Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

published_or_final_version / Business / Master / Master of Philosophy

Female teenagers have been found to be the most affluent teens according to the Rand Youth Poll's nationwide survey. The survey finds the average weekly income from female teens age 16 to 19 to be $82, with $50 from earnings and the balance from their allowances. Other findings from the survey indicate that adolescent girls receive more than adolescent males in allowance from parents, as mothers understand the need for the female teen to have the income necessary to purchase clothing and cosmetics. Past research studies have attempted to measure the influence sources on teenagers when purchasing clothing by asking teens to rank different influence sources or by asking the teens who accompany them when shopping. The current research study develops a structural equation model that allows for the comparison of the three predominant influence sources identified in the consumer socialization literature, i.e., parental influence, peer influence, and promotional communications sought out by the teen. To test the model, 206 randomly selected female teenagers completed a mail questionnaire regarding the influences on clothing interest. The female teens were all members of a non-denominational youth group, age 13 to 19, living in the North Texas region. The model derived is only the third model in the marketing literature to examine the consumer socialization process, and the first in fifteen years. Examining the three main influence sources identified from consumer socialization literature, peer, parent, and media sources, the results differ from past models. The female teens perceive parental influence as a negative influence on clothing interest, contrary to past findings. Peers and media are perceived as positive influences on teen clothing interest as in past models. The results signify the need for marketing researchers to continue to investigate the dynamic nature of consumer socialization.

<p>With the presumption of change as an inevitable phenomenon, the aim of this study is to explore ways in which insurance companies can enhance their ability of meeting the constant changes in customers’ preferences in an increasingly competitive environment. In order to conduct this study, we have used a qualitative research strategy to gain a better understanding of young customers’ preferences about the services provided by insurance companies. Based on these preferences we provide useful suggestions for insurance companies. Existing theory suggests that customers change their preferences according to their life circumstances and while certain preferences are well-defined others can be inconsistent. In an increasingly competitive environment, where insurance companies fight for the same customers, having a customer-oriented culture is extremely important not only to retain customers, but also to acquire new ones. This study presents various theories on the changes in customers’ preferences as well as theories regarding organizational strategy and change.</p><p>The empirical data has been collected through two focused group interviews with students under 28, in Västerbotten, Sweden and through a group interview with leading representatives of a dominant insurance company in the county. The findings suggest that young consumers’ preferences regarding insurance services are based on their life situation. Price is a decisive factor in the choice of insurance company and their services. The results also showed that many of the respondents are skeptical towards the intentions of and services provided by insurance companies. The complex nature of insurances and the intangibility of services in general, can be possible explanations. Strengthening the evidence in existing studies, we also conclude that there is a vast amount of information insurance-takers would like to have access to before, during, and after purchasing insurance. Additionally, customers would like flexible insurance bundles with the possibility to add and subtract components as life situations change. Finally, based on these results, we suggest how insurance companies could turn these findings into opportunities. We suggest how and when to meet the customers, and how to build long lasting, trust-based relationships which could lead to increased customer loyalty over time.</p>

The customer equity framework was created by Rust et al. in 2000 after studying severalspecific industries. We use this framework as the theoretical basis for this study to examine the relative impact of the three customer equity drivers- value equity, brand equity and relationship equity- across two brands in the retail clothing industry on purchase intentions of young consumers. Based on the responses of 156 female university students who are the target for the two brands studied, value equity is the most important customer equity driver for customers whereas, for H&amp;M relationship equity was the driver which had the greatest influence on purchase intentions while for Gina tricot brand equity had the greatest impact on purchase intentions.

Shopping centres have become part of the daily lives of the urban citizens. Going to shopping centres for dining, shopping, entertainment activities is commonly observed among normal families and individuals of all ages in Hong Kong. How do people choose the shopping centre they are going to visit? What are the factors that affect the choice of shopping centres for visit? Youth, being the most active group for the retail market, and also the frequent visitors of shopping centres, plays a relatively more important role than other customers. It is worth to have a study for youth’s preferences for shopping centres. This study focuses on the youth who are aged from 18 to 30. In order to get their opinions about the factors affecting their choices in visiting shopping centres, a questionnaire survey was conducted. After the analysis of the views obtained, it was noticed that a good location, mature transportation, variety of shops, tenant mix, as well as entertainment features are the most important factors that the youth in Hong Kong would consider when they are choosing shopping centres. Among those factors, location was chosen as the most important determinant that the youth would consider in choosing shopping centres for visiting. It is suggested that the landlords, management agents and business operators of shopping centres should take these factors into account and have to consider those when they plan, develop, manage, and promote their shopping centres. / published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

With the presumption of change as an inevitable phenomenon, the aim of this study is to explore ways in which insurance companies can enhance their ability of meeting the constant changes in customers’ preferences in an increasingly competitive environment. In order to conduct this study, we have used a qualitative research strategy to gain a better understanding of young customers’ preferences about the services provided by insurance companies. Based on these preferences we provide useful suggestions for insurance companies. Existing theory suggests that customers change their preferences according to their life circumstances and while certain preferences are well-defined others can be inconsistent. In an increasingly competitive environment, where insurance companies fight for the same customers, having a customer-oriented culture is extremely important not only to retain customers, but also to acquire new ones. This study presents various theories on the changes in customers’ preferences as well as theories regarding organizational strategy and change. The empirical data has been collected through two focused group interviews with students under 28, in Västerbotten, Sweden and through a group interview with leading representatives of a dominant insurance company in the county. The findings suggest that young consumers’ preferences regarding insurance services are based on their life situation. Price is a decisive factor in the choice of insurance company and their services. The results also showed that many of the respondents are skeptical towards the intentions of and services provided by insurance companies. The complex nature of insurances and the intangibility of services in general, can be possible explanations. Strengthening the evidence in existing studies, we also conclude that there is a vast amount of information insurance-takers would like to have access to before, during, and after purchasing insurance. Additionally, customers would like flexible insurance bundles with the possibility to add and subtract components as life situations change. Finally, based on these results, we suggest how insurance companies could turn these findings into opportunities. We suggest how and when to meet the customers, and how to build long lasting, trust-based relationships which could lead to increased customer loyalty over time.

Thesis (M.A.)--Carleton University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 203-209). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Sydney, 2006. / A thesis presented to the University of Western Sydney, College of Business, School of Marketing, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Marketing). Includes bibliographies.

Thesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. / Retailers (including food retailers) are facing challenging times due to the dynamic business environment. Increasing competition, uncertain economic environment. The sophistication of consumers has prompted retailers to improve not only their product offering but service quality too. Some food retailers, however, have gained a reputation for poor service quality. On the other hand, those food retailers providing high levels of service quality, warrant customer satisfaction and customer loyalty, and minimise customer defection, ultimately affecting positive profitability. The youth is a significant market to target for any retailer. Retailers that can attract and muster support from the youth can build long term relationships that result in strong customer loyalty. For this study, second and third year retail students enrolled at a university of technology were deemed as the target population following the rationale that these students would be familiar with retail concepts and be conscious of service quality issues. The study aimed to measure youth perceptions of service quality of large food retailers in line with the dimensions of the Retail Service Quality Scale (RSQS). An online survey was employed via the university’s intranet to where the youth customers were requested to rate their service quality perceptions of a large food retailer they frequented the most and to highlight areas of service quality that required attention. The results were generally neutral, large food retailers were generally perceived as fairly providing quality service in some areas, though in other areas not so successful. The findings reveal that youth significantly felt personal interaction and physical aspects of the retailer was the most important service quality determinant. In particular, convenient shopping was paramount; and thereafter quality goods and services offered by the retailer. The study further showed that youth favoured service quality offered by retailers over the price of goods and services. Therefore, youth would remain loyal to their food retailers that provide satisfactory levels of service quality even if their prices were higher than their competitors’ prices. Retailers that want to attract youth would need to improve the reliability dimension, which includes stock availability, and the service process relating to paying. The literature and the data collected provided the researcher with the opportunity to explore youth perceptions of service quality of food retailers in the Cape Metropolis.