Retailers' ultimate concern is consumers'' purchase intentions because increasing levels of purchase intention may lead to the actual purchase, which is directly related to retailers' sales and profits. Perceived risk has been proposed as one of the most important concepts for understanding how consumers make a purchase decision (Mitchell, 1999) and research findings supported that perceived risk was a significant factor affecting consumers' willingness to purchase (Heijden, Verhagen, & Creemers, 2001). Therefore, it is critical for online retailers in the apparel industry to understand consumer's perceived risk and purchase intention so that they can develop effective retail strategies and build long-term relationships with customers. Consumers use internal information to help them in the purchase decision process by retrieving risk-related information from memory. Experience and product/brand knowledge are two common types of internal information that consumers use to reduce risks and make purchase decisions (Brucks, 1985; Engel, Blackwell, & Miniard, 1995). Studies showed that experience with previous in-home shopping for apparel products significantly reduced perceived risk and increased purchase intention in buying apparel products via in-home shopping channels (Kwon, Paek, & Arzeni, 1991; Park & Stoel, 2005; Sen, Johnson, Stanforth, Lennon, & Moore, 2000). Several researchers also have investigated the relationship between the familiarity with a website's brand and the perceived of risk and purchase intention (Laroche, Kim, & Zhou, 1996; Park & Stoel, 2005). However, the brand familiarity in these studies was measured as consumer's brand knowledge through frequent exposures, such as advertisement, instead of experiences acquired through actual purchase and use of the brands. No study has examined if the purchase experience and actual usage of a specific brand are related to perceived risk when consumers shop for apparel products online. Brand image is one type of knowledge that consumers stored in their memory and may retrieve it during their decision making process. Studies showed that brand image was the most important and most frequently used tool to reduce consumers' perception of risk (Nandan, 2005). McCracken (1989) indicated that brand image helps an individual express oneself and develop one's self-identities; therefore, consumers prefer products with an image that matches their actual or ideal self-concept (Karande, Zinkhan, & Lum, 1997). Therefore, congruity between brand image and consumers' self image (brand-self image congruity) may help consumers to reduce their perceived risk and increase purchase intention in apparel online purchases. No study has examined the effect of brand-self image congruity in apparel online shopping context. The purposes of the study were to investigate (a) the relationships between consumers' experience with apparel catalog/TV shopping and their experience with apparel online shopping, (b) the effects of consumers' experience with apparel online shopping and brand-self image congruity on their experience with a specific brand, and (c) the effects of consumers' experience with a specific brand and brand-self image congruity on their perceived risk and purchase intention in apparel online shopping context. Two conceptual frameworks were developed. The first framework was for examining all participants, including participants with and without experience with a specific brand. The valence of experience with a specific brand was excluded in this framework. The second framework, including the valence of the experience with a specific brand, was for examining participants who had experience with a specific brand. Fifteen research hypotheses were generated with respect to the specific relationships proposed in the conceptual frameworks. A 2 x 2 quasi-experimental between subjects design was used in this study to examine if experience with a specific brand (Experience vs. No Experience) and brand-self image congruity (Consistent vs. Inconsistent) were the antecedents of perceived risk and purchase intention in apparel online shopping context. In addition to the quasi-experimental design, a survey design was also used to examine the relationships among experiences with catalog, TV, and online shopping for apparel products and the relationships among experience with apparel online shopping, perceived risk and purchase intention. Data was collected by online surveys using a national sample, and 455 apparel online shoppers living in the U.S. participated. Factor analysis results showed that the valence and extent of the experiences were two different constructs, and therefore, the two aspects of experience were included in the study. The extent of the experience is about how often consumers buy products, how much money they spend, and how many items they buy (Klopping & McKinney, 2006; Seock, 2003; Ward, 2001). The feelings experienced are called the valence of the experience, and these feelings are usually described in the literature as good/bad, enjoyed/not enjoyed, or satisfied/ dissatisfied with the experience (Chen & Dubinsky, 2003; Folkes & Patrick, 2003; Mano & Oliver, 1993; Raghubir & Menon, 2005). The first purpose of the study was to investigate the relationships between consumers' experience with apparel catalog/TV shopping and their experience with apparel online shopping. The results showed that participants who had more experiences and who had a positive feeling about their experience with buying apparel products from catalogs had more experiences with apparel online shopping. However, participants' TV shopping experiences did not have significant relationships with apparel online shopping. Participants who had more positive feelings about their experience with buying apparel products online purchased apparel product more frequently, bought more apparel items, and spent greater amount of money on apparel products online. The second purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of consumers' experience with apparel online shopping and brand-self image congruity on their experience with a specific brand. The results showed that participants who had more experiences with buying apparel products online and who perceived the image of a specific brand as more consistent with their self image had more experiences with a specific brand, indicating that they purchased apparel product of the brand more frequently, bought more items of the brand, and spent greater amount of money on the brand. The third purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of consumers' experience with a specific brand and brand-self image congruity on their perceived risk and purchase intention in buying a specific brand online. The results of perceived risk showed that for all participants, including those with and without experience with a specific brand, those had more experiences with a specific brand and those perceived the image of a specific brand as more consistent with their self-image perceived less risk in buying the apparel products of the brand online. However, participants who already had experience with a specific brand perceived less risk in buying the brand online if they had positive feeling about their experience with the brand despite of the frequency of previous experience (i.e., the extent of the experience with a specific brand). In the results of purchase intention, similar results to that of perceived risk were found for all participants. Those had more experiences with a specific brand and those perceived the image of a specific brand as more consistent with their self-image had higher purchase intention in buying the apparel products of the brand online. However, among the participants who had experience with the specific brand, only brand-self image congruity influenced their perceived risk and purchase intention. Either the extent or valence of the experience with the brand did not directly influence their purchase intention in buying the brand online. Instead, these experiences indirectly influenced the purchase intention through perceived risk. In conclusion, participants' experience with apparel online shopping and brand-self image congruity were significant factors on their perceived risk and purchase intention in apparel online shopping context. Participants who had more and positive experience with apparel online shopping and those whose self image was more consistent with the brand image perceived less risk and had higher purchase intention in buying apparel products of the brand online. This study extends the understanding of consumers' apparel online shopping behavior by identifying the roles of experiences and brand-self image congruity in apparel online shopping context. Based on the findings, suggestions for marketing strategies in apparel online shopping were provided. / Ph. D.

Social media platforms have significantly transformed the marketing landscape, providing brands with powerful new opportunities to engage with their target audiences. This study delves into the comparative analysis of social media influencer marketing and electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) within the context of outdoor branded products in China, examining their effects on consumer purchase decisions. A structured online questionnaire survey was employed as the primary research method due to the significant advantages of quantitative methods in providing objective, quantifiable data. Through statistical analysis, the study reveals the magnitude and correlation of the effects of social media influencer marketing and eWOM on consumer purchase intention. The findings revealed that both influencer marketing and eWOM significantly influence consumer purchase intentions for outdoor branded products in China. Additionally, the study highlighted the pivotal role of informativeness, which showed higher significance in eWOM channels compared to influencer marketing. These outcomes offer valuable insights for marketers operating in the outdoor branded products sector, providing actionable implications for enhancing consumer engagement and driving sales in the dynamic landscape of digital marketing.

Yes / This study empirically examines the combined effect of two crucial internal consumer predispositions, self-identity (SI) and internal environmental locus of control (INELOC), among consumers in a collectivistic culture and an individualistic culture. The study validated the extended theory of planned behaviour to predict consumers' green purchase intentions. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse primary data collected from 365 American and 408 Indian respondents. Analysis revealed differences between the two cultures. Green self-identity influenced attitude more than perceived behavioural control among American consumers, while the reverse was true for Indian consumers. Conversely, INELOC positively and significantly affected only Indian consumers’ perceived behavioural control, not that of American consumers.

Yes / Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand the integrated impact of the application of protection measures against identity theft on consumers’ synergistic perception of trust, the cost of products/services and operational performance (OP) – all of which in turn is postulated to contribute to purchase intention (PI) when shopping online. Design/methodology/approach: In order to accomplish the specified aim, this study first conducted an experiment by involving the students from a university in Bangladesh. Then a survey was conducted to capture their opinion based on the previous experiment. Findings: The study identified that in e-commerce, OP and trust have potential impact on pursuing consumers’ PI. Traditionally, price is always an issue in marketing; however, for e-commerce, this issue does not have direct impact on PI. Research limitations/implications: The main limitation of this study is that a less established e-commerce example was utilized to conduct the experiment and survey for validating the model. Also, the study was conducted only in the context of Bangladesh and a student sample was utilized. Future studies can test the model in different contexts (particularly to verify the impact of privacy) by utilizing data from consumers. Practical implications: This study has resolved a controversial issue by generating clear guidelines that the overall conjoint effect of OP, trust, and price on PI is neither negative nor neutral. Synergistically, the application of these controlling tools of identity theft can substantially enhance consumers’ trust, which is the single most predictor to pursue consumer PI. Originality/value: This study has provided in-depth insight into the impact of different controlling measures in e-commerce PI. Practitioners have potential learning from this study that if consumers find the application of different controlling mechanisms against cybercrimes, particularly identity theft, enhancing the reliability, authenticity and security of transactions in this virtual medium, they do not mind paying a higher price. Such insights have not been provided by existing studies on this topic. Developing trust on e-commerce purchase is the driving force, not the price.

Abstract Background: The packaging design of a product, primarily the design element colour, affects purchase intention extensively. This has been stated in prior studies. However, whether colour has the same effect in the Swedish market has not been researched. Furthermore, there has been limited research on the difference between the genders' perception of gendered colours on product packaging and colours' effect on purchase intention in the Cosmetics and Personal care industry. Therefore, these elements are the focus of this research.   Purpose: This research aims to evaluate the effect of product packaging colour on Swedish residents' purchase intention in the Cosmetics and Personal Care industry. Furthermore, the relationship between gendered colours on product packaging and purchase intention will be analysed, comparing females and males.   Method: This study is deductive research, and it is based on a positivism paradigm. It uses a quantitative approach of gathering data through an online questionnaire. The sample consisted of 194 Swedish residents gathered through convenience sampling. Moreover, the data was analysed using Cronbach alpha coefficient, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and Ordered logistic regression to test the hypotheses.    Findings: The theoretical framework identified a research gap concerning the impact of product packaging colours on purchase intention and how gender-specific packaging colours affect males and females differently. Based on the existing literature, five hypotheses were formulated. The findings confirmed that product packaging colours for all Swedish residents, had a significant positive influence on purchase intention, leading to the acceptance of H1. Moreover, both males and females demonstrated a significant positive effect on purchase intention when exposed to packaging colours associated with their respective genders, resulting in the acceptance of H2 and H4. However, both genders demonstrated a non-significant effect on purchase intention when exposed to packaging colours associated with the opposite gender, leading to the rejection of H3 and H5.   Conclusion: The results show that product packaging colour has a positive effect on purchase intention among Swedish residents. Moreover, it shows that the Gender Schema theory is still relevant in today's society, which shows contribution to theory. Further, marketers should continue to use gendered colours in their product packaging.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the topic of how a brand’s increased associations with unintended customer segments may impact the consumers who purchase the brand’s products for their intended use. This regards the consumer’s brand perception, brand avoidance, and purchase intentions. The focus of this study is the outdoor sports brand Haglöfs and Swedish gangster culture as the unintended customer segment. The possible associations between Haglöfs and gangster culture gave rise to this thesis. This research adopts a qualitative logic, using a focus group to collect data and gain insight into consumers’ brand perception, brand avoidance, and purchase intentions. Six (6) participants in total were included in the interview. The data was analyzed with ananalytical framework with support from the existing theoretical frameworks. The results from the focus group suggested that the increased associations between gangster culture and Haglöfs have not largely negatively affected the participants’ brand perception, brand avoidance, and purchase intention, with the exception of one participant. However, other insightful results were discovered related to ‘product avoidance’. The managerial contributions may include insights for brands in mitigating potential devaluation of brand perception as a result of being associated with unintended customer segments.

This dissertation research explores the benefit of the presence of a physical store on consumers' willingness to select a retailer in an online shopping context. As digital commerce continues to evolve, understanding the complex relationships between physical stores and online shopping behavior is becoming increasingly important. However, the role of physical store presence in shaping online purchasing decisions remains largely unexplored. This research project builds a conceptual framework based on the mere exposure effect and propinquity theory, which hypothesizes that physical store presence benefits consumers’ online purchase intentions through its effects on several intermediate constructs: retailer familiarity, retailer awareness, retailer loyalty proneness, retailer communication, retailer trust, and consumers' confidence in the retailer. Through three studies, this dissertation finds that having a physical store can significantly improve consumers' favorable attitudes toward a retailer and eventually increase the likelihood that they would select the retailer when making online purchases.The implications of the dissertation research lie in its potential to provide retailers with valuable insights into how strategically maintaining physical stores can positively influence online purchase intentions. The research also aims to contribute to the current literature in the hybrid retail field by providing a comprehensive understanding of the multiple pathways through which physical store presence could affect consumers’ online purchasing behavior. Empirical evidence from this research elucidates the vital role of physical store presence in the era of digital commerce.

Pre-sale activities of buying and post-sale activities of use are separated by time and judged in two time-place forms. Exchange value being one kind of judgment of desirability, separate from use value. However, traditionally marketing has not fully captured the co-creation of value in use, or therefore, how it affects the perceived value of the offering at purchase. The separation of purchase and use has been shown to create buyer uncertainty at the point of purchase about the future value created in use. Consider the decision to buy a service support contract for capital equipment in which the act and experience of use could continue for up to ten years after the decision to buy. At purchase, buyers may not be certain about the future state of use, i.e. whether or not equipment will fail, or indeed how the service will perform in the event of failure. While uncertainty about the state of use will continue across time, it has been argued uncertainty about how the service will perform may be resolved through repeat use or interaction. Through an exploratory case and a web-based survey of 95 organisational buyers of Product Service Systems (PSS) in capital equipment markets, this thesis finds customer-provider co-capability, which facilitates service performance in use, mediates the customer’s perceived risk of re-purchasing. As a result, this thesis makes a contribution to B2B marketing in identifying how value of the offering at purchase is affected by future customer-provider co-capability in use.

Augmented reality (AR) allows the enrichment of the physical world by adding virtual computer-generated digital information in real time to it (Furht, 2014). This provides marketers with previously unimagined options for reaching out and engaging with customers. Having the power to put the (virtual) products in the hand of customers, creates interesting opportunities for the users to engage with a brand, service or product (Yaoyuneyong et al., 2016). Although the AR market is expected to grow exponentially by the year 2020 (Digi-Capital, 2016) and several companies already tried to expand their business with the technology, little is known about whether AR is able to enrich the customers’ shopping behaviour and thus yield favourable outcomes such as increased product knowledge, positive attitudes and higher purchase intentions. This thesis quantitatively addresses the research gap with an experimental method to determine the causal effect of the IKEA AR application on these customer dimensions in comparison to a product experience on the website. Generation Y has been chosen as an appropriate sample to experimentally discover effects on shopping behaviour. Finally, the shopping-oriented AR application is perceived as highly enjoyable and useful, and further evoked higher purchase intentions than its website counterpart. Moreover, the attitude towards the product was not found to be a main driver, but the engaging experience and the conveyed unique product knowledge itself.

Behavioral marketing is something that has received lots of attention due to growing awareness around artificial intelligence (AI) and companies using this technology for marketing purposes. However, the data collection practices have been receiving lots of critique for a while now and therefore it is more important than ever to gain an insight of how the consumers perceive behavioral online marketing. From this standpoint two research questions have been developed: How do consumers’ attitudes towards behavioral marketing, affect their purchase intention? and How does exposure to behavioral marketing affects purchase intention? In order to answer these research questions, the experimental vignette methodology was used to study digital natives, namely individuals between 18 and 30 years old. The experiment provided the basis for the study combined with the questionnaire the participants were asked to complete after the experiment. The experiment process consisted of two purchase scenarios that had to be performed online: a purchase of a low degree behavioral marketing product (city bike) and a purchase of a high degree marketing product (sneakers). One of the most important findings of this research regarding consumers’ attitude’s impact on purchase intention was the fact that trust has a bigger impact on the high involvement products compared to the low involvement product. When it came to exposure to behavioral marketing, the test objects that were exposed to behavioral ads had a higher likelihood to purchase a sponsored item. Therefore, there is a positive relationship between how much behavioral marketing a company use and the likelihood of a user purchasing a sponsored item. One of the most important practical implications that can be derived from this study is that businesses need to prioritize building a strong brand image prior to utilizing behavioral marketing. / Beteendemässig marknadsföring är något som fått större uppmärksamhet i och med betydelsen som artificiell intelligens (AI) har fått samt något som företag använder sig av i marknadsföringssyfte. Däremot har insamling av data länge kritiserats och frågan om hur kunder faktiskt uppfattar annonser online har blivit mer och mer relevant. Utifrån detta resonemang har dessa forskningsfrågor tagits fram: Hur påverkar konsumenternas attityd gentemot beteendemässig marknadsföring deras köpavsikt? samt Hur påverkar exponeringen av beteendemässig marknadsföring gentemot konsumenter deras köpavsikt? För att kunna uppnå detta syfte har experimentell vignettes metodik använts för att studera millenniegenerationen, alltså personer i åldrarna 18-30. Ett experiment gjorde grunden till studien, tillsammans med ett frågeformulär som de var ombedda att göra efter experimentet. Experimentet bestod av två olika köp som deltagarna skulle göra online; en produkt med låg grad av beteendemässig marknadsföring (cykel) och en produkt med hög grad av beteendemässig marknadsföring (skor). Det viktigaste som kunde tas från denna undersökning när attityder undersöktes var att förtroende gentemot ett företag eller varumärke hade en stark påverkan på köpavsikten. Däremot är inverkan för förtroende starkare vid köpa av en produkt med hög grad av beteendemässig marknadsföring jämfört med en produkt med låg grad av beteendemässig marknadsföring. När det gäller exponeringen av beteendemässig marknadsföringen var den största upptäckten att de deltagare som hade blivit utsatta för annonser till en högre grad hade en större chans att köpa en produkt som var annonserad. Alltså, ju mer företag använder sig av beteendemässig marknadsföring som är av relevans för konsumenten, desto mer sannolikt är det att de köper just deras produkt. Den största praktiska implikationen som kunde utläsas var att innan beteendemässig marknadsföring kan bli optimalt för företag måste de prioritera att bygga ett starkt varumärke.