The global apparel market is an increasingly desirable industry sector for many marketers. The apparel retail industry in South Africa has experienced significant growth since the year 2000. In 2009, South Africans spent approximately R57 million on apparel items (Statistics South Africa, 2009). On average, South Africans spend R600 or more per month on apparel, making the apparel industry a very lucrative market. Consumer socialisation is the process by which the youth gain the necessary skills and knowledge that enable them to function as consumers in the marketplace. Consumer socialisation highlights the sources of consumer influences or ‘socialisation agents’ that transfer norms, develop attitudes, motivations and behaviour to the learner. Consumer attitudes, behaviour and skills are acquired through socialisation agents such as parents (father, mother and guardian), peers (brothers, sisters and friends) and the mass media (newspaper, television, radio, magazines) The Generation Y cohort (defined as individuals born between 1986 and 2005) is described as the largest and most profitable consumer group for marketers. Generation Y is a lucrative and growing market segment, particularly for apparel retailers. Apparel includes clothing, shoes, jewellery and cosmetics. Those Generation Y members engaged in tertiary education represent an especially important segment given that tertiary education often translates into higher future earning potential and a higher social status within a community and among peers. The primary objective of this research study was to investigate Generation Y students’ attitudes towards the influence of socialisation agents’ on apparel purchasing intentions in South Africa. The target population used in this research study was defined as full-time Generation Y undergraduate students, aged between 18-24 years, who were enrolled at public higher education institutions (HEIs) in South Africa in 2013. The sampling frame comprised the 23 registered South African public HEIs. A non-probability judgement sample method was used to narrow this sampling frame down to two HEI campuses situated in the Gauteng Province. For this study, a convenience sample of 500 full-time Generation Y students who were registered at these two South African HEI campuses during 2013 was drawn. A self-administered questionnaire was used for the collection of primary data for this research study. Academic staff at each of the two HEIs were contacted and asked if they would assist with the distribution of the survey questionnaire to students during class. The attitude towards the influence of socialisation agents on apparel purchasing intentions was measured based on peers, parents and the media. The outcomes from this research study suggest that Generation Y students do not perceive the influence of socialisation agents (peers/parents/media) as being particularly positive. While there was a significant positive relationship between their perceptions concerning the influence of peers, parents and media on apparel purchasing, none of these socialisation agents were perceived as having a significant influence on the Generation Y students’ monthly apparel spending. In terms of gender differences, males perceived the peer influence to be more important while females perceived the parent influence to be more important. There was no significant difference between males and females concerning the importance of the media influence on apparel purchasing. The analysis of statistical information gathered from this study will be relevant to both marketing practitioners and academia in understanding Generation Y consumers’ attitudes towards the influence of socialisation agents (peers/parents/media) in apparel purchasing intentions. / MCom (Marketing Management), North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2014

by Li Man Him. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1975. / Includes bibliographical references. / Summary in Chinese.

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

The thesis is intended to illustrate and analyze the role of consumer experience and the authors also take demographic cultural factors into consideration by researching on the consumers’ evaluation towards iPhone experiences.  The authors used both exploratory and descriptive strategies. In order to obtain the primary data, the authors applied multiple methods, including quantitative and qualitative methods, respectively, questionnaire, structured and unstructured interviews. The authors applied SD-logic, Four Realms of Experience, Consumer behavior determinants and Decision making process theories to analyze the role of experience. And in order to answer three research questions, the authors firstly introduced the analysis of demographic subcultures, including nationality, age and gender; then the role of experience marketing in consumer decision making process is identified. Finally, the analysis of qualitative findings will be presented.

During the last few decades the interest and demand for both healthy food and different beverages has increased the interest for healthy food and it is expected to continue increasing in the future. A strong reason for this is the desire among more and more people to live healthy and long lives. Because of this, the recent industry of functional foods has become increasingly popular as marketers aim to sell food products that can benefit a consumer’s health beyond a healthy or organic food products ability. “A functional food is, or appears similar to, a conventional food. It is part of a standard diet and is consumed on a regular basis, in normal quantities. It has proven health benefits…beyond its basic nutritional functions.” (Doyon and Labrecque 2008 pp.1147) In order for marketers to make the right marketing actions, a better understanding of consumer behaviour and attitudes towards functional food is needed. Without this information marketers will not be able to create effective marketing campaigns for functional food products. Consumer attitudes towards functional foods were looked at in four different factors/dimensions, reward, necessity, confidence and safety, and then each factors impact on consumer willingness to consume was measured.Purpose - The purpose of the study was to investigate consumer’s attitudes on functional foods and their willingness to consume functional foods.Method/Approach - A questionnaire was developed from a previous study (Lähteenmäki and Urala 2007) on consumer attitudes and their willingness to consume functional foods, using a combination of convenience sampling and judgment sampling.Findings- The data confirmed the results from previous studies that consumer attitudes play a role in impacting consumer willingness to consume functional foods, but also that the results cannot be generalized on all functional food groups or types.Conclusions – Each functional food category should be approached in a different way, from a marketing or advertising point of view and when marketing each functional food product. Different aspects e.g. Reward, necessity, confidence and safety should be highlighted for each individual food category in the packaging or advertisement to give the marketing strategy an advantage to increase consumer willingness to use that product. The study was found to collaborate with the previous studies conducted by Lähteenmäki and Urala (2007).Key Words – Attitudes, Consumer attitudes, Functional foods, Consumer behaviour

ABSTRACT Paper name¡GThe Relations between Consumer Socialization and Consumer Behavior in Grade 5-6 Students of Primary School The school¡]courtyard¡^the group leaves¡GNational Sun Yat-sen University, Institute of China and Asia -Pacific Studies Student¡GChien Hung-hsu Instructs professor¡GDr. Weng Jai-hsi In earlier days, Taiwan was an agricultural society and economic conditions of general families were rather poor. It was after the take-off of Taiwan economy that it brought progress and prosperity to Taiwan society and upgrading of living standard to families. These of course resulted in increase of consumption capacity as well as drop in age of consumers and increase of frequency of consumption behavior. Studying the consumption behavior of children can help the understanding of development of adults¡¦ mode of consumption behavior. In this research, we adopted Questionnaire Survey and targeted at senior students of elementary school. The survey recovered 1,140 valid responses. The purpose of this research is in studying the effect of consumption behavior of senior students of elementary school with different background variables and consumption socialization. In this research, we divided consumption behaviors into Material Enjoyment, Calculated, Pulsating, Conspicuous types. Independent sample T test, ANOVA, Pearson Product / Difference Correlation and certain other statistical analysis method were employed to test the assumptions of the research. Findings of the analysis of the results of research are: a. There is significant difference in parental influence over the socialization of consumption of senior students of elementary school with different background variables, b. There is significant difference in peer influence over the socialization of consumption of senior students of elementary school with different background variables, c. There is significant difference in TV commercial influence over the socialization of consumption of senior students of elementary school with different background variables, d. There is significant difference among students of elementary school with different background variables and e. There is significant correlation between socialization of consumption and consumption behavior of senior students of elementary school. Finally, based on the result of the research, we present suggestions for reference of parents, schools and future researchers. Key words: Consumer Behavior, Consumer Socialization, Students of Primary School.

Social enterprises are hybrid organizations which are partly for-profit and partly nonprofit. As entities create social value via market mechanisms, they are influenced by the factors that could impact the market. While social enterprises directly involve in the production of goods or the provision of services in the marketplace, consumer¡¦s awareness and supports are important. Perception, motivation, and satisfaction can influence consumer behavior. Instead of studying social enterprises from the organization perspective like many previous studies, this research attempts to explore social enterprises from consumers¡¦ perspective and to investigate the connections between consumers and social enterprises. The Children Are Us Foundation is social welfare foundation helping people with mental disabilities. It operates affirmative businesses (bakeries and restaurants) to provide training and employment for disadvantaged people, and in order to diversify funding channels. These ventures contribute around 50% of annual revenue. Many literatures in Taiwan recognized it as a social enterprise. The purpose of this research was to explore consumer perception, motivation, and satisfaction for social enterprise. This research has conducted a questionnaire survey on consumers of five bakeries and restaurants that are managed by this foundation. This aim of this survey is to investigate consumer perception, motivation, and satisfaction toward this type of social enterprise. The results revealed that consumer perception correlates with contacting type of social enterprise ventures. The results also indicated that ¡§want to help disadvantaged groups¡¨ appears to be the main reason that consumers consume in these shops. The major satisfactory factor is the service attributes associated with personnel. Significant differences are found among consumers with different demographic attributes on their perception, motivation, and satisfaction. Finally, this paper provides suggestions in two directions: finding the values shared between the social enterprises and the consumers, and cultivating social enterprise consumers.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 160-169). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (M.F.A.), University of Central Oklahoma, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 106-111).

Thesis (doctoral)--Universiteit Twente, 1998. / Summary in Dutch. Includes bibliographical references (p. 249).