Magister Commercii - MCom / Shopping patterns of customers in South Africa since the outbreak of COVID-19 has shifted in more ways than one way. For instance, where and when consumers purchase household items. Because of COVID-19, many consumers continue to reassess their shopping preferences and behaviour. This research aims to determine the switching behaviour of consumers in Cape Town concerning the choices of retail outlets for groceries and household items. To date especially given the novelty of COVID-19 and the unprecedented lockdowns, the factors informing consumers' choices and the resultant behaviours remain largely unknown. The research opens the opportunity for further research into the phenomena that the pandemic has revealed. Also, the research adds to the body of knowledge of switching behaviour within the retail industry. The dissertation adopts the Theory of Planned Behaviour as a conceptual framework for the research. To more realistically test the effect of independent variables on the dependent variable (change in a retail outlet), the moderating effects of gender were also investigated. A survey design in which 158 respondents participated in the study was conducted. Quantitative data collection using a questionnaire was employed using Google Forms to comply with social distancing requirements and limit the possible transmission of COVID-19 between researcher and participants and among participants themselves if pen and paper questionnaires were used.

Yes / The purpose of this paper is to provide response around three commentaries: Lowe’s view on key mechanisms through which greater transparency could influence consumer product evaluations (Lowe, 2015); Kuah and Weerakkody’s critical assessment on whether cost transparency is good for consumers (Kuah and Weerakkody, 2015); and Singh’s perspective on what is behind the price tag and why companies should embrace cost transparency (Singh, 2015). Design/methodology/approach – This is a response to the aforementioned commentaries, from the authors of “Should Consumers Request Cost Transparency?”. Findings – The authors call for empirical studies to shed light on issues, including, but not limited to, drivers and challenges/barriers of making unit cost available; appropriateness of unit cost information for different category of products; information overload caused by cost transparency; effect of availability of unit cost on the consumer decision-making; empowerment of consumers through unit cost information; impact of cost transparency on realisation of fairness, differentiation, competitive advantage and sustainability for businesses; and impact of cost transparency on market dynamics and consumer behaviour. Originality/value – Given its potential impact on both theory and practice, the arguments presented for and against provisioning of unit cost information to consumers is an issue worthy of further debate and empirical investigation.

Yes / This study explores how global and local forces influence the processes of consumer re-acculturation amongst third-generation British Sikhs in the United Kingdom (U.K.). Data is collected over a three-year period using multiple methods that focus on the experiential consumption of shaadi.com by third-generation British-born Sikhs. Data is analysed using thematic analysis, and findings reveal three transcultural identity patterns: accommodating, re-acculturating, and resisting Sikh culture. We argue that the emergent identity patterns are fluid, as our participants feel neither wholly British, wholly Sikh, nor wholly British-Sikh, positioning themselves beyond, rather than against, Sikh or British culture. We uncover the connectedness between the traditional cultural practices of arranged marriages and the space of shaadi.com, a matrimonial website. We interpret this website as a medium through which transcultural identities are constructed. We contribute to theory by showing the development of transcultural patterns of consumption and consistent transcultural identity construction in non-migrating ethnic communities.

The purposes of this study were to identify the relationship between the provision of consumer information programs and satisfaction with food marketing services and to assess the benefits of a program as they affect both consumer satisfaction and retail food store profits. A conceptual model which proposed a positive relationship between the provision of a consumer information program and increased product purchasing, increased satisfaction with the product, and increased satisfaction with the foodstore was developed for the study. The model was operationalized through the use of three indicators to measure each of the four constructs. A field test of the model was conducted at a warehouse foodstore in central Connecticut where an in-store information program had been implemented one year prior to this study. The program, which focused on meats, provided three modes of presentation. Response to the program was measured by interviewing 277 shoppers during October and November, 1984. Respondents were asked about their use of the information presented, attitude toward the program, and perception of its usefulness. The data collection instrument developed for this study was a two part questionnaire. The first part was self administered. Respondents were dueried on satisfaction with the meat department and with the store. Twenty-one attitude, interest, opinion items related to food shopping and meal preparation were included in this section. The second part was an interview questionnaire which was utilized to ‘ obtain information on shoppers response to the information program, shopping habits, and demographic characteristics. The sample was found to be representative of warehouse foodstore shoppers. The average household size was four persons, and the average food budget was $100.00 per week. Twenty-nine percent spent less than 50% of their meat budget at the store, but only 11% purchased less than 50% of their groceries (excluding meat) at this store. Shoppers who responded positively toward the information program purchased more meat, and were more satisfied with the meat department and with the store. The conceptual model was able to explain positive response as measured by use, attitude, and perception of usefulness of the program in terms of these outcomes. The model was unable to explain negative response to the program. Further analyses of the data resulted in the addition of two antecedent variables to the model. Those who were not predisposed to information seeking and had never enrolled in a consumer education course were likely to be nonusers of the information program. / Ph. D.

This study attempts to present a brief survey of the major aspects of consumer credit in the United States today: credit institutions in general, co-operative and non cooperative consumer credit agencies, and the regulation of such agencies. A special chapter is devoted to consumer credit in Texas, with emphasis upon the fight which certain Texas cities are making against the loan-shark evil.

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

The main purpose of the study is to analyze the possible difference in attitude toward sex in advertisements when used by familiar luxury or non-luxury brands. In addition to this, the aim is to further analyze whether genders form a different attitude and purchase intention towards sexually loaded ads and the impact of varying degrees of sexual imagery shown in the ad on the factors like purchase intention. Previous research was found regarding consumer attitude toward the ad and purchase intention in relation to sex in advertisements. However no previous research examined whether consumers form a different attitude and purchase intention depending on the brand type of either luxury or non-luxury utilizing it. Few studies were found to use familiar brands advertisements and instead focused on unfamiliar brand names. Therefore, our aim is to fill these above-mentioned gaps and make a contribution to the field of research regarding sexual content in advertising. To fill the gaps presented, the following research questions were formulated: Is there a difference in attitude and purchase intention between males and females in response to sexual images in ads? What is the impact on purchase intention from varying degrees of sexual imagery in ads? And is there a difference in consumer attitude towards ads with sexual content when used by luxury and non-luxury brands? The study uses a quantitative research approach and cross-sectional research design, collecting primary data through a self-completion online survey. The research philosophies adopted are a positivistic epistemological orientation and objectivistic ontological orientation. The sample was drawn via a systematic sampling method from the target population of students enrolled in programs at Umeå School of Business and Economics. 130 respondents participated and were divided into 4 groups that completed the same questionnaire however, each group responded to a different sexually charged ad, used by either luxury or non-luxury brands with varying degrees of sexual imagery. The question sets measured variables like perceived morality and ethicality in the ad, attitude toward the ad and purchase intention. Following the data collection, the data was analyzed with tools in Excel to calculate internal reliability with Cronbach’s alpha, correlation with Pearson’s correlation test and hypotheses testing with t-Tests. Findings indicate a significant difference in attitude and purchase intention between genders in response to sexual imagery in ads. Males show a more positive attitude and stronger purchase intention compared to females. The findings further suggest the varying degrees of sexual imagery in ads influence purchase intention among respondents, where a higher degree of sexual imagery decreases the purchase intention. However this is only statistically significant in relation to its use by luxury brands. The results show a significant difference in attitude toward the ads between luxury and non-luxury brands. The difference however is only significant in response to high degrees of sexual imagery in ads. Finally, the results suggest that ads using high degrees of sexual imagery by non-luxury brands are perceived as more acceptable compared to its use by luxury brands. The findings were used to contribute to implications on theory from previous research and contribute to business administration, specifically advertising strategy with sexual imagery. Findings imply that luxury brands should cautiously use ads with high degrees of sexual imagery due to the more extreme negative responses observed. Non-luxury brands contrarily could use more highly sexual ads with less negative reactions among consumers. This technique can be used to create attention and gain publicity.

De senaste tio åren har det skett en stor ökning av monetära gåvor till humanitära hjälporganisationer i Sverige. Trots att de monetära gåvorna har ökat, har behovet ökat i större utsträckning. Just nu pågår konflikter eller allvarliga kriser i 27 länder runt om i världen och 89,4 miljoner människor är i behov av hjälp. FNs sökta summa för att möta dessa människors behov är 11 miljarder dollar mer än vad de efterfrågade för fem år sedan. Förutom detta innebär akuta kriser, likt vid tsunamin år 2004 att det sker närmast explosionsartade ökningar av spontana gåvor till hjälporganisationer. Även om dessa gåvor är viktiga för organisationerna innebär regelbundna gåvor en större möjlighet för planering och flexibilitet Detta faktum innebär att det är av stor vikt att öka antalet regelbundna givare. Studier har visat vad det är som gör att en individ väljer att skänka pengar till en hjälporganisation eller inte. Däremot saknas det vidare forskning kring olika typer av givare och deras eventuella skillnader. Enligt modellen Reasoned action approach kan en individs intention att utföra ett beteende härledas till individens attityd, subjektiva norm och upplevda kontroll över det specifika beteendet. Genom att ta reda på måtten på dessa samt intentionen går det sedan att förutspå samt förändra beteendet. Det faktum att spontana givare valt att stödja hjälporganisationer och deras arbete med monetära bidrag men ändå inte valt att teckna ett regelbundet givande gör att det är av intresse att undersöka vad som påverkar en spontan givares intention till att förändra sitt beteende. Således är studiens frågeställning: Vad påverkar en spontan givares intention att förändra sitt beteende och bli regelbunden givare? För att besvara frågeställningen och uppfylla syftet med studien genomfördes en kvantitativ undersökning i form av en enkät som distribuerats via sociala medier. Vid analysen av det empiriska materialet visade det sig att spontana givare inte har intentionen att börja skänka pengar regelbundet till humanitära hjälporganisationer i Sverige. Spontana givares attityd, subjektiva norm och upplevda kontroll över beteendet bidrar alla tre till deras intention. Det som till störst del bidrar till intentionen är deras upplevda kontroll över beteendet i form av känslan av att de kommer ha råd med regelbundna donationer samt att processen att tecknat ett sådant avtal är enkel. Denna information kan användas av hjälporganisationer för att öka antalet regelbundna givare.

published_or_final_version / Business / Master / Master of Philosophy

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