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Brand authenticity is a crucial concept in determining a continuing relationship between a team and its fans. To better understand brand authenticity in the sport industry, this study explored how professional sport teams' brand authenticity can be enhanced by its antecedents and what is the role of brand authenticity on fan loyalty, ultimately enhancing receptivity to environmental sustainability messaging. A total of 349 fans of the National Football League participated in an online survey. This research employed structural equation modeling to examine the relationships among the eight main constructs in the hypothesized research model. The results indicated that the five predictors positively influenced the team's brand authenticity. Furthermore, enhanced brand authenticity impacted fan loyalty, while receptivity to environmental sustainability messaging was affected by fan loyalty and environmental sustainability attitude. The findings demonstrate how sport organizations can increase fans' receptivity to environmental sustainability messaging through fans' perceived brand authenticity and loyalty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For more than 20 years, the consumer–brand relationship (CBR) subfield has flourished with scores of constructs being employed. We provide an epistemological examination of its 14 most commonly measured relational constructs (e.g. Brand Love, Self-Brand Connection) collected from 767 research articles, reflecting 1,753 scales and approximately 9,200 items. We demonstrate that constructs overlap an average of 43% across all journals and 21% in top journals due to assessing highly similar or synonymous ideas (i.e. jangle). We use a combination of text and cluster analyses to show that measures of allegedly the same construct are polysemic, having an average of 5.3 different meanings (i.e. jingle). The results document in the CBR subfield the types of measurement inconsistencies and ambiguities that have sown confusion and frustration in other academic fields. We discuss the roots of these problems and offer recommendations aimed at helping scholars to improve measurement practices and to limit the presence of jingle and jangle in the CBR subfield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike previous research that suggests a predominant preference for older brands, this research takes a contingent perspective to examine how consumers' preference for older brands is affected by their expectations of category innovativeness. Results from the analysis of sales data from Amazon and seven experimental studies demonstrate that consumers' preference for older brands decreases with their expectations of category innovativeness. The rationale is that with expectations of category innovativeness, consumers place less importance on consistency-related brand traits (e.g., stability, reliability) and more on excitement-related brand traits (e.g., dynamic, adventurous). Because older brands are associated with consistency, preference for older brands diminishes with expectations of category innovativeness. Further, this research identifies two factors that moderate the effects of category innovativeness on preference for older (vs. younger) brands. First, familiarity with the older brand moderates the effect of category innovativeness on brand preferences such that category innovativeness increases preferences for younger brands only when consumers are choosing between unfamiliar brands. Second, consumers' need for uniqueness reduces the effect of category innovativeness on preferences for younger brands. Together, the findings suggest that the dominance of older brands reduces with expectations of category innovativeness. The findings are important from both theoretical and managerial perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the growing transformation from offline to online shopping urges marketers to understand the impacts of this shift on brand loyalty, conclusions from the existing marketing literature have been inconsistent. Drawing on the distinctions between online and offline shopping, the authors develop a theoretical framework that focuses on uncertainty avoidance (UA) to reconcile the inconsistencies in the literature. Specifically, the authors argue that high-UA (vs. low-UA) individuals are more (vs. less) brand loyal when shopping online than when shopping offline because the product experience is less predictable in the former (vs. latter), a distinction between online and offline shopping that increases (reduces) high-UA (low-UA) individuals' tendency to stay with the brands. In findings consistent with this logic, the authors uncover that intangible value salience, a theoretically and managerially relevant boundary condition, attenuates the interplay between online (vs. offline) shopping and UA. Across eight studies that consist of secondary data, field studies, and online and laboratory experiments, the authors find converging evidence to support this theoretical stance. This research contributes insights to the loyalty literature and cross-cultural research. The managerial implications are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More companies are engaging with consumers in real-time on digital platforms, which may lead to accidental or unintentional sharing of messages. Accordingly, how to manage online brand crises has become an increasingly important issue for marketing managers. The present research explores how online brand blunders influence consumers' trust and liking toward the blunderer brand, and the role of brand commitment in this relationship. Three studies show that consumers evaluate online brand blunders differently than they do product performance problems. Specifically, upon receiving negative brand blunder information, high (vs. low)-commitment consumers' brand trust and brand liking decrease to a higher extent due to finding the blunder less humorous and more offensive. On the contrary, upon receiving negative product performance information, low (vs. high)-commitment consumers' brand trust and brand liking decrease to a higher extent, which supports previous literature. Our findings suggest that managers should prioritize high and low-commitment consumers differently and tailor blunder communication in handling online brand crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brand acquisitions are a popular growth strategy. However, both anecdotal evidence and initial empirical evidence suggest that acquisitions can harm the acquired brand. This article proposes and tests a theoretical framework that aims to explain when and why consumers react negatively to acquired brands. Across ten studies using different methods, research designs, product categories, and brands, the authors demonstrate that these negative brand reactions can be explained by the perceived loss of a brand's unique values. Building on this values authenticity account, they document that the negative effect of acquisitions depends on the acquired brand's values, brand age, leadership continuity, and the alignment between acquiring and acquired brands. The findings offer important theoretical and managerial implications, helping managers predict and mitigate the negative effects of acquisitions for brands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Data Sources and Study Setting Study Design Data Collection Principal Findings Conclusions To generate evidence regarding the offensive (customer acquisition) versus defensive (customer retention) motivation for pharmaceutical manufacturer coupons.Retail prescriptions from IQVIA's Formulary Impact Analyzer data between 2017 and 2019.Ordinary least squares regression models with person, therapeutic class, drug, and time‐fixed effects to measure the association between switching medications and coupon usage as well as the association between patient out‐of‐pocket spending and switching to a drug and using a coupon. To study switching type heterogeneity, reanalysis of associations for any type of switch, generic‐brand switches, and brand‐brand switches. Reestimation of baseline analyses for sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitors, anticoagulants, and inhaled corticosteroids/long‐acting beta2‐agonists to assess heterogeneity by drug class and market maturity.1,167,132 privately insured patients that utilized at least one coupon between 2017 and 2019 for one or more prescriptions.Coupon usage was associated with a 1.0 percentage point reduction in any kind of drug switch in the full sample and by 0.65–2.9 percentage points for the drug class subgroups. However, these estimates are governed by market dynamics; the probability of switching increased by 40% on the first coupon usage before declining by more than 50% on subsequent coupons. Switching after the first coupon use may be explained by systematic savings implied by coupon use; we find coupons reduced patient out‐of‐pocket spending by $45.00 (i.e., the majority of patient out‐of‐pocket costs). In subgroup analyses, coupon savings were $6.43 larger than average for anticoagulants, characterized by the highest levels of brand and generic competition among the considered therapeutic classes.Pharmaceutical manufacturers may be using coupons to acquire customers and then build brand loyalty, especially in markets with more generic competition. Antitrust authorities and other regulators should scrutinize the impact of coupons on market competitiveness and drug spending. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, social media platforms have introduced several measures to counter misleading information. Among these measures are "state-media labels" which help users identify and evaluate the credibility of state-backed news. YouTube was the first platform to introduce labels that provide information about state-backed news channels. While previous work has examined the efficiency of information labels in controlled lab settings, few studies have examined how state-media labels affect users' perceptions of content from state-backed outlets. This article proposes new methodological and theoretical approaches to investigate the effect of state-media labels on users' engagement with content. Drawing on a content analysis of 8,071 YouTube comments posted before and after the labeling of five state-funded channels (Al Jazeera English [AJE], China Global Television Network, Russia Today [RT], TRT World, and Voice of America [VOA] News), this article analyses the effect that YouTube's labels had on users' engagement with state-backed media content. We found that the labels had no impact on the amount of likes that the videos received before and after the policy introduction, except for RT which received less likes after it was labeled. However, for RT, comments left by users were associated with 30% decrease in the likelihood of observing a critical comment following the policy implementation, and a 70% decrease in likelihood of observing a critical comment about RT as a media source. While other state-funded broadcasters, like AJE and VOA News, received fewer critical comments after YouTube introduced its policy; this relationship was associated with how political the video was, rather than the policy change. Our study contributes to the ongoing discussion on the efficacy of platform governance in relation to state-backed media, showing that audience preferences impact the effectiveness of labels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Pro-relational opportunism (PRO) is of growing concern in today's business environment. The premise of this study is to investigate the issues that remain relatively underexplored in previous research – antecedents of supplier PRO and how supplier PRO affects the trust and commitment of brand firms. Methodology: Three scenario-based experiments were applied to test the hypotheses. In Studies 1a and 1b, we used a 1 × 2 (Study 1a – inter-organizational identification: low versus high; Study 1b – supplier dependence: low versus high) between-subjects design. Participants were asked to evaluate their ethical philosophies after reading the scenarios. We ran a regression analysis to test for the main and interactive effects of inter-organizational identification, supplier dependence, and ethical philosophy on supplier PRO. Study 2 used a 1 × 2 (supplier PRO: PRO acting versus non-PRO acting) between-subjects design. The bootstrapping method using PROCESS was applied to run a mediation analysis. Findings: This study finds that inter-organizational identification, supplier dependence, and managers' ethical philosophy (utilitarianism and relativism) may increase suppliers' PRO behavior. Utilitarianism and relativism positively moderate the effects of inter-organizational identification and supplier dependence on supplier PRO. Supplier PRO has both a direct and negative impact on the brand firm's commitment and an indirect effect mediated by trust. Research implications: This study provides insight into drivers and outcomes of supplier PRO based on the relationships with brand firms. Influences of inter-organizational determinants are dependent on individual factors. This research extends the supply chain opportunism literature beyond the typically dyadic perspective. Practical implications: Brand firms should be cautioned that strong inter-organizational identification may promote supplier PRO. In addition, brand firms should encourage dependent suppliers to find ethical ways to promote alternative attractiveness. In seeking to avoid damage to the trust and commitment of brand firms, suppliers need to establish systems and norms to help managers develop correct ethical philosophies and understand the harm of PRO behavior. Originality/value/contribution: This research may be the first to examine the antecedents of supplier PRO and its boundary conditions in multi-level settings (i.e. inter-organizational and individual levels). Moreover, this study deepens our understanding of opportunism by further developing the consequences of PRO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advancement of IOT (Internet of Things) has facilitated the development of smart pet appliances, and the market for these products has growing rapidly, this study seeks to identify key factors for pet owner adoption of "smart" pet appliances. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) a well-established model in the field of IOT research is used as the main framework, integrating brand trust, perceived value and perceived enjoyment as the basis for hypothesis formulation and testing based on data collected through questionnaires distributed through online social platforms. Reliability analysis, validity analysis and structural equation model analysis were carried out through confirmatory factor analysis to test the variables and research hypotheses. Results for the UTAUT indicate that effort expectancy has a direct impact on performance expectancy, while performance expectancy, effort expectancy and facilitating condition all have a positive impact on intention. While social influence does not directly or significantly affect use intention, it can indirectly affect intention through perceived value and perceived enjoyment. Brand trust does not have a significant impact on use intention, but can indirectly affect use intention through perceived value. This study further compares user age and number of smart pet home appliances owned to better understand the impact of demographic factors. Findings indicate that, for users under the age of 30, effort expectancy has no significant impact on use intention, while brand trust has no significant impact on perceived value among users over 30. Among the research results based on age as a basis, the impact of hardships in the ethnic group in the age of 30 is not significant, nor do facilitating conditions or perceived value have significant impact on use intention. For users with one smart pet device at home, neither favorable conditions not perceived value have significant impact on use intention, while for users with two smart pet devices, perceived enjoyment does not significantly impact use intention. These finding have potential reference value for future related research in the IOT or smart pet home appliance research field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing introduction of intelligent, interactive robots in the service industry raises concerns about the potential dehumanization of service provision and its influences on corporate brand perceptions. To avoid adverse effects, new service development (NSD) managers seemingly favor service robots that feature anthropomorphic design metaphors, so they appear more human‐like. The current research investigates explicitly how customers' perception of a robot's anthropomorphic design metaphors might spill over to affect corporate brand perceptions. Study 1, a picture‐based scenario study with 109 participants, reveals the impact of anthropomorphic design metaphors on untested corporate brand outcomes, such as brand trust and brand experience. Then Study 2, a video‐based scenario study with 530 participants, addresses whether these effects depend on the service context. In Study 3, a field study of 393 participants, the authors examine how anthropomorphic design metaphors influence other firm‐related outcomes (e.g., shopping enjoyment, sales). The combined results confirm that anthropomorphic design metaphors strongly affect brand trust and brand experience, as well as other critical firm‐related outcomes; they also reveal notable context effects, such that customers of people‐processing (e.g., care services) and mental‐stimulus‐processing (e.g., shopping assistance) services appear more likely to use anthropomorphic design metaphors as corporate brand cues. Our research encourages NSD managers and scholars to consider the effects of introducing anthropomorphic service robots on corporate brands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractDestination environmental problems are largely caused by tourists and residents, two of the most important stakeholders in destination branding. Therefore, its solution depends on the joint efforts of these two groups. Drawing on the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions and the psychological ownership theory, this study hypothesizes a model to assess the effects of destination brand love on tourists’ and residents’ environmentally responsible behavior (ERB). Destination psychological ownership, together with role readiness, which reflects the extent to which an individual is cognitively and behaviorally prepared for the role of “environmental protector”, mediate these effects. Three studies were conducted to test the research hypotheses, employing a combination of survey-based and experimental methodologies. The results indicate that destination brand love indirectly promotes ERB, with destination psychological ownership and role readiness sequentially mediating the impact of destination brand love on ERB for both residents and tourists. It is also found that role readiness has a greater impact on residents’ ERB than tourists. Theoretical and managerial implications are offered in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study aims to shed light on the role of social media in building consumer engagement and examines the impact of Islamic brand personality traits on electronic word-of-mouth and brand trust in the context of social media engagement behaviour within Islamic online banking. To assess the proposed model a sample of 665 users was recruited. The results show that the brand personality traits of Islamic brands within the context of the Islamic banking sector have a positive impact on brand trust and electronic word of mouth when mediated by brand love. This study addresses this gap in research by examining the impact of Islamic brand personality traits and brand love on electronic word-of-mouth and brand trust in Palestine. These results underline the importance of considering the alignment of brand personality traits with Islamic principles in fostering engagement and trust towards the brand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The effects of various coffee shop attributes on customer satisfaction and brand-related outcomes were investigated. In addition, the moderating role of different service providers (human barista vs. robot barista) was explored. This study found that coffee quality, employee service, physical environment, price, and location, positively affect customer satisfaction. In addition, customer satisfaction has a positive influence on brand attitude and brand identification which, in turn, positively affect brand loyalty. Lastly, the type of service providers played a moderating role in the relationship between (1) coffee quality and customer satisfaction and (2) price and customer satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Successful political outsiders from the largest democracies, such as Narendra Modi (India), Donald Trump (USA), Joko Widodo (Indonesia), and Jair Bolsonaro (Brazil), have strong leadership images as a reformist. The case of Widodo of Indonesia is unique considering that he rose to power within less than ten years with an image of a servant leader, compared to his counterparts, who tend to be perceived as far right-wing conservatives. Yet, the interplay between leadership brand image and important branding components such as personality and trust remained a gap in the literature. To fill these gaps, this study investigates the brand impact of servant leadership and reformist (perceived qualities, proposed programs, and voters' engagement style) on a leader's brand trust with the mediating effect of brand personality (responsible and active) based on Widodo's case. PLS-SEM is utilized to estimate the model with latent variables and conduct analysis. Results indicate high overall mean scores from all dimensions despite 53.4% of samples (n = 453) not having a political party preference. The study found that servant leadership and reformist image have moderate to substantial effects on brand personality and trust. Responsible persona has proven to mediate most proposed relationships. Implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brand transgressions might put at risk some of companies' most important achievements: a high awareness brand and loyal customers' trust. High awareness brands may suffer from the effects of a functional transgression on customers' trust and perception regarding an organization's capacity to keep its promises, as well as the relationship developed with loyal customers. A common outcome of a product functional transgression is government intervention asking for a product recall. The voluntary recall is an alternative to handle brand transgressions, but less common than mandatory product recalls. This paper adds to the literature by theoretically discussing and empirically analyzing how the relationship status of a first-time or loyal customer with a high awareness brand affects consumers' trust after a functional transgression. Additionally, it examines the moderation effect of response to a functional transgression on the relation between trust's components—competence, integrity, and benevolence. Through an experimental study 2 (company's response: passive strategy; voluntary product recall) × 2 (relationship: loyal; first-time) × between-subjects design, the findings indicate that after a high awareness brand transgression, loyal consumers perceive greater competence, integrity, and benevolence in the brand than first-time consumers. When a transgression is followed by a passive strategy in which the transgressor company is aware of a malfunction and decides not to take any action to remediate the situation, loyal consumers have higher integrity and benevolence-based trust perception than first-time consumers. As voluntary recall takes place, loyal and first-time consumers' perceptions of integrity and benevolence increase, and first-time consumers reach the same levels as loyal consumers, which suggests voluntary product recall is an effective trust recovery strategy for a high awareness brand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the ways in which consumers' perceptions of brands' sustainable development goals (SDGs) may influence perceptions of partnership authenticity and consumer loyalty toward partnering brands. Data collected from American, French, Turkish, Chinese, and Taiwanese respondents (n = 1241) were used to study the relationships among a Mega Sport Event Organizer – the International Olympic Committee, one of its sponsors, Airbnb, and their consumers. Findings reveal that both the salience of the partners' SDGs and the degree to which their SDGs align significantly impact the partnership authenticity which, in turn, fosters brand loyalty. Salience of brands' SDGs yields stronger predictions of partnership authenticity compared to SDG‐congruity. Additionally, while collectivism strengthens the effect of partnership authenticity, its impact on sustainable development is comparatively limited. From a conceptual standpoint, the research's contributions to categorization theory are discussed. Practical implications are presented for marketers seeking to enhance the effectiveness of their sustainable development strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Professional Business Review (JPBReview) is the property of AOS: ESTRATEGIA & INOVACAO and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Drawing upon the Persuasion Knowledge Model, this study investigates the boundary conditions and psychological mechanisms aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of corporate social responsibility (CSR) advertising when conveyed by social media influencers (SMI) targeting Generation Z consumers. To this end, two experiments were conducted to examine the interaction impacts of disclosure prominence (implicit vs. explicit), endorsement type (brand vs. CSR), and perceived similarity on online behavioral intentions, mediated by perceptions of manipulativeness. The findings of Study 1 revealed that implicit disclosure played a more significant role in eliciting positive behavioral intentions to SMI-CSR advertising, while the opposite results were found for SMI-brand advertising. The results of Study 2 demonstrated that explicit disclosure was less likely to generate perceived manipulativeness toward SMI-CSR ads endorsed by SMIs with low similarity. However, the level of perceived manipulativeness was similar for SMI-CSR ads by SMIs with high similarity regardless of disclosure prominence. Notably, perceived manipulativeness emerged as a significant mediator underlying these interactions in both studies. The theoretical and practical implications are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study aims to investigate the correlation among event quality, host city evaluation, place attachment, destination brand equity, and visitors’ attitudinal intention. Structural equation modeling was employed to test the proposed hypotheses. The data were collected through convenience sampling from 392 spectators who attended the Islamic Solidarity Games 2022, Konya. The results show that event quality positively affects host city evaluation and revisit attitude, while it negatively affects destination brand equity and place attachment. Furthermore, host city evaluation positively affects destination brand equity, place attachment and revisit attitude and has a mediating role between event quality, destination brand equity and place attachment. On the other hand, the results show that there is negative effect of place attachment and destination brand equity on revisit attitude. This research is important in terms of examining the relationship between destination brand equity, brand loyalty and event quality variables since these variables are factors that directly affect visitor experience and behavior. This study makes a theoretical contribution as it investigates different theories and variables in a different context, confirms and updates existing theories and reflects the positive and negative relationships between variables. A more detailed understanding of the relationship between event and destination can guide decision makers to develop more effective strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Companies spend their social media advertising on several platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Xiaohongshu. The proliferation of technology and the increasing accessibility for individuals to establish careers on social media platforms have led to the emergence of influencer marketing as a strategy that can foster consumer engagement within these platforms and perhaps impact brand loyalty. This study examines the effect of influencers marketing approach in the Malaysian context, taking into consideration the growing prominence of this phenomenon. This study utilized descriptive analysis to offer generalizable recommendations for companies regarding the effect of adopting the influencer marketing approach as a strategic method. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for companies seeking to develop their marketing strategies and promote consumer engagement to expand their market position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Logos are part of a brand's identity, responsible for its recognizability and what it stands for. Research showed that buying products easily recognizable by others is associated with status and/or conspicuous consumption. This research aimed to determine the reasons behind consumers wearing logo clothes. Building on existing literature, it investigated how status, conspicuousness, self-monitors, self-esteem, materialism, brand loyalty, opinion seekers and leaders, and gender influenced wearing visually branded clothing. A conceptual model was developed combining these constructs. An online questionnaire was conducted amongst 206 individuals, and the model was tested using PLS-SEM. Results indicated that materialism, conspicuous consumers, and brand loyalty affected the decision to wear logo clothes, whereas status consumers, self-monitors, self-esteem, and opinion seekers and leaders were not significant in explaining the dependent variable. Future research could expand the research to different countries and age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work described in this paper investigates the impact of cause-related marketing on brand image and loyalty from the perspective of international fast-food chains. Fourteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with the managers to assess the current use of cause-related marketing practices (CrM) in fast-food chain restaurants. From the results of the interviews and review of literature, a model was developed including four variables, these are as follows: CrM, customer loyalty, brand image, and price increase. A self-administered structured questionnaire was designed to collect data on managers perspective of CrM, impact on brand image, customer loyalty, and price increase. Seven hundred and four questionnaires were distributed. Results from the study indicate that there is a correlation between CrM and brand and that there is a positive and significant and relationship between CrM and customer loyalty, CrM was found to have more effect on attitudinal loyalty than on behavioral loyalty. In addition, results revealed that brand image and customer loyalty are correlated. Regression analysis signified that customer loyalty is affected by brand image as the relationship between them is significant and positive. The study also found that brand image acted as a partial mediator between CrM and customer loyalty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brand love and brand loyalty are crucial factors in consumer-brand relationships. However, few studies have examined the impact of social influences on them. Using structural equation modeling, this study investigated the impact of interpersonal influence and celebrity endorser influence on brand love and brand loyalty, the mediating role of brand love between the two social influences and brand loyalty, and finally the moderating roles of gender and consumer age across these relationships. The results suggest that both the social influences have a crucial role in this context and brand love acts as a partial mediator in the association with brand loyalty. Gender did not play the expected moderating role. However, consumers' age played a significant moderating role in the relationships between social influences and brand love. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work identifies the differences in the relevance of online endorsers' physical attractiveness and expertise depending on whether an endorsed product is related to attractiveness. It provides a new perspective regarding the source-credibility model and explores unprecedented relationships. To date, many studies investigating online endorsers have focused on attractiveness-related products, but online endorsers are also employed for attractiveness-unrelated products. Practitioners therefore need to know which requirements are relevant to attractiveness-unrelated products. However, no existing study has compared online endorsers of attractiveness-related or attractiveness-unrelated products. Our investigation is based on an empirical experiment including 576 participants, analyzed with structural equation modeling. The subsamples are compared by multigroup analysis, resulting in counterintuitive results. Both online endorsers and practitioners can greatly benefit from our findings. Our findings indicate that attractiveness is a relevant requirement for both types of products, although attractiveness has a stronger impact on brand-related variables of attractiveness-related products. Male attractiveness is also more relevant than female attractiveness regarding attractiveness-related products. Concerning expertise, we find no differences between the two types of products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The revamp of the National Student Survey (NSS) has led to the elimination of the final 'overall satisfaction' question for Higher Education Institutions in England. This paper develops an index approach that can effectively summarise student satisfaction, utilising a 'fuzzy poverty' methodology that assigns weights to dissatisfaction outcomes based on their correlation levels. We show how our dissatisfaction index enables a comprehensive sector-level analysis by combining NSS data with sector-wide data and further show the usefulness by presenting a case study. Our approach can be universally and unbiasedly applied to student surveys globally, while alleviating problems related to the removal of the overall satisfaction question in the UK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brand loyalty is one of the most researched topics in the marketing field because of its benefits. However, its application to condom social marketing remains limited, especially in the countries most affected by HIV and AIDS, such as South Africa. Using an extended expectancy confirmation theory, this study investigates the determinants of condom brand loyalty among young adults in South Africa. A survey strategy was used to obtain data from 718 participants. The structural equation modeling technique enabled us to analyze the scaled measurement properties and test research hypotheses. The findings highlight that dis/confirmation, alternative attractiveness, and price are significant predictors of condom brand loyalty. Moreover, the results suggest that brand value, brand satisfaction, and brand trust exhibit significant mediating roles in routes to young adults' loyalty to condoms. These findings not only contribute to the spare literature on condom brand loyalty, but they also present key managerial implications for those interested in promoting young adults' loyalty to condoms as a means of controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS among this high-risk population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Malaysia, hospital branding is critical to recruiting medical tourists. Reputation, service quality, and word-of-mouth influence hospital branding. Thus, hospitals and the healthcare tourism sector must understand these elements to gain a competitive edge in the global market. This study investigated the effect of hospital advertising factors on healthcare tourists' behavioural intentions (BI) in Malaysia, with emphasis on clarifying the nature of hospital brand image and hospital brand trust. Additionally, the study assessed how perceived standards and satisfaction stimulate favourable BI among healthcare tourists. This study used the quantitative research-based deductive approach, where hospitals in Malaysia were the target sector. The results demonstrated that accessibility, cost, and a good web presence influenced hospital marketing for medical tourism. Furthermore, the characteristics of safety and security and effective advertising enhance trust. Moreover, patient satisfaction is critical to reduce the divide between service standards and BI, which emphasises the necessity of prioritising patients in medical facilities. Nevertheless, the findings were time-sensitive and not adjusted for healthcare tourism sector alterations or customer habit variations over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to empirically explore the brand loyalty of internal customers. In this context, business characteristics are included as independent variables, and brand characteristics and trust in the brand are included as serial mediators. The comprehensive framework for internal customers has the potential to offer a novel insight into the brand loyalty concept. Indeed, internal customers have more information about the products and the firm. In addition, they have more physical proximity than external customers. Due to these advantages, internal customers are likely to have a higher cognitive awareness of the company and the brand. This provides an important contextual argument to explain brand loyalty more precisely. To operationalize the model in this framework, survey research was conducted on employees working in different roles and positions in the automotive industry in Germany. The survey research collected a data set consisting of 880 units. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and hypothesis testing were conducted using SPSS 26.0 and Process Macro extension. The findings indicate that brand and company characteristics have a significant and positive effect on brand trust and brand loyalty. Trust in the brand, which is also a mediating variable, has a significant and positive effect on brand loyalty, which is the dependent variable. In addition, because of both Baron and Kenny's causality analysis and the mediation test conducted within the framework of contemporary Bootstrap methods, it is seen that trust in the brand has a full mediating role in the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we tried to determine the role of psychological well-being levels in increasing customer satisfaction in the business, protecting and improving the brand image of the business and ensuring brand trust. Snowball sampling technique was used when selecting the sample from the research population consisting of bank employees. six hundred and four samples were used in our research using an online survey form. The data obtained in the application part was analyzed using AMOS 24 and SPSS23 statistical analysis programs. While analyzing the data, correlation, regression, reliability and factor analyzes were performed. The findings revealed that the psychological well-being levels of employees have a positive and significant effect on customer satisfaction, brand image and brand trust of businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the impact of brand image on brand loyalty, and assessed the mediating role of brand experience in this relationship. The sample comprised 439 consumers in China. The results showed there was a significant positive correlation between brand image and brand loyalty. Additionally, brand experience played a mediating role in this relationship. Our research findings contribute to better understanding of the relationships between brand image, brand loyalty, and brand experience among consumers in China. These discoveries also offer practical insights for business operators seeking to enhance consumer brand loyalty. Implications and directions for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonprofit and public sector organizations increasingly rely on social media platforms to strengthen their relationships with key stakeholders. Prior research, especially in the for-profit marketing field, indicates positive effects of customers’ engagement with brand-related social media content on their loyalty toward the brand. The present paper examines these effects in the experientially rich and transformative context of higher education institutions (HEI). Our conceptual model also comprises new potential antecedents relating to the specific context. The results from the structural equation modeling, based on responses from 764 students at a Swiss HEI, indicate significant yet small positive effects of students’ social media engagement (SME) on their loyalty. Positive word-of-mouth behavior and loyalty intentions are primarily influenced by identification with the university. Attitude toward the published content, perceived organizational reputation, and student integration significantly influenced SME, whereby the latter two antecedents showed only a weak effect. In conclusion, SME as a behavioral construct seems to be another expression of existing student loyalty rather than an effective tool to foster loyalty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Industria Textila is the property of Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Textile si Pielarie and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Subjectivity and emotionality of a brand influence the subconscious motivation of customers. It determines brand loyalty, value of the brand, and sustainability of relationship with the customers. This study explores the qualitative dimensions of brand and aims to analyze the impact of qualitative dimensions of a brand on brand equity. In the present study, a sample of 450 respondents were taken who have positive inclination towards Apple iPhone. The variables of the study were extracted using qualitative research while data were processed using SPSS 20 statistical software. The hybrid approach is used in the study as it delivers better result. The proposed model was validated and the results of the study depict that brand friendliness, emotionality, brand trust, and alignment with the brand personality significantly influence brand equity. The study brings important insights about invisible, intangible, and subjective attributes of the brand. The study can be further used to build another inclusive model by incorporating both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the brand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to examine the influence of gamification on brand loyalty through the mediating role of customer engagement. Gamification, the application of game elements in non-game contexts, is hypothesized to increase customer engagement, which ultimately strengthens brand loyalty. This study involved 180 respondents residing in Jabodetabek who are active users of the Alfapets gamification feature on the Alfagift mobile application. Data was collected through online questionnaires and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results show that gamification has a positive impact on customer engagement and brand loyalty. Furthermore, customer engagement was proven to be a significant mediating variable in the relationship between gamification and brand loyalty. The findings of this study provide implications for marketers and mobile application developers in designing strategies to enhance customer engagement and loyalty through the effective implementation of gamification elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Jurnal Ekonomi Manajemen Sistem Informasi (JEMSI) is the property of Dinasti Publisher and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Although consumers rely on their activities to help construct their identity, antecedents and outcomes of consumer-activity identification (CAI) have not been elucidated. This research addresses this gap through the development of a conceptual model that is tested through two studies that implement structural equation modeling. Study 1 finds that CAI leads to consumer-brand identification (CBI). Further, CBI mediates the relationship between CAI and brand loyalty. Study 2 expands these findings by understanding the role of brand and activity social benefits as antecedents for CAI and CBI and including a second brand outcome: brand relationship continuance. Taken together, the results indicate that consumers indeed rely on the activities a brand is used within to construct their identity in addition to the brand. Paradoxically, our findings also reveal that activities that support social interactions decreases CBI. Managerially, marketers should encourage consumers to form relationships with the activities their brand is used within. Additionally, managers could promote their brands as activity facilitators to improve brand identification. The research concludes by offering directions for future research and advice to managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Business Intelligence Management Studies is the property of Allameh Tabatabai University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Brand pride is a self-relevant consumer emotion that impacts brand-related consumption behavior. The study validates brand pride (consumer brand) as a multi-dimensional construct and provides a robust scale to measure it. A literature review and a qualitative approach, followed by an iterative process, led to an initial pool of items to measure brand pride. Next, a stepwise scale purification and validation process involving five subsequent studies was conducted. The resulting 12-item parsimonious scale measures individualistic and collectivistic brand pride. Further, a nomological network of brand pride (consumer brand) with related constructs and predictive capability of the scale for loyalty outcomes is established. The findings contribute significantly to branding theory and provide strategic directions to brand managers in designing their branding strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on examining the role of celebrities as human brands and their endorsements by integrating the Self-Expansion theory. We propose a pioneering model that explores how brand addiction mediates the connections between brand love, brand loyalty, and compulsive buying, while considering the influence of self-expansion (self-esteem, self-congruence, and self-brand identification). Using structural equation modelling, we applied maximum likelihood estimation to analyse data collected from an online survey of 902 consumers. The results validate that brand addiction mediates the relationship between brand love, brand loyalty, and compulsive buying in the context of human brands. Moreover, we found that self-congruence and self-brand identification positively impact brand love by facilitating self-expansion. Additionally, our findings demonstrate that brand love and brand loyalty significantly contribute to the development of brand addiction. By integrating the Self-Expansion theory, this research highlights the importance of self-expansion in driving brand love, while emphasising the influence of brand addiction in compulsive buying. The research included the findings' theoretical and managerial implications for human brand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to explore the sustainable business practices in technology start-ups, focusing on their environmental and social strategies. The research aimed to understand the motivations behind adopting sustainability, the specific practices implemented, the challenges faced during implementation, and the impact of these practices on business performance. This qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews to collect data from key personnel in technology start-ups, including founders, CEOs, sustainability managers, and other strategic decision-makers. A total of 19 participants were selected using purposive sampling. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using NVivo software, following an inductive approach to identify themes. Theoretical saturation was achieved when no new themes emerged from the data. The analysis revealed five main themes: motivation for sustainability, environmental strategies, social strategies, challenges in implementation, and impact on business performance. Motivations included environmental concerns, market differentiation, regulatory compliance, ethical considerations, and economic benefits. Environmental strategies encompassed renewable energy use, waste management, sustainable product design, carbon footprint reduction, water conservation, and green procurement. Social strategies focused on employee well-being, community engagement, fair labor practices, stakeholder collaboration, customer education, social innovation, and inclusive hiring practices. Challenges included financial constraints, technological barriers, organizational resistance, supply chain complexities, regulatory hurdles, and market perceptions. The impact on business performance was positive, enhancing financial outcomes, operational efficiency, brand loyalty, innovation, and employee satisfaction. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the sustainable business practices in technology start-ups, highlighting the multifaceted benefits and challenges of sustainability. The findings offer valuable insights for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers, emphasizing the importance of integrating environmental and social strategies into business operations to achieve longterm success and societal impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hand-shaken beverages represent a unique business model in Taiwan. This study explores the impact of four dimensions of brand equity on consumers' word-of-mouth and purchase intention regarding hand-shaken beverages. A survey was conducted among hand-shaken beverage consumers. A total of 352 valid questionnaires were recovered, and the data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results showed that consumers' perceptions of brand awareness, quality, and brand association affected word-of-mouth. These dimensions had an indirect impact on purchase intention through word-of-mouth, suggesting that when consumers develop an attachment to a brand, they engage in positive behaviors concerning the brand. However, due to the high homogeneity and lack of distinctiveness of Taiwanese hand-shaken beverage products, they fail to attract consumer loyalty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to answer two significant questions: What are the relative consumer and firm-level effects of marketing through metaverse compared to conventional marketing endeavours? What are the current trends in utilizing the metaverse as reported in the recent literature? Design/methodology/approach: This study uses a systematic literature review methodology, using a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses flowchart to synthesize existing research. A total of 35 articles written in English were selected and analysed from two databases, Web of Science and EBSCO Host. Findings: The findings indicate that consumer-level effects of the metaverse include consumer loyalty and brand attachment. The firm-level benefits are decentralization and cost reductions. The paper proposes a framework indicating variables that could attenuate or enhance the association between immersive components of the metaverse and their resultant effects. Originality/value: This study contributes to understanding the role of metaverse in marketing practices related to the marketing mix components. The study conceptualizes a novel framework for the metaverse and its resultant effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although customer engagement has been deemed critical for optimizing social media marketing performance, prior research has mainly examined customer engagement through cross‐sectional designs, thus limiting insight into its evolving dynamics over time. To address this gap, we adopt uses‐and‐gratifications theory to explore the associations among customers' evaluations of a firm's social media marketing activities, customer engagement, and customer stickiness on a brand's social media page at three points in the post‐purchase stage of the consumption journey. Cross‐lagged autoregressive panel model analyses suggest that, first, customers' evaluations of firms' social media marketing activities, customer engagement, and customer stickiness fluctuate. Second, customer engagement has cross‐lagged longitudinal effects on stickiness over time; the same applies to the role of stickiness in customers' evaluations of the firm's social media marketing activities. However, no cross‐lagged effects arise from (a) firm‐based social media marketing activities to customer stickiness or (b) stickiness to engagement. These findings contribute to the customer engagement literature by describing the dynamics of such engagement and its interrelationships with other key constructs across time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Luxury brands have engaged in social media use, becoming exposed to a wider market but confronting the exclusivity and uniqueness linked to these brands. This paper explores the role of a personality trait and a brand characteristic in brand love by social media users in the luxury fashion industry. Specifically, the individual's materialism (measured by the relevance given to luxury premium prices and fashionability), the essence of the brand perceived through its rituals and traditions, and their influence on self–brand integration are considered. An empirical study is carried out on 432 social media users, and two different research methodologies are conducted: Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS‐SEM) and fuzzy‐set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA). Findings from both methodologies support the relevance of the variables analysed with regard to brand love. However, fsQCA offers a new perspective by identifying that for loving the brand, materialistic individuals also have to value the brand's rituals and traditions; and that personality traits can contribute to brand love, the resultant outcome of the relevance given to a luxury premium price, or to its aesthetic and fashionability, but not to both aspects at the same time; finally, self–brand integration is not necessary for brand love but is sufficient. From these results, managerial implications are suggested in order to favour brand love, as it exerts a strong influence on purchase intention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]