Due to the success of apparel online shopping, many researchers in consumer behavior hope to extend the existing consumer behavior theories into the electronic commerce area to assist apparel marketers to develop effective marketing strategies to understand, attract, and maintain their consumers (Goldsmith & McGregor, 1999). Many apparel researchers have investigated Consumer Satisfaction/Dissatisfaction (CS/D) with online shopping (Hou, 2005; Jiang & Rosenbloom, 2005; Kim, Kim & Lennon, 2006; Lee, 2004). However, most of these studies focused on CS/D with apparel websites or e-service quality, rather than CS/D with the products purchased online. In apparel online shopping, consumers cannot examine the textures, hand, or color of the fabric or try on the garment. Because of the intangibility of apparel products on the website, consumers may use extrinsic cues, such as brand image, to judge if the brand is worthy of the price and to make an inference of the product quality (O'Neal, 1992). Previous studies about brand image mainly discussed about how brand image influences consumers' perception and evaluation of product quality (d''Astous & Saint-Louis, 2005; Dodds, Monroe & Grewal, 1991) and the impact of brand image to consumers' purchase intention (Ataman & Ulengin, 2003; Li, 2004; Park & Stoel, 2005). No research has examined how brand image influences consumers'' expectations at purchase and the perceptions of product performance at the product-receiving stage, and the role of brand image in CS/D after receiving products, especially in the realm of apparel online shopping. Therefore, a study investigating the roles of brand image and product performance in CS/D with apparel online shopping is essential. The purpose of the study was to examine the factors related to CS/D with the purchased product and with the brand in apparel online shopping at the product-receiving stage. The four objectives of the study were to examine (a) the relationships between consumers'' individual differences (i.e., brand sensitivity, brand familiarity, brand self-congruity and demographics) and perceived brand image at the purchase stage, (b)the influence of consumers'' perceived brand image at purchase on their expectation for product performance and on perceived product performance, (c) antecedences of CS/D with the product and CS/D with the brand, and (d) antecedences of product return intention and repurchase intention. A model of CS/D with the purchased apparel product and with the brand in an online shopping context was proposed as the framework of this study. Different from the two stages (i.e., purchase stage, product-consumption stage) usually proposed in the studies of offline shopping, an extra product-receiving stage was included between purchase and product-consumption stages to illustrate the process of CS/D after consumer receive the product that they ordered online. Fifteen hypotheses were developed according to the relationships proposed in the framework. A 2 X 2 between-subjects factorial experimental design was developed to conduct this study. The treatment variables were brand image and product performance. Two levels of brand image at the purchase stage (i.e., higher, lower) were manipulated by two brand names and logos. Two levels of product performance at the product-receiving stage (i.e., higher,lower) were manipulated by two sweatshirts with different levels of quality. A website was developed to simulate the apparel online shopping process, and a questionnaire was developed to measure the variables included in this study. A structural equation model was developed to examine the proposed relationships and hypotheses. Results in this study showed that both brand image and product performance significantly influenced CS/D with product and CS/D with the brand. Product performance was the most important factor on consumers'' satisfaction with the product that they ordered online. Brand image at purchase played a direct role in CS/D with the brand but an indirect role in CS/D with the product. Brand image at purchase positively influenced product performance expectation; product performance expectation positively influenced the perception of product performance; and then, perceived product performance affected satisfaction/dissatisfaction with the product. Visible attribute (i.e.,style, color) expectancy disconfirmation was also found to be an antecedence of CS/D with the product. If perceived product performance of style and color was better than what they expected, participants tended to be more satisfied with the product. CS/D with the product was found to be a significant antecedence of CS/D with the brand. CS/D with the product was found to be the direct factor influencing product return intention, and perceived brand image at the product-receiving stage and CS/D with the brand were antecedents of repurchase intention. In conclusion, this study suggests that brand image and product performance were significant factors on CS/D with the purchased product and with the brand at the product-receiving stage in apparel online shopping. This study is beneficial to consumer behavior researchers and apparel e-tailers by identifying the roles of brand image and product performance in apparel online shopping. Based on the results, marketing strategies in apparel online shopping were provided. / Master of Science

Bakgrund: De flesta är medvetna om att vi matas med och påverkas av varumärken, men sällan om det arbete som ligger bakom ett varumärkes uppbyggnad. Därför är det av stor vikt vid varumärkesuppbyggnaden att förankra de värderingar som företaget vill positionera sig med. För att i sin position kunna differentiera sig gentemot konkurrenter med ett starkt varumärke måste företaget kommunicera samma värderingar, både i den interna och externa marknadsföringen för. Det finns de som anser att man kan utföra detta genom marknadsföring på två skilda sätt, genom att agera “marknadsförare” eller att agera “försäljare” gentemot sina kunder, där “försäljare” ofta är bättre på att skapa relationer där kunden rekommenderar företaget vidare än en “marknadsförare”. Därför finns det anledning att undersöka om företag av olika art skiljer sig i arbetet med sina kunder för att bygga upp sitt varumärke på olika sätt.   Syfte: Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka tjänsteproducerande företags varumärkes-positionering.     Metod: Denna studie har genomförts med en kvalitativ metod där vi har gjort en fallstudie som består av elva intervjuer med företag inom både bank och fastighetsmäklarbranschen. Vi har sedan använt oss av en tematisk analys för att finna samband och skillnader i genomförandet hos de olika branscherna.   Slutsats: I dagens konkurrensutsatta marknader har det varit svårt att positionera tjänster, där traditionella marknadsföringsaktiviteter blir mindre viktigt och det krävs att företagen arbetar för att skapa långsiktiga relationer med sina kunder. Vi finner i vår studie att den personliga kontakten blir en viktig del av att positionera de immateriella tjänsterna då ingen fysisk produkt kan visas upp eller undersökas, men att detta även skiljer sig mellan de två branscherna. Vår undersökning tyder på att dessa skillnader beror på att hos en bank köper du en tjänst och hos ett fastighetsmäklarföretag betalar du någon för att hjälpa dig med en tjänst.   Förslag till fortsatt forskning: Denna uppsats har sitt fokus på två olika branscher inom service sektorn. Genom att studera fler företag inom dessa skulle man kunna generalisera uppsatsens bidrag genom vidare forskning. Uppsatsen kan även vara en utgångspunkt i att studera fler branscher för att se vilka skillnader som finns där. Fokus har även varit med utgångspunkt ur företagens synvinkel, vidare forskning kan studera fenomenet ur kundens perspektiv.   Uppsatsens bidrag: Forskningen syfte är att bidra till en större förståelse inom företagsekonomiska områden för varumärkesuppbyggnaden inom olika branscher som kan användas av marknadsförare inom dessa branscher. / Background: Most people have awareness that we are fed with communication from and are influenced by brands, but rarely do we possess awareness surrounding the work behind brand-building. Therefore it is of great importance to the concept of brand building, to anchor the values ​​with which the company wishes to position itself. In order to position itself within the marketplace by presenting a strong brand, to differentiate itself from competitors. The company must communicate the same values, with consistency both in the internal and external marketing efforts. Some commentators have the belief that this can be accomplished by marketing, using two specific separate methods, by acting as a "marketer" or acting as a "salesman" towards customers. Within these approaches the "salesman" approach is often better at creating relationships, in which customers are more likely to recommend the company much further than if a "marketer" approach is used. Therefore, there is need to examine whether firms which differ in nature differ in their work with their clients to build their brand in different ways.   Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine service companies branding positioning.   Method: This study was carried out with a qualitative approach, through conducting a case study, consisting of eleven interviews with companies within banking and real estate broking markets. We then used a thematic analysis to identify correlations and differences in the implementation processes of the various businesses.   Conclusion: Todays intensive market competition has created complexity when firms attempt to position their services. A consequence is that traditional marketing activities have become less effective and it now requires that companies are working to create longer-term relationships with their customers. We conclude within our study that personal contact is an important part of positioning intangible services, when no physical product can be displayed or explored, but also that this differed between the two industries studied. Our study indicates that these differences are due to that within banking, customers purchase a service product, whereas at a real estate brokerage firm, customers pay individuals to consult and assist them with a service.   Suggestions future research: This paper focuses on two different branches of the service sector. By studying more companies within these sectors, there would be an opportunity for further generalization by undertaking further research. This paper can also be utilized as starting point in the study of more industries to see what differences exist comparatively. The Focus has been conducted from a business perspective, possible further research could be achieved by undertaking a study of the phenomenon from the customer's perspective.   Essay submissions: The research aims to contribute to a greater understanding in business administration areas for brand building within different industries, which can be used by marketers within these industries

This research project had a purpose to discuss the impact of Brand Image on Consumer Purchase Behavior. For retailers brand image are the key factors that help them to engage with customers and influence their buying behaviors. The concept of the brand image draws vital attention from the practitioners as it plays a significant role in marketing activities. In this study concept of brand image and customers purchasing behaviors had been discussed and based on the theory and model of brand image this study has reviewed extant studies about brand image impacts on the customers from the perspective of customer’s equity. This research had also pointed out the relationship between brand image and brand equity and the relationship between brand image and consumer purchase behavior. Additionally, the research problem had been stated while implementing the research finding. This research design had been utilizing by the inductive approach in order to quantify the findings and discussion. Additionally, the research methodology had been discussed. For collecting secondary & primary data and survey method had been used in this study. Qualitative data analysis and quantitative data collection both techniques had been used.  Finding and discussion were about Impact of Brand Image on Consumer Purchase Behavior in Lidl, Sweden has mentioned were, brand image factors and how it helps the company to influence customers purchasing behavior has been discussing. Besides, the impact of Lidl brand image on their customer’s had been analyzed and the different campaigns, promotional and marketing strategy used by Lidl to strengthen their brand image had been discussed in the current research. The trend, which had been found that company, is focusing on innovation their products with Eco-friendly products to maintain sustainability.  From this research it had been concluded that, brand image plays an important role in the Lidl to influence the customers purchasing behavior. It had been found that, the company has focus on strengthen the brand image for which they have adopted social media campaigns, environment friendly products in order to satisfy the customers by providing high quality product to influence their buying behavior. Additionally, the past experience of customers from previous purchase and LIDL products high quality in nature has significantly impact on customers purchasing behavior. Additionally, LIDL responsibility towards environment, their investment in advertisement, strong brand name in Sweden influences the purchasing behavior of customers. According to the future scope, in the survey, more sampling size would be selected to get a more accurate outcome from the research. Furthermore, an Interview would be taken to get the more effective outcome of the research

I november 2015 avgjordes en tvist mellan havredrycksproducenten Oatly och branschorganisationen Svensk Mjölk i Marknadsdomstolen. Svensk Mjölk stämde Oatly eftersom de ansåg att deras marknadsföring var vilseledande. Stämningen ledde till att Oatly dömdes till förbud för marknadsföring som antyder att havremjölk är ett bättre val än komjölk. Denna studies syfte är att undersöka hur tvisten påverkat Oatlys lojala kunders varumärkesuppfattning utifrån begreppet brand image. För att undersöka detta genomfördes en kvalitativ studie med 18 konsumenter som representerat Oatlys lojala kunder: veganer, vegetarianer, laktosintoleranta och mjölkallergiker. Deras uppfattningar undersöktes utifrån teorier om Cause Related Marketing, negativ publicitet och självkongruens hos konsumenter. Majoriteten av respondenternas uppfattningar av Oatly har förbättrats efter tvisten, framförallt för att de ansåg att Oatly var i underläge och att de stod upp för en samhällsfråga. Studiens resultat tyder på att ett företag som upplevs vara en underdog kan undvika att ta skada från negativ publicitet.

<p>Aldrig förr har den svenska konsumenten varit så hälso- och miljömedveten. Ett resultat av detta är att fler mervärdesmärkningar har dykt upp på våra butikshyllor. En av de mest kända mervärdesmärkningarna inom ekologiskt producerade varor är i dagsläget KRAV-märkningen.</p><p>Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka om Uppsala Universitets företagsekonomistudenters attityder gentemot KRAV-märkta produkter stämmer överens med den bild som KRAV vill förmedla. Studenterna har fått ange vilka produktattribut de anser vara av störst vikt vid livsmedelsinköp, vilka sedan har jämförts med hur väl de anser att KRAV uppfyller dessa. Genom detta har vi kunnat urskilja en generell attityd hos studenterna gentemot KRAV-märkta produkter.</p><p>Resultatet visar på att studenterna har en positiv attityd gentemot KRAV-märkta varor. Dock visar undersökningen på att den bild som KRAV vill förmedla inte helt överensstämmer med den bild som studenterna har om varumärket. Den traditionella bilden av KRAV, där samhälls- och miljöansvar står i fokus, anser studenterna att KRAV uppfyller mycket väl. KRAV har däremot inte lyckats med att förmedla att KRAV-märkta produkter numera även står för god hälsa och smak. Vidare kan vi urskilja en tendens mot att studenterna inte värdesätter KRAV:s traditionella värderingar särskilt högt. Samhällsansvar och miljöansvar är inte någon prioritet vid studenternas val av livsmedel.</p><p>Slutsatsen vi kan dra av detta är att om KRAV vill nå ut till studenterna som målgrupp bör de lägga större betoning på de produktrelaterade attributen som studenterna anser vara av störst vikt (smak, nyttigt, kvalité, tillgänglighet). KRAV bör fortsätta sitt arbete med att ladda varumärket med hälsoargument och framhäva de attribut som studenterna värdesätter hög</p>

Research questions: How to create an engaging brand experience in marketing context? How does an engaging brand experience affect consumer attitudes and brand image? Purpose of the study: The authors propose that the relationship between brand experience and formation of brand loyalty can be mediated by brand affect: positive attitude and brand image. The study discovers the components of an engaging brand experience and indicates their effect on consumer attitudes and brand image. Conclusion: An engaging brand experience can be delivered by enabling seamless interaction between the consumer and the brand, involving the consumer with the brand at the consumer’s own will, and by ensuring that all the communication efforts as well as the content of each of the brand’s touch points is consistent. By delivering such brand experiences, positive attitudes and brand image; brand affect, can be generated and brand loyalty affected.

PiM's is young brand on the market, that is interesting by its courageous modern strategy. Main aim of my master thesis is reveal perception of the brand PiM's by consumers and compare it with its identity. Thesis is devided to theoretical and practical part. In theoretical part I defined term brand and its basic characterictics. Also I defined PiM's history and brand identity. In methodological part I chose and defined methods suited for analysis of the image. In practical part I applied methods as analysis of secondary data and survey by on-line questionaire. On these basis, I enlisted important information about image of the brand PiM's. By comparison of identity and image I reach the whole analysis of the image and I gave recommendations, how to built image successfully in the future.

Purpose- The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of co-branding on brand images from consumers’ perspectives and whether the result of co-branding is consistent with the companies’ expectations or not. Design/methodology/approach- A qualitative research approach is adopted to allow a deeper insight into the impacts of Supreme co-branding from consumers’ perspectives. We conducted in-depth exploratory interviews with 7 consumers of Supreme to analyze the effect of co-branding and explain our research questions. Findings- Branding negligence can cause losses in attracting customers. Co-branding strategy has more advantages than disadvantages. Co-branding partners will influence customers’ brand image. Research limitations- The paper only focuses on the fashion industry and the research object is limited to a single brand’s customers, Supreme fans, without exploring the opinions of consumers of other partner brands. In addition, the age and gender of sample subjects are not evenly distributed.

De globala miljöförändringarna kan inte längre förnekas, vilket skapat fler kritiska konsumenter, som ställer högre krav på företag att ta mer ansvar för sin produktion och förpackningar pekas ut som en stor miljöbov. Förpackningarnas fundamentala roll att skydda produkter under frakt har nu förändrats och förpackningar har gått till att vara återvunna, återanvändningsbara eller obefintliga. Paketeringen beskrivs inom marknadsföringsfältet som en viktig kommunikationskanal och många varumärken är inte villiga att ge upp denna fördel genom att totalt förändra dess utseende. Denna studie tar ansatsen att öka förståelsen för hur en ny typ av miljövänlig paketering; nakna produkter och återanvändningsbara förpackningar inom skönhetsindustrin, påverkar varumärkets image. Anledningen att detta område uppfattas som intressant utgår från att konsumenter får en positiv känsla av att agera miljövänligt men trots detta inte väljer de miljövänliga alternativen, vilket indikerar ett attityd- och beteendegap. Studiens syfte är därmed att öka förståelsen för hur företag inom skönhetsindustrin ska utforma alternativa förpackningslösningar på ett sätt som utvecklar varumärkets image. Denna studie har därför haft som avsikt att besvara problemformuleringen: Hur påverkar alternativa förpackningslösningar varumärkets image? Tidigare forskning visar att förpackningen är en bidragande faktor till den image, som varumärken uppfattas ha och att miljöarbete gynnar imagen positivt. Däremot så har få studier gjorts på hur miljövänliga förpackningar påverkar imagen. Tidigare forskning, som har genomförts inom matindustrin, konstaterade att minskningen av överpaketering är skadligt för varumärket men att liknande studier bör göras inom andra produktkategorier. Denna studie tar avstamp från tidigare studiers rekommendation om att undersöka andra produktkategorier. Skönhetsföretaget Lush har i dagsläget börjat introducera alternativa förpackningar och har därför använts som exempelföretag.   Forskningsfältet om hur alternativa förpackningar påverkar varumärket uppfattas som bristfälligt och det krävs mer kunskap för hur de påverkar varandra. Studien har därför tagit en kvalitativ forskningsansats och både djupintervjuer och kartläggningsövningar har genomförts. Studiens genomförande har tagit etiska riktlinjer i beaktning.   Studien bidrar till en förståelse för hur alternativa förpackningar påverkar varumärkesimagen, samt hur de kan användas för att utveckla varumärket. Fortsättningsvis så presenteras potentiella lösningar till de problem som alternativa förpackningar kan medföra. En väsentlig del av detta är associationer om att konsumenterna uppfattar alternativa förpackningslösningar som mer ohygieniska än traditionella. Denna hygienaspekt leder därmed till ett forskningsbidrag som till författarnas kännedom inte har återfunnits i tidigare studier. Slutligen har det forskningsgap som beskrivits täckts men behöver fortsatt forskning.

Background: Based on our professional experience supported by evidence from current brand literature, we have identified an on-going struggle for fashion brands when building and communicating brand image internally. Branding is about adding value and which is directly connected to the product itself. Theories support that clear and successful branding creates trust with stakeholders and is therefore important to a company’s profitability. If branding strategies and roles are not defined internally, image become ever more unclear once ideas are to be communicated to customers in store through sales personnel and products. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to explore what hinders companies in the fashion retail industry from profitably and effectively building and communicating brand image internally by identifying potential conflict areas in the value chain in order to provide a tool for overcoming those obstacles. Methodology: A qualitative research method carried through as a case study was conducted containing four interviews with people in key positions at two Swedish fashion retailers. Conclusion: Conclusively we have created a model which explains where and why conflicts occur when it comes to building brand image internally. Where there is a lack of communication between departments it clearly affects the brand image. Companies need to work according to guidelines and communicate amongst departments. / Program: Master Programme in Fashion Management