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National branding and Country-of-origin strategy (COO) has not only shown to be convenient for research, but also of considerable importance and interest for companies to enhance competitive advantage. With constantly increasing product range on the markets and continually new technology in the society, the buying behaviour and customer preferences have changed. The customer evaluates not only the product regarding its function or physical capacity, but also regarding the product's intangible value, such as its COO. The purpose with this study was to provide a deeper understanding about how a multinational company's (henceforth MNC) use of COO in their brand communication, can be described. To realize and accomplish the purpose, two research questions were formulated which this study had the intention to answer. The first research question was meant to describe what channels in the communication process a multinational company can use to communicate their brand. The second research question was meant to describe how a multinational company can use COO in the message component of the communication process. The fundamental purpose of the thesis in question was descriptive. The study was performed by observing a multinational case company. The observation of case company was performed partly with an interview and partly with a content analysis. The interview was held with a representative of the case company. The content analysis of case company was performed by reviewing websites in two different countries. As a result, we found that the case company, which represented a multinational company (MNC), among other channels, used paper catalogues and websites as a channel in the communication process. The study also showed that different COO strategies can be used complementary in the message component in the company´s communication process, with the aim to attain competitive advantage among other companies on the market.

Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka vilka effekter COO har på svenska konsumenter gällande varumärken och produkter med ursprung från Kina.  Metod: Studien har utgått från en deduktiv process med en kvantitativ metod. Dock använder studien inte hypoteser utan istället en frågeställning för att ha möjligheten att analysera resultaten mer fritt. Data har samlats in genom en webbaserad enkät som publicerades på sociala kanaler. Totalt kom 112 svar in varav 4 resulterade i bortfall, vilket till följd gav 108 användbara svar. Datan analyserades genom att utföra en korrelationsanalys samt en deskriptiv analys genom statistikprogrammet Jamovi. Resultat och slutsats: Undersökningen indikerar att svenska konsumenters köpbeteende i hög grad påverkas av ursprungslandseffekter (Country-of-origin effects, förkortat COO). Effekterna av COO visade sig vara särskilt stora vid utvärdering av kinesiska produkter, där svenska konsumenter visade sig ha en tydlig negativ uppfattning av produkter med detta ursprung. Detta gällde i synnerhet för den undersökta produktkategorin bilar där få konsumenter kunde tänka sig att köpa en kinesisk bil jämfört med andra ursprung. Trots detta rankade svenska konsumenter ursprung betydligt lägre än andra attribut vid köp, vilket tyder på att effekterna av COO vid bilköp underskattades av svenska konsumenter.  Examensarbetets bidrag: Denna studie bidrar med kunskap om hur COO påverkar svenska konsumenter vid bilköp, samt hur svenska konsumenter uppfattar kinesiska produkter. Den bidrar även med information om hur svenska konsumenter rankar olika attribut vid bilköp. / Aim: The purpose of this study is to examine the Country-of-origin effects on Swedish consumers regarding Chinese brands and products Method: The study is based on a deductive process that uses a quantitative method. The study does not use hypotheses, instead a research question was concluded. This choice was made to have the opportunity to analyze the results more freely. Data was collected through a web-based survey that was published on social channels. A total of 112 responses were received, of which 4 resulted in non-response and 108 usable. The data was analyzed by performing a correlational- and descriptive analysis through the statistical program Jamovi. Result & Conclusions: The results from the study indicates that Swedish consumers purchasing behavior is greatly influenced by the country-of-origin effect. The country-oforigin effect was found to be particularly large when evaluating Chinese products. Swedish consumers were found to have a negative perception of products with this origin. This was particularly true for the investigated product category, where few consumers could imagine themselves buying a Chinese car compared to other origins. Despite this, Swedish consumers ranked origin lower than other attributes when purchasing, which suggests that the countryof-origin effect in car purchases were underestimated by Swedish consumers. Contribution of the Thesis: This study contributes with knowledge about how country of origin affects Swedish consumers when buying a car, as well as how Swedish consumers perceive Chinese products. It also contributes with information about how Swedish consumers rank various attributes when buying a car.

Background: This study will be beneficial for Swedish companies that wish to enter the French market and will also benefit companies in France that have something to do with Sweden or that are playing on the Swedish origin. The outcome of this study will give a perspective on Swedishness in Swedish companies, brands and products with French consumers.References to places and countries such as French wine, Hollywood movies, and Russian roulette are examples of how the origin of countries can create associations influencing consumers' product evaluation and buying behaviour. In the process of understanding French consumers' product country image in relation to Sweden, it is important to map their buying behaviour and associations to Swedish companies, brands and products. The consumer perception of the country of origin can together with other attributes add brand equity to a company, brand or a product. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand how Swedishness in Swedish brands and products influences the perception of quality and to assist companies in their decision making on how to market in France. Conclusion: French consumers are influenced by global and national perceptions of countries of origin. Swedishness and Scandinavia have a particularly good reputation with French consumers. This influence is high and influences the consumers' quality-perception process through various influencers. Presentation of figures that can be used as generic figures when considering the influencers of your country's image when marketing cross-nationally.

<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study will be beneficial for Swedish companies that wish to enter the French market and will also benefit companies in France that have something to do with Sweden or that are playing on the Swedish origin. The outcome of this study will give a perspective on Swedishness in Swedish companies, brands and products with French consumers.References to places and countries such as French wine, Hollywood movies, and Russian roulette are examples of how the origin of countries can create associations influencing consumers' product evaluation and buying behaviour. In the process of understanding French consumers' product country image in relation to Sweden, it is important to map their buying behaviour and associations to Swedish companies, brands and products. The consumer perception of the country of origin can together with other attributes add brand equity to a company, brand or a product.</p><p><strong>Purpose</strong>: The purpose of this study is to understand how Swedishness in Swedish brands and products influences the perception of quality and to assist companies in their decision making on how to market in France.</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong>: French consumers are influenced by global and national perceptions of countries of origin. Swedishness and Scandinavia have a particularly good reputation with French consumers. This influence is high and influences the consumers' quality-perception process through various influencers. Presentation of figures that can be used as generic figures when considering the influencers of your country's image when marketing cross-nationally.</p>

Though grocery shopping is largely done by habit, consumers are provided with continuous information aiming to inform and persuade them to make active choices. Online grocery shopping offers further ways for consumers to find, evaluate and compare products with just a few clicks. Country of origin labelling (COOL), providing consumers with further information, has gained popularity over recent years. What influences consumers to actively choose COOL products has been researched, but specifically Swedish consumers’ evaluation of COOL online has remained unexplored. The aim of the current study is to contribute to the understanding of consumers’ evaluation of COOL in the online environment, particularly for Swedish consumers. A survey was distributed and the answers analysed in order to evaluate Swedish consumers’ perceptions of COOL in the online environment. The results suggest that Swedish consumers value COOL highly, since it aligns with their values. Those who have a higher interest in COOL pay less attention to price, and they are willing to pay more for Swedish products. Additionally, more ways to find and filter products online based on country of origin, is desired amongst consumers who value COOL. / Trots att mathandel ofta görs på ren vana, så förses konsumenter med massor av information med syfte att informera och övertyga de att göra aktiva val. Mathandel online erbjuder ytterligare sätt för konsumenter att hitta, utvärdera och jämföra produkter med endast ett par klick. Ursprungsmärkning, som förser konsumenter med än mer information, har vuxit i popularitet de senaste åren. Det har forskats kring vad som influerar en konsument att aktivt välja ursprungsmärkta produkter, men svenska konsumenters värdering av ursprungsmärkning i onlinehandeln har förblivit outforskat. Syftet med denna studie är att bidra till förståelsen för konsumenters värdering av ursprungsmärkning i onlinemiljö, specifikt med hänsyn till svenska konsumenter. En enkät användes för att utvärdera och analysera svenska konsumenters uppfattning av ursprungsmärkningar i onlinemiljö. Resultatet antyder att svenska konsumenter värderar ursprungsmärkta produkter högt, då de efterlever deras värderingar. De som har ett större intresse för ursprungsmärkningar lägger mindre vikt vid pris och är villiga att betala mer för svenska produkter. Dessutom efterfrågas fler tillvägagångssätt för att hitta och filtrera produkter online baserat på ursprung bland konsumenter som värderar ursprungsmärkningar.

Motivation: Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka huruvida Country-of-Origin (COO) påverkar svenska konsumenters Willingness to Pay (WTP) &amp; Willingness to Buy (WTB). Vidare kommer studien även undersöka om svenska konsumenter besitter någon kännedom kring produktionsländer vid köp av klädprodukter inom premiumsektorn. Problemdiskussion: Utifrån den nuvarande ökade trenden mot en mer medveten kund önskar studien att undersöka vilka aspekter som har en avgörande roll i köpbeslutet för premiumprodukter samt hur vetskapen om produktionsland påverkar företagets image, kundens köp-och betalvilja. Denna studie kommer därmed fylla en klar funktion eftersom det finns få tidigare studier som flätar samman begreppen COO, WTB &amp; WTP i relation till Premium Branding i modesammanhang på den svenska marknaden. Metod: Studien är genomförd med en kvantitativ metod med fokus på en stor empirisk enkätundersökning där 200 svenska respondenter deltog. Frågorna var tagna från de valda huvudbegreppen COO, Brand Image, Premium, WTP/WTB samt kvalitet. Respondenterna var systematiskt tillfrågade på olika geografiska platser runt Stockholmsområdet. Resultat: Genom att enskilt testa hypoteserna som är utvecklade från tidigare teori, finner denna studie att svenska konsumenter värderar kvalitet som den viktigaste faktorn när de handlar kläder samt att deras WTB/WTP förändras vid vetskapen om produktionsland. Svenska konsumenter värderar samtidigt produkterna utifrån produktionsland samt anser sig ha en låg kännedom var produkterna är tillverkade. Implikationer: Studien kan agera som lösning för företag som vill hitta nya konkurrenskraftiga fördelar samt skapa ett större omfång av värdeskapande aktiviteter som kan locka in en större andel av marknaden. / Motivation: The purpose of this study is to examine whether Country-of-Origin (COO) affects Swedish consumers' Willingness to Pay (WTP) &amp; Willingness to Buy (WTB). Furthermore, the study will also focus on whether Swedish consumers have any knowledge of production countries when purchasing clothing products in the premium sector. Problem statement: Based on the current increased trend towards a more conscious consumer, the study intends to investigate which aspects have a crucial role in the purchasing decision for premium products. Also, how the knowledge of production country affects the company's image, the consumers WTB/WTP. This study will thus fulfil a clear function as there are few previous studies that merge the concepts of COO, WTB &amp; WTP in relation to Premium Branding in fashion context in the Swedish market. Methodology: The study was conducted with a quantitative method focusing on a large empirical survey in which 200 Swedish respondents participated. The questions were conducted from the selected main concepts of COO, Brand Image, Premium, WTP / WTB and quality. Respondents were systematically asked at various geographical locations around the Stockholm area. Results: By separately testing the hypotheses conducted from previous theory, this study finds that Swedish consumers value quality as the most important factor when purchasing premium fashion and their WTB / WTP changes based on the knowledge of production countries. Swedish consumers at the same time value the products along the COO and consider themselves to have a low knowledge of where the products are manufactured. Implications: The study can act as a solution for companies that want to find new competitive advantages and create a larger range of value-creating activities that can attract a larger share of the market.