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Open Access
Article
Publication date: 16 April 2024

Bernd F. Reitsamer, Nicola E. Stokburger-Sauer and Janina S. Kuhnle

Effective customer journey design (ECJD) is considered a key variable in customer experience management and an essential source of brand meaning and pro-brand behavior. Although…

Abstract

Purpose

Effective customer journey design (ECJD) is considered a key variable in customer experience management and an essential source of brand meaning and pro-brand behavior. Although previous research has confirmed its importance for driving brand attitudes and loyalty, the role of consumer-brand identification as a social identity-based influence in this relationship has not yet been discussed. Drawing on construal level and social identity theories, this paper aims to investigate whether effective journeys and the resulting overall journey experience are equally powerful in driving brand loyalty among customers with different levels of consumer-brand identification.

Design/methodology/approach

The present article develops and tests a research model using data from the European and US service sectors (N = 1,454) to investigate how and when ECJD affects service brand loyalty.

Findings

Across two cultural contexts, four service industries and 33 service brands, the results reveal that ECJD is a crucial driver of service brand loyalty for customers with low consumer-brand identification. Moreover, the findings show that different aspects of journey effectiveness positively impact the valence of customers’ experience related to those journeys – a process that is ultimately decisive for their brand loyalty.

Originality/value

This study is unique because it generates theoretical and practical knowledge by combining the literature streams of customer journey design, customer experience and branding. Furthermore, this work demonstrates that consumer-brand identification is a critical boundary condition to be considered in the relationship between ECJD and brand loyalty in services.

Details

Journal of Service Management, vol. 35 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1757-5818

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 April 2024

Syed Muhammad Ali Shahbaz Habib, Mahwish Sindhu and Irfan Saleem

Drawing upon social exchange theory, this research investigates the interplay of corporate philanthropy, environmental marketing strategy, relationship quality, greenwashing, and…

Abstract

Purpose

Drawing upon social exchange theory, this research investigates the interplay of corporate philanthropy, environmental marketing strategy, relationship quality, greenwashing, and customer citizenship behavior in the family-owned hotels of an emerging market.

Design/methodology/approach

A field survey questionnaire was used to gather the data from 394 hotel customers by randomly selecting three premium family-owned hotels in Lahore: Faletti’s, Avari, and Holiday Inn. The data was analyzed using the structural regression modeling (SRM) technique with the assistance of AMOS version 24.

Findings

The results show that corporate philanthropy and environmental marketing strategy positively influence relationship quality, and relationship quality positively influences customer citizenship behavior. Relationship quality partially mediates the association between corporate philanthropy and customer citizenship behavior, but we found that greenwashing does not have a moderating role.

Research limitations/implications

This research has theoretical implications for marketing scholars and practical implications of family-owned hotels in emerging markets.

Originality/value

The study has contributed contextually by collecting a unique dataset from family-owned hotels in an emerging market. Theoretically, we have conceptualized a model through the Social Exchange Theory by recommending relationship quality as a mediator and greenwashing as a moderator.

Details

Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-5855

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 10 January 2024

Sandra Maria Correia Loureiro, Aihoor Aleem and Mike Breazeale

This study aims to analyze the relationship of mass versus niche brand coolness on consumers’ brand loyalty, mediated by attitude toward the brand and moderated by conspicuous…

1096

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the relationship of mass versus niche brand coolness on consumers’ brand loyalty, mediated by attitude toward the brand and moderated by conspicuous consumption; test the moderating role of conspicuous consumption and the mediating role of attitude between mass versus niche cool brand and brand love; and analyze whether results are stable when categorizing the luxury brands as niche versus mass cool brand.

Design/methodology/approach

Study 1 uses a panel sample to establish the mediating role of attitude toward the brand between perceptions of brand coolness and brand loyalty. Study 2 is an experimental survey study to describe the moderating role of conspicuous consumption on the relationship between mass/niche brand coolness and brand love and between mass/niche coolness and attitude toward the brand. Study 3 is a conjoint analysis that delineates the distinct factors that consumers attribute to mass versus niche cool brands in the luxury fashion arena.

Findings

This study demonstrates that attitudes mediate the relationship between brand coolness and brand loyalty. Conspicuous consumption only moderates the relationship between brand coolness and attitudes in the case of niche cool brands. In a realistic field experiment, the authors confirm the mediating impact of attitude and the moderating influence of conspicuous consumption. The authors also attempt to provide coolness dimensions that tend to be more associated with mass luxury brands and those more related to niche luxury brands.

Originality/value

These studies provide a fresh look at the concept of brand coolness, mass and niche cool brands in the context of luxury fashion brands.

Objetivo

Esta investigación pretende (1) analizar la relación entre el atractivo de las marcas de nicho y de masas y la lealtad a la marca de los consumidores, mediada por la actitud hacia la marca y moderada por el consumo conspicuo, (2) comprobar el papel moderador del consumo conspicuo y el papel mediador de la actitud entre el atractivo de las marcas de nicho y de masas y el amor por la marca y (3) analizar si los resultados son estables al categorizar las marcas de lujo como de nicho o de masas.

Diseño/metodología/enfoque

Demostramos que las actitudes median en la relación entre el “coolness” y la fidelidad a una marca. El consumo ostentoso sólo modera la relación entre el “coolness” de la marca y las actitudes en el caso de las marcas “cool” de nicho. En un experimento de campo realista, confirmamos el efecto mediador de la actitud y la influencia moderadora del consumo ostentoso. También intentamos proporcionar las dimensiones del coolness que tienden a asociarse más con las marcas de lujo de masas y las que están más relacionadas con las marcas de lujo de nicho.

Resultados

El primer estudio utiliza una muestra de panel para establecer el papel mediador de la actitud hacia la marca entre las percepciones del atractivo de la marca y la fidelidad a la misma. El segundo es un estudio experimental que describe el papel moderador del consumo ostentoso en la relación entre el atractivo de las marcas de masas/nicho y el amor por la marca, y entre el atractivo de las marcas de masas/nicho y la actitud hacia la marca. El último estudio es un análisis conjunto que delinea los distintos factores que los consumidores atribuyen a las marcas de moda de masas frente a las de nicho en el ámbito de la moda de lujo.

Originalidad

Estos estudios aportan una nueva mirada al concepto de “coolness” de marca, marcas “cool” de masas y marcas “cool” de nicho en el contexto de las marcas de moda de lujo.

目的

本研究旨在:(1)分析大众品牌酷与小众品牌酷对消费者品牌忠诚度的关系, 以对品牌的态度为中介, 以显性消费为调节; (2)检验显性消费的调节作用以及态度在大众品牌酷与小众品牌酷与品牌喜爱之间的中介作用; (3)分析将奢侈品牌分为小众品牌酷与大众品牌酷时, 结果是否稳定。

设计/方法/途径

第一项研究使用小组样本, 以确定对品牌的态度在品牌酷感和品牌忠诚度之间的中介作用。第二项研究是一项实验性调查研究, 目的是描述显性消费对大众/小众品牌酷感与品牌喜爱之间以及大众/小众品牌酷感与品牌态度之间关系的调节作用。最后一项研究是一项联合分析, 旨在界定消费者对奢侈时尚领域中大众与小众酷品牌的不同评价因素。

研究结果 我们证明, 态度是品牌酷感与品牌忠诚度之间关系的中介。只有在小众酷品牌的情况下, 显性消费才会调节品牌酷度与态度之间的关系。在一个真实的现场实验中, 我们证实了态度的中介作用和显性消费的调节作用。我们还试图提供与大众奢侈品牌更相关的酷感维度, 以及与小众奢侈品牌更相关的酷感维度。

独创性

这些研究以奢侈时尚品牌为背景, 重新审视了品牌酷度、大众和小众酷度品牌的概念。

Article
Publication date: 21 April 2023

Lili Zheng

The study aims to examine the indirect relationships via application (app) brand self-relevance emotions and self-relevance that underlie the relationships between perceived value…

Abstract

Purpose

The study aims to examine the indirect relationships via application (app) brand self-relevance emotions and self-relevance that underlie the relationships between perceived value of mobile apps and (brand) love with respect to mobile apps. The study further investigates the moderating role of user–app relationship duration in the formation process of brand love for mobile apps from a dynamic and long-term perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

A multiple moderated-mediation model is developed and empirically tested with a sample of 396 users of popular Chinese mobile educational apps.

Findings

The study reveals that utilitarian value exhibits positive indirect relationships with brand love for mobile apps through increased positive self-relevance emotions. All three types of perceived value of mobile apps (utilitarian, hedonic and social) affect app brand love positively via self-relevance. These three types of perceived value were found to be serially linked to brand love through self-relevance and self-relevance emotions. Furthermore, empirical evidence is found for the moderating effects of user–app relationship duration.

Originality/value

By testing mechanisms simultaneously in an integrative model, this study investigates the reasons for app brand love that attract a user into a lasting relationship with an app and extends knowledge of the app brand love building process in inducing strong and positive brand–self connections. Our study also makes practical contributions by offering insights into delivering the most desired benefits to mobile app users according to different contextual conditions, in order to attract and retain users in a more cost-effective manner.

Details

Information Technology & People, vol. 37 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-3845

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 April 2024

Ariba Khan, Zebran Khan, Mohammed Kamalun Nabi and Imran Saleem

The purpose of this study is to propose and test an extended theory of planned behavior model to explain the significance of social media influencers’ credibility, social media…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to propose and test an extended theory of planned behavior model to explain the significance of social media influencers’ credibility, social media usage (SMU) and social media marketing while simultaneously examining females’ intentions to purchase cosmetics online.

Design/methodology/approach

An online questionnaire was used to collect data from 386 female consumers of cosmetics, and the data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with the help of SmartPLS version 4.

Findings

First, the results indicated that SMU, social media influencers’ credibility and social media marketing significantly and positively impact the theory of planned behavior components, namely, attitude, subjective norms (SNs) and perceived behavioral control (PBC). Second, results confirmed that attitude, SNs and PBC significantly and positively influenced female consumers’ online purchase intentions (OPIs).

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first to examine an integrated model that consisted of SMU, social media marketing and social media influencers along with the theory of planned behavior constructs in their proposed research model in the context of cosmetics in India. The study also enriched the body of knowledge about using the PLS-SEM approach to predict OPI for cosmetics.

Details

Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9342

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 April 2023

Xingchen Zhou, Pei-Luen Patrick Rau and Zhuoni Jie

This study aims to reveal how mobile app stickiness is formed and how the stickiness formation process differs for apps of different social levels.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to reveal how mobile app stickiness is formed and how the stickiness formation process differs for apps of different social levels.

Design/methodology/approach

This study proposed and validated a stickiness formation model following the cognitive–affective–conative framework. Data were collected from surveys of 1,240 mobile app users and analyzed using structural equation modeling. Multigroup analysis was applied to contrast the stickiness formation process among apps of different social levels.

Findings

This study revealed a causal link between cognitive, affective and conative factors. It found partial mediation effects of trust in the association between perceptions and satisfaction, and the full mediation role of satisfaction and personal investment (PI) in the effects of subjective norm (SN) on stickiness. The multigroup analysis results suggested that social media affordances benefit stickiness through increased PI and strengthened effects of SN on PI. However, it damages stickiness through increased perceived privacy risk (PPR), decreased trust and strengthened effects of PPR on trust.

Originality/value

This study contributes to both stickiness scholars and practitioners, as it builds a model to understand the stickiness formation process and reveals the effects of the “go social” strategy. The novelty of this study is that it examined social influences, considered privacy issues and revealed two mediation mechanisms. The findings can guide the improvement of mobile app stickiness and the application of the “go social” strategy.

Details

Information Technology & People, vol. 37 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-3845

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 June 2023

Mir Shahid Satar, Raouf Ahmad Rather, Sadia Cheema, Shakir Hussain Parrey, Zahed Ghaderi and Lisa Cain

The business ambiguity because of COVID-19 has brought the tourism industry under stress. Using the service-dominant-logic and elaboration-likelihood-model, this study tested the…

Abstract

Purpose

The business ambiguity because of COVID-19 has brought the tourism industry under stress. Using the service-dominant-logic and elaboration-likelihood-model, this study tested the effects of destination-based cognitive, affective and behavioral customer brand engagement (CBE) on customer brand co-creation (CBC). This research also examined the effects of involvement and CBC on customer revisit intention (CRI) during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study also tested the moderating role of customers’ age among the modeled relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

Investigating these matters, a sample of 315 tourists was recruited and adopted a mixed-method approach, including structural equation modeling (SEM) as well as fuzzy set qualitative-comparative analysis (fsQCA).

Findings

SEM results render that CBE’s dimensions exercise different impacts on CBC, which affect revisit-intention. Results ascertain customer involvement’s direct effects on CBC and revisit intention. Multi-group analysis uncovers that consumer age significantly moderates the CBC and CRI relationship, and their effect increases as consumers get older. The fsQCA results revealed more heterogenous combinations to predict CBC and revisit intention.

Research limitations/implications

This study focuses on CBE, CBC and involvement, and contributes unique insight to tourism marketing research; thus, it identifies plentiful opportunities for further research, as summarized.

Practical implications

This study offers key implications for destinations to build tourism/marketing strategies to strengthen the CBE/CBC or tourist/destination–brand relationship.

Originality/value

Though CBE/CBC and involvement are identified as important research priorities, empirically derived insights among these and related factors remain limited in the course of the COVID-19 crisis.

设计/方法/方法

本文采用结构方程模型(SEM)和模糊集定性比较分析(fsQCA)相结合的方法, 对315名游客进行了调查。

目的

由于新型冠状病毒感染症(COVID-19)产生的业务不定性给旅游业带来了压力。本研究运用服务主导逻辑和精细似然模型, 检验了基于目的地的认知、情感和行为顾客品牌参与(CBE)对顾客品牌共同创造(CBC)的影响。本研究还考察了COVID-19大流行期间参与和CBC对客户重访意愿(CRI)的影响。检验了顾客年龄在模型关系中的调节作用。

调查结果

SEM结果表明, CBE的维度对CBC有不同的影响, 而这种影响又会影响着重游意愿。结果确定了游客参与对CBC和重访意愿的直接影响。多群体分析发现, 消费者年龄显著调节CBC和CRI关系, 且随着消费者年龄的增长, 其作用增强。fsQCA结果显示需更多的异质组合来预测CBC和再访意向。

研究局限/启示

-本研究关注CBE、CBC和参与, 为旅游营销研究提供了独特的见解, 因此总结出了许多进一步研究的机会。

实践意义

本研究为目的地建立旅游/营销策略以加强CBE/CBC或游客/目的地-品牌关系提供了重要启示。

原创性/价值

尽管CBE/CBC和参与被认为重要的研究重点, 但在covid −19危机期间, 从这些因素和相关因素中得出的经验见解仍然有限。

Diseño/metodología/enfoque

Para investigar estas cuestiones, se seleccionó una muestra de 315 turistas y se utilizó un enfoque metodológico mixto que incluía el modelo de ecuaciones estructurales (SEM) y el análisis cualitativo-comparativo de conjuntos difusos (fsQCA).

Objetivo

La confusión empresarial debida a la pandemia del COVID-19 ha sometido al sector turístico a una fuerte tensión. Utilizando la lógica dominante del servicio y el modelo de elaboración de verosimilitud, este estudio examinó los efectos del compromiso cognitivo, afectivo y comportamental del cliente con la marca del destino (CBE) en la cocreación de la marca (CBC). Esta investigación también analizó los efectos de la implicación y la CBC en la intención de revisita (IRC) durante la pandemia COVID-19. Este estudio también evaluó el papel moderador de la edad de los clientes entre las relaciones establecidas.

Conclusiones

Los resultados del SEM muestran que las dimensiones de la CBE ejercen diferentes impactos sobre la CBC, que afectan a la intención de revisita. Los resultados determinan los efectos directos de la implicación del cliente sobre la CBC y la intención de revisita. El análisis multigrupo revela que la edad del consumidor modera significativamente la relación entre el CBC y el IRC, y que su efecto aumenta a medida que los consumidores envejecen. Los resultados del fsQCA revelaron combinaciones más heterogéneas para predecir el CBC y la intención de volver a visitar.

Limitaciones/implicaciones de la investigación

Este estudio se centra en la CBE, la CBC y la implicación, y aporta una visión única a la investigación del marketing turístico, por lo que identifica numerosas oportunidades para futuras investigaciones.

Implicaciones prácticas

Este estudio ofrece implicaciones clave para que los destinos construyan estrategias de turismo/marketing en el fortalecimiento de la relación CBE/CBC o turista/destino-marca.

Originalidad/valor

Aunque la CBE/CBC y la implicación se identifican como importantes prioridades de investigación, las percepciones derivadas empíricamente entre estos factores y otros relacionados siguen siendo limitadas en el transcurso de la crisis del COVID-19.

Article
Publication date: 17 November 2023

Deske W. Mandagi, Derby Chriestofle Rampen, Tonny Irianto Soewignyo and Ronny H. Walean

The purpose of this investigation is to scrutinize the unexplored realm concerning the interplay of hospital brand gestalt on patient satisfaction and revisit intentions.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this investigation is to scrutinize the unexplored realm concerning the interplay of hospital brand gestalt on patient satisfaction and revisit intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

A self-administered online survey was conducted with 227 patients who had stayed at and received health-care services from a private hospital in the city of Manado, Indonesia, within the past 12 months. The quantitative data were subsequently analyzed using a structural equation model with the assistance of Smart PLS statistical software.

Findings

The results suggest that the hospital brand gestalt significantly and positively influences patient satisfaction, which, in turn, leads to patients’ intentions to revisit. Furthermore, patient satisfaction serves as a significant mediator in the relationship between brand gestalt and revisit intentions.

Research limitations/implications

This study enhances the comprehension of brand gestalt’s influence on customer attitudes and behaviors within the health-care context, contributing to the expanding body of literature concerning holistic brand perception. For health-care providers, the study underscores the significance of creating a uniform and distinctive brand experience to boost patient satisfaction and cultivate loyalty. In summary, this study paves the way for strategic branding initiatives in health care, ultimately enhancing patient experiences and organizational outcomes.

Practical implications

For health-care providers, this study emphasizes the importance of crafting a consistent and differentiated brand experience to enhance patient satisfaction and foster loyalty. Overall, this study opens avenues for strategic branding efforts in health care, ultimately improving patient experiences and organizational outcomes.

Originality/value

While there is a growing interest in the role of brand gestalt in marketing research, there is still a need for more empirical research to explore the link between brand gestalt, customer satisfaction and revisit intention. Surprisingly, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, no previous studies have investigated the role of brand gestalt in the context of health care.

Details

International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing, vol. 18 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-6123

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 April 2024

Dr Dongmei Zha, Pantea Foroudi and Reza Marvi

This paper aims to introduce the experience-dominant (Ex-D) logic model, which synthesizes the creation, perceptions and outcomes of Ex-D logic. It is designed to offer valuable…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to introduce the experience-dominant (Ex-D) logic model, which synthesizes the creation, perceptions and outcomes of Ex-D logic. It is designed to offer valuable insights for strategic managerial applications and future research directions.

Design/methodology/approach

Employing a qualitative approach by using eight selected product launch events from reviewed 100 event videos and 55 in-depth interviews with industrial managers to develop an Ex-D logic model, and data were coded and analysed via NVivo.

Findings

Results show that the firm’s Ex-D logic is operationalized as the mentalizing of the three types of customer needs (service competence, hedonic excitations and meaning making), the materializing of three types of customer experiences and customer journeys (service experience, hedonic experience and brand experience) and the moderating of three types of customer values (service values, hedonic values and brand values).

Research limitations/implications

This study has implications for adding new insights into existing theory on dominant logic and customer experience management and also offers actionable recommendations for managerial applications.

Originality/value

This study sheds light on the importance of Ex-D logic from a strategic point of view and provides an organic view of the firm. It distinguishes firm perspective from customer perspective, firm experience from customer experience and firm journey from consumer journey.

Details

Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1352-2752

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 17 April 2024

MiRan Kim, Heijin Lee, Soyeon Kim and Laee Choi

Although there is a growing body of literature on how celebrity involvement impacts the effectiveness of destination marketing, the underlying mechanisms of that relationship are…

Abstract

Purpose

Although there is a growing body of literature on how celebrity involvement impacts the effectiveness of destination marketing, the underlying mechanisms of that relationship are still underexplored. Based on the affect transfer and meaning transfer theories, this study aims to examine the impact of celebrity attachment on customer delight toward K-culture and K-culture attachment, affective and cognitive images of Korea, and the intention to visit Korea.

Design/methodology/approach

Online survey data were collected from 2,614 US residents, representing various demographic characteristics. For the data analysis, the partial least squares-structural equation modeling was conducted to evaluate the structural model and test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results showed that celebrity attachment is positively related to customer delight toward K-culture and K-culture attachment, which, in turn, positively influences affective and cognitive images of Korea. Additionally, K-culture attachment positively influences cognitive and affective images of Korea, which are positively related to the intention to visit Korea.

Research limitations/implications

By using the affect transfer theory and meaning transfer theory, this study provides valuable insights into how consumer’s attachment to celebrities has spillover effects on the decision-making process. This study also adds a new concept, customer delight connected to cultural experience, in the context of destination marketing.

Practical implications

By understanding the importance and influence of people’s intimacy with media characters, practitioners can apply parasocial relationship theory, affect transfer theory and meaning transfer theory to their marketing strategies.

Originality/value

As one of the few empirical studies that examines the impact of celebrity attachment on consumers’ perceptions and behaviors, this study can make significant contributions to the destination marketing literature.

Details

Consumer Behavior in Tourism and Hospitality, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2752-6666

Keywords

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