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.

No description available.

The master thesis is focusing on development in consumer and buying behaviour in on-line grocery shopping. The first part characterizes the key concepts of this topic i.e. consumer, consumer behaviour, consumer behaviour´ models, buying behaviour, purchase decision process, e-business, e-commerce. The practical part of the thesis covers the analysis of quantitative marketing research results. The end is dedicated to suggestions and recommendations for services´ improvement of on-line grocery stores in the Czech Republic.

The main aim of the thesis is a research, which is focused on buying atmosphere in the selected retail unit. The aim includes proposes some changes in store too.

Syfte: Studiens relevans grundar sig i e-barometerns årsrapport gällande en påvisad ökning av svensk e-handel under år 2020. Följaktligen är syftet med denna studie att studera svenska kvinnors konsumentbeteenden inom detaljhandeln under Covid-19 pandemin med fokus på digitaliseringens roll. Studien ämnar bidra med kunskap kring kopplingen mellan begreppen konsumentbeteenden och digitalisering under en världsomfattande pandemi, för att vidare skapa en diskussion kring Covid-19 pandemins inverkan på det paradigmskifte som det redan talas om kring konsumentbeteenden inom detaljhandeln. Metod: I studien tillämpas en kvalitativ forskningsmetod med fokusgrupper, baserat på ett snöbollsurval. Urvalet består utav kvinnor i åldrarna 18–35, vidare används en tematisk analysmetod för att skapa struktur och på ett metodiskt sätt sammanställa och analysera resultatet av undersökningen. Studien baseras på både primär- och sekundära data. Det primära datamaterialet har samlats in via digitala fokusgrupper och det sekundära datamaterialet kommer från vetenskapliga artiklar men även tidigare statistik från bland annat handelsrådet. Teoretiskt perspektiv: Det teoretiska ramverk som ligger till grund för studien är huvudsakligen köpprocessen och Maslows behovstrappa. Vidare presenteras även relevant tidigare forskning kring Covid-19 pandemin samt konsumentbeteende för att skapa en komplett bakgrund till studien. Slutligen presenteras en kort beskrivning om hur de teoretiska ramverken kommer att tillämpas samt hur det kopplas till varandra. Resultat/Analys och Slutsatser: Studien baseras på 12 kvinnliga respondenter, där majoriteten hade påverkats av Covid-19 pandemin i någon form. Vår tolkning blir därmed att trots det faktum att ett intresse för digitala lösningar redan fanns innan pandemin så hade det ändå ökat i samband med respondenternas upplevelse av en marknadsföring av digitala tjänster, slutsatsen blir därför att användningen av digitala lösningar som Instabox, hämta i butik och hemleverans blivit mer vanligt förekommande under pandemin. Vidare påvisar respondenterna en tendens till att kompensera sociala aktiviteter och tristess med att handla online. Resultatet visar på att respondenterna som arbetar eller studerar hemifrån har förändrat sin klädsel, men med undantag för viktiga sammankomster så var det tydligt att respondenterna fortfarande vill se representativa ut. Vidare har resultatet diskuterats utifrån syftet, forskningsfrågor och de teoretiska ramverken. / Purpose: The relevance of this study is based on Postnord’s annual report regarding a demonstrated increase in Swedish e-commerce in 2020. Consequently, the purpose is to examine the buying-behavior of Swedish women during the Covid-19 pandemic with focus on the digitalization in retail. The study intends to contribute with knowledge about the connection between consumer buying-behavior and digitalization during a worldwide pandemic, further on to create a discussion about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the already ongoing paradigm shift in retail, associated to digital consumer buying-behavior.  Methodology: The study applies a qualitative research method with focus groups, based on a snowball sampling. The sample consists of women aged 18-35 and a the maticanalysis method is used to create structure and in a methodical way compile and analyze the results of the focus group. The study is based on both primary and secondary data. The primary data has been collected through online focus groups and the secondary data comes from scientific articles, but also previous statistics from, among others, Handelsrådet.  Theoretical perspective: The theoretical framework which the study is based on, is mainly the buying process, and Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Furthermore, it also presents relevant previous research on the Covid-19 pandemic’s effect on and consumer buying-behavior in order to create a complete background to the study. Finally, a brief description is presented of how the theoretical framework will be applied and how the frameworks relate to each other. Empirical analysis and Conclusion: The study is based on twelve female respondents and their individual experiences ofhow the covid-19 pandemic has affected their consuming behaviour. Despite the fact that an interest in digital solutions already existed before the pandemic, it has nevertheless increased in connection with the respondents' experience of increased marketing of digital services during the pandemic. The conclusion is therefore that the use of digital solutions such as instabox, download in store and home delivery has surged during the pandemic. Furthermore, the respondents show a tendency to do more online shopping to compensate for lack of social activities and boredom. The results have been discussed based on the purpose of the report, research questions and the theoretical frameworks.