• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.65-76
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• 2023

On social media, companies create brand experiences while customers actively seek, consume, and generate brand-related content. Customer engagement plays a vital role in the marketing performance of social media-driven brands. This study explores the positive relationship between brand authenticity, aligning brand identity with image, and self-brand connection, aligning brand identity with consumers' self-concepts, on customer engagement and its subsequent impact on brand loyalty. The study surveyed 243 consumers engaged with brand-related social media content, validating hypotheses using structural equation modeling. Results confirmed that brand authenticity and self-brand connection positively affect customer engagement, which, in turn, boosts brand loyalty. These findings highlight the importance of companies enhancing brand authenticity and self-brand connection to drive customer engagement, with theoretical and practical implications provided.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.201-221
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between association of a company's CSV activity and association of corporative competence and consumers' self-brand connection. The study examine how consumer self-brand connection affect self-identification and corporate identification as well as how these factors influenced on brand loyalty. The paper attempts to examine authenticity of CSV activity and product plays a moderating role when association of CSV and authenticity of product affects self-brand connection. a total of 700 consumers who have experience with the target company and products. A target company was selected by investigates. The company is one manufactures as well as implements CSV activities as a means of ethical management. The results indicated that CSV association and corporative competence are closely related to the self-brand connection. Such attitude in turn affected the consumers' formation of self-and corporate-identification and brand loyalty. Authenticity of CSV activity and product was proven to play a moderating variables for brand loyalty and perception of company.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.37-46
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• 2023

Purpose: The article focuses on studying the impact of brand anthropomorphism, and brand love, on brand advocacy, and at the same time the moderate role of brand self-connection in the process of customers' perception of the brand, especially the brand distribution. The survey subjects are customers with millennial consumers in Ho Chi Minh City, who have the behavior of buying brands in the smart mobile device industry many times with a specific brand in terms of brand distribution. Results: The findings show that Brand anthropomorphism and brand love are crucial factors to impact brand advocacy and the role of self-brand connection also is a confirmed positive effect on the relationship between brand anthropomorphism and brand love. Research design, data, and methodology: The article uses quantitative research to test the model and research hypotheses. The way to collect quantitative data is to use questionnaires with 1531 samples in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Conclusion: The research results can help businesses build a long-term brand strategy and expect to get new rewards and value from customers. They can also add to the theory about the relationship between brands and customers.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.408-417
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• 2022

This study developed a structural model to examine the relationships among consumer traits, self-brand connections, and purchase intentions for local fashion brands under "Guochao" consumption in China. An online survey with a self-administered questionnaire was undertaken through Chinese SNS tools to collect the data. A total of 276 usable responses were obtained from Chinese consumers who are residents in China. More females(n=174, +63%) than males (n=102, 37%) participated, and they were aged from 18 to 45 years old. The measurement model was confirmed to be reliable and valid. In the estimated structural model, the consumer traits of ethnocentrism and cultural affinity positively affected the self-brand connection, leading to purchase intentions for the local fashion brands. Specifically, the ethnocentrism factor indirectly affected the purchase intentions by mediating the self-brand connection, while the cultural affinity factor had significant direct effects on purchase intentions. Thus, a partial mediating effect of self-brand connection was found in the relationship between the consumer traits(ethnocentrism and cultural affinity) and purchase intentions of local fashion brands in the cultural "Guochao" consumption context. This study provides insights into extending the cultural theory of ethnocentrism relevant to self-brand connections and discusses the managerial implications for developing strategic global branding in the Chinese fashion markets.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.495-503
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• 2015

This study attempts to reveal that the connection between consumers' self enhancement and consumer-brand relationship can be formed from brand experiences not only through a direct use of products or brands but also through companies' marketing activities including advertising or promotion, in that consumers' sensual, affective, cognitive, and behavioral response to brands are included in brand experiences. After experiencing the Samsung Galaxy S brand with manipulated stimulus, 248 respondents' positive emotion and self-enhancement were increased. Also the positive emotion induced by brand experience increase self-enhancement. This study also shows that brand experience and self-enhancement can significantly affect consumer-brand relationship which in turn affects brand loyalty such as satisfaction, recommendation intention, and repurchase intention. Experiencing strong, favorable, and attractive brand personalities may help consumers to increase positive emotions with self-enhancement and help companies to have brand loyalty through consumer-brand relationship.

• 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.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.1076-1086
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• 2008

The purpose of this study were to examine the effect of consumer-brand relationship of fashion luxury product on brand loyalty and the mediating effect of consumer satisfaction. The questionnaire developed through the literature search and a survey was conducted both in on-line and off-line questionnaire simultaneously. Finally 227 data from women who had a buying experience of fashion luxury products were analyzed using frequency, factor analysis, ANOVA, t-test, regression analysis by SPSS for WIN program. The results were as follows. First, the consumers' brand identification was composed of three factors; self-connection, interdependence, attachment. Second, the consumer-brand relationship significantly influenced on the brand loyalty. Third, the consumer-brand relationship significantly influenced on the consumer satisfaction. Fourth, the consumer satisfaction significantly influenced on the brand loyalty. Fifth, the consumer-brand relationship had both direct and indirect effects on brand loyalty mediated by consumer satisfaction. The results indicated that causal relationship was existed among these three variables.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1168-1179
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• 2007

The objective of this research is to validate the BRQ(Brand Relationship Quality) Construct perceived by fashion product consumers. In order to establish and verify the BRQ scale, qualitative survey and quantitative survey were conducted together. 1592 copies of questionnaire were distributed to women in their 20s to 40s living in Seoul and other metropolitan areas from Dec. 26, 2005 to Jan. 8, 2006, and 723 copies of them were used for statistical data. Samplel(n=482)was used for empirical analysis, and sample2(n=241) was used for cross validity test. The data was analyzed using Exploratory Factor Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, and Pearson's Correlation Analysis. BRQ emerged from exploratory factor analysis as the hierarchical construct composed of six facets including 'self-connective attachment', 'symbol/mystery', 'trust', 'nostalgia', 'intimacy', and 'knowledge'. As the fit of this structural model was not good as a result of Confirmatory Factor Analysis, it was revised to have better fitting. Finally, empirical survey results indicate the hierarchical construct consisting of eight distinct BRQ facets including 'love/commitment', 'self-connection', 'symbol', 'mystery', 'trust', 'nostalgia', 'intimacy', and 'knowledge' as best representing the final 39item BRQ Scale. Reliability, construct validity, and cross validity of the construct were verified.

• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.1-28
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• 2012

I. Introduction : The purpose of this study is to test empirically hypothetical causality among constructs used in previous studies to build the model of relational market behavior on customers' participation and consumer-brand relationship after introducing theories of relationship marketing, loyalty program, consumer-brand relationship, customers' participation in service marketing as previous studies with regard to relational market behavior, which Bagozzi(1995) and Peterson(1995) commented on constructs and definition suggested by Sheth and Parvatiyar (1995). For this purpose, loyalty program by the service provider, customers' participation and consumer-brand relationship as preceding variables explain relational market behavior defined by Sheth and Parvatiyar(1995). This study proposes that loyalty program as a tool of relationship marketing will be effective in that consumers' participation in marketing relationship results in a narrow range of choice(Sheth and Parvatiyar, 1995) because consumers think that their participation motive result in benefits(Peterson, 1995). Also, it is proposed that the quality of consumer-brand relationship explain the performance of relationship as well as the intermediary effect because the loyalty program could be evaluated based on relationship with customers. We reviewed the variables with regard to performance of relationship based on relation maintain in marketing literature, and then tested our hypotheses related to several performance variables including loyalty and intention of relation maintain based on the previous studies and constructs(Bendapudi and Berry, 1997 ; Bettencourt, 1997 ; Palmatier, Dant, Grewal and Evans, 2006 ; You Jae Yi and Soo Jin Lee, 2006). II. Study Model : Analyses about hypothetical causality were proceeded. The marketing effect of loyalty program on relational market behavior was empirically tested in study regarding a service provider. The research model in according to the path hypotheses (loyalty program ${\rightarrow}$ customers' participation ${\rightarrow}$ consumer-brand relationship ${\rightarrow}$ relational market behavior and loyalty program ${\rightarrow}$ consumer-brand relationship, and loyalty program ${\rightarrow}$ relational market behavior and customers' participation ${\rightarrow}$ consumer-brand relationship, and customers' participation ${\rightarrow}$ relational market behavior) proceeded as an activity for customer relation management was suggested. The main purpose of study is to see if relational market behavior could be brought as a result of developing relationship between consumers and a corporate into being stronger and more valuable when a corporate or a service provider try aggressively to build the relationship with customers (Bettencourt, 1997; Palmatier, Dant, Grewal and Evans, 2006; Sheth and Parvatiyar, 1995). III. Conclusion : The results of research into the membership fitness club, one of service areas with high level of customer participation (Bitner, Faranda, Hubbert and Zeithaml, 1997; Chase, 1978; Kelley, Donnelly, Jr. and Skinner, 1990) are as follows: First, causalities in according to path hypotheses were tested, after the preceding variables affecting relational market behavior and conceptual frame were suggested. In study, all hypotheses were supported as expected. This result confirms the proposition suggested by Sheth and Parvatiyar(1995), who claimed that intention of consumer and corporate to participate in marketing relationship brings high level of marketing productivity. Also, as a corporate or a service provider try aggressively to build relationship with customers, the relationship between consumers and a corporate can be developed into stronger and more valuable one (Bettencourt, 1997; Palmatier, Dant, Grewal and Evans, 2006). This finding supports the logic of relationship marketing. Second, because the question regarding the path hypothesis of consumer-brand relationship ${\rightarrow}$ relational market behavior are still at issue, the further analyses were conducted. In particular, there existed the mediating effects of consumer-brand relationship toward relational market behavior. Also, multiple regressions were conducted to see if which one strongly influences relational market behavior among specific question items with regard to consumer-brand relationship. As a result, the influence between items composing consumer-brand relationship and ones composing relational market behavior was different. Among items composing consumer-brand relationship, intimacy was an influence of sustaining relationship, word of mouth, and recommendation, intimacy and interdependence were influences of loyalty, intimacy and self-connection were influences of tolerance and advice. Notably, commitment among items measuring consumer-brand relationship had the negative influence with relational market behavior. This means that bringing relational market behavior is not consumer-brand relationship without personal commitment, but effort to build customer relationship like intimacy, interdependence, and self-connection. This finding confirms the results of Breivik and Thorbjornsen(2008). They reported that six variables composing the quality of consumer-brand relationship have higher explanation in regression model directly affecting performance of consumer-brand relationship. As a result of empirical analysis, among the constructs with regard to consumer-brand relationship, intimacy(B=0.512), interdependence(B=0.196), and quality of partner(B=0.153) had the effects on relation maintain. On the contrary, self-connection, love and passion, and commitment had little effect and did not show the statistical significance(p<0.05). On the other hand, intimacy(B=0.668) and interdependence(B=0.181) had the high regression estimates on word of mouth and recommendation. Regarding the effect on loyalty, explanation level of the model was high(R2=0.515), intimacy(0.538), interdependence(0.223), and quality of partner(0.177) showed the statistical significance(p<0.05). Furthermore, intimacy(0.441) had the strong effect as well as self-connection(0.201) and interdependence (0.163) had the effect on tolerance and forgive. And these three variables showed effects even on advice and suggestion, intimacy(0.373), self-connection(0.270), interdependence (0.155) respectively. Third, in study with regard to the positive effect(loyalty program ${\rightarrow}$ customers' participation, loyalty program ${\rightarrow}$ consumer-brand relationship, loyalty program ${\rightarrow}$ relational market behavior, customers' participation ${\rightarrow}$ consumer-brand relationship, customers' participation ${\rightarrow}$ relational market behavior, consumer-brand relationship ${\rightarrow}$ relational market behavior), the path hypothesis of customers' participation ${\rightarrow}$ consumer-brand relationship, was supported. The fact that path hypothesis of customers' participation ${\rightarrow}$ consumer-brand relationship was supported confirms assertion by Bitner(1995), Fournier(1994), Sheth and Parvatiyar(1995) about consumer relationship to participate in marketing relationship.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.1020-1029
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• 2007

The objective of this research is to find out the BRQ(Brand Relationship Quality) construct perceived by fashion product consumers. BRQ, Fournier suggested in 1994, examines the depth and intensity of the enduring association formed by the pattern of interactions enjoining consumers and brands. As BRQ was supposed to reflect consumers' psychological process, qualitative research and literature review were conducted together. For qualitative research, two kinds of interviews were carried out in October and November 2005 to investigate consumers' cognitive, affective, and behavioral insight towards brands. One of them was in-depth interview with six people in different life situation. The other was focus group interview. Interviewees were asked to explain about two types of questions: (1) the brand name which interviewees had bought and (2) the description of interviewees' feeling and thought for the brand which the interviewees had bought assuming the brand was the person. All interviews were recorded and analyzed. Finally, it was proved that fashion product consumers had various kinds of relationship with brands, and BRQ facets including 'love', 'self-connection', 'nostalgia', 'intimacy', 'trust', 'commitment', 'symbol', and 'mystery' were identified.