees of brand failures and analyzed using AMOS and Hayes Process Macro. Results reveal that typical brand failures negatively affect perceptions of Korea’s micro-national image, particularly in terms of technology capability and design. Additionally, higher levels of ethnocentrism amplify the negative effect of brand failures on the design dimensions of Korea’s image. However, …

Giving Locally Or Globally? How The Destination Of Corporate Charitable Donations Shapes Consumer Brand Preferences, Ohjin Kwon, Young Jee Han, Hakkyun Kim

Asia Marketing Journal

We investigate how the geographic destination of charitable corporate donations influences brand preferences. We predict and find that consumers demonstrate a stronger preference for brands that engage in domestic donations as opposed to those that contribute to foreign causes. Additionally, we find that the preference for domestic donations is more pronounced among consumers exhibiting higher levels of nationalism and lower levels of residential mobility. Our research findings offer managerial implications for tailoring CSR strategies to resonate with specific consumer segments. We provide insights for companies aiming to optimize the impact of their philanthropic endeavors.

Saving Face While Earning Rewards: Reward-Both Referral Programs More Effectively Elicit Referrals For Experiential Purchases Than Reward-Me Programs, Hyunkyu Jang, Raj Raghunathan

Asia Marketing Journal

Companies offer rewards when an existing customer invites a new customer to try their product, but the recipient of the reward varies depending on the type of referral program. In Reward-Me programs, only the recommending customer is rewarded, while in Reward-Both programs, both the recommender and the recipient who acts on the recommendation are rewarded. We examined whether purchase type (material vs. experiential) moderates the impact of a reward program on referral likelihood. The results reveal that purchase type does moderate referral likelihood across the two types of reward programs: for material purchases, referral likelihood does not differ between the …

Hedonic And Utilitarian Products For The 21St Century: Classification Of Modern Product Categories, Jin-A Choi, Sufyan M. Baksh, Hyuk Jun Cheong

Asia Marketing Journal

Consumer purchasing behavior varies according to the type of product being considered. Notably, these behavioral differences become more salient depending on whether a product fulfills a utilitarian function or offers hedonic gratification. The present study aims to develop a novel product classification model that categorizes contemporary goods and services based on the extent to which they possess hedonic or utilitarian value. Methodologically, the study employed a two-stage approach. In the first stage, to identify appropriate products for inclusion in the classification model, the researchers conducted focus group interviews, a comprehensive literature review, and an analysis of major retailers’ websites. In …

Customer Satisfaction And Shareholder Value In The Hospitality And Tourism Industry: The Moderating Role Of A Ceo’S Marketing Experience, Minchung Kim, Yonghee Kim

Asia Marketing Journal

Despite the long history of research examining the effects of firm-level customer satisfaction on shareholder value, the existing findings are mixed for the hospitality and tourism industry where customer satisfaction is particularly important for the success of firms. The inconsistent results require further examination of the shareholder value relevance of customer satisfaction. This study offers a comprehensive understanding of the topic by examining the effects of customer satisfaction not only on equity return but also equity risk, and identifying a key contingency. Using annual American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) for publicly traded “restaurant”, “hotel”, and “airline” firms, this study finds …

Textbooks: Required, Alternatives, Hybrid, Or Disappearance, William Saunders, Carlton Perkins, Michara Delaney-Fields

Southwestern Business Administration Journal

The conversations around transformational changes in higher education are centered around a myriad of issues. Technology, the lasting effects of the pandemic, student satisfaction and readiness for future employment requirements are a few of the leading concerns. However, one subject that is not receiving enough attention is the growing resistance and hesitation among college students to purchase textbooks. Although the movement has not reached the status of a full-blown protest or outright refusal, there is enough attention being brought to the subject that educators may want to be prepared for an eventual change. The need and requirement for textbooks in …

Using Artificial Intelligence To Improve Customer Engagement: User Experience With Chatbot Technology, Aicha Zemmouri, Salma Choufari

Journal of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour in Emerging Markets

This study examines the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on improving customer loyalty through the use of chatbot technology, with a specific focus on the user experience of Moroccan consumers. The increasing integration of AI into customer service, especially through chatbots, represents a significant shift in how companies interact with their customers. Given Morocco’s growing digitalization and the strategic importance of customer loyalty, it is critical to understand how consumers perceive and interact with these technologies. To achieve this, the study used a qualitative research method of semi-structured interviews to investigate consumers’ perceptions, interaction behaviours, and challenges with chatbot usage. …

2025, 1(20)

Journal of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour in Emerging Markets

Full Issue 2025, 1(20)

Sme Marketing Performance: A Mixed-Method Study On Resilient Compositional Capability, Sugianto Sugianto, Ramadania Ramadania, Wenny Pebrianti

Asia Marketing Journal

This study examines how Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in developing markets achieve marketing performance through resilient compositional capability despite resource constraints. Using data from 435 SMEs in West Borneo, Indonesia, and employing a mixed-method approach, we find that marketing innovation, government support, and organizational ambidexterity positively influence resilient compositional capability. Our results show that while government support and organizational ambidexterity directly impact marketing performance, marketing innovation's effect is mediated by resilient compositional capability. Furthermore, we find that resilient compositional capability significantly mediates the relationship between all independent variables and marketing performance, validating the Composition-Based View's (CBV) premise that firms …

K Means Clustering Analysis For Chinese Tourists' Segmentation On Duty-Free Personal Luxury Goods Purchasing Intentions In The Asia-Pacific Region, Feng Hui, Piang-Or Loahavilai, Nopasit Chakpitak, Tirapot Chandarasupsang

Asia Marketing Journal

This study explores Chinese tourists' purchase intentions for personal luxury goods in Asia-Pacific duty-free shops using an integrated Affect Behavior Cognition (ABC) model of attitude, incorporating subjective norms. Factor analysis and K-means clustering were employed to segment the market based on demographics and purchasing behavior. Three distinct customer segments emerged: the ``All-Participation Group'' highly involved in all purchasing decision factors, focusing on product performance, price, and shopping convenience; the ``Product-Oriented Group'' prioritizing product performance and cost-effectiveness, with a preference for convenient search channels; and the ``Perceived Control & Promotion Group'' influenced by promotions, cautious about product damage, and favoring easy …

How Implicit Theories Can Enhance Or Reduce Charitable Behavior, Yoni Yoon, Jongwon Park

Asia Marketing Journal

Whether real or merely conceived, the distance to beneficiaries impairs individuals' generosity. This makes it important, both theoretically and practically, to identify factors that can promote prosocial behavior toward distant others. The present research identifies implicit self-theories (i.e., individuals' lay beliefs about the malleability or fixedness of human attributes–-incremental vs. entity theory) as one such factor. Four experiments demonstrate that incremental (vs. entity) theory enhances charitable behavior to distant others by decreasing perceived social distance toward them. We also show that this effect attenuates when the beneficiary is socially close, as consistent with the mediation mechanism. Furthermore, by combining the …

A Study On Consumer-Avatar Interactions In The Metaverse: Implications For Marketing Strategies, Sunmin Kim, Ji Hyeon Heo, Ji Hee Song

Asia Marketing Journal

The metaverse, expected to grow into a trillion-dollar market by 2030, is driving global investments across technology, economy, and even education. This research examines the interactions between consumers and avatars, a core element of the metaverse, to understand their influence on consumer identity, behavior, and attitudes. Based on the self-extension and self-expansion theories, the study uses immersive netnography to investigate consumer-avatar dynamics on the ZEPETO platform. Findings indicate that avatars act as extensions of the self, where consumers express control, create, and seek knowledge. Additionally, interactions between avatars contribute to self-expansion, as consumers incorporate the resources, perspectives, and characteristics of …

Market Power Versus Regulation Forces: The Impact Of Antitrust Regulation On Software Firms, Gwona Ko, Boreum Choi, Wooje Cho, Young Bong Chang

Asia Marketing Journal

The omnipresence of software firms is triggering substantial antitrust concerns, calling into question the adequacy of existing regulatory frameworks. This study explores this pivotal concern in the context of the software industry, which is characterized by profound network externalities among customers and a rapid pace of innovation. Our study used the event study methodology on data from 252 antitrust cases involving the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Department of Justice from 2000 to 2022, which revealed important insights into the differentiated effects of U.S. antitrust announcements on the market value of software firms. Although antitrust announcements generally have a …

Does Your Company Care About The Fears Of Pandemic For Salespeople? Insights From Pandemic Demands And Resources, Ihsan Ullah Jan, Seonggoo Ji, Changju Kim

Asia Marketing Journal

The pandemics (e.g., COVID-19) disrupt the roles of all professionals, particularly those of salespeople. This study seeks to empirically examine how fears amidst the pandemic, as pandemic demands, influence salespeople's attitudinal and behavioral outcomes and how organizational and personal resources as pandemic resources mitigate the negative outcomes for salespeople. Building on the job demands-resources (JD-R) model and employing the partial least squares-based structural equation modeling, this study tested the proposed hypotheses using responses from 237 salespeople in South Korea. The results mainly supported hypotheses. As a major theoretical contribution, this study delineates Pandemic fears in terms of salespeople's fear of …

Exploring The Impact Of Negative Brand Experiences On Consumer Emotions And Behavior, Li Mei Liu, Seong Ho Lee

Asia Marketing Journal

With the continuous development of social media, negative brand emotions have emerged as a significant social phenomenon. However, existing marketing research predominantly focuses on positive emotions. This study aims to explore how the sensory, emotional, behavioral, intellectual, and social dimensions of negative brand experiences elicit consumer regret and brand hate, which subsequently drive the spread of NWOM. Using SEM to analyze data from 1,000 Chinese consumers, this study finds that all dimensions of negative brand experiences significantly influence both regret and brand hate. Consumer regret further amplifies brand hate, intensifying its emotional impact, and drives the dissemination of NWOM. This …

Measuring The Effect Of A Brand Communication Strategy Through Consumer-Generated Content: A Case Study Of Telecommunication Services, Jiwon Baek, Haejin Seo, Tae Ho Song

Asia Marketing Journal

The objective of marketing communication is to develop brand knowledge in consumers’ minds by informing and persuading consumers with the information that the brand needs to convey. However, existing studies on advertising effects have primarily focused on quantitative performance metrics. Although studies measuring consumers' cognitive responses have increased recently, it is still difficult to find research analyzing the effectiveness of advertising from a communication perspective. Therefore, we aimed to examine the communication effectiveness of advertising by utilizing Consumer-Generated Content data. The results of the Semantic Network Analysis and centrality analysis revealed differences in advertising effectiveness between the two brands. Moreover, …

Rethinking Money: How The Backfire Effect Shapes Consumer Reactions To Recommendations, Hee-Kyung Ahn, Eunkyoung Lee

Asia Marketing Journal

This research explored how priming of money influences consumers' reactions to others' opinions, particularly regarding compliance with different types of recommendations. Across two experiments, we found that subtle reminders of money made individuals value their independence in decision-making. As a result, they tended to respond negatively to recommendations that were overly prescriptive, such as specific product suggestions. On the other hand, when money reminders accompanied recommendations that offered some flexibility—like suggestions for product categories—individuals were more likely to agree with these flexible recommendations than specific suggestions. This effect even persisted when the category recommendations included only a single alternative.

Detrimental Impact Of Waiting On Dining Experiences: Evidence From Online Restaurant Reviews, Jooa Baek, Yeongbae Choe

Asia Marketing Journal

This study employs big data analytics to examine customers’ waiting experiences in restaurants, a critical component of the broader hospitality and tourism industry. Drawing upon a large corpus of online reviews, the analysis uses topic modeling to identify four salient themes that emerge—waiting, food, servicescape, and service quality—informing the way in which customers perceive and evaluate dining experiences. Two subsequent regression analyses reveal a significant negative relationship between waiting-related comments and overall review ratings, underscoring the disproportionate influence of waiting experiences in shaping customer satisfaction. These findings offer valuable insights for hospitality and tourism practitioners and researchers aiming to deepen …