Social networks have become an important factor in today’s society. Companies as well as individuals are using these platforms to interact with one another on a daily basis. This phenomenon has mostly been acknowledged by companies on B2C markets where these social network sites are being used to communicate their brand. On B2B markets however, the usage of these platforms have not been as optimistically implemented. Due to this fact, this study means to examine what brand enhancing intentions well-established B2B companies have with their usage of social networking sites.This study conducted a web survey where 89 of Sweden’s most successful companies (in terms of turnover) participated. The respondents’ answers were analyzed through statistic tools such as correlation analyzis, cluster analyzis and descriptive data. The collected data revealed that the respondents could be divided into four separate segments, which further could be divided into two perspectives, where the brand enhancing intentions of the usage of social networking sites seemed to differ. Key words: Social Networking Sites, B2B, brand equity, perceived quality, brand loyalty, brand recognition, brand recall, brand image.

It is important for companies to reach their goal of marketing success and a way for them doing so is to improve their sales and differentiate themselves from their competitors. There is in fact a need for companies to focus on sustainable consumption and how customers are influenced by purchasing these products. Since several research has been studying the impact brand equity has on purchase intention, this paper intends to explain this impact further by adding the context of sustainability. In order to explain this, this paper used a quantitative approach where a survey was sent out. A total of 220 responses were collected and the answers given were calculated through the program SPSS. In SPSS a multiple regression line was conducted where the results could be found, where the developed hypotheses showed acceptance or rejection. The result showed that the variables of brand equity had different levels of impact, where three out of four hypotheses were accepted. Even though one of the variables was rejected, the overall representation of brand equity had a positive impact on purchase intention when the context of sustainability was added.

Despite a rich stream of qualitative research demonstrating that brands gain meaning as individual consumers engage in relationships with them, most branding research and practice proceeds on the assumption that brand meaning is predominantly consensual and shared across consumers. The assumption of consensus underpins the branding practices used by most companies today, which strive for consistency, simplicity, and clarity in a brand’s positioning. Still, this assumption has not been empirically validated by systematic research. Hence we do not know whether brand meaning is predominantly consensual, as generally assumed, or idiosyncratic to individual consumers. Based on a conceptual model inspired by the Social Relations Model for interpersonal perception, three empirical studies with more than 50 brands in nine consumption domains test the assumption of consensus and find that, contrary to prevailing wisdom, a brand’s meaning is predominantly idiosyncratic rather than consensual. Managers miss a lot of what brands mean to consumers when they focus only on meanings that are shared across individuals. Managing idiosyncratic meanings requires different tools than managing consensus, but managers are ill-equipped for this task because no prior research has investigated what makes brand meaning more or less idiosyncratic or how managerial actions can influence idiosyncrasy. This dissertation first explores which brand characteristics are associated with higher idiosyncrasy. Two studies suggest that brands are more idiosyncratic as they become more familiar to consumers and when consumed in private rather than in public. Secondly, four studies investigate how marketer-led interactions between consumers and brands, in the forms of marketing communications and direct experience, impact brand idiosyncrasy. Results suggest that narrative communications lead to more idiosyncratic meaning than argument-based communications. They also indicate that increased brand experience results in higher idiosyncrasy. Overall, this pattern of results suggests that brands become more or less idiosyncratic depending on how and how much they interact with consumers. Based on the findings that brands are predominantly idiosyncratic rather than consensual and that brand idiosyncrasy can be measured, predicted, and managed, this research argues for a reconsideration of current theories and practices related to brand positioning and meaning management. / 2017-06-30T00:00:00Z

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An empirical study is reported which attempts to validate two key theoretical consequences of consumer involvement: differences in brand buying behaviour and differences in the type of decision processing undertaken. A literature review is provided which traces the history of involvement and identifies a suitable contemporary framework. Work on brand loyalty and attitude modelling is also reviewed and suitable frameworks identified. A pilot stage is reported which shows how involvement measurement techniques can be adapted for use among frequently purchased products. Results from reliability testing and differences in the mean levels of involvement for six grocery product categories are reported. A main fieldwork phase is reported where a consumer panel was operated for four months (n=191). Data on levels of involvement, decision making and purchasing behaviour were collected from the panel using surveys and diary sheets for three product categories: newspapers, breakfast cereals and paper kitchen towels. The relationship between sources of involvement and buying behaviour was analysed using LISREL. A model of involvement is identified which suggests that brand involvement is generated by the risks associated with making a poor brand choice and the levels of pleasure associated with the product field. For newspapers, the modelling identifies a significant (but small) relationship between involvement and devotion of purchasing to a limited number of brands. This relationship was not significant in the other two product fields. Further analysis identifies four classifications of buying behaviour (habitual, loyal, switchers, and variety seekers) which helps to explain why the linear relationship is so weak. A second analysis phase is reported which examines the utility of the Extended Fishbein Model for each of the three product categories. This analysis supports the notion that decision processing is more extensive where the level of product involvement is higher. The theoretical and managerial implications of the findings are discussed. Strengths and limitations of the research design are reviewed.

In today’s knowledge-based economies, the global competition has become fiercer. In order to respond to competition and gain a competitive advantage or, in some cases, survive, company takes a variety of means to improve its competitiveness. Companies that do not acknowledge the effective ways to innovate its brands fail to gain more market share and there is also a risk of losing their occupied market share. It is important for companies to innovate its brand effectively.   The purpose of this thesis is to identify the challenges related to brand innovation in the context of two different types of brand portfolios (i.e. “the house of brands”, and “the branded house”).   In this thesis, I use a case study to analyze three cases in one company so as to realize the importance of brand innovation and its challenges. In order to gather the important information, I interview respondents of Haier which is a big home appliance company in China.   This study demonstrates that the companies need to know the challenges of brand innovation a company face depending on its brand portfolio strategy. In addition, it is better for companies to make the right strategies when they innovate their brands, and to learn how to overcome the challenges of brand innovation.

A marca é um importante ativo intangível para as empresas, que pode contribuir para aumentar o valor e o sucesso no mercado. O bom gerenciamento da marca exige um sistema para entender e medir como o valor da marca é criado. Tratado, na maioria das vezes, como brand equity, existem diversas perspectivas nas quais ele é abordado. Alguns modelos abordam perspectivas exclusivamente financeiras. Outros, exclusivamente relacionadas ao consumidor. Outros ainda, convergem ambas perspectivas. O presente estudo defende a convergência perspectivas e buscou modelos integrados para analisar junto ao campo escolhido: o mercado do futebol. Que foi selecionado devido à representatividade no Brasil, às discussões para profissionalização e o envolvimento de um consumidor particular, o torcedor, movido pela paixão pelo clube. Como objetivo principal, busca-se entender a integração dos modelos de brand equity, sob a perspectiva financeira e do consumidor, no mercado do futebol. Foi desenvolvido um estudo exploratório, com entrevistas em profundidade, análise documental e registros em arquivos. As entrevistas realizaram-se com importantes stakeholders do mercado do futebol. Os dados obtidos foram triangulados, buscando encontrar padrões para a análise dos resultados, que será feita por meio da análise de conteúdo. Foi possível: analisar os modelos teóricos de brand equity e verificar aplicação das variáveis no mercado do futebol; analisar modelos práticos utilizados no mercado do futebol; verificar a integração financeira e do consumidor do brand equity no mercado do futebol; e avaliar a importância e as implicações gerencias e de marketing do brand equity no mercado do futebol. A contribuição teórica para o marketing está, principalmente, na ampliação do escopo dos modelos teóricos de brand equity integrado, tratando um consumidor particular, movido pela paixão. Além da proposição de um guideline, para o brand equity dos clubes de futebol brasileiros. / Brand is an important intangible asset for companies, which can help to increase the market value success. Brand management requires a system to understand and measure how to create brand equity. There are a number of perspectives in which brand equity is broached. Some of them address financial perspectives. Others, the consumer approach. Still others converge both perspectives. This article advocates for convergence and sought for integrated models to analyze within soccer market. Soccer was selected because its representativeness in Brazil, its professionalization discussions and supporters involvement, a particular consumer driven by his passion for the team. The main objective is to understand brand equity models integration, under financial and consumer perspectives, in soccer market. A exploratory study was developed, based on interviews, documentation and archival records. Interviews were held with key soccer market stakeholders. Data were triangulated to search for patterns to results analyzes. Results were obtained by content analysis. It was possible to analyze theoretical brand equity models and to verify its variables application in the soccer market. I addition, practical soccer market brand equity models were analyzed. Soccer market brand equity models were examined in terms of financial and consumer perspectives integration. Soccer market brand equity importance, managerial and marketing implications were evaluated. In terms of marketing contribution, it was possible to expand theoretical integrated brand equity models scope, based on a particular consumer. In addition, it was possible to propose a guideline for Brazilian soccer clubs brand equity.

Neste trabalho analisam-se os modelos conceituais e operacionais de brand equity baseado no cliente apresentados na literatura acadêmica. Sendo essa a alternativa para explorar o tema: documentar os modelos de brand equity, bem como as diferenças conceituais e empíricas entre os modelos de brand equity, pela ótica do cliente. Neste contexto, surge o seguinte problema de pesquisa: Os modelos existentes na literatura (teórico-práticos) de brand equity, baseado no cliente, podem compor um modelo de mensuração aplicável à realidade brasileira? Para isso faz-se uma pesquisa descritiva com o intuito de apresentar e enumerar os modelos de brand equity baseados no cliente, constantes entre os autores em ciências sociais aplicadas. Os resultados dessa parte do trabalho são tabelas resumo da literatura, apresentadas em capítulo específico, bem como as interpretações provenientes dessas análises. Elabora-se, então, uma pesquisa empírica para verificar a relação existente entre as dimensões que compõem o brand equity baseado no cliente e o mix de marketing organizacional. É desenvolvido análise da literatura, análise de confiabilidade, regressões, e modelagem de equações estruturais. Nessa pesquisa empírica encontra-se as análises de confiabilidade (Alpha de Cronbach´s), onde verificou-se que as dimensões propostas inicialmente por Aaker (1998) e Keller (1993) têm alta confiabilidade de escala. O patrimônio total da marca e a percepção dos preços, propostos por Yoo, Donthu e Lee (2000) também têm alto poder de confiabilidade na escala em português. Na análise das regressões completa, tradicional, e confiável do brand equity, baseado no cliente, houve uma semelhança de resultados. Apesar de algumas diferenças nos números e valores de R2 e de erro, esses foram muito próximos deixando as três equações propostas com mesma significância e valor de predição. Esse valor de predição para as três equações de regressão são moderados/baixos, demonstrando uma predição da variável dependente em grau leve pelas variáveis independentes, propostas nos modelos de regressão. Seguidos das análises de ajustes, verossimilhança, e significância da modelagem de equações estruturais m.e.e. Os objetivos do trabalho, propostos inicialmente, foram alcançados de forma clara e apresentados melhor no decorrer deste trabalho. Essa pesquisa empírica foi replicada para o Brasil, utilizando-se como base o trabalho de Yoo, Donthu e Lee (2000), sendo uma investigação agora desenvolvida nacionalmente. Tendo como alvo da pesquisa o setor de sapatos esportivos de uma grande marca mundial Adidas. / In this paper examine the conceptual and operational models of based-client brand equity presented in the academic literature. This being the alternative to explore the theme: documenting models of brand equity, as well as differences between the conceptual and empirical models of brand equity, through the eyes of the customer. In this context, there arises the following research problem: The existing models in the literature (theoretical and practical) of based-client brand equity can make a measurement model applicable to the Brazilian reality? For this it is a descriptive research in order to present and list the models of basedclient brand equity, listed among the authors applied social sciences. The results of this study are part of the summary tables of literature, presented in separate chapter, as well as interpretations from these tests. It elaborates, then, empirical research to verify the relationship between the dimensions that comprise the client-based brand equity and organizational marketing mix. It is developed literature analysis, reliability analysis, regression, and structural equation modeling. In this empirical research is the analysis of reliability (Cronbach\'s Alpha), where it was found that the dimensions initially proposed by Aaker (1998) and Keller (1993) have high reliability scale. The total equity of the brand and the perception of prices, proposed by Yoo, Donthu and Lee (2000) also have high reliability in the power of scale in Portuguese. In the analysis of complete regressions, traditional and trusted brand equity, based on the client, there was a similarity of results. Despite some differences in the numbers and values of R2 and error, these were very close to leaving the three equations with the same significance and value prediction. This predictive value for the three regression equations are moderate / low, showing a prediction of the dependent variable in mild by the independent variables proposed in the regression models. Followed by analysis of settings, likelihood and significance of structural equation modeling s.e.m. The objectives of the work originally proposed, were reached in a clear and better presented in this all paper. This empirical research has been replicated in Brazil, using as basis the work of Yoo, Donthu and Lee (2000), an investigation now being developed nationally. Targeting the research sector of athletic shoes of a great global brand - Adidas.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Hotel, Restaurant, Institution Management and Dietetics / Ki-Joon Back / This study, based on customer-based brand equity (Keller, 1993), sought to identify key brand associations in brand knowledge and investigated attendees’ behaviors as evidenced in a comparison of a professional association’s major and regional conferences. The points of comparison were brand satisfaction, updated expectation of brand value (UEBV), brand trust, and attitudinal brand loyalty (ABL), especially the mediating effect of UEBV on brand trust-ABL link and the moderating effect of behavioral brand loyalty (BBL) within the brand trust-(UEBV)-brand loyalty link. To identify the proposed paths and differential effect of brand knowledge across I-CHRIE annual conference (IC) and regional CHRIE conferences (RC), this study sampled I-CHRIE members attending IC and/ or RC, using an online survey system. The response rate was 20.1% (213 out of 1,036) for IC and 19.4% (201 out of 1,036) for RC. Confirmatory factor analysis and/or structural equation modeling were used to test construct validity and hypotheses. Findings showed that professional education, staff service, site selection, and social networking are positively related to brand satisfaction, whereas brand awareness is negatively associated with it. Because brand satisfaction is a starting point in affecting UEBV, brand trust, and ABL, these four brand associations are presumed to be major sources of the differential effect of brand knowledge between IC and RC. Also, positive relationships existed on each path for brand satisfaction-UEBV, UEBV-brand trust, brand satisfaction-brand trust, and brand trust-ABL. It is especially important to look at the mediating effect of UEBV on brand satisfaction-brand trust path. UEBV was found to serve as a partial mediator on the brand satisfaction-brand trust path across the two groups. This result suggests that brand trust, the firm expectation that the brand will perform according to its promise, builds up through UEBV as well as through brand satisfaction. This study further extended the proposed theoretical model by dividing it into high and low BBL groups designed to unveil the differential characteristics or mechanisms between two groups. Except for the brand trust-ABL path, BBL was found to moderate the direct path (brand satisfaction to brand trust) and the indirect path (brand satisfaction to brand trust via UEBV). These findings support the notion that since high BBL attendees sustain longer relationships with a particular conference than low BBL attendees, high BBL attendees experience more cumulative satisfaction and update favorable expectations of brand value (through the perception of more [relational] benefits), thereby solidifying expectations about confidence in a brand (brand trust). Brand loyalty holds invaluable benefits for associations when associations in similar disciplines compete for potential attendees. Benefits from brand loyal customers lower marketing costs and increase market share and profitability. Thus, associations should build their conference marketing and management on brand loyalty by carefully designing brand associations attendees consider important. Persistent delivery of high-quality education programs, venue selection, and social networking enables associations to obtain cumulative satisfaction, UEBV, brand trust, and consequently brand loyalty. Retention of brand loyal attendees induces deep commitment to the conferences and great resistance to other conferences’ marketing strategies, thereby contributing to high revenue and market share.