• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.5-15
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• 2011

Research regarding corporate associations in marketing has generally been approached using the association theory. However, limited research investigates the effect of corporate associations on consumer loyalty to individual brands by examining the role of self connectedness with a corporate image. The activation of behavior-related constructs can influence individuals' behaviors without their intention or conscious awareness. A recently developed body of research suggests that self connection can play an important role in affecting subsequent behaviors. Although these effects have received considerable attention, the set of mechanisms involved in self connectedness and loyalty to individual brands is not clear. An active self account in which associative constructs can affect behavior by temporarily altering the active self-concept may lead to behavior or evaluation. If the exposure to a corporate brand can induce consumers' cognitive associations and goal-primed effects through the role of active self accounting, the connectedness between the consumer's self and the corporate brand could be developed and this connectedness could be explained by associative and connection models and the goal priming theory. Therefore, this study investigates the influence of corporate associations on loyalty to individual brands through connections between the corporate and the consumer's self. There are three main purposes of the research. First, theories regarding corporate associations will be explored. Second, theories of self-concept will be investigated and self connectedness with corporate brands will be explored. Third, the effects of the connectedness between the self and the corporation on corporate identification and loyalty to individual brands will be investigated. For the purposes of this research, the types of corporate associations are classified into corporate ability (CA) associations and corporate social responsibility (CSR) associations. Furthermore, the connectedness between the consumer's self and the corporate image are divided into two concepts: the connectedness between the individual self-concept and the corporate identity and the connectedness between social self-concept and the corporate identity. This study suggests the hypotheses that the types of consumer self connections with the corporate image could vary according to the types of corporate associations created and further that the connectedness between the corporate association and the consumer's self-concept have positive effects on loyalty to corporate individual brands. The results of testing these hypotheses are as follows. First, corporate ability associations enhance the connectedness between the consumer's individual self and corporate brands. That is, corporate ability associations influence individual connectedness between the corporate and individual self-concept positively from the viewpoint of the consumer's personal ability and branding success. In addition, corporate social responsibility associations have a positive effect on social connectedness between the corporation and the consumer's social self-concept. Second, the connectedness between the corporate brand and the consumer's self-concept affects identification with the corporation. The consumer's personal self and social self connectedness induces corporate identification. Third, individual self connectedness has a positive effect on loyalty to corporate individual brands, while social self connectedness does not. This also means that individual self connectedness with the corporate image or brand plays a more important role in forming individual brand loyalty than social self connectedness with the corporate does. In addition, social connectedness cannot influence individual brand loyalty until it passes through identification with the corporate. Fourth, consumers who experience identification with a corporate identity also show positive responses to corporate individual brands. That is, consumers also develop loyalties toward individual brands through the corporate identification because self-pursued goals that are induced by corporate associations can be achieved by consuming the individual brands that are sold by the corporate that the consumers identify with.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.143-160
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• 2019

The domestic pharmacy market has undergone a lot of changes starting from the division of medicine. Along with the division of medicine, patients who had previously visited the pharmacy were moved to a hospital or clinic. As the pharmacy became more dependent on the illness and the clinic, the pharmacy began various activities to search for ways other than prescription drugs. At this time, the importance of distribution was emphasized around the time, and as the need to strengthen the competitiveness of pharmacies increased, they rapidly grew into the franchise market. Pharmacy franchise companies continue to lecture on academic management to strengthen the expertise of pharmacists' functions in line with the pharmacy market, which is different from ordinary franchise, in addition to private brand products for pharmacies, diversifying pharmacy handling items, And strengthening its market competitiveness. but research to support it are insufficient. As a research to help this, we analyzed factors affecting the intention of re-contracting and recommendation intention that affect the maintenance and expansion size of the drugstore franchise market. As a result showed the intention of re-contracting and the intention of recommending are affected by positive influence in brand trust. In addition, Brand Promise, Employee authenticity, Originality, Product excellence, Brand reputation, Brand identification, Educational Satisfaction were found to affect brand trust.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.124-141
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• 2011

The domestic food culture in Korea has gone through great changes, among which dining out is considered most prominent. These changes are caused by a number of factors: development of several related industries, increase in dining out chances, diversification of consumer needs, change in consumption awareness and quality, increase in disposable income, women's advance into the society, etc. Under these circumstances, the fast food industry has been experiencing slow growth, whereas family restaurants and take out coffee franchises are consistently increasing the number of restaurants and shops as a part of aggressive management to increase sales. This study aims, first, to examine the effects of consumer's brand individuality and satisfaction on brand trust, brand emotion, brand identification, and brand loyalty of specialty coffee shops. Subsequently, this study observes how consumer's brand individuality and satisfaction affect the formation of brand trust, brand emotion, brand identification, and brand loyalty in accordance with preferred type of specialty coffee shops, frequency of experience, and life style in order to establish relevant strategies. The results of this study are as follows. First, brand individuality had a positive effect on customer satisfaction. Second, customer satisfaction had a positive effect on brand trust. Third, customer satisfaction had a positive effect on brand loyalty. Fourth, customer satisfaction had a positive effect on brand emotion. Fifth, brand trust had a positive effect on brand loyalty. Sixth, brand emotion had a positive effect on brand loyalty. These results have the following implications. First, the dimensions of brand individuality are presented as a means to form brand loyalty, thereby demonstrating the significance of the effect. Accordingly, developing a proper brand individuality in forming brand loyalty is imperative. Second, consumers using specialty coffee shops had the greatest effect on the relation between dimensions of brand individuality and customer satisfaction in this study, while the interrelation between customer satisfaction and brand loyalty was not concretely supported in the preceding studies.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.73-83
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• 2013

This study explores the ideal corporate social responsibility(CSR) that fashion consumers expect from a fashion firm in the identification of dimensions and levels of consumer expectations as well as examines the impact of CSR expectations on customer-base brand equity. The data of 315 adults were collected through a nationwide online survey. In order to analyze the data, this study employed Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), paired t-test, structural equation modeling(SEM), and descriptive analysis. This study first identified seven fashion CSR expectations (environmental, ethical, social, internal management, philanthropic, economic, and legal expectations). Internal management and environmental activities were highly expected from fashion firms; however, economic activity was low in expectations. Five models separately tested the relationship between CSR expectations and brand equity (trustworthiness, attachment, performance, social image, and value). Economic, environmental, internal management, social and ethical CSR expectations influenced customer-based brand equity; however, philanthropic and legal expectations did not influence any dimension of customer-based brand equity. This study provides a framework of ideal CSR from a consumer perspective and suggests that fashion marketers should focus on economic, environmental, internal management, social and ethical CSR activities to meet the expect Haitians of fashion consumers and build stronger brand equity.

• Management Science and Financial Engineering
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.73-91
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• 2007

We investigate factors that influence the choice of high-share brands(HSBs) vs. low-share brands(LSBs) among various product and consumer characteristics related to brand-share perceptions. Specifically, using 8 product categories varying in terms of purchase decision involvement, we show how the influencing factors vary across the categories. At the general level that cover all the 8 categories, our hierarchical Bayesian regressions analysis shows that factors that favor high-share brands are purchase decision involvement, search goods, experience goods, price-quality relationship, positive network externalities, and price-prestige beliefs. Conversely, consumers who value variety seeking and need for uniqueness favor low-share brands. The effects of these factors, however, vary across product categories. The identification of these characteristics can help brand managers establish a more effective brand-share strategy in such areas as setting an optimal market share goal, extending a brand, and developing ad copy. Furthermore, our consumer segmentation analysis demonstrates the general market has two distinct segments - (1) a segment composed of HSB buyers(86%) and (2) a segment composed of LSB buyers(14%). The two segments are also shown to have different significant factors that explain their brand choice. Our segmentation analysis can help marketers establish a marketing strategy that targets a specific segment of interest.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.75-84
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• 2022

Purpose: The paper employs the theory of planned behaviour, social identity theory, social presence theory, and social exchange theory to propose a model for using the social media platform Facebook in distributing information in universities. Research design, data and methodology: Data were obtained from 618 students at Hanoi University of Industry (HaUI) in Vietnam. The study used structural equation modeling in SPSS and the statistical analysis software AMOS version 24 to explore the information distribution role of Facebook. Results: Findings reveal that subjective norms and social presence play a key role in driving students to use Facebook for studying. In addition, university administrators can boost student satisfaction and academic achievement through Facebook. Interestingly, students who strongly identify with the brand name of the university have a strong connection with the university are more likely to engage in behaviors supportive toward the university. Conclusions: These findings show that Facebook had played a key information distribution role in universities. Thus, the study provides the executive board of the university and teachers can gain new understanding of why students employ Facebook for studying as well as capitalize on the platform to improve several operational metrics such as brand identification, student satisfaction, and academic achievement.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.1-22
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• 2024

This study aims to empirically analyze the usage behavior of metaverses, which have recently attracted attention in various fields. To date, research on metaverses has focused on the concept, direction of utilization, development prospects, and technical aspects. However, there is a lack of research on the characteristics of metaverses and the behavior of users. As the metaverse develops with new content, there is a need to understand user behavior and content characteristics. In this study, we surveyed 375 adult males and females who experienced metaverse, and analyzed the impact of metaverse usage behavior on brand loyalty and item purchase intention based on 350 samples after excluding non-responses. The collected data were cleaned and statistically analyzed using SPSS 25.0 and SmartPLS 4.0. The results showed that the usage behavior factors such as immersion, vicarious satisfaction, and avatar identification have a positive effect on brand loyalty and intention to purchase branded items. These findings help to understand the concept and development direction of metaverse, and are expected to make important contributions to the field of brand marketing strategy formulation and metaverse-related user behavior research.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.465-477
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• 2015

Today's companies build strong brand assets which, through the expansion of other business areas, promote efficient corporate management. Many companies manage brand assets among through a multitude of brand groups using brand portfolios rather than the single brand strategy. Such brand group influence can be related not only to brand group expansion, but also to parent company brands and product brand groups. The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of parent corporate brand associations on brand portfolio evaluation. The results of the present study is as follows: positive parent corporate brand image was revealed to play a positive role in brand portfolio evaluation. Parent corporate brand image provided endorsement for their product brands, and this can reduce consumer's decision cost on brand portfolio evaluations. This study focused on two types of brand relationship strategy : brand expansion strategy and individual brand strategy. With individual brand strategy, cases where parent company brands provided endorsement and cases to the contrary were studied separately. In cases where well-managed parent corporate brand image were able to provide endorsement in the case of individual brand strategy like that of brand expansion strategy.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.1-14
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• 2024

Within the metaverse platform, users engage in communication with others through 'avatars' reflecting their own identities. Users experience various virtual fashion items through avatars, and the fashion industry anticipates avatars wearing virtual fashion items as an emerging business opportunity. Many fashion brands are currently releasing virtual fashion items specifically designed for avatars. In this study, we examined the impact of user identification with their avatar on their perception of the attributes of virtual fashion items (investment attractiveness, scarcity, playfulness, and aesthetics) and its influence on behavioral intentions. The research involved a survey of 250 females with prior knowledge of the metaverse. Structural equation modeling analysis was conducted to examine research hypotheses and validate the model. The results confirmed that as users within the metaverse perceive greater identification with their avatar, they also perceive the attributes of virtual fashion items more favorably. This finding affirms the self-reference effect, where users positively evaluate objects associated with themselves. Additionally, perceiving the attributes of virtual fashion items was found to be positively linked to purchase intentions for virtual products and actual interest in the brand. Lastly, a higher intention to purchase virtual fashion items was associated with forming a more favorable attitude toward the respective brand. Consequently, this study provides academic and practical implications for marketing strategies within the metaverse, emphasizing the active utilization of avatars and elements that facilitate user-avatar identification for effective engagement.

• Asian Journal of Business Environment
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.15-25
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• 2021

Purpose: Current research aimed at exploring whether group entitativity and satisfaction to becoming the member of group have positive effects on group identification, and whether group identification has positive effects on within-in-group domain consumption. This research focused on the mediation role of group identification in the effects of the group entitativity and the satisfaction to becoming the member of group on the within-in-group domain consumption. Research design, data, and methodology: We selected Shandong Province as our experimental target group and people living in Shandong province as our respondents. 316 questionnaire data were collected. The structural equation model in AMOS 26 were used to verify hypotheses. Results: First, group entitativity affected group identification positively. Second, satisfaction to becoming the member of group affected group identification positively. Third, group identification positively influenced on the within-in-group domain consumption. Fourth, the group identification played the full mediation roles in the effects of both the group entitativity and the satisfaction on the within-in-group domain consumption. Conclusions: marketers should highlight the group identification with their target group by stimulating the perception of the consumer's group entitativity and satisfied feelings about the group to induce the intent to purchase their brand as within-in-group domain consumption object.