This is an in-depth study of the structural change and transition of the Chinese consumer goods market from 1954 to 1991 using disequilibrium econometric methodology. The model for the Chinese consumer goods market is based on the Portes-Winter disequilibrium model for centrally planned economies (1980). The demand function is derived from the Houthakker-Taylor savings function. The supply function is composed of approximations to the government's long-term and short-term plans. The transaction quantity in the market is defined as the smaller of effective demand and supply. Using the traditional global fitting method, three models are evaluated: one model that assumes no structural change, and two models that assume structural change. The estimations show that the structures of the demand and supply functions of the Chinese consumer goods market have changed since the economic reform in 1980. An innovative non-parametric method of locally weighted optimization is applied to further test the variations in model parameters during the period between 1954 and 1991 without assuming explicit functional forms of demand and supply. The estimation results show that the Chinese consumer goods market fits the Portes-Winter model well in the earlier years. The results confirm that the structures of demand and supply functions have changed since the economic reform. In the late 1980's, the Chinese consumer goods market is shown to have shifted away from a pure centrally planned system. Other main conclusions of this study include, first, that chronic shortage does not exist in the Chinese consumer goods market from 1954 to 1991. Second, a rigid price level has not caused the market to be persistently in disequilibrium. Third, the classical disequilibrium model of consumer goods market in centrally planned economies does not fit the Chinese consumer goods market in the later years.

This explanatory study investigated the possible causal relationship between congruent background music and consumer behavior. We studied empirically whether sales of tex-mex products was affected when congruent music was played in conjunction to the tex-mex section of a Swedish grocery store. A field experiment was conducted where stereotypical Mexican music was played in conjunction to the tex-mex section. Previous experiments have tested, and confirmed, the notion that music stereotypically related to a country can prime related knowledge and the selection of certain products if the products fit with that knowledge. Earlier research has also been able to support the notion that consumers tend to spend more money and time in store when congruent music is played. Mexican, Pop, and no music was played during three weekends and sales data on tex-mex products was gathered and analyzed. The results indicate that fewer consumers purchased tex-mex products when Mexican music was played, but those who did spent more money and/or purchased a slightly larger number of tex-mex products. However, the small differences between the music conditions were not statistically significant. The potential reasons for this is discussed in the analysis and lastly, implications for future research as well as managerial implications are discussed.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Texas, Aug., 2007. / Advisor: Guy Chet. Includes bibliographical references (p. 184-188). Also available on the internet.

Conventionally, efforts of combating climate change mainly focus on reducing emissions at production sources, such as factories, offices or other organizational-based entities. While this approach has served its purposes for years, the environmental impacts of consumer goods, which cause cross-border carbon emission are very difficult to be managed. This study investigated the feasibilities of an alternative solution to combat climate change using the concept of product carbon footprint (PCF) labelling in Hong Kong. PCF describes the total set of greenhouse gases caused by a product over its whole life cycle, from raw material extraction to disposal. The concept of PCF is prevalent in regions such as Europe, Japan and Taiwan, where PCF information is shown as labels on products’ packaging to help consumers distinguish more eco-friendly products. These PCF labels, based on overseas pioneer experience, have shown enormous market potential and environmental benefits. Hong Kong has yet to establish such labelling system despite these benefits. The aim of the study is to investigate the feasibilities of introducing PCF labelling in Hong Kong and identify the opportunities and difficulties lie ahead. Five main types of feasibilities, namely technical, economic, legal, operational and scheduling feasibilities were considered in the study and in-depth review was carried out on each one. Literature review, questionnaire for general public and interviews with stakeholders were undertaken to understand existing PCF labelling schemes and obtain first-hand information from stakeholders of different perspectives. By analyzing the questionnaire and interview results, the study revealed that short-term feasibilities of introducing PCF labelling in Hong Kong is medium. Recommendations were made in accordance to each type of feasibilities to promote the wider adoption of PCF labelling in the future. / published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

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This paper presents a simple evolutionary model to study the diffusion patterns of product innovations for consumer goods. Following a Veblenian theme, we interpret consumption as a social activity constrained by social norms and equality of opportunity. Societies that allow for more behavioral variety will experience faster adoption of new consumer goods. We also find that the speed of diffusion as well as the saturation levels reached highly depend on the equality of opportunity. Combining these two effects, we conclude that a social structure displaying behavioral variety and equal opportunities dominates any other social set-up in terms of the speed of adoption of product innovations. (author's abstract) / Series: Working Papers Series "Growth and Employment in Europe: Sustainability and Competitiveness"

The South African breakfast market consists of several brand products for cereal products, and some of the products are produced locally while others are imported. Cereal products are classified under fast moving consumer goods (FMCG). The majority of the cereal products are easy to serve. The following brands are common in South Africa and have been listed according to their popularity with consumers: Kellogg's Corn Flakes, Kellog's Special K, Jungle Oats, Cheerios and Weet Bix. Kellogg's Corn Flakes are made from maize (corn) and provides guidelines daily amounts (GDA) for each of the nutrients. Branding may consist of building an emotional response or cultural response. As consumers are bombarded with a variety of products to meet the same needs, branding provides a way for consumers to reduce their decision-making to consider only those products that they feel are relevant to them or that have met their needs acceptably in the past. If brand loyalty were a random event, there would be no purpose in making it the object of applied scientific enquiry. Verbal reports are insufficient for defining brand loyalty. Such loyalty requires that statements of bias be accompanied by biased purchasing behaviour. The study was conducted to determine factors that influence the consumers to constantly use a particular brand, and prefer it above other cereal products. A literature and empirical study form part of this study. Questionnaires were used as a measuring instrument to determine which factors the consumer considers important in choosing a particular cereal product. Data analysis was done by means of a factor analysis. A brand loyalty framework developed by Moola was used in classifying the brand loyalty influences. To a large extent the research concluded that brand loyalty in the cereal market is similar to that found in bread, coffee and toothpaste (as per mentioned model). However, some differences with regard to the brand loyalty influences have been found. This study did not determine if these differences are related to cereal as FMCG, or the specific consumer market that was analysed. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Since the emergence of branding as an approach to marketing, the concept has been received with a great deal of interest and has stimulated ever increasing research in the area. Businesses have realized the importance of retaining existing customers and have begun to identify and apply ways to build long-term relationships with customers. These relationships with customers require an understanding of customer needs, business requirements and the influences that create a long-term relation which is more commonly known as brand loyalty. Several research studies including this one present the results of brand loyalty research in the form of a conceptual framework. From an academic viewpoint, the identification and application of all the relevant influences are essential in the construction of a framework that can guide the promotion of brand loyalty. The aim of this study was to identify the influences that are most important in creating and measuring brand loyalty in the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. The study builds a conceptual framework using the identified influences and also presents the interrelationships between the influences. The primary theoretical background and concepts in brand loyalty for this study ranged from the history of branding to the results of brand loyalty studies conducted over the past five years. The extensive review of literature and previously tested brand loyalty models resulted in the identification of 12 influences that impact directly on brand loyalty. Reducing the identified set of influences into a manageable set for this thesis involved selecting the most commonly used reliable and valid brand loyalty influences. The empirical study which followed was conducted among a sample of 550 customers who had access to a wide range of FMCG. The empirical study based on the selected 12 brand loyalty influences yielded results that measured the strength of each influence and the interrelationship of influences. The results were analysed by the process of factor analysis, and were presented in the form of a conceptual framework that could be applied in the FMCG segment to measure the strength of brand loyalty influences and determine if the same influences apply to all FMCG. The results of the study confirmed that different influences have different effects on brand loyalty in the FMCG segment. The study revealed that the psychological influences such as brand commitment, brand affect, perceived value and relationship proneness had a far stronger effect on brand loyalty than the brand performance influences such as customer satisfaction or brand performance. Furthermore, the study found an extremely close relationship between influences as far as the specific products were concerned. This study confirmed that FMCG could all be treated as a single entity when evaluating the influences of brand loyalty. The uniqueness and value of the study lies in the evaluation of each brand loyalty influence that is collectively assembled in one framework. The most important contribution of the study is therefore the construction of this conceptual framework through which brand loyalty could be measured and strategically managed. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Business Administration))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The South African breakfast market consists of several brand products for cereal products, and some of the products are produced locally while others are imported. Cereal products are classified under fast moving consumer goods (FMCG). The majority of the cereal products are easy to serve. The following brands are common in South Africa and have been listed according to their popularity with consumers: Kellogg's Corn Flakes, Kellog's Special K, Jungle Oats, Cheerios and Weet Bix. Kellogg's Corn Flakes are made from maize (corn) and provides guidelines daily amounts (GDA) for each of the nutrients. Branding may consist of building an emotional response or cultural response. As consumers are bombarded with a variety of products to meet the same needs, branding provides a way for consumers to reduce their decision-making to consider only those products that they feel are relevant to them or that have met their needs acceptably in the past. If brand loyalty were a random event, there would be no purpose in making it the object of applied scientific enquiry. Verbal reports are insufficient for defining brand loyalty. Such loyalty requires that statements of bias be accompanied by biased purchasing behaviour. The study was conducted to determine factors that influence the consumers to constantly use a particular brand, and prefer it above other cereal products. A literature and empirical study form part of this study. Questionnaires were used as a measuring instrument to determine which factors the consumer considers important in choosing a particular cereal product. Data analysis was done by means of a factor analysis. A brand loyalty framework developed by Moola was used in classifying the brand loyalty influences. To a large extent the research concluded that brand loyalty in the cereal market is similar to that found in bread, coffee and toothpaste (as per mentioned model). However, some differences with regard to the brand loyalty influences have been found. This study did not determine if these differences are related to cereal as FMCG, or the specific consumer market that was analysed. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Since the emergence of branding as an approach to marketing, the concept has been received with a great deal of interest and has stimulated ever increasing research in the area. Businesses have realized the importance of retaining existing customers and have begun to identify and apply ways to build long-term relationships with customers. These relationships with customers require an understanding of customer needs, business requirements and the influences that create a long-term relation which is more commonly known as brand loyalty. Several research studies including this one present the results of brand loyalty research in the form of a conceptual framework. From an academic viewpoint, the identification and application of all the relevant influences are essential in the construction of a framework that can guide the promotion of brand loyalty. The aim of this study was to identify the influences that are most important in creating and measuring brand loyalty in the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. The study builds a conceptual framework using the identified influences and also presents the interrelationships between the influences. The primary theoretical background and concepts in brand loyalty for this study ranged from the history of branding to the results of brand loyalty studies conducted over the past five years. The extensive review of literature and previously tested brand loyalty models resulted in the identification of 12 influences that impact directly on brand loyalty. Reducing the identified set of influences into a manageable set for this thesis involved selecting the most commonly used reliable and valid brand loyalty influences. The empirical study which followed was conducted among a sample of 550 customers who had access to a wide range of FMCG. The empirical study based on the selected 12 brand loyalty influences yielded results that measured the strength of each influence and the interrelationship of influences. The results were analysed by the process of factor analysis, and were presented in the form of a conceptual framework that could be applied in the FMCG segment to measure the strength of brand loyalty influences and determine if the same influences apply to all FMCG. The results of the study confirmed that different influences have different effects on brand loyalty in the FMCG segment. The study revealed that the psychological influences such as brand commitment, brand affect, perceived value and relationship proneness had a far stronger effect on brand loyalty than the brand performance influences such as customer satisfaction or brand performance. Furthermore, the study found an extremely close relationship between influences as far as the specific products were concerned. This study confirmed that FMCG could all be treated as a single entity when evaluating the influences of brand loyalty. The uniqueness and value of the study lies in the evaluation of each brand loyalty influence that is collectively assembled in one framework. The most important contribution of the study is therefore the construction of this conceptual framework through which brand loyalty could be measured and strategically managed. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Business Administration))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.