Impulsive purchasing and luxury brand loyalty in WeChat Mini Program

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to explore the impact of the use of the WeChat Mini Program by luxury brands on consumers' fashion impulsive purchasing and brand loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

The stimulus–organism–response (S–O–R) model is adapted to construct a model (i.e. stimulus: patron status, informativeness and entertainment; organism: perceived enjoyment and perceived usefulness; responses: impulse buying behavior and luxury brand loyalty). An online survey was conducted by 200 Chinese participants who experienced WeChat Mini Program and luxury brand purchase.

Findings

The results indicate that luxury consumption related factors, task-related factors and mood-related factors in WeChat Mini Program have positive effects on consumers' impulsive purchasing behavior through perceived enjoyment and perceived usefulness.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides a new understanding about factors influencing consumers' behaviors and brand loyalty in WeChat Mini Program.

Originality/value

The mobile social platform has been considered as an advanced tool for advertising. As the most popular mobile social media used by over 1 bn monthly active Chinese users—WeChat, little research attention has been attracted by researchers. To stress the WeChat Mini Program's role in the S-commerce background can fill the gap between the literature of the utilization of new marketing tools in retailing, marketing and the whole fashion industry. In terms of marketing management, the paper conducted research that participated by new generation consumers and offers some practical managerial implications for brands, retailers and marketers to generate new business models and marketing strategies.

Citation

Rao, Q. and Ko, E. (2021), "Impulsive purchasing and luxury brand loyalty in WeChat Mini Program", Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, Vol. 33 No. 10, pp. 2054-2071. https://doi.org/10.1108/APJML-08-2020-0621