Purpose: To identify the relevance ethnocentrism, affinity and product country-image (the three theory effect affectionately called “the enchilada effect” by the authors) have on the consumers’ decision-making process as well as their effect on the consumers’ preferences for certain product attribute importance and types. Problem: In modern society most marketplaces around the world are full of foreign products. The importance ethnocentrism and the country of origin (COO) effect have on the consumers’ decision process has already been studied and identified on several researches along several decades. This mentioned, the authors think not only ethnocentrism, but also affinity and PCI might have an effect on this decision process as well. Therefore, they believe this to be an interesting and important consumer behavior phenomenon to investigate. Further, they want to identify how much these theories influence the consumers in two areas: first, the relative preferences of 8 attributes importance (price, quality, design, weight, energy saving, capacity, material, and HDD storage capacity) distributed in 4 product categories (laptops, refrigerators, bicycles and shoes); and second, their effect on consumers’ preferences over two types of product versions (low-end versus high-end) that differ in price and their added features with the basic price-quality relationship i.e. the more expensive the better it is.

The combined study of consumer ethnocentrism and lifestyle is a unique approach that marketers can use to determine consumer buying behaviour and to refine market segmentation. In particular, marketers need to study consumer buying behaviour and examine the main influences regarding what, where, when and how consumers buy, as this knowledge will allow marketers to predict how consumers make their purchase decisions and how they will respond to various marketing strategies. A better understanding of the buying behaviour of consumers in a prospective market segment will help marketers to devise more effective marketing strategies for targeting consumers in the particular market segment they wish to pursue, and therefore, market segmentation is an extremely useful marketing tool. The Black Diamond consumer segment in South Africa has been receiving heightened attention from marketers recently due to the increasing purchasing power of this segment, and therefore it is necessary for marketers to gain a more profound understanding of these consumers so that they will be able to address Black Diamonds' specific needs, wants and preferences. This will assist marketers to devise marketing strategies that target the Black Diamond segment more effectively. The primary objective of this study was to determine consumer ethnocentrism and lifestyle among Black Diamonds in Sandton. This objective was addressed by using an adapted version of the Consumer Ethnocentrism Scale (CETSCALE) to measure the level of consumer ethnocentrism among Black Diamonds and by determining the lifestyle of this group by using the activities, interests and opinions (AIO) approach to measure the levels of six lifestyle dimensions, namely fashion consciousness, self–consciousness, health consciousness, homemaking, community orientation, and cost–consciousness. Based on literature consulted, an interviewer–administered questionnaire was developed and distributed to Black Diamond consumers by five fieldworkers in the Sandton area, in the city of Johannesburg, in the Gauteng province. Convenience and judgement sampling (non–probability sampling methods) were used and a total of 200 respondents participated in this study. The validity and reliability of the adapted version of the CETSCALE used in the questionnaire to measure the level of consumer ethnocentrism of respondents, as well as the six batteries of statements used to measure the levels of the respective lifestyle dimensions, were determined by means of factor analysis. The results indicated that consumer ethnocentrism is moderately high among respondents. Furthermore, moderately high levels of fashion consciousness, self–consciousness, health consciousness and cost–consciousness were found among respondents. Low levels of interest were established in homemaking activities and community orientation. It was found that various underlying relationships exist between consumer ethnocentrism and lifestyle dimensions of respondents, specifically between the lifestyle dimensions of health consciousness, homemaking and community orientation. It was further found that significant differences exist between the perceptions of respondents toward consumer ethnocentrism and the lifestyle dimensions in terms of their diverse age categories. It is recommended that marketers should stress product attributes, benefits, and superior aspects of the product by underplaying the product's country of origin, in light of the high level of consumer ethnocentrism prevalent among Black Diamonds. Furthermore, it is recommended that marketers and organisations should adapt and modify their current marketing strategies in order to appeal to the various lifestyle dimensions of Black Diamonds, specifically focussing on the higher levels of fashion consciousness, self–consciousness, health consciousness and cost–consciousness among Black Diamonds, whilst underplaying homemaking and community orientation. By considering consumer ethnocentrism and lifestyle, and realising that these factors affect the buying behaviour of Black Diamonds, marketers will be able to develop effective marketing strategies that will allow them to target the Black Diamond consumer segment more effectively and efficiently. Recommendations for future research include examining consumer ethnocentrism and lifestyle among Black Diamonds in a wider geographic area, drawing a larger sample size from the target population, and being more selective with regard to the respondents included in the study, in order to ensure that the most appropriate respondents do indeed form part of population under scrutiny. Furthermore, in order to improve the validity of the study, future research could be conducted by incorporating more qualitative forms of research such as focus groups and interviews. In addition to the six lifestyle dimensions that were measured in this study, a wider range of lifestyle dimensions can be measured in future research. / Thesis (M.Com. (Marketing Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The combined study of consumer ethnocentrism and lifestyle is a unique approach that marketers can use to determine consumer buying behaviour and to refine market segmentation. In particular, marketers need to study consumer buying behaviour and examine the main influences regarding what, where, when and how consumers buy, as this knowledge will allow marketers to predict how consumers make their purchase decisions and how they will respond to various marketing strategies. A better understanding of the buying behaviour of consumers in a prospective market segment will help marketers to devise more effective marketing strategies for targeting consumers in the particular market segment they wish to pursue, and therefore, market segmentation is an extremely useful marketing tool. The Black Diamond consumer segment in South Africa has been receiving heightened attention from marketers recently due to the increasing purchasing power of this segment, and therefore it is necessary for marketers to gain a more profound understanding of these consumers so that they will be able to address Black Diamonds' specific needs, wants and preferences. This will assist marketers to devise marketing strategies that target the Black Diamond segment more effectively. The primary objective of this study was to determine consumer ethnocentrism and lifestyle among Black Diamonds in Sandton. This objective was addressed by using an adapted version of the Consumer Ethnocentrism Scale (CETSCALE) to measure the level of consumer ethnocentrism among Black Diamonds and by determining the lifestyle of this group by using the activities, interests and opinions (AIO) approach to measure the levels of six lifestyle dimensions, namely fashion consciousness, self–consciousness, health consciousness, homemaking, community orientation, and cost–consciousness. Based on literature consulted, an interviewer–administered questionnaire was developed and distributed to Black Diamond consumers by five fieldworkers in the Sandton area, in the city of Johannesburg, in the Gauteng province. Convenience and judgement sampling (non–probability sampling methods) were used and a total of 200 respondents participated in this study. The validity and reliability of the adapted version of the CETSCALE used in the questionnaire to measure the level of consumer ethnocentrism of respondents, as well as the six batteries of statements used to measure the levels of the respective lifestyle dimensions, were determined by means of factor analysis. The results indicated that consumer ethnocentrism is moderately high among respondents. Furthermore, moderately high levels of fashion consciousness, self–consciousness, health consciousness and cost–consciousness were found among respondents. Low levels of interest were established in homemaking activities and community orientation. It was found that various underlying relationships exist between consumer ethnocentrism and lifestyle dimensions of respondents, specifically between the lifestyle dimensions of health consciousness, homemaking and community orientation. It was further found that significant differences exist between the perceptions of respondents toward consumer ethnocentrism and the lifestyle dimensions in terms of their diverse age categories. It is recommended that marketers should stress product attributes, benefits, and superior aspects of the product by underplaying the product's country of origin, in light of the high level of consumer ethnocentrism prevalent among Black Diamonds. Furthermore, it is recommended that marketers and organisations should adapt and modify their current marketing strategies in order to appeal to the various lifestyle dimensions of Black Diamonds, specifically focussing on the higher levels of fashion consciousness, self–consciousness, health consciousness and cost–consciousness among Black Diamonds, whilst underplaying homemaking and community orientation. By considering consumer ethnocentrism and lifestyle, and realising that these factors affect the buying behaviour of Black Diamonds, marketers will be able to develop effective marketing strategies that will allow them to target the Black Diamond consumer segment more effectively and efficiently. Recommendations for future research include examining consumer ethnocentrism and lifestyle among Black Diamonds in a wider geographic area, drawing a larger sample size from the target population, and being more selective with regard to the respondents included in the study, in order to ensure that the most appropriate respondents do indeed form part of population under scrutiny. Furthermore, in order to improve the validity of the study, future research could be conducted by incorporating more qualitative forms of research such as focus groups and interviews. In addition to the six lifestyle dimensions that were measured in this study, a wider range of lifestyle dimensions can be measured in future research. / Thesis (M.Com. (Marketing Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Magistro darbo objektas – vartotojų etnocentrizmo skirtumai skirtingose produktų kategorijose. Darbo tikslas yra išsiaiškinti vartotojų etnocentrizmo lygį skirtingose produktų kategorijose. Darbe keliami uždaviniai: atskleisti, kas yra vartotojų etnocentrizmas, kokia jo raida, nurodyti veiksnius, kurie veikia vartotojų etnocentrizmą, aptarti etnocentrizmo tendencijas skirtingose kultūrose bei etnocentriškų vartotojų požiūrį į kitas kultūras, apžvelgti tyrimus, kuriuose nagrinėjamas vartotojų etnocentrizmas marketingo sferose, atskleisti vartotojų etnocentriškumo įtaką požiūriui į užsienio reklamą, apžvelgti vartotojų etnocentrizmo priežastis ir pasekmes, pateikiant visame pasaulyje atliktų tyrimų rezultatus, aptarti iki šiol Lietuvoje atliktus kiekybinius vartotojų etnocentrizmo tendencijų tyrimus, kokybinės analizės metodu atskleisti vartotojų etnocentriškumo lygį ,jį lemiančius veiksnius skirtingose produktų kategorijose. Naudojantis teorinės medžiagos analize ir kokybine-empirine analize prieita prie išvadų, kad vartotojų etnocentrizmo laipsnis skirtingose produktų kategorijose skiriasi, labiausiai lietuviai etnocentriški maisto kategorijoje, o mažiausiai – namų technikos. Kalbant apie etnocentriškų vartotojų sprendimą, kokios šalies produktą pirkti, buvo išsiaiškinta, kad jie, rinkdamiesi produktą, pirmiausiai ieško lietuviškos prekės, jie tvirtai žino, kokios šalies produktų nenorėtų pirkti, tuo tarpu neetnocentriški vartotojai kilmės šaliai, kaip veiksniui, skiria... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / It‘s been not so long time ago, when Lithuania regained it‘s Independency and many advertising and marketing campaigns were started. They agitated consumers to buy Lithuanian product, to be patriotic and help to raise its economy in order to become economically independent and developed country. Nevertheless, all these campaigns calmed down, or just were forgotten. New supermarkets started building up, all the roads from abroad to Lithuania were opened, and many products from there came to us. So, today is becoming less and less clear, what is consumer’s attitude towards Lithuanian made products and those foreign goods, what factors have an influence on product choices. It is also interesting, what part in their decision-making plays consumer ethnocentrism. Does consumer ethnocentrism change in different product categories? The aim of this Masterwork is to find out consumer ethnocentrism differencies in different product categories. For this reason we have to do these tasks: · To reveal the concept of consumer ethnocentrism and his development. · To define the antecedents of consumer ethnocentrism and evaluate relationship between them and consumer attitude towards other cultures, their products and buying intentions referring to some research made before. · To review consumer ethnocentrism research in marketing and advertising sphere, consumer behavior in practical and theoretical backgrounds. · To define Lithuanian consumer ethnocentrism tendencies, which were found in... [to full text]

The author has applied an abductive research design and performed a case study which includes a survey and e-mail interviews of workers within the construction industry. The purpose of the survey and the interviews is to investigate what factors may be the most influential for individuals in establishing their apprehension of natural stones. The research has been made on commission of the case firm which is a natural stones importer located in Sweden and the survey is based on the 17-point CETSCALE originally created by Shimp and Sharma in 1987. The survey was sent to workers with different occupations (architects, contractors and purchasers) within the construction industry who encounter natural stones in their work. Therefore, the theoretical purpose of this study is to contribute to increase the knowledge of country-of-origin effects of imported low-involvement products. The research gap this study aims to fill is to outline what factors are influencing consumers' purchasing behavior on purchasing low-involvement products. The practical purpose of this study is to provide the case firm with more knowledge of the phenomenon of negative COO-effects. Theories on ethnocentrism have been included since ethnocentric tendencies among customers have been considered by previous researchers as one of the contributing factors of fostering negative country-of-origin perceptions. The case firm can implement this knowledge in creating a more effective marketing strategy and thereby develop their operation domestically as they wish to do. Empirical findings of this study demonstrate that cognitive influence is the factor with the largest influence on country-of-origin effects while factors such as familiarity and environmental concerns are less influencing. The author recommends future researchers to further investigate this phenomenon, especially to investigate its connection to cognitive- and other psychosocial factors in order to gain a more solid understanding for why problems related to this phenomenon arise and how they may be encountered. Since Corporate Social Responsibility was demonstrated to be the most influencing factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions of this study, it is suggested to future researchers to investigate the phenomenon of country-of-origin in relation to ethical- and moral standards of individuals.