This report examines the role of Latino consumers, specifically looking at Mexican-Americans and their first generation experiences. It looks at how these experiences influence their consumption patterns. While observing the idea that first generation Latinos are much like ‘adolescent consumers’, a concept stemming from the idea that much like teenagers Latino immigrants are in a sense coming of age in this country. They are under a whole different set of social norms, cultural expectations and values different from their country of origin. This report proposes a reconsideration of the heuristics that marketers hold for Latino consumer spending habits. It maintains the idea that Latino consumer behaviors should be attributed and conceptualized as a process of maturation, not just based on culture and class. Lastly it re-examines the Customer Based Brand Equity model and places it in the context of the Latino consumer while keeping in mind the above framework about Latinos as adolescent consumers. / text

The increased competitive intensity in several global markets has encouraged firms which traditionally compete, to also collaborate with each other, that is coopetitive branding alliances. Coopetitive branding has, to the best of our knowledge, not been researched from a consumer perspective.Does this mean that consumers remain unaffected when two competitors all of a sudden also collaborate?The purpose of this thesis is to explore how consumers’ brand images can be affected by firms’coopetitive branding strategies. With support from existing alliance literature and an empirical studycomprised of four focus groups, an abductive research approach is adopted.The findings indicate four distinct parameters, which can influence an alliance’s outcome, from theperspective of a consumer’s positive or negative brand image - which is a vital component in consumer-based brand equity. The contradictory nature of simultaneous competition and collaborationmakes coopetitive branding more or less desirable, from a consumer perspective, under differentcircumstances, which need to be acknowledged and managed by the partnering firms. A suggestionfor future research is to examine a wider consumer segment and not only students, to validate thetransferability of our findings.The results contribute to the strategic alliances theory, since existing research has not examinedthe consumer perspective and brand image in relation to coopetitive branding alliances. The resultscan also provide managerial guidelines for firms that wish to understand what elements of a coopetitive branding alliance creates value with consumers.

Background: The global video game industry is today bigger than both the film- and music industry and is subject to a lot of competition. Companies are always looking for alternative ways to reach consumers and buzz is identified as a crucial success factor by many scholars. From real life examples, buzz is shown to have both positive and negative effects. There is however little knowledge about the phenomenon and what role buzz can play in the customer-based brand equity (CBBE) of video game companies. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding about buzz and examine what role it plays in customer-based brand equity for companies within the video game industry. Method: A deductive approach was adopted and in order to fulfil the purpose of the study, a qualitative study (i.e. a case study) was deemed suitable. Interviews were held with five companies within the video game industry. Also, observations were made of how the companies work with their promotion and creation of buzz during the pre-release period. Theoretical framework: The theoretical framework consists of theories regarding the buzz phenomenon and CBBE. These were combined in order to examine the potential role buzz plays in the context of CBBE. Findings: Buzz is shown to play a big role in the video game industry but is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain. It is also found that buzz can have a “life of its own” and become unmanageable through speculations. Speculations can lead to higher expectations and pseudo-promises[1], making buzz even more difficult to manage. Regarding CBBE, buzz plays a role in all aspects. However, it is shown to play a different role in the CBBE of video game companies depending on how high the brand loyalty is within that company. The study also results in a conceptual model, illustrating buzz and what role it plays in the CBBE of video game companies both pre-release and post-release.

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Background: Following the development brought by the digital age, social networks and consumer behaviour has significantly changed. The network connectivity of WEB 2.0 enables information to spread at an accelerated rate to a wide scope, creating viral demand. This phenomenon presents an opportunity for brands to increase their customer base. Building brand resonance through brand equity management will result in a stronger brand-to-consumer relationship from viral demand, leading to improved customer retention and overall brand growth. Purpose: This paper focuses on theory development of Kevin Keller’s (1993) CBBE model. The remodelling aims to strategize brand equity management to optimize long-term customer retention from viral demand based on Generation Z consumer behaviour. The framework provides value for brands as it allows to recognize key drivers influencing Gen-Z's customer retention within the context of virality. Method: The study follows a qualitative design, which is inspired by grounded theory methodology, enabling us to develop a framework based on the CBBE-model (Keller, 1993). An open-ended survey was conducted to understand Generation Z consumer behaviour during viral trends. The survey was systematically analysed, and empirical conclusions were made, respectively. Conclusion: An interest in product over brand during viral trends disrupts the customer retention longevity, explaining why the individual Gen-Z customer lifetime is rather short lived. Furthermore, the proposed CVRM model strategizes how to (1) create willingness for the customer to return and (2) how to prolong customer retention and thus generate long term benefits from a short-term phenomenon.

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to explore how environmentally sustainable efforts, in terms of circular economy (CE) initiatives, are affecting the customer-based brand equity (CBBE) of fast fashion brands. By considering the attitudes of Generation Z, fashion companies can build brands that respond to the environmental requirements of future decision-makers. Therefore, the following research questions are derived: What are Generation Z’s self-disclosed perceptions of fast fashion brands conducting circular economy initiatives? and How do the perceptions of Generation Z regarding circular economy initiatives impact the CBBE of fast fashion brands?  Method – This master thesis is an exploratory study with an inductive approach. In total, 12 qualitative interviews are conducted, consisting of consumers of fast fashion within Generation Z and currently living in Sweden. The interviews follow a semi-structured approach and in order to analyze the empirical findings, a thematic analysis was executed.  Findings – The main findings of this study consist of three overarching themes in terms of Generation Z’s perceptions towards fast fashion brands conducting CE initiatives and its impact on CBBE. The emerging perceptions describe different segments within Generation Z, which have been defined as Positive: Creates Value, Negative: Hypocritical, and Indifferent: Not relevant. Moreover, the results show that a positive perception towards CE initiatives can strengthen the CBBE of fast fashion brands. In contrast, a negative perception causes a small impact on CBBE and may even weaken the brand, whereas an indifferent perception towards CE initiatives has no noticeable impact on the CBBE.  Theoretical and practical contributions – The study provides insights into Generation Z's different perceptions regarding CE initiatives and how macro-environmental factors can impact the brand equity of fast fashion brands and consumer perception of these brands. The main findings can assist brand managers to address the different consumer segments and their needs by successfully implementing sustainability activities into the business operations of fast fashion brands.

Modern technology has provided for greater company transparency and media coverage, which among other has led to customers being able to increasingly demand corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives from companies. Companies should however not consider CSR as a constraint, but rather as a way to create competitive advantage, generating positive outcomes. One of which could be consumer-based brand equity (CBBE), however, the implementation of efficient CSR strategies is a difficult task, where research has somewhat disregarded the customer aspect of CSR, which can drive CBBE. Hence, this research has focused on the customer attitudes towards CSR and how this impacts CBBE, as well as brand trust. The data for the survey was gathered through a convenience sample, which after data cleanup consisted of 106 respondents. The results of the data analysis suggested the impact which customer attitudes towards CSR can have on both CBBE and brand trust, within the context of the insurance industry, used for this paper, due its linkage to CSR, as described later on. Keywords Customer Attitudes, Brand Affection, Brand Trust, Brand Equity, Consumer-Based Brand Equity (CBBE), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Insurance Industry.

The purpose of the thesis was to investigate how generation Z values ​​the customer-based brand equity of a consumer product. Generation Z is an interesting generation to study since they have shown to differ in a variety of aspects from previous generations. To answer the purpose, a model has been constructed, which is based on previous research. The model consists of the components; brand awareness, brand associations/image, perceived quality and brand loyalty. Together the components form the cornerstones of the customer-based brand equity. Eight hypotheses were tested with the purpose of measuring the interrelationship between the components, and the relationship between the various components and the customer-based brand equity. Six of these eight hypotheses could be accepted. The result showed that the components brand association/image and brand loyalty have a positive impact on the customer-based brand equity, while brand awareness and perceived quality showed a non-significant result. The non-significant results were then further examined through t-test, with the purpose of trying to find possible reasons for the outcome. Moreover, the results showed that brand awareness has a positive correlation with both brand associations/image and perceived quality. Finally, the result showed that brand loyalty was positively correlated to both brand associations/image and perceived quality. For further research, it is proposed that a more comprehensive study consisting of more respondents from generation Z should be conducted. In addition, further research could be based on other consumer products and also examine whether there could be more or other components that should be considered when measuring customer-based brand equity. / Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur generation Z värderar det kundbaserade varumärkeskapitalet hos en konsumentprodukt. Det är intressant att undersöka generation Z då de på många sätt visat skilja sig från tidigare generationer. För att besvara syftet har en modell utformats som är baserad på tidigare forskning. Modellen består av komponenterna; varumärkeskännedom, varumärkesassociationer/image uppfattad kvalitet, och varumärkeslojalitet. Komponenterna utgör tillsammans grundstenarna för det kundbaserade varumärkeskapitalet. Åtta hypoteser utformades för samband inbördes mellan komponenterna samt även de olika komponenternas påverkan på det kundbaserade varumärkeskapitalet. Av dessa åtta hypoteser kunde sex av dem accepteras. Resultatet visade att komponenterna varumärkesassociation/image och varumärkeslojalitet har positiv påverkan på det kundbaserade varumärkeskapitalet, medan komponenterna varumärkeskännedom och uppfattad kvalitet visade ett icke signifikant resultat. De icke signifikanta resultaten som erhölls undersöktes vidare genom t-tester i ett försök att hitta en förklaring till resultaten. Inbördes bland komponenterna visade resultatet att varumärkeskännedom har ett positivt samband till både varumärkesassociationer/image och uppfattad kvalitet. Slutligen visade studien på att varumärkeslojalitet har ett positivt samband till både varumärkesassociationer/image och uppfattad kvalitet. För fortsatt forskning föreslås bland annat att en mer omfattande studie bestående av fler respondenter från generation Z genomförs. Utöver det hade det för fortsatt forskning varit intressant att basera studier på andra konsumentprodukter, och även undersöka om det finns fler eller andra komponenter som bör tas hänsyn till vid mätningen av det kundbaserade varumärkeskapitalet.

The goal of my diploma thesis is to describe and evaluate relationship of young people in Czech Republic towards brands. In first chapter I describe historical development of marketing approach towards brands, the function of a brand, its elements and the differences between brands and products. I mention and compare two diverse concepts of brand management - Kellers CBBE concept and Roberts Lovemarks concept. In the second chapter I characterize young Czechs at the age between 15 and 30. I do so thanks to information gathered from different sociological studies and from papers about phenomenom of generation Y. Last chapter follows the previous two and is purely about relationship of young pepople towards brands. I used for it facts described in the thesis above and data that I get from particular qualitative research as well as quantitative research that I realised by myself.

Fotbollssupportrar återkommer till en klubbs matcher även om de senaste resultaten har varit dåliga. Referensgrupper har visat sig kunnat påverka supporterlojaliteten som vidare påverkar ett varumärkes supporterbaserade kapital. Tidigare studier har visat att stjärnspelare, arena, coach med mera påverkar en fotbollsklubbs varumärkskapital, detta i kontexten av proffsklubbar. Utifrån bristen av denna kunskap gällande mindre fotbollsklubbar i Sverige uppkom frågan hur varumärkeskapital byggs för dem. För landsbygdsklubbar blir denna varumärkesbyggande kunskap extra betydande med hänvisning till dess problematik med exempelvis knappa resurser. Studien syftar därmed till att undersöka vilka faktorer som spelar in i den supporterbaserade varumärkesvärderingen av mindre fotbollsklubbar. Detta i perspektivet av stads – och landsbygdsklubbar i de lägre divisionerna i den svenska fotbollen. Som teoretisk utgångspunkt användes Aakers ofta citerade modell om varumärkeskapital.  För att besvara detta syfte användes en kvantitativ metod där supportrar till tre klubbar svarade på en enkät. Datan möjliggjorde korrelationsanalyser mellan de teoretiskt identifierade faktorerna och supportrarnas direkta värdering, för att kunna analysera huruvida faktorn var betydande eller ej. Resultatet visar på att varumärkesassociationerna hade starkast samband med värderingen, både för stads – och landsbygdsklubb. Med kunskapen om att faktorerna påverkade varandra skapades modeller för respektive klubbgrupp för att urskilja vilka faktorer som hade störst förklaring av värderingen. Slutsatsen blev att för landsbygdsklubbar inkluderades det i fallande ordning varumärkesassociationer, första klubb, klubbhistoria och identitet. För stadsklubbsmodellen inkluderades det i fallande ordning varumärkesassociationer, identitet och bevittnad klubbhistoria. Sammanfattat betyder det att det skiljer sig något mellan vilka grunder supportern värderar klubben utifrån, beroende på om det är en stads – eller landsbygdsklubb. / Soccer supporters will continue to watch a club’s games even if they have lost their recently played matches. It has been stated that reference groups are able to affect the loyalty of supporters and thereby affect the supporter-based brand equity. Studies has shown that for example star players, the arena and the head coach affect the brand equity of professional soccer brands. There is a lack of equivalent knowledge in the context of smaller city and countryside clubs. For the countryside clubs this knowledge could be stated as more important since their problematics with example lacking resources. Thereby, this study aims to investigate which factors the supporter-based brand equity is based on, depending on if it is a city or countryside club. The perspective of this study constitute of clubs thar are active in the lower divisions in Sweden. As theoretical base, the often-used brand equity model by Aaker is used.  To fulfill the aim, a quantitative research was done where the supporters of three soccer clubs answered a survey. The data made it possible to carry out correlations analyses between the theoretically found factors and the supporters’ direct valuations. This enabled to state if the factors were of importance or not. The results indicates that brand associations are the most important factor for both club categories. The knowledge of correlations between the factors made it necessary to develop a model that explains which factor that affect the equity the most. The conclusion for countryside clubs is, in descending order, that brand associations, first club, club history and identity affect the supporter-based band equity. For city clubs the descending order of affecting factors is brand associations, identity and witnessed club history. By this, it could be concluded that there is a small difference in which factors affecting the supporter-based brand equity between the club categories.