Patronage behavior was investigated in this study with regard to the nutrition orientation of consumers. The objective of this research was to determine if consumers' patronage behavior of grocery stores, health food stores or restaurants would be significantly related to attitudes and concerns toward nutrition and toward attitudes of their overall present and future state of health. This study relied on theories of retail patronage behavior, and empirical evidence from areas of consumer behavior, nutrition, and health to provide the framework for the design of this research. This study employed the use of a questionnaire as the research method. Consumers were surveyed and asked to indicate their patronage and food purchase behaviors, their attitudes and concerns toward nutrition, and their attitudes toward their preventive health. Results and conclusions from this research support the linkage between the nutritional motivations of consumers impacting upon their decisions to patronize specific retail food establishments. That is, consumers' predispositions concerning nutrition influence where and what types of food products are purchased. / Master of Science

Store lighting is a combination of art form and function that contributes to a retail store's sales and prosperity. The quantity, quality, and effect of the light reaching the merchandise are the determining factors in the success of the sale of merchandise. There are three basic merchandise lighting techniques used in retail stores. They include the low-end, mid-market, and high-end lighting techniques. However, retailers are developing merchandising techniques that do not have a clear cut lighting solution. A new merchandising technique for the audio/video retailer is the simulated home environment (SHE). It is a series of rooms and vignettes that present audio/video products in a home setting. Studies have shown that lighting has an affect on human behavior. In a retail store, three customer behaviors are linked to increased sales: customer communication with store personnel; customer interaction with displays and merchandise; and length of time in the store. The purpose of this study was to determine which of the lighting techniques was most effective in stimulating the customer behaviors linked to increased sales in an audio/video store's SHE. The study was conducted in an audio/video store's SHE equipped with a lighting system that could produce the three lighting techniques. Each day the SHE's lighting system was set up for one of the lighting techniques and customer behavior was unobtrusively observed and recorded. A convenience method of sampling was used in the study. The subjects were the customers shopping in the SHE. The study's experiment was done twice using two methods for selecting the observation days for the experiments. One method used the same day of the week in three successive weeks (SDW), the other used three different days within the same week (DDW). The sample size for the SDW method was 123, and 47 for the DDW method. To assess the effectiveness of the lighting techniques in stimulating customer behavior, two behavior rating scales were created. The Customer Communication Rating Scale and the Customer Display and Merchandise Interaction Rating Scale assigned values to observed customer behavior. The third customer behavior, length of time in the SHE, was measured in minutes. Data was analyzed using Chi Square tests for the Customer Communication Rating Scale and the Customer Display and Merchandise Interaction Rating Scale. An ANOVA was used to analyze the length of time in the SHE. The results indicated that both the mid-market and high-end lighting techniques were significantly better than the low-end lighting technique in stimulating customer display and merchandise interaction, and longer customer visits in the SHE. However, the results indicated that all three lighting techniques were equally effective at stimulating customer communication with store personnel. The study concluded that store lighting designs that include highlighting of displays and merchandise will stimulate customer display and merchandise interaction and longer customer visits. / Master of Science

The purpose of this study was to determine attitudes toward low carbohydrate diets among consumers and the attributes that influence their purchase decision. A growing number of diet trends are spreading across the nation in an effort to improve health and lose weight such as the Atkins diet and the South Beach diet.

The purpose of this study is to gather information for the management of the Bank of Ayudhya to improve its internet banking service. It explored customer satisfaction, customer attitudes, and the correlation between the frequency of Internet banking usage and customer demographic data.

Thesis (M. Tech.: Marketing)-Dept. of Marketing, Durban University of Technology, 2006 xiii, 153 leaves / Many people have used the term “charity shop” without having a clear understanding of it, even although there are numerous articles and a previous research survey about charity shops in the UK, Canada and Australia. It seems that no research has been done in South Africa on this particular topic. Also, the confusion that surrounds consumer perceptions of charity shops highlights the need for marketers to conduct more research on this particular area. The following study was conducted within the South African marketplace, specifically in four Durban areas, using quantitative research methods. The main objective of the research was to determine consumer perceptions of charity shops in the Durban area and the factors influencing these perceptions.

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The usage of product packaging and generation specific marketing in order to influence and persuade consumers to buy specific products are being used more often resulting packaging in being more consumer-orientated and playing an increasingly important role in enterprises' marketing communication strategies than before. In this study the dimensions of packaging are identified and the importance that the various dimensions of cosmetic packaging hold for Generation X and Yare investigated. Form, colour, graphics, brand name, words, material and size have been identified as dimensions of packaging. The Engel-Blackwell-Miniard Model for Decision-making Behaviour and the Generation Model were used as theoretical starting points for a discussion about packaging and the characteristics of Generation X and Y consumers. For the purposes of this explorative study, information has been gathered by use of a mall intercept survey. Trained fieldworkers questioned approximately five hundred respondents. The statistical processing of the data included frequency-analyses, cross tabulation as well as significance statistics. It was found that Generation X and Y consumers see the packaging, with all its different dimensions, as a single entity and that the importance of the graphic, material, brand name (as indication of quality and price), size and word dimensions of packaging are reasonably similar for men and women. Men and women, however, attach different perceptions concerning colour/s, form and brand names. There also exist statistically significant differences between the different genders, concerning the usage of most of the range of cosmetic products. Women make up the majority of users. Although the results indicate that the Generation Model can be applied to all races originating from the middle and high income and literacy groups, the usage of cosmetics products tend to differ between the races. Recommendations for further research are made. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Bemarkers gebruik toenemend die verpakking van produkte en generasiespesifieke bemarking om verbruikers te beïnvloed en te oorreed en om hul produkte te koop. Verpakkings is gevolglik meer verbruikersgeoriënteerd en speel 'n belangriker rol in die bemarkingskommunikasie-strategie van 'n onderneming as in die verlede. In hierdie studie word die dimensies van verpakking geïdentifiseer en die belangrikheid van die onderskeie dimensies van kosmetiese verpakking vir Generasie X en Y ondersoek. Vorm, kleur, grafika, handelsnaam, woorde, materiaal en grootte is geïdentifiseer as dimensies van verpakking. Die Engel-Blackwell-Miniard model van verbruikers besluitnemingsprosesgedrag en die Generasie-model is gebruik as teoretiese vertrekpunte vir 'n bespreking oor verpakking en die eienskappe van Generasie X en Y verbruikers. Vir die doeleindes van die eksploratiewe studie is inligting ingesamel deur middel van 'n inkoopsentrumopname ("mall intercept"). Ongeveer vyfhonderd respondente is deur opgeleide veldwerkers ondervra. Die statistiese verwerking van die data sluit frekwensie-ontleding en kruistabulering in, asook beduidenheid statistiek. Daar is gevind dat Generasie X en Y verbruikers die verpakking met sy onderskeie dimensies as 'n enkele identiteit beskou en dat die belangrikheid van die grafika-, materiaal-, handelsnaam- (as indikator van kwaliteit en prys), grootte- en woorddimensie van verpakking redelik ooreenstem vir beide mans en dames. Mans en dames heg egter verskillende betekenisse aan die kleur/e en vorm van 'n verpakking en het verskillende persepsies oor handelsname. Daar bestaan ook statisties beduidende verskille tussen geslagte in die verbruik van die meeste kosmetiese produkte. Dames is die grootste verbruikers van die meeste kosmetiese produkte. Alhoewel die resultate daarop dui dat die Generasie-model op alle bevolkingsgroepe wat afkomstig is uit middel en hoër inkomste- en geletterdheidsgroepe van toepassing is, verskil die verbruik van kosmetiek tussen die verskillende bevolkingsgroepe. Aanbevelings in verdere navorsing word gemaak.

Natural corks have long been used as wine closures. However, they are associated with causing multiple adverse effects to the wine they are attempting to preserve. Alternative closures such as synthetic corks and screw caps were developed in order to reduce and/or eliminate these problems. However, the major cause of concern regarding these closures is of consumers' acceptance. The effect of how three types of closures (Natural Cork, Synthetic Cork and Screw Cap) affected wine consumers' perceptions of the quality of wine was examined in this study. This project was divided into two experiments. The first experiment determined if frequent wine consumers could detect sensorial differences between the three closure types. The second experiment ascertained if and how regular wine consumers' perceptions were altered based on the type of closure with which the wine samples were bottled. It was determined that the wine consumers could not significantly detect a difference between any of the three closure type samples based only on sensory stimuli. The results from the second experiment found for the Chardonnay samples, the knowledge that the wine samples came from a natural cork or a synthetic cork did not significantly affect the liking, quality or purchase intent scores. However, when the panelists knew that the sample was bottled with a screw cap, they thought it was of lower quality, were less willing to buy a wine like the sample and they lowered the price they were willing to pay. For the Merlot samples, knowledge that the sample came from a natural cork caused the wine consumers to significantly increase both their opinions of the quality of the wine and the amount they were willing to pay for the wine. When they knew that the sample was bottled with a screw cap, they reduced the price they would pay for the wine. / Graduation date: 2005

by Leung Bun, Wong Kam Man. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-81). / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.iii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iv / LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES --- p.v / Chapter / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter II. --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.4 / Chapter III. --- RESEARCH MODEL --- p.10 / Chapter IV. --- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY --- p.15 / Chapter V. --- RESEARCH RESULTS --- p.20 / Chapter VI. --- DISCUSSION OF RESEARCH RESULTS --- p.34 / Chapter VII. --- IMPLICATIONS TO MANAGERS AND RESEARCHERS --- p.42 / Chapter VIII. --- CONCLUSION --- p.48 / APPENDIX --- p.49 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.78

Chan, Kin Cheung Kelvin. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 90-108). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT (ENGLISH) --- p.i / ABSTRACT (CHINESE) --- p.iii / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.iv / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.v / LIST OF TABLES --- p.vii / LIST OF FIGURE --- p.ix / Chapter CHAPTER ONE --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Research Objectives --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3 --- Significance of This Study --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4 --- Outline of This Study --- p.7 / Chapter CHPATER TWO --- REVIEW OF LITERATURE --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1 --- Definitions of Outshopping and Cross-border Shopping --- p.8 / Chapter 2.2 --- Outshopping.Measures --- p.8 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Frequency of Outshopping Trips --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Proportion of Total Dollar Purchases --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Types of Product Purchased --- p.10 / Chapter 2.3 --- Factors Affecting Outshopping Behavior --- p.11 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Macro-analytical Approach --- p.21 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Micro-analytical Approach --- p.22 / Chapter 2.3.2.1 --- Characteristics of Outshopper --- p.22 / Socio-economic Variables --- p.23 / Psychographic Variables --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3.2.2 --- Reasons for Shopping Out-of-town --- p.26 / Chapter 2.3.2.3 --- Types of Product that Outshoppers Purchase --- p.27 / Chapter 2.3.2.4 --- Retail Leakage --- p.28 / Chapter CHAPTER THREE --- HYPOTHESES FORMULATION --- p.30 / Chapter 3.1 --- In-depth Interviews --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2 --- Socio-economic Characteristics --- p.36 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Tenure in Shenzhen and in Guangdong Province --- p.36 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Living location --- p.37 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Income level --- p.38 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Length of Residence --- p.39 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Age --- p.39 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Other Socio-economic Variables --- p.40 / Chapter 3.3 --- Attitudinal Characteristics --- p.40 / Chapter 3.4 --- Motivational Characteristics --- p.42 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Status and Authority Seeking Motive --- p.43 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Pleasure of Bargaining Seeking Motive --- p.44 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Social Experiences Seeking Motive --- p.45 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Economic Motive --- p.46 / Chapter 3.4.5 --- Recreational Motive --- p.47 / Chapter 3.4.6 --- Entertainment Seeking Motive --- p.48 / Chapter CHAPTER FOUR --- METHODOLOGY --- p.49 / Chapter 4.1 --- Population --- p.49 / Chapter 4.2 --- Sampling and Data Collection --- p.49 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Pretest of the Questionnaire --- p.49 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Personal Interviews --- p.52 / Chapter 4.3 --- Measurement --- p.54 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Cross-border Shopping Behavior --- p.54 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Socio-economic Characteristics --- p.54 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Attitude towards Shopping in Shenzhen --- p.58 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Motivational Characteristics --- p.58 / Chapter CHAPTER FIVE --- RESULTS --- p.63 / Chapter 5.1 --- Preliminary Results --- p.63 / Chapter 5.2 --- Hypotheses Testing --- p.65 / Chapter 5.3 --- Further Analyses --- p.71 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Discriminant Analysis --- p.71 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Cluster Analysis --- p.74 / Chapter 5.3.2.1 --- Characteristic of Clusters --- p.76 / Chapter CHAPTER SIX --- SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION --- p.80 / Chapter 6.1 --- Summary --- p.80 / Chapter 6.2 --- Implications of the Study --- p.84 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Academic Implications --- p.84 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Managerial Implications --- p.87 / Chapter 6.2.2.1 --- General Managerial Implications --- p.87 / Chapter 6.2.2.2 --- Specific Managerial Implications to Hong Kong Retailers --- p.89 / Chapter 6.2.2.3 --- Specific Managerial Implications to Shenzhen Retailers --- p.90 / Chapter 6.2.3 --- Implications for Government --- p.91 / Chapter 6.3 --- Limitations and Directions for Future Research --- p.92 / Chapter 6.4 --- Conclusion --- p.95 / ENDNOTE --- p.96 / APPENDIX I --- p.97 / QUESTIONNAIRE --- p.97 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.101

So Sun-Yiu Sunny. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 38-40). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.ii-iii / ACKNOLEDGEMENT --- p.iv / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.v / INTRODUCTION --- p.1-3 / Internet in Hong Kong / LITERATURE REVIEW AND HYPOTHESES --- p.4-13 / Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) / Attitudes toward e-shopping / Perceived Social Norm / E-Shopping Experience / Social Economic Status (SES) / Internet Usage / Economic Motivation / Trust / Perceived Control / Channels matching / METHOD --- p.14-18 / Procedure / Measures / RESULTS --- p.19-26 / General Demographics / Technical Demographics / WWW and Internet Usage / Personal Information Disclosure / E-Shopping / Measurement Model / Structural Model / DISCUSSION --- p.27-37 / Attitude and Social Norm / E-Shopping Experience / Channel Appropriateness / Intention for Future E-Shopping / Implications / Limitation and Future Research Direction / REFERENCE --- p.38-40 / TABLE --- p.41-52 / Table 1 to Table11 / FIGURE --- p.53-59 / Figure 1 to Figure5