Marketing Commons^™

Confronting Indecision, Lane Allison Murray

ENGS 15.11: Design and Education

This course aims to increase students' understanding of indecision and how to confront it. The class provides insight into how the fear of the unknown holds people back from making decisions and about understanding one's values as a means to combat indecision. Students and teachers alike explore instances of indecision and evaluate their own impulses & thought processes by reflecting on the deeper reasons for their choices. Students will increase their comfort level of asking themselves and their peers questions about the values that guide them and, in doing so, strengthen their relationships with themselves and others.

(In)Attention To Attractive Brand Alternatives, Danielle J. Brick, Veronica L. Thomas

Marketing Faculty Publications

Understanding how consumers maintain their brand relationships has important implications for marketers as committed consumers contribute significant value to firms. In the present research, we propose and test one such way consumers protect their brand relationships, namely through attentional avoidance of attractive alternative partners. Across multiple studies, we find support for our theory that committed consumers avoid attending to alternative brand partners by recalling less about and spending less time focused on attractive alternatives. We further find that this inattention occurs because consumers view the competing brand as a threat to the consumer’s current relationship. In addition, we investigate a …

Harvest Gold Distillery, Alexis Mackey, Alexander Grecco, Cole Smith, Maggie Patterson, Blake Benko

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The goal of our research project is to establish and grow Harvest Gold Distillery: a corn-based liquor distillery in Ohio that aims to produce and sell high-quality spirits while offering unique services that enhance outreach in the community. The motivation behind this business venture is rooted in one of our team member’s family traditions; Alex’s family makes homemade liquors, which has fostered an in-depth understanding of the distillation process. Alex’s firsthand experience with the craft provides a solid foundation, yet we recognize that starting a distillery involves significant challenges and requires thorough research in several functions of business. This project …

Buying Green On A Student Budget: How Sustainability Shapes Gen-Z Grocery Habits, Tyler Martin, Diane R. Edmondson, Lucy Matthews

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Sustainability is increasingly prioritized by consumers, but concerns arise about whether Gen-Z college students with limited financial means translate sustainable attitudes into purchasing behaviors. This study surveyed 496 undergraduate students at a southeastern public university to assess attitudes, motivations, and actions regarding sustainable grocery shopping. Results reveal strong environmental concerns among students but a notable gap between beliefs and purchasing behaviors, attributed mainly to financial constraints. Gender, political affiliation, and religious affiliation significantly influenced sustainable behavior. Managerial implications and future research directions are discussed.

From Backlash To Brand Loyalty: How Self-Congruity And Generation Shape Consumer Intentions After A Failed Influencer Campaign, Dexter L. Purnell, Kimberly V. Legocki, Steven R. Barnes, Jessica Chapman

Atlantic Marketing Journal

This study examines consumer responses to corporate social advocacy (CSA) surrounding Bud Light’s partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. We fielded a cross-sectional survey of U.S. beer drinkers (N = 386) measuring actual and ideal self-congruity, generational cohort, and purchase intention. Using PROCESS Model 4 with bootstrap confidence intervals, we tested whether self-congruity mediates the relationship between generation and purchase intention. Self-congruity strongly predicted purchase intention, and indirect effects of generation via both actual and ideal self-congruity were statistically significant. Conditional (contrast-specific) indirect effects were observed only for Gen X, indicating cohort-specific pathways from CSA to purchase intention through identity …

Omnichannel Retailing: An Exploratory Study Of Limiting The Customer Journey In A Digital-First Context, Terence L. Holmes, Edward C. Brewer, Elizabeth Patterson

Atlantic Marketing Journal

A recent retail trend is the rise of “digital-first” firms, where their merchandise is sold primarily via online efforts. In this exploratory study we describe our investigation of the customer journey for a digital-first seller of cosmetics and personal care products. We collected qualitative and quantitative data from a customer survey and follow-up interviews. Results indicate that personal connections and actual product use are the two most important touchpoints customers consider in first discovering the seller and then building a relationship with the brand. We describe practical applications of the findings and suggest ideas for future research.

Toward Charity Engagement Of Generation Z: Do Gender And Economic Standing Of Household Matter?, Sylwia Badowska, Liwia Delińska

Journal of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour in Emerging Markets

In Poland, non-profit organizations face challenges in attracting and engaging donors, especially of younger ages, in charity. The study explores factors such as gender and household economic standing of Generation Z’s representatives in order to determine charity engagement in the wake of the frequency, value, and channels of financial donations among Generation Z. A survey (CAWI method) was conducted among young people under 25 in Poland. Descriptive statistics and statistical tests were performed to analyse the primary data.

Outcomes show that young donors mostly provide financial aid donations once a year and both online platforms and traditional collection methods were …

Navigating Responsible Consumption: Unveiling Consumer Perceptions And The Role Of Bio-Based Products In Sustainable Decision-Making, Magdalena Klimczuk-Kochańska, Magdalena Marczewska

Journal of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour in Emerging Markets

The modern consumer society is criticised for its harmful impact on individual well-being and the environment, prompting a call for a transition to responsible consumption. This article explores emerging trends in consumer behaviour towards responsible consumption. Drawing from existing literature and empirical findings, it examines the multifaceted dimensions of responsible consumption, encompassing environmental, ethical, and social considerations. Conscious consumers prioritise basic needs over excessive consumption, opting for high-quality, reliable, and environmentally friendly products, especially those derived from biomaterials called bio-based products. Furthermore, responsible consumers recognise the social and environmental consequences of their consumption behaviour, advocating for sustainable practices and supporting …

The Review Of The Book “Employer Branding – Eine Wissenschaftliche Analyse Des State-Of-The Art Empirischer Untersuchung Im Bereich Employer Branding” Written By Peter Kuhn, Anna Jędrzejczyk

Journal of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour in Emerging Markets

The review of the book “Employer Branding – Eine wissenschaftliche Analyse des State-of-the Art empirischer Untersuchung im Bereich Employer Branding” written by Peter Kuhn

Motivating Marketing Research Respondents To Provide More Elaborated Answers, Michał Ścibor-Rylski

Journal of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour in Emerging Markets

Modern marketing research faces a challenge how to increase the respondents’ productivity and encourage them to give more elaborated answers in the open-ended questions. It’s relevant both for CAWI quantitative projects and the qualitative approaches. The initial research in this area shows that gamified tasks including storytelling enhancements might be a solution to the stated problem. The research project was aimed at the verification of effectiveness of the gamified methods, i.e., questions including a storytelling context, with the use of a bigger, quantitative sample of the regular marketing research respondents – participants of the professional research panel. The research was …

Would You Pay An Insta-Doctor A Visit? Social Media Personal Brands And Young Consumer Perception, Małgorzata Szwed

Journal of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour in Emerging Markets

Technological developments and the broad availability of the Internet provide constant access to social media for users. These platforms are used to communicate with friends as well as to follow other users and brands. Also, physicians have public social media profiles on which they publish both professional and personal content. The objective of the paper is to explore and understand customers’ perception of physicians’ social media use. To obtain the purpose, a qualitative research method was adopted that involved 12 semistructured interviews with people who followed physicians’ profiles on social media. The study identifies three consumer groups: social media enthusiasts, …

Marketing Analytics In 2024 Conferences: Ai And Data-Driven Decision-Making, Maria Petrescu, Anjala S. Krishen

Publications

The field of marketing (and business) analytics has been developing significantly during the last decade, especially with regard to new (generative) AI technologies. A reflection of this rapid evolution can be seen by the strong presence of analytics-related topics in prominent marketing conferences of 2024. Some of the key themes appearing in the 2024 marketing conferences in relation to marketing analytics include AI integration, consumer engagement, data-driven decision-making, and ethical aspects, as reflected in Fig. 1 and discussed below.

Social Comparison And Self-Determination In Luxury Consumption Motivations, Maria Petrescu, Jose Ribamar Siqueira, Costinel Dobre, Selima Ben Mrad, Anca-Milovan Ciuta, Aycan Kara

Publications

This study integrates social comparison theory and self-determination theory to examine the roles of escapism, conformity, and individual cultural values in shaping luxury brand attitudes. Concepts related to consumer upward and downward social comparison are complemented by aspects related to self-determination and autonomy. Drawing on survey data from the United States and Colombia, the research employs partial least squares structural equation modeling and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to investigate the complex drivers of luxury consumption. The findings reveal that escapism and conformity, complementary motivations grounded in social comparison and self-determination theories, positively influence luxury brand attitudes. Furthermore, individual cultural …

Mastering Sales Excellence: Navigating The Balance Between Authentic Innovation And Routine Automation In The Ai Era, Victoria Hailey, Maria Kalyvaki

Mountain Plains Business Conference

The advent of generative AI has significantly transformed the sales landscape, presenting both opportunities and challenges. AI can enhance efficiency in the sales process by providing insights into industry trends, organizational background research and assist in perfecting the sales pitch. However, the challenge remains for salespeople to maintain authenticity and personal engagement during interactions, ensuring that AI-generated content does not come across as formulaic or insincere. This paper will investigate best practices for leveraging AI while preserving the human touch that is crucial for successful sales outcomes.

Warhol Speaks: How One Museum Leverages Communications Strategies To Engage In An Era Of Innovation And Value Creation, Kristina Kaufman, Peter Kaufman

Atlantic Marketing Journal

As museums face increasing competition for guests amidst a growing number of cultural options, these institutions are challenged to reinvent themselves to offer a more modern experience for guests that addresses inclusivity, and a balance of active (engaging) and passive (reflective) experiences. This paper documents researcher observation at The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Through the lens of sensory perception theory, several themes emerge as communication strategies that aim to offer visitor engagement and added value. This paper analyzes and highlights how museums can offer multisensory experiences which cater to guests’ ability to cognitively invest and engage with the …

Exploring Ai Technology And Consumer Behavior In Retail Interactions, Maria Petrescu, Anjala S. Krishen, John T. Gironda, J. Ricky Fergurson

Publications

This research systematically reviews artificial intelligence (AI) effects in customer-interfacing retail applications based on an ecosystem value co-creation framework. We conduct a bibliometric and conceptual mapping analysis study, focusing on AI-related implications for consumers’ and other stakeholders' well-being, social interaction, and societal welfare. A co-citation network visualization of critical AI journal articles is generated, and a network visualization of AI keyword relationships and clustered topic areas is presented and discussed, along with a conceptual map of the relationships between key concepts and substantive AI themes. In an ecosystem context, the multidisciplinary-based bibliometric and conceptual mapping findings of our analysis reflect …

Mv-Qual: A Tool For Understanding Decisions To Purchase Virtual Products In The Metaverse, Fabienne Cadet, John T. Gironda, Bay O'Leary, Maria Petrescu

Publications

This paper develops the MV-QUAL (Metaverse Quality) scale and explores the various factors that may impact consumers’ perceptions of quality and value when purchasing virtual products in a Metaverse world. Utilizing Flow Theory and SERVQUAL as theoretical lenses to conduct our research, a framework was developed and tested, demonstrating how various factors are interconnected and impact consumers’ shopping experiences in the Metaverse. Data was collected from a national sample of 322 Metaverse users in the United States and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling in SmartPLS, complemented by a neural network causal analysis in Neusrel. The results demonstrated …

Willingness To Pay And Market Potential For Biowrap: An Economic Study Of A New Biodegradable Mulch Product In Home Gardening, Gengchen Cai

Department of Agricultural Economics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study explores the market potential of BioWRAP, a biodegradable sprayable weed suppression product, by assessing the willingness to pay (WTP) among American home gardeners. Traditional plastic mulch offers significant agronomic benefits but poses considerable environmental challenges, making BioWRAP a promising alternative due to its similar benefits and reduced environmental impact. Using a double-bounded contingent valuation method, we analyze the WTP for BioWRAP among different demographic groups and gardening practices. Our findings indicate that the highest WTP for BioWRAP is among home gardeners who currently use chemical sprays for weed suppression, followed by those using physical barriers, with the lowest …

Sales Professional Preservation: Examining The Impact Of Incongruent Ideological Belief Systems On Intentions To Quit Among Sales Professionals, Brian Lee Morgan

Dissertations

Organizations that lead with ideologies of moral tradition, politics, and social economics are playing a losing game. The ideological belief system congruence within the organization between leaders and members creates a better atmosphere with less turnover and better recruitment. Sales professionals want an environment free of ideological incongruence. Without ideological alignment, they will defect from the organization. Leaders are miscalculating the negative impact on members’ intentions to quit when they are faced with leaders acting upon ideology changes that affect the member-customer ecosystem. In addition, leaders should be aware of the personal attributes that can exacerbate turnover and work to …

Enhancing Visitor Experience Through Marketing For The Mayflower Bocawina National Park, Samantha O'Flaherty

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis outlines a summer internship in Dangriga, Belize, where the author worked with Mayflower Bocawina National Park facilitated by Dr. Amy Farmer and Steve Darr. Dangriga faces challenges in the tourism industry due to competition from larger entities who have more resources and infrastructure. The author and their partner developed a marketing strategy for the park's new glamping experience and mountain bike trail, evolving into a comprehensive plan encompassing SEO, website management, and operational optimization. The project aimed to enhance the park's competitiveness, generate sustainable revenue, and support its growth and improvement initiatives.

Interpreting Consumer Attitude Towards Milk Alternatives: A Purchase Intention Model For Marketing Success, Anjolize Wassenaar, Elizabeth Kempen

Journal of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour in Emerging Markets

Within an emerging market context, the purchase of dairy free milk alternatives is not well understood. The purpose of the article is to present a model within which purchase intentions of South African emerging market consumers can be interpreted, providing marketers with information on which product positioning upon market entry and continuous marketing strategies can be developed for the growing niche ultra-heat treated (UHT) milk alternative product category. Using a qualitative, exploratory-descriptive approach, data was gathered in-person and online from 35 participants through mini-focus groups and semi-structured interviews. Through inductive-deductive thematic data analysis, findings describe consumer purchase intention towards UHT …

Exploring Gen Z’S Identity Formation And Its Influence On Consumption Of Pop Culture And Entertainment Merchandise, Melisa Annette Spilinek

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Fandoms have grown in size and influence, becoming a complex and dynamic cultural phenomenon that richly impacts the consumption of media and consumer behavior. The capitalistic United States with its diverse and media-savvy population, is a prime destination to study fan studies, particularly among young adults who are a crucial component of fandom influence.

The internet has grown to be a major component of the fan experience, an integral part of fandom culture. Online communities provide avenues for Generation Z to connect with others who share similar struggles, challenges, and interests, highlighting the importance of digital platofrms on the evolution …

Mediating Effect Of Mobile Banking Trust On Information And System Quality, Marko Van Deventer

Journal of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour in Emerging Markets

In the context of mobile banking services, trust emerges as a pivotal factor influencing both the acceptance and utilisation of these services, significantly shaping customers' confidence in their usage. Existing literature proposes that trust operates as a mediator in the connection between customers' perceptions of the quality of information and the overall system in mobile banking.

This study aimed to investigate whether trust acts as a mediating variable in the relationship between information and system quality within the mobile banking experiences of Generation Y customers in the South African banking sector. Employing a descriptive research design, the study distributed self-administered …

Autonomous Stores: How Levels Of In-Store Automation Affect Store Patronage, Sabine Benoit, Birgit Altrichter, Dhruv Grewal, Carl-Philip Ahlbom

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Autonomous stores operate without needing on -site staff present to support and monitor customers. This study seeks to determine which autonomous stores are most likely to succeed. By adapting convenience theory and drawing on secondary and qualitative data, the authors identify unique features of autonomous stores that constitute convenience dimensions: options for check -in (access convenience), staff support (assistance convenience), check -out (transaction convenience), and to allow customers to check their itemized baskets (verification convenience). Perceptions of convenience, autonomy, and safety explain the influences of unique store features. A conjoint experiment provides a test of the direct effects of each …

The Science Of Creating Brand Associations: A Continuous Trinity Model Linking Brand Associations To Learning Processes, Christilene Du Plessis, Serena D'Hooge, Steven Sweldens

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

The Continuous Trinity Model (CTM) of brand associations integrates 50 years of consumer learning research with recent conceptualizations of consciousness. Three types of brand associations are proposed at the representational level (expectations, meaning, and affect), corresponding to three types of learning at the process level (predictive learning, referential learning, and direct affect transfer). A core proposition derived from research on automaticity holds that the operating conditions of the learning processes vary on a continuum from mostly System 2 for predictive learning to mostly System 1 for direct affect transfer, with referential learning as a mix of the two. The CTM …

Nostalgia Marketing: An Integrative Framework, Yasamin Mehdian Rad

University Honors Theses

Nostalgia is a longstanding yet evolving concept in marketing, employed to evoke sentimental longing for the past. It is a complex emotion that can invoke warmth, happiness, sadness, and melancholy, and can be directed towards both personal memories and imaginative pasts--times and places that one has never experienced. This dual nature of nostalgia, categorized into personal and imaginative nostalgia, offers a powerful emotional appeal that marketers leverage to influence consumer behavior. Since the 1950s, the use of nostalgia in marketing has increased significantly, allowing brands to forge deep emotional connections with consumers. Despite its prevalent use, research on nostalgia's impact …

The Shocking Future Of Artificial Intelligence Across A Variety Of Industries, Collin Elek Boone

Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Artificial intelligence is a huge phenomenon that has begun to take over worldwide media. The abilities that AI has already proven to be capable of will undoubtedly change the world in a variety of ways. In the future, however, it is possible that AI will have an impact on nearly every sector imaginable. With the success that companies such as OpenAI and Microsoft have already displayed regarding artificial intelligence, it is clear that this software has immense capabilities. The purpose of this study is to conduct research detailing the potential impact of AI on industries within the business sector and …

Person-Supervisor Fit Antecedents: Self Determination Theory In Salesforce Turnover Intention, Ilgim Benoit, Jeffrey R. Foreman, Bonnie S. Guy

Atlantic Marketing Journal

In this paper, by utilizing Self-Determination Theory (SDT), we discuss possible antecedents for Person-Supervisor (PS) fit, which is important in decreasing turnover intentions of salespeople. Specifically, this is the first paper to discuss autonomy, relatedness and competence as social antecedent variables that are influential in predicting the PS fit, which is the congruence of values and goals of salespeople and sales managers, that ultimately decreases turnover intentions of salespeople. Survey results show that autonomy and relatedness are both positively related to salespeople’s perception of PS fit, and have indirect effects on turnover intention through PS fit. Accordingly, by enhancing relatedness, …

Zoomer Generation: Used Car Automobile Purchasing Behaviors, Scott E. Whitaker, Joe Spencer, Giovanni Calise

AMTP Proceedings 2024

There is a growing trend of online automobile purchasing that is altering the relationship between consumers and automobile dealerships. Consumers are more informed and seek a larger variety of inventory and options when shopping for used vehicles. The online marketplace provides a viable alternative to local dealerships who have hereto dominated much of the market. This research shows the current generation of Zoomers is helping to drive this trend which has significant marketing implications toward the industry. There remains a gap in the academic body of knowledge examining this behavior in relation to large online purchases such as automobiles. This …

The Impact Of Individual Culture On Purchase Decisions Of Fast Fashion In Brazil, Lucie S. Speck

Senior Theses

Fast fashion is an emerging method of production in the apparel industry that is characterized by lower-quality materials and faster production timelines than the traditional methods of producing clothing. It is becoming a trending topic in modern business due to its negative social and environmental impact, as brands that use fast fashion production processes are constantly being criticized for inhumane labor practices and large amounts of textile waste.

This research proposes two models using a survey as its main research method. The first model determines how financial situation, collectivism as a cultural value, and education level impact whether social media …