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The decision to patronize a particular store usually starts with a set of characteristics or attributes that consumers consider important. Consumers then use these attributes to make decisions regarding what store or stores can cater to their particular needs. Past retail and marketing studies have identified several consumer-oriented store attributes such as price, quality, variety, discounts, store reputation and their relationship to store patronage, but these studies overlooked how the physical environment affects retail store patronage. In addition, very few studies have addressed the issue of shopping scenarios and how they affect store patronage. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of selected environmental dimensions on store patronage using specific apparel shopping scenarios. Data were collected using a random sample of women age 18 and over throughout the United States. The final sample consisted of 151 women. Four hypotheses were formulated and tested using factor analysis, cluster analysis, MANOVA, and Chi-square. The hypotheses tested for differences in (a) importance of environmental dimensions relative to three shopping scenarios, (b) importance of environmental dimensions relative to shopping orientations, (c) perceptions of first store choice relative to shopping orientations, and (d) attitude toward first store choice. Results revealed no difference in importance ratings of two environmental dimension factors, Sensory/Layout (Factor 1) and Music/Aesthetics (Factor 2), for three shopping scenarios (i.e., a dress for a formal social gathering, family gathering, work or community activity). Significant differences were found in the importance ratings of the Sensory/Layout and Music Aesthetics dimension factors across shopping orientation clusters. The clusters were named Decisive Apparel Shoppers (Cluster 1), Confident Apparel Shoppers (Cluster 2), Bargain Apparel Shoppers (Cluster 3), and Appearance Conscious Apparel Shoppers. The Bargain Apparel Shoppers had higher mean scores on the environmental factors than the other shopper groups. With regard to first store choice, the department store was chosen most often as first store choice. Furthermore, differences were found in perception of the environment for first store choice across the shopping orientation clusters. No differences were found for the Ventilation/Sensory factor; however, differences were found for the Signs perception factor. Respondents expressed relatively unfavorable attitudes toward their first store choice. However, of those that expressed an unfavorable attitude, several respondents indicated they were likely to visit their first store choice again. / Ph. D.

Vikten av de fysiska och interaktiva omgivningsdimensionerna i servicelandskapet på livsstilshotell har omvärderats. Bakgrunden till detta beror på det pågående skifte som fortgått under en längre tid av den varudominanta logiken till den servicedominanta logiken. Att vara det hotell som får gästernas uppmärksamhet, helhjärtat, kan vara avgörande för vilket hotell de väljer. Det påverkas inte bara av hotellets läge, erbjudande av kärntjänst utan vilket typ av upplevelse de har att erbjuda. För att utforska det här byggs studien upp på Bitners modell för servicelandskap tillsammans med Pine och Gilmores upplevelseekonomi-modell. Genom fältstudier undersöks de materiella och immateriella aspekterna som kan ingå i omgivningsdimensionerna i servicelandskapet samt gästernas emotionella reaktioner på upplevelsen. Hotellen kategoriseras i upplevelseekonomi-modellen samt jämförs mellan varandra. Syftet med undersökningen är att generera kunskap kring vilka dimensioner och variabler som livsstilshotell använder, samt vilka som är mest värdefulla för att skapa en stark upplevelse. Studiens resultat visar att hotellen inom de olika kategorierna i upplevelseekonomi-modellen använder de interaktiva och fysiska omgivningsdimensionerna på olika sätt. Beroende på vilken typ av upplevelse hotellen vill skapa och förmedla krävs det olika mycket engagemang i de olika dimensionerna och dess variabler. / The importance of the physical and interactive dimensions of the service landscape in lifestyle hotels has been re-evaluated. The reason for this is due to the ongoing shift that has continued over a long period of time from the goods-dominant logic to the service-dominant logic. Being the hotel that gets the guests' attention, wholeheartedly, can be decisive for which hotel they choose. This is not only affected by the hotels location, core service offerings, but the kind of experience the hotel have to offer. To explore this, the essay uses Bitner's model for the servicescape together with Pine and Gilmore's experience economy model. Field studies investigate the material and intangible aspects that can be included in the ambient dimensions of the servicescape as well as the guests' emotional reactions to the experience. The hotels are categorized in the experience economy model and compared between each other. The purpose of the essay is to generate knowledge about the dimensions and variables that lifestyle hotels use. Which are most valuable for creating a strong experience based on the different categories in the experience economy model. The results of the study shows that the hotels within the different categories in the experience economy model use the interactive and physical environmental dimensions in different ways. Depending on the type of experience the hotels want to create and convey, the various levels of commitment to the different dimensions and its variables are required.