This research addresses an urgent contemporary problem within advertising and brand management in the new era of social networks - how do companies act on social networking platforms and how is this perceived by consumers? Being successful on Facebook is, seemingly, not as straight forward as many might think, and the misuse deriving from misperceptions can create negative brand impacts. This research aims to shed light on the yet under researched topic of firm-created Social Media advertising and its effects on the consumer mindset. This has lead to three overarching research questions, which provides a strong theoretical and practical contribution to the status quo:   RQ1:          What is the influence of the gap between motivational factors to “Like” a brand’s Facebook page and the subsequent firm-created Facebook advertising on perceived advertising value?   RQ2:          What is the influence of perceived advertising value on consumer brand-related activities?   RQ3:                      What is the influence of (1) perceived advertising value and (2) consumer brand-related activities on brand equity?   A quantitative research approach was adopted using a self-administered survey among 101 European Facebook users between 18 and 35. The framework of this research comes from four elements of theory; Uses and Gratifications (U&G) theory to identify the underlying motivational factors to engage with a brand on Facebook, advertising value by Ducoffe (1995), to measure how the brand’s advertising is perceived, consumer brand-related activities (COBRA) by Muntinga, et al. (2011) to classify the level of consumer involvement with the brand on Facebook, and the brand value chain by Keller & Lehmann (2003), which is closely related to consumer-based brand equity as developed by Aaker (1991) and Keller (1993).   The main conclusions of this research include that the gap between initial motivations to start a brand-relationship on Facebook and the subsequent activities performed by the firm is smaller for those in a currently active brand-relationship while it is considerable larger for those who have decided to exit the relationship. Moreover, while not statistically confirmed a clear tendency was identified that the perceived advertising value of a brand on Facebook is attributable to the extent of this gap. In the same vein, the decision to continue or exit a brand-relationship on Facebook is attributable by the level of perceived advertising value. The type and level of interaction with a brand is influenced by the perceived advertising value, however, can be influenced by targeting specific motivations to interact. Both the perceived advertising value and the level/type of interaction with a brand were found to influence the consumer mindset. Especially the form (entertaining, enjoyable) in which advertising is dispersed on Facebook proves to be important.

Research questions:   What are the brand images and brand identities of Renault Trucks, Novembal/Tetra Pak and IKEA? Is there a brand gap? How does country-of-origin have an effect on the perception of the brands? How does the respondent’s sex have an importance in the perception of the brand and the effect of country-of-origin? Purpose:   The purpose of this thesis is to describe, compare and analyze the existence of brand gaps and the effect of country-of-origin with the final intention to provide management recommendations for the studied companies. Method:   A quantitative consumer survey of 42 subjects was collected and analyzed. In addition, interviews were conducted with three Swedish companies, as well as an interview with the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Lyon. Aaker’s (1997) Big Five model was used in the analysis. Conclusions:    The study demonstrated the brand identities and brand images of the companies. A brand gap is widely present. Aaker’s (1997) model had to be modified and includes new dimensions and traits. Country-of-origin (COO) plays a role in 100% of the consumers’ perception and purchasing process. COO bias, ethnocentrism and animosity are present and play a role in the 42 consumers’ attitudes and purchase decisions in Rhone-Alps. Men      and women have different attitudes and degree of ethnocentrism towards the effect of country-of-origin (COE).

Service quality and service recovery has been found to play a significant role in customer satisfaction and future purchase intentions. Many studies have been conducted on how to manage either the company perspective or customer perspective of these two concepts. Using the findings from five qualitative company interviews and three customer focus groups, this study addresses the purpose “to identify similarities and differences between the company and customer perspectives of service recovery in a quality system online”. The research identifies how companies in the service industry work with their websites and customer service as a tool for service quality and recovery. The company perspective is then compared to identified customer preferences in order to find similarities and differences that needs to be improved. The qualitative surveys are based on six dimensions of two existing models for service quality and service recovery online and the findings show similarities in all six dimensions, as well as several differences.

The purpose with this essay is to study how companies use the repositioning process and identify the risks involved from a business perspective. We have chosen to base our essay on the following research questions: What reasons are there for a company to initiate a repositioning?, What does it mean for companies to implement a repositioning?, What are the risks with a repositioning? We have used a qualitative research method and have chosen to interview six respondents which in various ways are actively working with brand repositioning. Our study has been implemented with and deductive character. The most important conclusion that we observed after implementing our study is that repositioning is a high-risk project. Instead of changing their entire brand image, companies should instead make small changes and revitalize the brand by developing the strength that already exist. The biggest risks that we have identified is that a repositioning may result in that the company loses their customers, customer loyalty but also losing market shares. We consider that a repositioning only should be implemented if it is absolutely necessary and when the risks are imminent. / SyfteSyftet med uppsatsen är att studera hur företagen använder sig av ompositioneringsprocesser samt identifiera de risker det innebär ur ett företagsperspektiv. Vi har valt att arbeta med följande forskningsfrågor: Vilka anledningar finns det till att ett företag genomför en ompositionering?, Vad innebär det för företagen att genomföra en ompositionering?, Vilka risker medför en ompositionering? Vi har använt oss av en kvalitativ forskningsmetod och valt att intervjua sex respondenter som på olika sätt aktivt arbetar med varumärkesompositionering. Vår studie har kommit att genomföras med en deduktiv karaktär. SlutsatserEfter att ha genomfört vår studie har vi kunnat konstatera att en ompositionering är ett högriskprojekt. Istället för att förändra sin hela varumärkesimage bör företagen istället genomföra små förändringar och vitalisera varumärket genom att utveckla de styrkor som redan finns. De största riskerna som vi har identifierat är att en ompositionering kan leda till att företaget förlorar sina lojala kunder och tappar marknadsandelar. Vi anser att en ompositionering enbart ska genomföras om det är absolut nödvändigt då riskerna är överhängande.

The purpose of our study is to examine the bloggers‟ influence on the brand‟s image to see whether and if so in what way the blogging trend affects the brands. We also want to analyze how companies use bloggers in their marketing. This is a subject that has attracted our interest and that experience has not been touched in a higher extent. Our purpose has led us to the following research questions; Which relationships occur in collaborations between businesses and bloggers from a marketing perspective? In what way in terms of reciprocity can relations be described? To what extent can the credibility through blogs be affected in terms of how brands are presented in the blog? In this study we have used a qualitative method with an abductive nature to create a deeper understanding of our chosen subject. We have conducted an empirical study consisting of sixteen interviews with bloggers, PR agencies and companies. These are the three perspectives that have contributed to a deeper understanding of our analysis and the fulfillment of our purpose. From this study we found that popular bloggers have an influence on the brand's image, which can have both positive and negative effects. Based on our empirical study, we can see that bloggers have a strong impact on the brands as they are seen as opinion leaders who influence readers. Relationships occur mainly between companies and bloggers, but companies can collaborate with PR agencies, which act as an intermediary in the relationship between businesses and bloggers. It is important to establish and maintain good relations in order for all parties to benefit and preserve reciprocity in the relationship. We have come to the conclusion that bloggers can affect the credibility by how they choose to present the brand in their blogs.

Title: A quantitative study extending the understanding regarding the influence of sales promotion on brand knowledge   Background: Sales promotion is a marketing communication activity that aims to promote a purchase, usage or trial of a particular brand. Sales promotion activities can provide significant benefits and incentives that could help the brand to differentiate from competitors and can contribute to the consumer’s brand knowledge. Prior to this thesis, there has been little attempt to integrate research to determine the relationship between the use of sales promotions and brand knowledge, which is why this study intends to extend the existent understanding. Purpose: The aim of this study is to extend the understanding regarding the relationship between sales promotion and brand knowledge and its drivers. Research questions: R1: What influence does monetary promotions have on brand awareness? R2: What influence does monetary promotions have on brand image? R3: What influence does non-monetary promotions have on brand awareness? R4: What influence does non-monetary promotions have on brand image? Hypotheses: H1: Monetary promotions of a brand influence brand awareness H2: Non-monetary promotions of a brand influence brand awareness H3: Monetary promotions of a brand influence brand image H4: Non-monetary promotions of a brand influence brand image   Methodology: In order to test the hypotheses a quantitative research approach was conducted and a questionnaire was used to collect data from Swedish consumers, the data was analyzed in the IBM SPSS program to find out if the hypotheses was supported or rejected.   Conclusions: H1,H3 and H4: May from this study be supported. H2: May from this study be rejected.

På senare tid har en ny trend inom multikanalförsäljning uppmärksammats, där renodlade e-handlare inser vikten av att finnas tillgängliga för kunden i flera försäljningskanaler och därför adderar en fysisk butik som försäljningskanal. Den nya trenden benämns i studien för Clicks to Bricks. När flera försäljningskanaler opererar under samma varumärke kan svårigheter uppstå i att förmedla en enhetlig bild av varumärket, vilket lyfts fram i befintlig litteratur kring multikanalförsäljning. Det finns dock inga tidigare studier som undersöker utmaningar i att förmedla en enhetlig bild av varumärket specifikt för företag som går från Clicks to Bricks. Baserat på att Clicks to Bricks är ett relativt nytt fenomen som växt fram är forskningen inom området bristfällig och ytterligare studier krävs därför för att ge en ökad förståelse för fenomenet. / Background: Recently, a new trend in multichannel retailing has been growing where pure eretailersare realizing the importance of being available to the customer in several sales channelsand therefore adds a physical store to its existing e-commerce. The new trend is further referredto as Clicks to Bricks. When multiple sales channels operate under the same brand difficultiesmay arise in conveying a consistent image of the brand, which is highlighted in the existingliterature on multi-channel retailing. However, there are no previous studies that examinechallenges in conveying a consistent image of the brand specifically for companies going fromClicks to Bricks. Based on the fact that Clicks to Bricks is a relatively new phenomenon thearea is fairly unexplored in the academic world, which means that further studies are needed toprovide a greater understanding of the phenomenon. Purpose: The study aims to provide a greater understanding of the phenomenon Clicks toBricks, by examining the reasons for pure e-tailers to add a physical store as a sales channel andhow they work to convey a consistent brand image. Completion: The study has the design of a multiple case study and has been conducted with aqualitative approach. The study's empirical data is collected from interviews with people onnine different companies that have gone from Clicks to Bricks. Conclusion: This study observes the fact that companies going from Clicks to Bricks haverecognized the importance of communicating a consistent brand across their sales channels.Companies have, however, started its work towards communicating a consistent image of thebrand at a late stage in the establishment process. The study identifies opportunities forimprovement in terms of conveying a consistent brand when it comes to companies going fromClicks to Bricks.

Issu de la rencontre entre les disciplines de l’architecture intérieure et de la stratégie de marque et développé en réponse au raffinement de l’offre et des nouveaux modes de consommation, le design expérientiel présente un champ de pratique émergent qui tend vers la communication d’une expérience client marquante et immersive à travers l’environnement commercial. Bien que le sujet soit richement documenté par le domaine du marketing, il est apparu qu’il l’est moins par celui de l’aménagement. En effet, peu d’études démontrent concrètement la façon d’aménager l’espace marchand dans le contexte de la pratique du design expérientiel ou cherchent à mettre en lumière son empreinte physique sur l’environnement commercial. Cette recherche vise simultanément l’amélioration de la compréhension de la pratique émergente qu’est le design expérientiel ainsi que l’identification des caractéristiques environnementales propres aux espaces marchands qui en découlent. Dans la volonté de sonder le phénomène du design expérientiel tant dans la dimension conceptuelle de sa pratique que dans celle de son résultat bâti, la stratégie méthodologique de cette recherche repose sur la tenue d’entretiens semi-dirigés avec des professionnels basant leur pratique sur le design expérientiel et l’observation directe de trois projets commerciaux expérientiels reconnus. L’issue de cette recherche et les résultats extraits du terrain mèneront plutôt à relever l’existence d’un processus de conception caractéristique à la pratique ainsi que celle de concepts fondateurs qu’à identifier des éléments de l’aménagement intérieur propres aux environnements commerciaux en découlant. Nettement apparus au cours de l’étude, ce processus et la volonté de mettre sur pied une stratégie de communication solide semblent occuper une place plus importante dans la définition et la compréhension de la pratique du design expérientiel que les attributs de l’espace marchand comme tel. / As a result of the merging of two disciplines, interior design and branding, experiential design was developed in response to the refinement of the offer and of the new consumption patterns. An emerging field of practice, it tends to communicate a memorable and an immersive experience to the client through the retail environment. A rich litterature already exists in the marketing field on experiential design, but it is less documented in the interior design field. Indeed, few studies show, in a concrete manner, how the retail space is designed in a context where experiential design is used or try to explain its physical imprint on the commercial environment. The objective of this study is twofold: to contribute to a better understanding of experiential design as an emergent practice and to the identification of environmental attributes that are specific to retail spaces that are thus created. With the intention to study the phenomenon of experiential design through the conceptual dimension behind its practice as well as its final result, the methodological strategy adopted in this research rely on semi-structured interviews conducted with professionals, whose practice is based on experiential design, and on the direct observation of three known experiential commercial projects. The outcome of this research and the results obtained from the field study will clarify the existence of a design process that is specific to this practice and the presence of founding concepts, instead of identifying elements of interior design that are specific to the creation of commercial environments. It appeared clearly during the study that this process and the desire to implement a strong communication strategy seem to be more important when comes the time to define and understand experiential design and its practice than the attributes of the retail space as such.

<p>This study examines how consumers perceive the overall quality and similarity/fit of the brand extensions (Nike camera, Nike socks, and Nike golf balls) in relation to the original brand (Nike athletic shoes) and how these perceptions influence their attitudes towards the extensions. The researcher proposes that the perceived overall quality of the brand extensions will be congruent to that of the original brand and that the attitude towards the brand extensions will be favourable only when there is a perceived similarity/fit between the brand extensions and the original brand. In order to get these insights, the study surveyed 147 undergraduate and postgraduate students from the University of the Western Cape across all faculties. A non-probability convenience sampling method was used to access respondents. To collect data, qualitative and quantitative methods were employed using a questionnaire which consisted of open-ended and closed-ended questions in the form of free associations technique and 5-point Likert scales. The data gathered was analysed by means of descriptive statistics and Spearman correlation coefficient. The findings indicate two things. (1) respondents only perceived Nike socks&rsquo / overall quality to be congruent to the original brand, Nike athletic shoes. (2) respondents only perceived Nike socks to be strongly similar to the original brand, Nike athletic shoes.</p>

品牌形象、品牌忠誠度、顧客滿意度與個人涉入在近期的研究皆為重要的討論議題。然而，過去的研究主要關注在UNIQLO的個案研究以及與其他服飾品牌的比較，沒有任何研究探討品牌形象、品牌忠誠度、顧客滿意度與個人涉入之間的利害關係。因此，本研究目的在探討品牌形象、品牌忠誠度、顧客滿意度與個人涉入之間的關係，以及影響到購買意願的主因。 本研究採用量化研究方法，以找出品牌形象、品牌忠誠度、顧客滿意度與個人涉入之間的利害關係。研究結果顯示品牌形象與顧客滿意度呈現正相關，品牌形象與顧客滿意度皆會影響到品牌忠誠度，而個人涉入會影響到品牌形象、顧客滿意度與品牌忠誠度之間的關係。 / Recent surveys have regarded customer satisfaction, brand loyalty, brand image and personal involvement as fundamental issues. The previous research has been focused on investigating the case study of UNIQLO and the comparison between other apparel brands. However, brand image, brand loyalty, customer satisfaction and personal involvement have not been extensively studied yet. Therefore, the research purpose is to examine the relationships among brand image, brand loyalty, customer satisfaction and personal involvement that could affect UNIQLO’s profitability. Quantitative research approaches were employed in this study in order to find out the relationships among these factors. Results of this research showed that Brand image is positively related to customer satisfaction, Brand image and Customer satisfaction significantly predicts brand loyalty. Brand image and Customer satisfaction would affect brand loyalty through its effect on personal involvement. / Table of Contexts Table of Contexts iv Table vi Figure vii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1 1.1Background 1 1.2 Statement of problems 2 1.3 Purpose of the study 3 1.4 Research question 4 1.5 Significance of the study 4 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 6 2.1 Brand image 6 2.1.1 Brand Image: Mystery, Sensuality, and Intimacy 8 2.2 Brand loyalty 9 2.2.1 Attitudinal brand loyalty 11 2.2.2 Significance of brand loyalty 13 2.3 Customer satisfaction 14 2.3.1 Significance of customer satisfaction 15 2.4 Personal involvement 16 2.5 The overview of the global apparel industry 18 2.5.1 ZARA 23 2.5.2 H&M 26 2.5.3 GAP 29 2.6 The overview of UNIQLO 32 2.6.1 Background 32 2.6.2 Global market share 35 2.6.3 Business mode 36 CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY 38 3.1 Research frameworks and hypothesis 38 3.2 Research design 40 3.3 Measurement 40 3.3.1 Section I- Demographics 42 3.3.2 Section II – Brand image 42 3.3.3 Section III - Attitudinal Brand loyalty 43 3.3.4 Section IV- Customer satisfaction 45 3.3.5 Section V- Personal involvement 47 3.4 Participant 47 3.5 Data collection 48 3.6 Data analysis 48 CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS 50 4.1 Description of Samples 50 4.2 Factorial Structure of the Questionnaire 52 4.3 Internal Consistency of the Questionnaire 58 4.4 Correlation analysis 59 4.5 Regression Analysis 60 4.5.1 Multiple regression analysis 60 4.5.2 Hierarchical regression analysis 63 4.6 Structural Equation Modeling 69 CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS 72 5.1 Discussion of research results 72 5.2 Implications 77 5.3 Limitations of the study 77 5.4 Recommendations for future research 78 References 79 APPENDIX A 83 APPENDIX B 85 APPENDIX C 87