This research aims to examine a framework to test the relationships between consumers' perceptions of a retailer's brand personality and outcome variables (i.e., positive word-of-mouth about and patronage intention toward the retailer) by applying identity and social identity theories to reveal possible factors influencing these relationships in both department and discount retailer image formats. This research hypothesized that retailer brand personality should influence consumers' behavioral outcomes through private and public forms of self-congruity. The more positive the perception of a retailer's brand personality, the higher the private and public self-congruities with the brand personality. In addition, considering the unique, tangible nature of a store's environment, this research suggested that retailer brand identity (RBI), a consumer's perception of oneness with a retailer brand, should play an important role in the retailer brand personality-behavioral outcomes framework by mediating the influences of both private and public self-congruities on various behavioral outcomes. Moreover, the relationships among two forms of self-congruity and perceived RBI should be moderated by the shopping conspicuousness situation (i.e., whether co-shopping with important others or alone and whether shopping in an environment in which one is visible to important others or is relatively secluded) and consumer shopping involvement (i.e., whether consumers see shopping as an important and self-relevant activity). To test the study's hypotheses, data were collected from a sample of 616 general consumers via a self-administered questionnaire provided through the website of an online survey research firm. This research used a 2 (retailer image format) X 2 (shopping situation conspicuousness) between-subjects quasi-experimental design in which subjects were randomly assigned to one of the four treatment groups who read a scenario that provided a description of a retailer image format of either a hypothetical department (n = 311) or discount store (n = 305) and a description that manipulated the shopping situation as being either high (n = 303) or low (n = 313) in shopping conspicuousness. Results revealed that the retailer brand personality scale, adapted from BPS, a brand personality scale developed by Aaker (1997) and other scales specifically used to measure retailer brand personality (Dardin & Babin, 1994; d'Astous & Lévesque, 2003; Helgeson & Supphellen, 2004) comprised two positive dimensions (i.e., Modish and Genuine) and one negative dimension (Inactive). Each dimension influenced the behavioral outcomes of Word-of-Mouth and Patronage Intention differently. Perceived Genuineness was the most influential dimension among the three, exerting direct and indirect influences through increasing Private and Public Self-congruities and overall RBI on both WOM and Patronage Intention. However, Modish had only a direct negative effect on Patronage Intentions whereas Inactive had indirect effects on both behavioral outcomes through a combined (direct and indirect) negative effect on overall RBI. This research also revealed that overall RBI, driven by its affective and evaluative dimensions, fully mediated the influences of Private and Public Self-congruities on behavioral outcomes, suggesting overall RBI as an important factor in the retailer brand personality-behavioral outcomes framework. Moreover, the relationship between Public Self-congruity and overall RBI was found to be stronger in the high Shopping Conspicuousness Situation whereas the relationship between Private Self-congruity and overall RBI was found to be stronger in the department store image format. The moderating role of Consumer Shopping Involvement on the relationships among self-congruities and overall RBI was not significant. Theoretical and managerial implications of these findings and limitations of the study are provided.

This study explored the inferences male children held about the brand personality. The sample included 46 male fifth graders. Personal interviews were conducted and the results were compiled and interpreted using descriptive statistics. Four subject areas were addressed: identification and inferences about brand personality, sources of inferences, children's ability to make inferences about other children based on brand personality, and application of brand personality to self. Results indicated children make inferences about brand personality, make inferences about other children based on brand personality, and apply brand personality to themselves. An attempt to identify sources of inferences was inconclusive.

O grande crescimento da comunicação boca a boca, principalmente após a popularização da internet e redes sociais, aumentou a circulação de opiniões sem que o indivíduo tenha consumido, utilizado ou até mesmo tido algum tipo de contato com o produto. Por isso, é necessário que as empresas entendam melhor quais características devem promover em suas marcas para aumentar o valor percebido pelo cliente, proteger-se do boca-a-boca negativo e estimular o positivo. Assim, o objetivo do trabalho é analisar as inter-relações entre personalidade de marca, valor percebido e atitude e seus efeitos preditivos sobre o boca-a-boca entre os consumidores antes da compra. Neste estudo descritivo foram obtidas 1.156 respostas on-line para a utilização de modelagem de equações estruturais. Foram aplicadas ferramentas estatísticas preparatórias, que validaram os dados para aplicação do método PLS, permitindo estimar uma série de relações de dependência entre variáveis latentes. Foi confirmado que uma cadeia de eventos anterior à compra, formada pelos construtos sob análise e moderada pela familiaridade com a marca e envolvimento com o produto, resulta na intenção do consumidor realizar o boca-a-boca, especialmente o positivo. Quando percebidos, a competência da marca e os atributos emocionais do produto tendem a se sobressair ao preço e influenciar com maior relevância a atitude do consumidor para estímulo ao boca-a-boca. / As internet and social media usage expands, significant growth in word-of-mouth communication has increased consumers\' opinion-sharing about products and brands, regardless they ever having used, consumed, or been in contact with such products. For this reason, it is crucial for companies to better understand the cognitive and emotional aspects of such consumer behavior in order to protect their brands from negative word-of-mouth and stimulate positive mentions. Therefore, this work aims at analyzing the interrelations between brand personality, perceived value and attitude, as well as their predictive effects in word-of-mouth communications between customers before the purchase. In this descriptive study, 1,156 self-administered questionnaires data was subjected to Structural Equation Modeling analysis. Statistical analysis validated the data for PLS path modeling which, in turn, allowed estimation of several dependent interrelationships between latent variables in a model developed from literature. Results suggest that a chain of events, comprised by the analyzed constructs and moderated by brand familiarity and product involvement, results in customer\'s intention to engage in predominantly positive word-of-mouth prior to the purchase. When actually perceived, brand competence and emotional attributes overweight price perception in influencing customer\'s attitude toward word-of-mouth behavior.

O grande crescimento da comunicação boca a boca, principalmente após a popularização da internet e redes sociais, aumentou a circulação de opiniões sem que o indivíduo tenha consumido, utilizado ou até mesmo tido algum tipo de contato com o produto. Por isso, é necessário que as empresas entendam melhor quais características devem promover em suas marcas para aumentar o valor percebido pelo cliente, proteger-se do boca-a-boca negativo e estimular o positivo. Assim, o objetivo do trabalho é analisar as inter-relações entre personalidade de marca, valor percebido e atitude e seus efeitos preditivos sobre o boca-a-boca entre os consumidores antes da compra. Neste estudo descritivo foram obtidas 1.156 respostas on-line para a utilização de modelagem de equações estruturais. Foram aplicadas ferramentas estatísticas preparatórias, que validaram os dados para aplicação do método PLS, permitindo estimar uma série de relações de dependência entre variáveis latentes. Foi confirmado que uma cadeia de eventos anterior à compra, formada pelos construtos sob análise e moderada pela familiaridade com a marca e envolvimento com o produto, resulta na intenção do consumidor realizar o boca-a-boca, especialmente o positivo. Quando percebidos, a competência da marca e os atributos emocionais do produto tendem a se sobressair ao preço e influenciar com maior relevância a atitude do consumidor para estímulo ao boca-a-boca. / As internet and social media usage expands, significant growth in word-of-mouth communication has increased consumers\' opinion-sharing about products and brands, regardless they ever having used, consumed, or been in contact with such products. For this reason, it is crucial for companies to better understand the cognitive and emotional aspects of such consumer behavior in order to protect their brands from negative word-of-mouth and stimulate positive mentions. Therefore, this work aims at analyzing the interrelations between brand personality, perceived value and attitude, as well as their predictive effects in word-of-mouth communications between customers before the purchase. In this descriptive study, 1,156 self-administered questionnaires data was subjected to Structural Equation Modeling analysis. Statistical analysis validated the data for PLS path modeling which, in turn, allowed estimation of several dependent interrelationships between latent variables in a model developed from literature. Results suggest that a chain of events, comprised by the analyzed constructs and moderated by brand familiarity and product involvement, results in customer\'s intention to engage in predominantly positive word-of-mouth prior to the purchase. When actually perceived, brand competence and emotional attributes overweight price perception in influencing customer\'s attitude toward word-of-mouth behavior.

Darbe nagrinėjamos vartotojo asmenybės savybių (ektraversijos, intraversijos, emocinio labilumo ir emocinio stabilumo) bei prekinio ženklo „asmenybės“ savybių (nuoširdumas, jaudinimas, kompetencija, rafinuotumas ir stiprumas) rodiklių sąsajos, atsižvelgiant į 3 prekinio ženklo pateikimo modelius (simbolinis, materialus ir asociatyvus). Siekiant sumažinti šalutinių kintamųjų įtaką rezultatams, stimulu buvo pasirinktas neutralus (nei aukšto, nei žemo įsitraukimo), neegzistuojančio prekinio ženklo produktas – mineralinis vanduo. Tyrime dalyvavo 300 tiriamųjų (227 moterys ir 73 vyrai). Amžiaus ribos 18 – 36 metų (vidurkis 20,39). Nustatyta, jog prekinio ženklo „asmenybės“ simbolinio modelio pateikimo atveju savybių suvokimas nesiskiria ekstravertų ir intravertų grupėse, t.y. ekstravertai ir intravertai šias savybes suvokia vienodai. Materialaus modelio pateikimo atveju prekinio ženklo suvokimo skirtumų tarp ekstravertų ir intravertų taip pat nepastebėta. Tokia pati tendencija stebima ir asociatyvaus prekinio ženklo pateikimo modelio atveju. Nagrinėjant vartotojų neurotiškumą nustatyta, jog simbolinio prekinio ženklo pateikimo modelio atveju statistiškai reikšmingai skyrėsi prekinio ženklo jaudinimo, kompetencijos ir rafinuotumo savybių suvokimas, t.y. emociškai labilūs vartotojai šias savybes suvokė kaip labiau išreikštas lyginant su emociškai stabiliais. Materialaus prekinio ženklo pateikimo modelio atveju emociškai labilūs vartotojai prekinio ženklo jaudinimo ir stiprumo... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The present thesis focuses on the connection between the consumer personality traits (extroversion, introversion, emotional stability and emotional lability) and perception of brand personality traits (sincere, excitement, competence, sophistication and ruggedness, according to three brand presentation models (symbolic, material and associative). Stimulus was neutral (neither low, neither high involvement), unknown brand product – mineral water, with the purpose to reduce the effects of secondary variables. 300 respondents participated in the research. The distribution of respondents according to the gender was 227 women and 73 men, the boundaries of age were from 18 to 36 (20,39 on average). It has been determinated that there are no differences in the brand personality perception between extroverts and introverts when brand is presented in the symbolic model, i.e. the perception of brand personality is the same among extroverts and introverts. There were no differences in the perception of brand personality among extroverts and introverts when the brand was presented in material model. The same tendency was observed when brand was presented in associative model. Examining consumers’ neuroticism it was developed that emotional label consumers brand personality perceived as more exciting, competence and sophisticated in comparison with emotional stable consumers when brand was presented in the symbolic model. When brand was presented in the material model emotional label... [to full text]

在品牌權益及品牌性格越來越受重視的環境之下，台灣服務業要如何脫穎而出？為能更深入了解台灣服務業應如何在這當中著力，本研究將以台灣服務業中西式速食連鎖店作為研究對象，加以探討品牌性格及品牌權益間關係，其中包含：品牌性格對品牌權益的影響、消費者知覺的品牌性格是否會因速食業者之不同而有差異及消費者知覺的品牌權益是否會因速食業者之不同而有差異。 經由研究問題延生到文獻蒐集，並同時透過專家訪談及消費者前測來擬定最後的正式問卷後，本研究在台灣服務業中西式速食連鎖店發現有三：消費者知覺到品牌性格確實會因速食業者之不同而有顯著差異、消費者知覺到品牌權益確實會因速食業者之不同而有顯著差異與消費者知覺的品牌性格，對於品牌權益有顯著影響。 而在這樣的發現之下，更建議台灣西式速食服務業者能更加重視品牌性格及品牌權益，因透過本研究發現，消費者確實會因為業者品牌性格塑造的清楚與否加以影響到業者本身品牌權益，而這對於日漸重視的品牌的台灣來說，影響更為深遠。

In October 2017, the Olympic Committee rendered official its decision to consider electronic sports (eSports) as sports. The global eSports market was valued at nearly 493 million U.S. dollars in 2016, with 80% of the revenues coming from sponsorship. Sponsorship has become an important matter for organizations, since it can be a powerful tool to establish or change a company’s brand image; indeed, more than 600 sponsorship agreements were signed in 2016 in the eSport industry. This paper aims at finding out how do sport and eSport enthusiasts differ in their perception of the brand image of a sponsoring brand. The study was conducted by using combined research methods. First, we used a qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews, in order to get a better understanding of the general context. Then a questionnaire was used to fully understand the differences and similarities between sport and eSport enthusiasts, and to identify the variables that impact the sponsorship response (measured by favour, interest, and use). The variables studied were event image, perceived fit, attitudes towards the brand as a sponsor, brand personality, brand associations, self-concepts and brand identification. The results show that sport enthusiasts are more impacted by factors such as brand identification and self-concepts, while brand associations matter for both groups.

The vast majority of research based on brand gender has been developed focusing on consumers’ perspectives and behaviour. The implications of studying different perceptions of a brand’s gender can be related to brand equity, since this term is strongly associated with brand personality. Furthermore, as consumers reinforce themselves and their self-concept through brand identification, implications regarding self-representation are emphasized in terms of self-congruency having significant influence in brandcustomer relationships. During this thesis, a new holistic firm perspective approach was applied to brand gender. Acne Studios, iconic fashion brand based in Stockholm, was analysed and constituted as case study, aimed to comprehend how a brand could be perceived and identified as androgynous. Several brand related elements, covering a wide spectrum from typography to brand’s portfolio, including garment analysis, as well as brand presentation and communication features were studied in order to provide a whole picture of the firm’s gender comprehension. Using as a starting point androgyny definition as the sum of the feminine and the masculine, the setting of brand´s gender was further expanded as a result of the analysis performed for covering all possible gender identifications. Overall, this study conveys a broad and inclusive understanding of gender within the fashion brand Acne Studios and its elements to deepen and provide a new perspective within marketing and gender research.

This diploma thesis focuses on strengthening the company’s competitiveness through the use of online marketing tools. On the basis of theoretical knowledge from specialized literature and analysis of the company’s current state, proposals contributing to the brand’s promotion with the help of selected online marketing tools (SEO, PPC, social networks) are developed.

The master´s thesis is focused on strengthening the competitiveness of the bank through the development of its brands. The current situation of the company is analyzed according to the theoretical knowledge and methodology Ko Floor. Subsequently, the company compared to selected competitors. Based on the comparison and further analysis for the firm set of measures involving their own proposals to support brand development.