In this qualitative study the buying activity for three smaller intermediaries in the Swedish fashion industry have been identified to compare similarities and differences. Further on we studied how CSR is integrated in the activity and which type of value these efforts create for the intermediary. The study was conducted through semi-structured interviews with CSR- and buying managers as well as a CSR- consultant who assists intermediaries in issues and strategies regarding CSR, to deepen our knowledge and gain further perspective of the area. The gathered empirical evidence has later been analyzed in connection with existing theories concerning CSR integration and value creation in order to reach a conclusion that also answers our research questions. The study has shown tendencies that CSR can be successfully integrated in an intermediary by letting it become a part of the company’s core activities and thereby permeate the entire organization. If the intermediary is successful with this part, value can be created in terms of brand strengthening and a good reputation as well as functioning as insurance for the future. We hope that this study can convey the importance of CSR for an intermediary and how it best can be integrated in the company’s buying activity.The following essay is written in Swedish. / I denna kvalitativa studie har arbetsprocessen vid inköp kartlagts för tre mindre mellanhänder i modebranschen för att jämföra likheter och skillnader. Undersökningen genomfördes med hjälp av semistrukturerade intervjuer med CSR- eller inköpsansvariga på respektive företag. Vidare har vi studerat hur CSR integreras i arbetsprocessen vid inköp och vilken typ av värde dessa ansträngningar skapar för mellanhänderna. För att fördjupa kunskapen och få ytterligare ett perspektiv på området intervjuades även en konsult som hjälper mellanhänder med frågor och strategier rörande CSR. Empirin har sedan analyserats med utgångspunkt i teorier om CSR, dess integration i arbetsprocesser och värdeskapande för att komma till en slutsats som svarar på våra forskningsfrågor. Studien har visat tendenser på att ett väl integrerat CSR uppnås genom att låta det bli till en del av kärnverksamheten och få engagemanget att genomsyra hela organisationen. Om mellanhanden lyckas med det kan det skapa värden i form av marknadsföring, bra rykte och fungera som en framtidsförsäkring. Vi hoppas att studien kan förmedla betydelsen av CSR för en mellanhand samt hur det på bästa sätt integreras i arbetsprocessen.

Background:   This research paper studies the potential of the Flourishing Business Canvas developed from the new research field of Business Models for Sustainability. Throughout the literature review arguments for the new concept of Business Models for Sustainability are made. Showing also the need for a tool that can help companies to transform towards a BMfS. The Flourishing Business Canvas is the first tool being developed at the moment and is based on the Business Model Canvas of Osterwalder and Pigneur. In this research data from reports from three different fashion companies is used to complete the Flourishing Business Canvasses and to evaluatethe applicability and usefulness of the canvas. Aim:   The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential of the newly developed Flourishing Business Canvas through case studies of secondary data research in the fashion industry. The research will evaluate the applicability and usefulness of the building blocks of the alpha-version of the Flourishing Business Canvas on the basis of information gathered from annual reports, sustainability reports, home pages and academic research. To contribute to the ongoing research of this tool, the research will try to suggest improvements where needed to make the tool suitable for the sustainable development of the fashion industry. Methodology:   The research is performed trough a qualitative research based on three small casestudies. The canvas is completed for three fashion companies, of three different market segments, based on published reports, media articles and research articles. The gaps in the canvas and the usefulness of the answers will be defined. Results:   The results of the research showed that the three companies follow the four mainarguments for a Business Model for Sustainability, but that what they express in their reports is notcompletely what they do in practise. The Flourishing Business Canvas for the three fashioncompanies was easy to complete as an outsider, this was mostly because they were transparentcompanies that published a lot of information. The questions in the Flourishing Business Canvasalso could show well the efforts on economic, social and environmental sustainability. Conclusion:   The Flourishing Business Canvas is a good tool for the fashion companies to show their economic, social and environmental sustainability in a schematic way and on strategic level. Although in general the canvas expresses that it shows true sustainability, two important elements of a sustainable fashion company; circularity and transparency, were not specifically defined.

Digitalisering är idag en av de mest inflytelserika trenderna inom modebranschen, vilket bland annat är starkt kopplat till att e-handel blivit ett allt mer självklart val för konsumenter. I samband med detta har konsumenter i allt större utsträckning börjat betrakta sitt eget hem som provrummet i den digitala butiken, vilket har lett till att returer är ett växande problem för e-handelsföretag. Samtidigt visar flertalet studier att de kunder som returnerar varor är mer lönsamma än de kunder som inte gör det och att en väl fungerande returhanteringsprocess ökar förtroendet för företaget. Returer bör därmed betraktas likt en tjänst som erbjuds kunden, där det finns möjlighet för företaget att påverka kundvärdet ytterligare. Vidare skapas kundvärde när företaget erbjuder en returtjänst som stödjer kundens köpbeteende, och därmed ses returhanteringsprocessen som en potentiell konkurrensfördel. Därför krävs det att e-handelsföretag idag arbetar strategiskt för att minska antalet returer och effektivisera returhanteringen genom sin returns management-process. Syftet med denna uppsats är därför att jämföra hur svenska e-handelsbaserade modeföretag inom varierande marknadsnivåer arbetar med returpolicy, gatekeeping och avoidance som en del av returns management-processen, samt hur dessa aktiviteter bidrar till respektive företags kundvärde. Med utgångspunkt i detta har en kvalitativ undersökning genomförts i form av semistrukturerade intervjuer med tre svenska e-handelsföretag inom modebranschen som en del av studiens primärdata. Då deltagarfrekvensen för intervjuerna blev lägre än förväntat, genomfördes även en kvalitativ dokumentstudie på företagens hemsidor samt på ytterligare sex e-handelsbaserade modeföretags hemsidor. Avslutningsvis genomfördes även en semistrukturerad intervju med ett svenskt företag, vilket erbjuder digitala produkter för e-handel inom returns management. Det insamlade datamaterialet analyserades med hjälp av tematisk analys utifrån de modeller som presenteras i den teoretiska referensramen: Porters (1985) värdekedja samt Rogers et al. (2002) returns management-modell vilken är uppdelad i en strategisk och en operationell process. Utifrån detta konstaterar studien att för att förbli konkurrenskraftig på den digitala modemarknaden, krävs det att företagets och marknadsnivåns kundlojalitet samt kundnöjdhet beaktas. Dessa faktorer, vilka relaterar till kundvärde, bör överstiga kostnaden för att erbjuda kunden en generös returpolicy i form av fria returer och längre ångerrätt. Vidare konstaterar studien att företagen bör fokusera på att ständigt förbättra sitt avoidance-arbete utifrån kundens efterfrågan, samt att gatekeeping-processen bör fullföljas utifrån vilken marknadsnivå företaget tillhör. Sammanfattningsvis leder avsaknaden av en digitaliserad returns management-process till ett mer reaktivt arbete snarare än proaktivt. Därmed konstaterar studien att e-handelsföretag bör implementera och anpassa digitalisering utefter dess storlek, förutsättningar samt marknadsnivå inom sin returns management-process. / c

Syfte: Studiens huvudsyfte är att undersöka hur företag kan inkludera slutkonsumenten i produktutvecklingen inom den textila värdekedjan och hur CRM kan förbättra detta. Metod: Arbetet har en deduktiv ansats och både en kvantitativ och kvalitativ forskningsmetod har använts. Datainsamlingen har skett genom djupintervjuer och enkätundersökning. Resultat och Slutsats: Studien har undersökt hur villiga slutkonsumenter är att vara med och påverka den textila produktutvecklingen till det bättre genom bidragande av egna idéer. Efter datainsamling, djupintervjuer och enkätundersökning visar studien att användning av CRM- villkor är nödvändigt att implementera för att textila aktörer ska fortsätta vara aktuella på marknaden. / Purpose: The main purpose of this study is to investigate how the customer influences the product development within the textile value chain and whether CRM can improve this. Method: The research approach of this thesis is deductive and both a quantitative and a qualitative research have been conducted. Data has been collected through a survey and in-depth interviews. Results and conclusions: The study has examined how willing consumers are to participate and influence the textile product development through their own ideas. After data collection, in-depth interviews and questionnaire surveys, the study shows that the use of CRM- conditions are necessary to implement for textile operators to remain up-to-date in the market

Denna forskningsstudie är en kvalitativt undersökande studie av svenska modeföretags hållbarhetskommunikation utifrån en utvärdering av konsultmodellen The Seven Sins of Greenwashing. Studien ämnar att undersöka hur The Seven Sins of Greenwashing fungerar som ett verktyg och ramverk för att analysera svenska modeföretags hållbarhetskommunikation samt om greenwashing förekommer i deras gröna marknadsföring med hjälp av The Seven Sins of Greenwashing. Studiens teoretiska perspektiv ämnar att på ett holistiskt sätt bemöta de forskningsbegrepp och studier som relaterar till greenwashing e.g legitimitet, isomorphism och decoupling. Föreliggande studie har valt att flytta fokus från kunden och kundens relation till hållbarhet för att istället kritiskt granska och analysera modevarumärkens gröna marknadsföring och kommunikation av modeprodukter. Därmed utgör organisationer studiens analytiska perspektiv, eftersom att allt fler modeföretag använder sig av grön marknadsföring som ett sätt att visa sig hållbara gentemot konsumenter. Vi har identifierat ett forskningsgap för kvalitativa studier som undersöker greenwashing utifrån ett organisatoriskt perspektiv, och med användandet av The Seven Sins of Greenwashing som ett analytiskt redskap inom modebranschen. Studiens syfte är att granska information och kommunikation som görs genom modeföretags hållbarhetsrapporter utifrån modellen The Seven Sins of Greenwashing. För att studera undersökningens syfte ställs följande frågeställningar; (RQ1) Hur fungerar The Seven Sins of Greenwashing som en teoretisk modell för att analysera stora kommersiella företag inom modebranschen? och (RQ2) Hur uttrycker svenska modeföretag sitt hållbarhetsarbete genom deras hållbarhetsrapporter? Förekommer greenwashing utifrån modellen The Seven Sins of Greenwashing? För att besvara studiens syfte och forskningsfrågor har studien utgått ifrån kvalitativa innehållsanalytiska metoder och tematisk kodning utifrån ett på förhand givet kategoriseringssystem av innehållsliga områden kopplade till The Seven Sins of Greenwashing. Studiens resultat kunde identifiera greenwashing i företagens hållbarhetsrapportering utifrån The Seven Sins of Greenwashing främst genom otydliga, vaga och irrelevanta påståenden som användes i hållbarhetsrapporterna för att uttrycka och beskriva företagens hållbarhetsarbete. Slutsatser dras om att TerraChoice (2009) konsultmodell The Seven Sins of Greenwashing fungerar som ett analytiskt verktyg och ramverk för denna typ av akademiska studier. Slutsatser kan också dras, genom användandet av modellen, att samtliga företag som ligger till grund för undersökningen på olika vis greenwashar i sin hållbarhetskommunikation. / This research study is a qualitatively investigative study of Swedish fashion companies sustainability communication based on an evaluation of the consulting model The Seven Sins of Greenwashing. The study aims to investigate how The Seven Sins of Greenwashing works as a tool and framework for analyzing Swedish fashion companies sustainability communication and whether greenwashing occurs in their green marketing with the help of The Seven Sins of Greenwashing. The theoretical perspective of the study aims to respond in a holistic way to the research concepts and studies that relate to greenwashing, e.g legitimacy, isomorphism and decoupling. In our study, we have chosen to shift the focus from the customer and the customer's relationship to sustainability to instead critically examine and analyze the fashion brands' green marketing and communication of fashion products. Thus, organizations constitute our analytical perspective, as more and more fashion companies use green marketing as a way to prove themselves sustainable towards consumers. We have identified a research gap for qualitative studies that examines greenwashing from an organizational perspective, and with the use of The Seven Sins of Greenwashing as an analytical tool within the fashion industry. The purpose of the study is to examine information and communication made through fashion companies sustainability reports based on the model The Seven Sins of Greenwashing. To study the purpose of this study the following questions are asked; (RQ1) How does The Seven Sins of Greenwashing work as a theoretical model for analyzing large commercial companies within the fashion industry? and(RQ2) How do Swedish fashion companies express their sustainability work through their sustainability reports? Does greenwashing occur based on the model The Seven Sins of Greenwashing? We have addressed the study's purpose and research questions with qualitative content analytical methods and thematic coding based on a pre-given categorization system of content areas linked to The Seven Sins of Greenwashing. The results of the study were able to identify greenwashing in the companies sustainability reporting based on The Seven Sins of Greenwashing mainly through unclear, vague and irrelevant statements that were used in the sustainability reports to express and describe the companies sustainability work. Conclusions are drawn that TerraChoice (2009) consulting model The Seven Sins of Greenwashing serves as an analytical tool and framework for this type of academic study. Conclusions can also be drawn, through the use of the model, that all companies that form the basis of this study in different ways greenwash in their sustainability communication.

This bachelor thesis explores a virtual try-on interface in the context of the fashion product category. It is argued that virtual representations of product offerings can stimulate consumers’ purchase intentions, and thus, enact an online transaction. The purpose is to investigate how market-based AR/VR influences the behavior of consumers along the customer journey. A qualitative research approach was undertaken to answer the exploratory question. The context of the empirical bachelor thesis is the virtual try-on Synsam Style Lab where two qualitative research methods were conducted. These methods consisted of a document study on Synsam Style Lab and three synchronous online focus group interviews that laid the foundation of the thematic analysis. The purpose of conducting these qualitative research methods was to shed light on whether or not Synsam Style Lab could facilitate consumers’ online buying decision process. Consumers who saw convenience in Synsam Style Lab often expressed reasons related to the theme Alleviate. On the contrary, if consumers interaction with Synsam’s virtual try-on yielded negative experience, then their reasons were often in connection with the theme Insufficiency.  The context of this bachelor thesis is restricted to the fashion eyewear segment and does not represent the total fashion industry. Only members of Generation Y, also known as millennials, participated in the synchronous online focus group interviews. Therefore, incorporating the perspectives of other demographics could contribute to a diversified discovery of findings. Previous research has not explicitly investigated the influence of AR/VR applications on consumers’ engagement in a fashion retail setting. Hence, this bachelor thesis provides new dimensions within the field of market-based AR/VR applications.

This Diploma work deals with the creation of the new fashion brand with the wiew of development and diversification of business activities of the company RKM brokers s.r.o. The main current activities of the company RKM brokers s.r.o. are real estate business and development. This work includes description of the company, analyse of the fashion industry, marketing analyse of the new brand and financial plan for the first year of existence.

Hållbarhet och CSR blir viktigare för företag över hela världen. Syftet med denna studie är att se hur tre stora mode- och accessoarföretag i Sverige kommunicerar CSR på sina hemsidor. De studerade företagen är Nelly, Daniel Wellington och NA-KD. Denna studie har en retorisk utgångspunkt och bygger på teorin om triple bottom line. När det gäller den retoriska metoden var resultaten förhållandevis lika. Företagen fokuserade på argument baserade på logos och ethos, medan argument baserade på patos var ovanligt. Resultatet visar också att samtliga studerade företag kommunicerar CSR baserat på teorin om triple bottom line, men på olika sätt. / Sustainability and CSR are becoming more important for companies all over the world. The aim of this study is to see how three big fashion and accessory companies in Sweden communicate CSR on their websites. The studied companies are Nelly, Daniel Wellington and NA-KD. This study takes a rhetorical approach and is based on the theory of triple bottom line. Regarding the rhetorical approach, the results quite similar. The companies focused on arguments based on logos and ethos arguments, while arguments based on pathos were uncommon. The outcome also shows that all studied companies communicate CSR based on the theory of triple bottom line, but in different ways.

The purpose of this study was to increase the understanding of how the Swedish fast fashion company NA-KD expressed its profile and how it could be linked to sustainability. The fashion industry is known for having big sustainability problems, and that is why the main focus of this study was the paradox between fast fashion and sustainability due to its conflict nature. To concretise the aim of the study, we formulated two questions: “What discourses can be found in NA-KD’s external communication?” and “What profile does the company express through their website?”. To analyse the company’s website we included relevant theories about the individualised consumer society, sustainable consumption and marketing communication. The used method for this study was Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis, which was a useful method to enable a critical perspective. Fairclough’s approach made it possible to examine how, and in what way, NA-KD expressed their external communication. The material consisted of ten texts found on the company’s website that were analysed closely and resulted in a number of findings. We found three discourses: the business discourse, the consumer discourse and the sustainability discourse. Those helped us to increase the understanding of the company’s profile, since we discovered a range of different tendencies. The main ones were that NA-KD constructed truth, encouraged more consumption, built relations with the consumer and expressed values and responsibility about sustainability. With those in mind, we concluded that it is doubtful that NA-KD’s sustainability communication is completely honest. They encouraged the consumer to buy more fast fashion clothing, which affects the environment negatively, at the same time as they communicated consciousness about the fashion industry’s impact on the environment. We also found that the communication was contradictory and misleading, hence that some information about their sustainability work does not comply with what is presented. Our main conclusion is therefore that NA-KD’s profile is ambiguous and difficult to establish.

Background: The slow fashion industry arose as a contraposition to the unsustainable ways of fast fashion, and emphasizes attentive consumption and production. It is characterized by four characteristics - transparency, quality, localism and exclusivity – each described with valuable traits in previous studies. However, current marketing efforts of slow fashion are focused only on two transparency aspects; sustainability and ethics, although previous studies show that these have no influence on consumers consumption choices. Therefore, this study aims to explore which aspects within these four characteristics that are perceived as valuable by consumers, so that a value package model for the consumer perceived valuable aspects of slow fashion can be developed. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to develop a new value package model that presents the consumer perceived valuable aspects of slow fashion. Methodology: This exploratory qualitative study was conducted through nine semi-structured interviews with Swedish fashion consumers between the age of 18-26. The participants were selected through convenience sampling, and the interviews resulted in 91 pages of collected data. The data was then analyzed with the help of thematic coding. The findings derived from the study was then used to develop a new value package model; presenting the consumer perceived valuable aspects of slow fashion. Findings: There were six consumer perceived value aspects of slow fashion. These were, in order of highest influence to lowest; classical style, product personality, durability, limited production, security and knowledge. Conclusion: This study contributes with the theoretical implication of a new proposed value package model that displays the customer perceived value aspects of slow fashion. In addition, it provides managerial implications that may help marketers and companies to streamline their marketing efforts of slow fashion.