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1 – 10 of 209Joe Choon Yean Chai, Naresh K Malhotra and Satyabhusan Dash
– The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of relational bonding on intention and loyalty and the mediating role of commitment foci in the service context.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of relational bonding on intention and loyalty and the mediating role of commitment foci in the service context.
Design/methodology/approach
The study used a cross-sectional and quantitative mail survey approach. Bank customers in New Zealand were surveyed, and multiple analytical techniques were used to measure the relationships between consumer bonding, commitment foci and loyalty behavioral intentions and the mediating role of commitment foci in service relationships.
Findings
The results confirm that commitment foci or targets of commitment are important mediators in the relationships between bonding and loyalty-related behavioral intentions. The findings provide new theoretical knowledge about the mediating effect of the commitment foci in service relationships and significantly enhance knowledge about consumers’ intention and loyalty.
Practical implications
The research provides several noteworthy insights into the role of social and structural bonding in consumers’ commitment and loyalty in the service context, as well as provides an important implication for segmentation.
Originality/value
The study contributes to the service research on consumers’ intention and loyalty behavior toward the commitment foci. Introducing the role of commitment foci as a mediating mechanism within the context of a service encounter is new in the services marketing literature. This study provides a better understanding of consumers’ perceptions of and behaviors toward the commitment foci, as well as their intention and loyalty.
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This study aims to present and empirically examines an expanded service model that incorporates green hotel practices together with a multidimensional/higher-order measurement…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to present and empirically examines an expanded service model that incorporates green hotel practices together with a multidimensional/higher-order measurement model of service quality, as well as perceived value and satisfaction, to examine the relationships among these variables and hotel consumers’ loyalty/behavioral intentions (BI).
Design/methodology/approach
The model was examined using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using data gathered in August 2018 from 200 surveys completed by UK subjects who stayed at upscale European hotels.
Findings
The results of PLS-SEM found that hotel service quality has a direct and positive effect on perceived value, satisfaction and BI. There is also an indirect effect of service quality on BI through perceived value and satisfaction, while green practices only had a direct effect on perceived value, not satisfaction or BI.
Research limitations/implications
This study offers new insights into the network of causal relationships among determinants of hotel consumers’ BI. The results offer hotel operators a better understanding of specific green practices and service quality attributes they can use to more favorably influence consumers’ intentions to revisit the property and recommend them through positive word-of-mouth.
Originality/value
This research is particularly relevant in today’s reality characterized by travelers’ growing concern for green issues and business’ responsibilities toward the environment. Moreover, unlike previous studies, this study assumes a multidimensional scheme for service quality, further enhancing the understanding of hotel consumers’ BI relationships.
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Services provided through the internet (e‐services) are typically offered as part of a broader Multi‐Channel (MC) service package, combining these services with services delivered…
Abstract
Purpose
Services provided through the internet (e‐services) are typically offered as part of a broader Multi‐Channel (MC) service package, combining these services with services delivered through traditional channels (e.g. phone, physical facilities). Customers of e‐services display heterogeneity in channel use, ranging from customers with a high Degree of Focus on the Internet (DFI) channel (internet‐oriented customers) to customers with a low DFI (low focus on the internet and strong reliance on traditional channels). The purpose of this study is to examine whether a customer's DFI moderates the relationship between e‐service quality (eSQ) and e‐loyalty behavioral intentions in an MC e‐service.
Design/methodology/approach
Perceptual and objective data were collected from multiple sources in a major retail MC e‐banking service (survey of online customers, transactional data and customer database).
Findings
First, there is high diversity in DFI among e‐service customers; second, a customer's DFI negatively moderates the quality‐loyalty relationship.
Research limitations/implications
The study should be extended to other types of e‐services.
Practical implications
eSQ seems to be a more important driver of e‐loyalty behavioral intentions for low DFI customers than for high DFI (internet‐oriented) customers. Different strategies may need to be employed to drive retention across customers with different levels of DFI. Specifically, driving e‐loyalty among internet‐oriented customers may require complementing eSQ investments with additional retention mechanisms (e.g. building communities or creating switching barriers). DFI should be recognized as a useful and readily available customer segmentation variable for devising loyalty strategies.
Originality/value
The study pioneers the examination of the impact of channel use on the quality‐loyalty relationship. It breaks new ground in proposing DFI as a relevant customer segmentation variable for e‐service research and practice. External validity is enhanced by the use of objective (rather than self‐reported), real‐world data to measure customer channel use.
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Emrah Keskin, Ozgur Yayla, Nevres Sezen and Bekir Bora Dedeoğlu
Gastronomic festivals are important events to bring people together around food-themed activities. This study aimed at determining the relationships between festival quality…
Abstract
Purpose
Gastronomic festivals are important events to bring people together around food-themed activities. This study aimed at determining the relationships between festival quality, memorable food experience, loyalty, behavioral intention, hedonic well-being, and eudaimonic well-being. In this study, festival quality is the independent variable that affects the memorable food experience, the memorable food experience is the independent variable that affects loyalty, and loyalty is the independent variable that affects behavioral intent. Hedonic well-being and eudaimonic well-being are moderating variables. Behavioral intention is the dependent variable, while memorable food experience and loyalty are both dependent and independent variables.
Design/methodology/approach
The population consisted of local tourists visiting Orange Blossom Carnival held in Adana, Turkey. The survey technique and the convenience sampling method were preferred and 545 data were obtained.
Findings
The analysis results showed that all dimensions of the memorable food experience are strongly affected by festival quality. Plus, superior service approach and high value perception dimensions of the memorable food experience have significant effects on loyalty. Furthermore, destination loyalty was found to have a strong effect on behavioral intentions. Moreover, higher levels of Hedonic well-being (HWB) and Eudomenic well-being (EWB) were found to increase the effect of loyalty on behavioral intention; accordingly, the moderator roles of HWB and EWB were determined.
Practical implications
This article provides information that the memorable dining experiences of festival visitors who attend the Orange Blossom Carnival in Adana affect the quality of the festival and their intentions to loyalty. In addition, in the study, it was found that the well-being of carnival visitors had a moderating role in the effect of their loyalty on their behavioral intentions. Therefore, this article provides information on how the food experiences and well-being of the visitors at the gastronomy festival will affect which factors.
Originality/value
According to the findings, gastronomy-based events may affect tourists’ experiences, and tourists’ psychological well-being affects loyalty and behavioral intentions. Destination management organizations can learn about gastronomy-based festivals. The results of the study include a number of theoretical and practical findings for destination management organizations, festival managers, policy makers and academics working in the literature.
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Salma Habachi, Jorge Matute and Ramon Palau-Saumell
This study aims to examine the impact of the gameful experience on behavioural outcomes. Drawing from stimulus–organism–response theory, it proposes and tests a new model that…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the impact of the gameful experience on behavioural outcomes. Drawing from stimulus–organism–response theory, it proposes and tests a new model that investigates the relationship between the gameful experience, brand loyalty and intention to use gamified branded applications in the sports context. In addition, it explores the mediating role of customer–brand engagement (CBE) and the moderating role of self-image congruity (SIC).
Design/methodology/approach
A sample of 436 active users of sport-related branded gamified applications was used to test the model. Data was collected from online sports forums, brands’ Facebook communities and during sporting events.
Findings
Results indicate that the gameful experience positively and directly impacts behavioural intentions but does not directly influence brand loyalty. This relationship becomes partially significant when mediated by CBE. In addition, results show that users with high levels of SIC are more likely to continue using the gamified application, whereas users with low levels are more likely to engage with the brand.
Originality/value
This study expands the gamification literature in the sports sector by revealing the importance of the gameful experience in driving loyalty, behavioural intentions and CBE. It proposes a new model that sheds light on the emotional aspect of the interaction between a user and a gamified system and the importance of exploring the effects of moderators, such as SIC, in these relationships.
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Paolo Guenzi, Michael D. Johnson and Sandro Castaldo
The purpose of this paper is to develop and test a comprehensive model of customer trust in a retail service setting. Three levels of the customer‐to‐store relationship are…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop and test a comprehensive model of customer trust in a retail service setting. Three levels of the customer‐to‐store relationship are simultaneously taken into account: customer to sales associates, customer to store branded products, and customer to the store itself.
Design/methodology/approach
Using partial least square (PLS) on a sample of 393 customers of an Italian supermarket retailer, a model linking customer trust (in the store, in store branded products and in sales associates) to overall perceived value and store loyalty intentions and behaviors is tested. Subsequently an expanded model to determine the influence of managerially controlled antecedent variables (salespeople's trustworthiness, store environment, store assortment, and communications) is estimated on the various trust levels.
Findings
Trust in the salesperson and trust in store branded products have positive effects on overall store trust. Store trust, in turn, increases perceived value and loyalty intentions. Looking at the drivers of the three levels of customer trust, salesperson trustworthiness positively affects only trust in the salesperson. Store environment has a positive impact only on overall trust in the store. Store communication fosters all three levels of customer trust, while store assortment increases both overall trust and trust in store branded products.
Practical implications
Findings of the study suggest an alternative perspective to the dominant strategies in grocery retailing services. To foster store patronage, retailers have typically invested in price cuts, promotions and loyalty schemes. Store managers may rather use sales associates, the store environment, store assortment, store branded products, and communication to foster customer trust and increase customer loyalty. Managing store brands with the goal to build trust, as opposed to increase immediate profit margins, may call for a completely different approach to private labels. Similarly, the potential relevance of interpersonal trust may suggest retailers to devote more resources to selection, recruitment and training of sales associates, and may stimulate changes in evaluation criteria, incentive schemes and reward systems.
Originality/value
The study aims at filling two important gaps in the literature: the scarcity of comprehensive store patronage models and the lack of exploration of the operational means of improving customer trust in retail services.
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Nedra Bahri-Ammari, Mathilda Van Niekerk, Haykel Ben Khelil and Jinene Chtioui
The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between satisfaction, congruence, nostalgic connections and trust with reference to brand attachment and behavioral…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between satisfaction, congruence, nostalgic connections and trust with reference to brand attachment and behavioral loyalty. Behavioral loyalty was examined through the customer’s intention to continue the relationship, as well as proselytism and resistance upwards of the price in the luxury restaurant sector.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire was developed and distributed via email and different Facebook groups which specialized in the luxury restaurant sector in Tunisia. A total of 310 questionnaires were completed and structural equation modeling with AMOS was used to test the hypothesis.
Findings
The findings suggest that brand attachment clearly explains the behavioral loyalty of consumers because it contributes toward maintaining the relationship with the brand in terms of repetitive buying behavior. Only satisfaction and nostalgic connection was found to influence brand attachment and satisfaction has a bearing on proselytism. Brand attachment in turn influences the intention to continue the relationship and the resistance to upward pricing, but not toward proselytism.
Practicalimplications
The managerial implications can guide managers toward enhancing the behavior loyalty of customers through better relational marketing practices.
Originality/value
The research is original in terms of conceptualizing and empirically testing the relation between brand attachment and behavior loyalty within the luxury restaurant sector with a specific focus on Tunisia. This study is one of the first to examine the relationship between brand attachment and behavioral loyalty in the restaurant sector.
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Anand K. Jaiswal and Rakesh Niraj
This paper aims to examine the mediating role of attitudinal loyalty in the relationship between satisfaction and customer behavioral intentions such as willingness to pay more…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the mediating role of attitudinal loyalty in the relationship between satisfaction and customer behavioral intentions such as willingness to pay more and internal and external complaining responses. It also seeks to examine the nonlinear effects in the relationship between satisfaction, attitudinal loyalty and behavioral intentions.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper adopted the structural equation modeling approach to test the hypotheses (sample size 202). It used Marsh et al.'s unconstrained method to test latent quadratic effects in the conceptualized relationships.
Findings
The results support the fully mediating role of attitudinal loyalty in the relationship between satisfaction and behavioral intentions. The paper also finds partial support for nonlinear effects in the relationship. Results support nonlinearity, and in particular diminishing sensitivity, in the link from attitudinal loyalty to willingness to pay more.
Originality/value
The paper adds to the existing literature by detangling the complex relationships between satisfaction, attitudinal loyalty and behavioral intentions such as willingness to pay more and external and internal complaining responses. In particular, this is the first study to simultaneously examine the nonlinear effects of attitudinal loyalty on multiple behavioral intentions constructs. This study also establishes the superiority of a fully mediated model, in which satisfaction affects behavioral intentions through attitudinal loyalty, over a partially mediated model.
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Mamoun N. Akroush and Bushra K. Mahadin
The purpose of this paper is to examine a multidimensional model of customer perceived value (CPV), customer satisfaction (CS) and loyalty from internet subscribers’ perspectives.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine a multidimensional model of customer perceived value (CPV), customer satisfaction (CS) and loyalty from internet subscribers’ perspectives.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 1,297 out of 2,000 online surveys were valid for the analysis. Confirmatory factor analyses were performed to assess the research constructs’ unidimensionality, validity and composite reliability. Structural path analysis was used to test the hypothesized relationships of the research model.
Findings
CPV positively affects functional and technical satisfaction as well as cognitive loyalty. Functional satisfaction positively affects technical satisfaction and attitudinal loyalty. Attitudinal loyalty positively affects cognitive and behavioral loyalty, and the latter positively affects cognitive loyalty. In total, 53 percent of variation in cognitive loyalty was caused by behavioral, attitudinal loyalty and perceived value path.
Research limitations/implications
Future research could investigate other outcomes of CS dimensions, such as customer lifetime value, customer retention, profitability, return on investment and market share, and their effects on customer loyalty (CL). Future research can also examine the effect of other dimensions of perceived customer value on CS and loyalty dimensions simultaneously. Other future research areas are also outlined.
Practical implications
CPV acts as a cornerstone to developing a successful multidimensional program of CL through functional and technical satisfactions. Marketing directors need to focus on building CL schemes and strategies that should take into consideration the long-term and short-term loyalty.
Originality/value
Theoretically, using an intervariable perspective, this paper has responded to important calls for conducting research on the chain of perceived value, CS and loyalty chain. Practically, this paper is the first empirical research devoted to developing an intervariable approach to the chain of perceived value, CS and loyalty in the internet service market.
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Aikaterini Stavrianea and Irene (Eirini) Kamenidou
Memorable tourism experiences (MTEs) can reinforce a destination's competitiveness. The literature has called for further research on this topic. This study develops and…
Abstract
Purpose
Memorable tourism experiences (MTEs) can reinforce a destination's competitiveness. The literature has called for further research on this topic. This study develops and empirically examines a conceptual model exploring the relationships between MTEs, satisfaction, destination image (DI) and loyalty.
Design/methodology/approach
Quantitative research was conducted with 729 respondents who had visited the Greek island of Santorini in the last three years, and structural equation modeling was used.
Findings
The findings confirm the strength of the proposed model, which explained 58% of the variance for MTEs and 82% of that for tourist loyalty. The results reveal that MTEs influenced destination loyalty directly and indirectly through satisfaction, while DI influenced loyalty directly and indirectly.
Research limitations/implications
This study provides new insight into the importance of MTEs, satisfaction and DI in the formation of destination loyalty.
Practical implications
This study provides new insight into the importance of MTEs, satisfaction, and DI in the formation of destination loyalty.
Originality/value
The proposed model is the first to include these factors and the specific relationships between them.
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