This study investigates the consumers' intention towards Internet shopping. The Theory of Planned Behavior is used to predict behavioral intention (BI), which is a function of attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control (PBC). The effects of demographic and personal variables on BI are also examined. Data analysis (n = 303) indicates that attitude, subjective norm, perceptions of behavioral controls, and previous purchases are significant predictors of behavioral intention. Product/Convenience, Customer Service (attitude factors), Purchase and Delivery, Promotional Offers, Product Attribute (factors of PBC), subjective norm, hours spent online, money spent online, and previous purchases discriminate respondents of high BI from low BI. Behavioral intention of shopping online is highest for Specialty Products followed by Personal, Information Intensive, and Household Products.

M.A. (Communication) / The study firstly proposed that marketing communication be approached within a social-psychological framework, where market related information is subject to both internal (cognitive) and external or social influences, specifically reference groups. The concept of information seeking within this framework implies that the consumer is actively involved in the interchange of market-related information, and that he actively seeks information relevant to his goals in the purchase situation. A broad spectrum of literature on information seeking was subsequently reviewed, which was then systemized according to the nature and sources of information seeking. It was established that normative social influence (which implies that the self concept determines information seeking) is found to operate only for informal personal sources and formal non-personal sources. Further, it was stated that where social influence is normative, it will impact only on consumer information seeking for social products. Based on this model, a number of propositions regarding the nature and sources of consumer information seeking for social products were formulated. These propositions formed the basis of the empirical part of the study. Items drawing on the propositions were incorporated into a Likert-type questionnaire which was handed to a stratified random sample of student consumers.

M. Tech. (Marketing, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / Research on apparel store choice and patronage has been widely studied locally and internationally. However, it is still important to understand consumers’ purchase behaviour and to develop appropriate retailing strategy. South Africa is currently experiencing a substantial growth in retail infrastructure especially in townships. Formal retailers are now expanding into township markets. Most of those retailers differentiated themselves from their competitors by developing a corporate identity, inter-alia through their store image. The purpose of the research was to examine apparel store selection criteria amongst black consumers in Soweto. In addition, this research examined the relationship between store satisfaction and loyalty. The literature review focuses on consumer behaviour variables and store image variables influential in store selection. The review was necessary to provide an overview of how consumers decide where, how and when to shop. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 489 respondents who were selected using non-probability convenience sampling. The sample size comprised sportswear apparel shoppers (blacks), both male and female, 18 years and older who patronised three shopping malls, namely Protea Gardens, Southgate, and Jabulani Mall. Data were analysed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), mean rankings, the Mann Whitney U test, correlation analysis and regression. Six factors were found to be appropriate to capture the dimensions of store selection. These factors were labelled sales assistant, store atmospherics, store appeal (interior/exterior), in-store induced appeals, promotion/brand availability and store accessibility. Furthermore, the data obtained revealed a strong linear relationship between satisfaction and loyalty as well as significant relationship amongst the dimensions of store selection. Regression analysis revealed that promotion/brand availability and store satisfaction are strong predictors of loyalty. The Mann Whitney U test revealed no significant difference in the store choice dimensions between female and male respondents. The recommendations arising from the current study could help retailers understand what motivates shoppers to select one store amongst other stores. The identification of in-store and out-of-store activities that encourage consumers to stay store loyal, are critical to the success of retail businesses. Future studies may be extended on the purchase of other products apart from sportswear items.

The purpose of this study is to critically diagnose and review the current available knowledge of social media in retail. Particularly, this review concentrates on influences of social media in consumer behaviour within the online retail context. This study aims to identify gaps in the literature, and give recommendations for further research. The review uses a descriptive research method when gathering and summarising the data about social media in online retail. The studies included in this review are very recent; from the years 2009 to 2017. Chosen existing studies are analysed in comparison to traditional literature and linked to Cumberland’s philosophy. Moreover, how traditional literature can still be used to support current phenomena. Conclusions are drawn to emphasize that Cumberland’s theories can be applied to modern society and social media is noted as a tool used by man to pursue ”Universal Benevolence”. Future research should concentrate on further understanding this relationship. The review provides important information about how social media influences consumer purchasing behaviour in online retail, which is of particular interest for marketers and managers of that field.

A problem of non-acceptance of new information technologies becomes a predominant obstacle that results in companies’ losses and represents an arena of avid debate for researchers. Hereof this netnographic study explores changes in the individual beliefs that contribute to new information system acceptance such as autopilot in the light of the Technology Acceptance model (TAM). The research takes place within three automobile communities related to Tesla Motors and uses content analysis for its collected data. Based on the findings new influencers on individual beliefs emerge hence the research proposes to incorporate these determinants into the adopted TAM model. This study has theoretical, practical and methodological contributions.

With changing environments and the development of technology, the online marketplace is a relevant field in need of continuous study. As consumer act and behave differently due to cultural aspects as well as individual characteristics and external influences, there is a need for research in order to understand their behavior in this changing marketplace. This paper investigates the elements of Swedish online consumers’ pre-purchase journeys, and sought out to contribute in terms of illustrating the online shopping journey in today’s online environment from a consumer perspective. It does so based on a quantitative study in the form of an online survey based on 265 Swedish respondents. The findings and contribution add information to the field of online shopping as well as mention some differences among online shoppers, mainly in terms of gender. In addition to contributing in terms of the different elements and steps involved in the online shopping journey, a model is presented illustrating the steps in a more fluid depiction that recognizes several touchpoints across the journey. The limitations are indicated in terms of time and scope, as well as in terms of relying on quantitative findings to a great extent. Future recommendations suggest continuous research in terms of the online shopping journey, as well as the combination with qualitative research in order to strengthen the method. The study contributions can be both managerial as well as for practitioners in terms contributing to existing research and providing a simple yet comprehensive illustration of the online consumer journey.

This dissertation is focused on exploring differences of perception of body image in consumer marketing in two relatively diverse cultural backgrounds - the United States and China - on a sample of respondents (university students), their fundamental differences in perceptions of ideal body image, differences in attitude to decorate, and modify body. Using content analysis of selected print media portrayed examines differences in female and male bodies in advertising in both countries examined, including analysis of product categories.

This dissertation extends our understanding of how rivalries are formed, what their antecedents are, and how and why they influence consumer choices. Furthermore, the psychological processes underlying the rivalry effects and the moderating effects of temporal focus are uncovered.

L’objectif de cette thèse est d’explorer la consommation de contrefaçon non trompeuse qui se présente lorsque les consommateurs reconnaissent que le produit n'est pas authentique dans le cadre des marques de luxe. Les objectifs et les problématiques de la recherche sont exposés : Les valeurs de la marque prédisent-Elles la consommation de contrefaçon de celle-Ci ? La possession de la marque contrefaite influence-T-Elle l’achat de la marque authentique ? Quelle influence la connaissance de la marque peut avoir dans la consommation de produits contrefaits ? A l’issu d’une revue de littérature et une approche qualitative auprès de 25 consommateurs chinois qui permet de comprendre en profondeur les motivations de la consommation de produits contrefaits, le modèle conceptuel construit autour de neuf hypothèses est proposé. Les résultats des hypothèses montrent que l’ostentation, le plaisir auto-Géré, la sensibilité à la mode et l’envie aux autres affectent positivement la possession de marques de produits de contrefaçon. La possession de la contrefaçon des produits de marque modère la relation entre l’image de la marque et l’intention d’achat de la marque. La connaissance de la marque comme variable modératrice, possèdent des effets interaction significatifs pour les variables l’ostentation, le plaisir autogéré, et l’envie aux autres. Cette thèse a contribué à une meilleure explication de la consommation des marques de produits de contrefaçon. Elle a apporté également des implications théoriques et pratiques, du point de vue académique et apporte des connaissances qui proposent des méthodes à lutter contre les consommations des marques de produis de contrefaçon. / The current thesis focuses on the non-Deceptive counterfeits, which means that the consumers intentionally purchase fake products. The thesis aims to answer three important questions: Can different brand value predict the consumers’ counterfeit consumption? Dose counterfeit branded product ownership alters consumers’ authentic branded product purchase behavior? Will brand knowledge interact with consumer values in consuming counterfeit branded product?We introduce and review the literature relating to counterfeiting, and an exploratory qualitative approach to explore counterfeit consumption. The conceptual model is formed on the basis of the literature review and the results of exploratory qualitative analysis, which constituted by nine research hypotheses.The results find a positive relationship between conspicuousness and consumers’ counterfeit branded product ownership. The influence of self-Directed pleasure, the fashion consciousness, and envying others on counterfeit branded product ownership is also supported. The moderator effect of counterfeit branded product ownership on the relationship between brand image and brand purchase intention is supported.The interaction term of brand knowledge is significant on the relationship of related value factors (conspicuousness, self-Directed pleasure, envying others) and consumers’ counterfeit ownership.The present thesis contributes a comprehensive understanding of the consumer demand for counterfeits. The findings offer brand managers a foundation from which they can start to deliberate effective methods to fight against counterfeit in the luxury brand sector.

This study examines the influence of various facets of perceived risk on the attitudes toward really new services (RNS) and adoption intentions. Although there is considerable research examining perceived risk and consumer adoption of innovations, three aspects of the relationship have been neglected. First, much of the research on really new innovations is product-focused with little attention to services. Second, there is limited research examining perceived risk as a multidimensional construct. Third, consumer characteristics that affect the relationship between perceived risks and adoption intentions have not been included in most of the innovation studies. Thus, this study seeks to provide answers to the questions of “which types of perceived risk are more likely to affect adoption intentions of RNS?” and “which consumer characteristics affect the relationship between perceived risks and adoption intentions of RNS?”. The findings of the study show the influence of perceived risk in the service innovations area. We contribute to theory and practice by identifying the specific risks that cause consumers to resist adopting RNS as well as showing the explanatory power of Regulatory Focus Theory (RFT) to understand why consumers react differently when they encounter service innovations. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection