Det har under de senaste åren skett en signifikant e-handelstillväxt, inte minst till följd av den rådande Covid-19 pandemin, utan även eftersom kunder konsumerar sina produkter online i större omfattning än tidigare. Därtill har anpassningsförmågan hos ehandelsaktörer blivit allt viktigare, vilket synliggörs genom att fler e-handlare erbjuder sina kunder ett brett urval av leverantörer och leveransmetoder. Trots att allt större tonvikt riktas mot miljövänliga leveransalternativ påträffas fortfarande märkbara utmaningar. Detta med tanke på att tidigare forskning föreslår att kunder agerar irrationellt, impulsivt och förväntas maximera den egna nyttan. Fraktkostnad identifieras utifrån tidigare forskning som den mest dominerande aspekten vid val av leveransalternativ. Studieområdets problematik baseras på avvägningar mellan e-handelstillväxt och höjd klimatpåverkan genom koldioxidutsläpp och föroreningar. Således existerar ett samband mellan e-handelskunders konsumtion och de utsläpp som förekommer. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka ehandelskundens köpbeteenden och beslutsfattande i förhållande till de hållbara leveransoch returalternativ de ställs inför vid onlineköp, med ett fokus på miljömässig hållbarhet. Studien avgränsar sig till business to consumer (B2C) eftersom syftet är att undersöka privata e-handelskunders köpbeteenden. För att kunna undersöka studiens syfte har en kvantitativ metod applicerats i form av en enkätundersökning som inriktat sig på ett bekvämlighetsurval med 116 respondenter. Studiens resultat visar fortsatt att fraktkostnad i bred bemärkelse är den enskilt starkaste faktorn vid val av leveransalternativ, vilket även är på bekostnad av miljömässig hållbarhet. Vidare presenteras ytterligare resultat och samband som visar på e-handelskundens köpbeteende i samband med andra variabler som anses viktiga för att besvara undersökningens frågeställningar. Slutsatsen visar att ehandelskunder starkt värdesätter pris vid val av leverans- och returalternativ. Det framkommer tydliga demografiska skillnader vad gäller köpbeteenden och ehandelskunder tar inte sitt miljömässiga ansvar vid köp online. Slutligen presenteras förslag till framtida forskning vad gäller påverkan på e-handelskunders köpbeteenden och vilka ytterligare faktorer som kan påverka dem. / Over the last couple of years, a remarkable increase in e-commerce sales have occurred due to enhanced consumption patterns during the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, ecommerce companies have to a greater extent emphasized customer adaptation in regards to delivery opportunities. For example, customers are being offered a large number of carriers and delivery methods in order to satisfy the delivery requirements of every customer. Despite the fact that more companies than ever seem to take environmentally friendly delivery alternatives into account, irrational and impulsive buying behaviour and self-interest is being put above the environment. Prior studies identify freight cost as the most crucial aspect when choosing a delivery alternative. The interest for sustainable delivery alternatives has developed throughout the last couple of years, which is a result of rising levels of carbon dioxide emissions, as well as pollution and contamination. The main purpose of this study is to explore e-customers buying behaviour and decision making in relation to the environmentally friendly delivery alternatives that are being offered. The study is limited to business-to-consumer (B2C). In order to respond to the purpose of this study, a quantitative method in the form of a survey was conducted and a convenience selection was applied with 116 respondents. The final result indicates that freight cost is the most prominent incentive to justify consumption, which is at the expense of environmental sustainability. Furthermore, additional results and statistical relationships are presented that show the e-customer's buying behaviour in connection with other variables that are considered important for answering the issues of the thesis. The conclusion shows that e-commerce customers strongly value price when choosing delivery and return alternatives. There are clear demographic differences in terms of buying behaviour and e-customers do not take their environmental responsibility when buying online. Finally, proposals are presented for future research regarding the impact on ecustomers' buying behaviours and what additional factors may influence them.

Over the last couple of years, a remarkable increase in e-commerce sales have occurred due to enhanced consumption patterns during the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, e-commerce companies have to a greater extent emphasized customer adaptation in regards to delivery opportunities. For example, customers are being offered a large number ofcarriers and delivery methods in order to satisfy the delivery requirements of everycustomer. Despite the fact that more companies than ever seem to take environmentallyfriendly delivery alternatives into account, irrational and impulsive buying behaviour andself-interest is being put above the environment. Prior studies identify freight cost as themost crucial aspect when choosing a delivery alternative. The interest for sustainabledelivery alternatives has developed throughout the last couple of years, which is a result ofrising levels of carbon dioxide emissions, as well as pollution and contamination. The mainpurpose of this study is to explore e-customers buying behaviour and decision making inrelation to the environmentally friendly delivery alternatives that are being offered. Thestudy is limited to business-to-consumer (B2C). In order to respond to the purpose of thisstudy, a quantitative method in the form of a survey was conducted and a convenienceselection was applied with 116 respondents. The final result indicates that freight cost isthe most prominent incentive to justify consumption, which is at the expense ofenvironmental sustainability. Furthermore, additional results and statistical relationshipsare presented that show the e-customer's buying behaviour in connection with othervariables that are considered important for answering the issues of the thesis. Theconclusion shows that e-commerce customers strongly value price when choosing deliveryand return alternatives. There are clear demographic differences in terms of buyingbehaviour and e-customers do not take their environmental responsibility when buying online. Finally, proposals are presented for future research regarding the impact on e-customers' buying behaviours and what additional factors may influence them.

In recent years, with the rapid development of Internet technology, live streaming e-commerce has gradually become the focus of public attention and has occupied an increasingly important position in consumers' daily lives. The significant difference between online retail and offline retail is whether consumers can directly touch the products, and the perception of the products plays a key role in consumers' purchasing decisions. Therefore, how to display products effectively is crucial for online retailers. This study aims to explore how the product display method of live streaming e-commerce affects consumers' impulsive buying behaviour, and collect consumers' views on live streaming e-commerce through questionnaires. The results show that improving the vividness and interactivity of product displays significantly enhances virtual touch, which in turn promotes impulsive buying behaviour. However, there is a positive correlation between virtual touch and perceived risk, and perceived risk fails to significantly inhibit impulsive buying behaviour, but instead shows a positive correlation, that is, high perceived risk increases impulsive buying behaviour. The conclusions of this study provide new insights into the future interaction model between online retailers and consumers, promote two-way communication, and improve communication efficiency. Through this study, online retailers can provide consumers with an experience closer to offline shopping when using live streaming e-commerce, thereby more effectively prompting consumers to make purchasing decisions.

Dissertation (M. Tech. (Food Service Management, Dept. of Hospitality and Tourism)) -- Vaal University of Technology / Very poor families, mostly in developing parts of the world, consume a monotonous staple diet out of need and are least likely to eat healthy diets. This study focussed on how the low income households in the urbanised informal settlement of Eatonside used available income to buy plant staples (situation analysis), the share of the food budget Rand allocated to this (investigative survey), as well as the extent of influence of low income, food prices, and locality on the buying behaviour. The aspects of where, how much, when and how low-income households purchased were examined in order to determine the purchasing patterns for plant staples. From the households surveyed, most (62,2%) received an income of less than R500.00/month. Household size affected food purchasing and varied according to the type of household head. Total food budget expenditure by male-headed households was 83,1 percent, 58,1 percent by female-headed households and 27,9 percent by de facto headed households. The total average share/portion of the food budget allocated to purchasing of plant staples was reported as R64.63 ±(R8.04). While male-headed households spent 15 percent of the total share/portion/month allocated to purchasing of plant staples, female-headed households spent 23,1 percent and de facto-headed households spent 21,1 percent. Total average expenditure allocated to plant staples was 58,1 percent for maize meal, 23,2 percent for rice, 4,6 percent for mabella, 3,9 percent for sugar beans, 3,7 percent for samp, 2,5 percent for split peas and 4 percent on various other plant staples. Price and quantity (63,6%) were main purchasing indicators. Less plant staples were purchased when prices were high and more when prices were low. Normally when prices of other food products are high, people buy more staples to survive. Most frequent purchases for maize meal was 12,5 kg (65%) once a month (41,7%) at an average price of R32.80 per unit from spaza shops. Plant staples were mostly purchased once a month (80,2%) at supermarkets (47%) or spaza shops (42%). The urbanised low income households of Eatonside were poor, leading to the allocation of a major component of the budget to food (plant staples). Purchasing patterns, plant staples, low-income households, Eatonside informal settlement. / Central Research Committee of the Vaal University of Technology

Even though power and influence of children on family buying behavior is growing little is known about their involvement. Previous studies of family and household consumption often neglect the role of children in decision-making, but nowadays, children are becoming one of the most powerful influencers in family buying behavior. They dominate family buying decision and can influence their parents in many product categories from cars till regular grocery shopping and therefore the question arises, what influences children when requesting products and what strategies they use to make their parents yield to their requests. Thus, this research paper tries to explain how are influence strategies that children use and family complexity related to parents buying behavior of groceries. The primary data have been collected through an electronic questionnaire, which resulted in sample of 164 parents respondents from around the globe. The data were analyzed by using various statistical tools and concluded that (1) aggressive, persuasion, rational and knowledge strategies are positively affecting parents buying behavior, (2) non-traditional family structure has positive impact on buying behavior, (3) older children have more influence power over parents buying behavior and (4) number of children has no significant influence on parents buying behavior.

Social or environmental labelling- Consumers’ knowledge, attitudes and preferencesEngelska nyckelord: labelling, social or environmental labelling, eco-labelling, sustainability, transparency, fashion consumer, visual/verbal communication, consumer buying behaviour, green consumerism.Sammanfattning på engelska: In the recent years the Swedish fashion retailers have increased their range of various social or environmental labels on their garments which in return has created confusion amongst the fashion consumers. Currently, there are approximately fourteen different third-party labelling standards in Sweden and a diverse range of self-controlled labelling standards. The reason for this increase can partly be explained by the increasing pressure from various actors to act more sustainably and ethically, and companies having realized a competitive advantage by adopting sustainable strategies. This study provides a preliminary exploration into the types of social and environmental labels that are available on the Swedish market and consumers’ knowledge, attitudes and preferences regarding these labels. Based on two focus group discussions held at two different occasions, respondents indicated that environmental labelling of clothing could influence their purchase decision positively if product related attributes (design and quality) have the same standard as non-sustainable clothing. Although consumers’ knowledge about the social or environmental labels is relatively low, they have an increased interest to learn more about the various labels and the potential environmental impact the fashion industry may cause. However, the growing involvement of taking social or environmental issues into consideration does not always lead to consumers actually purchasing eco-friendlier clothes, and thus these two “identities” are not yet compatible with each other.Additionally, consumers respond differently to positive and negative labelling, where negative labelling seems to have a stronger effect on their feelings and may influence their purchase decision. When it comes to the design of the label, visual and verbal communications are additives and a label should also have a numerical rating system, which states how sustainable a garment is in comparison to other garments. Furthermore, the logo should be more coherent with the fashion industry in terms of colours and illustrations. Moreover, consumers think that there is a lack of information at the point of purchase regarding the social and environmental labels and this should be addressed with either QR-code or by providing a simple brochure. / Program: Textilt management, fashion management

Research question: How should cosmetic companies develop marketing strategies for beauty products to appeal to men as a customers? Purpose:The purpose of this paper is to explore how marketing strategies of beauty products aimed  for men should be designed in order to appeal to potential and existing male customers. Furthermore the paper aims to identify strategic proposals that cosmetic companies should apply in creating marketing for men. Method:The case study is based on a qualitative research method with an inductive approach in which the data collected is done through semi-structured interviews and observations. Results: The results show that cosmetics companies should make use of marketing specifically intended for men to appeal as a consumer group. Furthermore, companies should adapt their marketing communications to coincide with men's preferences, interests and characteristics as well as to use market channels for highlighting product ranges intended for men. Limitations: The study of cosmetic companies presents itself on a national level, which means that the conclusion is aimed for the Swedish market and Swedish men. Theoretical and practical contributions: The theoretical contribution of this paper is to overlap the gaps identified in the literature between company and consumer. In order to do so, there must exist a correlation between the marketing mix, segmentation, positioning and target marketing. The practical contributions of this paper is to provide cosmetic companies with proposals of how they should adapt their marketing strategies to appeal to men as a consumer group on the Swedish market.

This preliminary study investigated the factors which influence consumer choice of beef. A questionnaire and sensory evaluation considered the level of importance which consumers attached to the sensory (intrinsic attributes) properties of beef as compared to extrinsic factors. It was found that consumers use sensory properties to predict the freshness and overall eating quality, but they can also misinterpret the quality cues. Consumers made it clear that the freshness and the place of purchase played a prominent role in their decision to purchase red meat because they perceive the retailer to be an integral part of the overall quality assessment with regard to the purchase process of mutton and beef. The Total Food Quality Model is used as the frame of reference for analysing the way in which consumers perceive meat quality. The way in which consumers form expectations about the quality at the point of purcha7se, based on their own experience and information cues available in the shopping environment, is described as well as the way in which quality is experienced in the home during and after meal preparation. The relationship between quality expectations and quality experience and its implications for consumer satisfaction and repeat purchase intent is addressed. The study collected data by means of a questionnaire to evaluate the quality perceptions of beef. Cronbach alpha as reliability coefficient recorded high levels of reliability and the factor analysis revealed that only one factor, namely that of quality considerations is present in the analysis. Furthermore, the building on the insights obtained on subjective quality perception, possibilities for consumer–oriented product development in the meat sector are addressed. Issues dealt with here are branding, differentiation by taste, healthiness and convenience. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Computer Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

This preliminary study investigated the factors which influence consumer choice of beef. A questionnaire and sensory evaluation considered the level of importance which consumers attached to the sensory (intrinsic attributes) properties of beef as compared to extrinsic factors. It was found that consumers use sensory properties to predict the freshness and overall eating quality, but they can also misinterpret the quality cues. Consumers made it clear that the freshness and the place of purchase played a prominent role in their decision to purchase red meat because they perceive the retailer to be an integral part of the overall quality assessment with regard to the purchase process of mutton and beef. The Total Food Quality Model is used as the frame of reference for analysing the way in which consumers perceive meat quality. The way in which consumers form expectations about the quality at the point of purcha7se, based on their own experience and information cues available in the shopping environment, is described as well as the way in which quality is experienced in the home during and after meal preparation. The relationship between quality expectations and quality experience and its implications for consumer satisfaction and repeat purchase intent is addressed. The study collected data by means of a questionnaire to evaluate the quality perceptions of beef. Cronbach alpha as reliability coefficient recorded high levels of reliability and the factor analysis revealed that only one factor, namely that of quality considerations is present in the analysis. Furthermore, the building on the insights obtained on subjective quality perception, possibilities for consumer–oriented product development in the meat sector are addressed. Issues dealt with here are branding, differentiation by taste, healthiness and convenience. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Computer Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

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