COO is a construct that refers to the country which a consumer associates a certain product or brand as being its source, regardless of where the product is actually produced. Scholars like Magnusson et al. (2011) argue that COO is a salient cue in consumers’ product evaluation and purchase intention. In contrast, Usunier (2006; 2011) and Samiee (2010) criticize the COO effect, by explaining that due to multinational production, integrated worldwide supply chains and global branding there are other cues that have become more salient in consumers’ decision- making process. The purpose of this thesis is to extend the understanding about the relationship of COO in consumers buying process. The research questions followed: To what extent does country of origin influence consumers’ product evaluations and purchase intention? To what extent does the level of involvement affect the relationship between country of origin and consumers’ product evaluation? To what extent does the level of involvement affect the relationship between country of origin and consumers’ purchase intentions. Applying a deductive approach, a quantitative research has been chosen for this thesis involving survey as the source for data collection in order to test this research four main concepts: COO, product evaluation, purchase intention and product involvement. The findings indicated that COO has a significant direct effect in consumers’ product evaluations and purchase intention. The results also indicated on that when consumers’ perceive products to be low involvement, the COO effect is greater in consumers’ decision-making process.

Background: E-commerce is an evolving market; the number of retailers and the growth in online shopping has built up a competitive market. It is therefore essential for companies to continuously develop their online activity to remain and attract new customers. To do so, companies need to create value for the customers and meet their demands: therefore it is of great importance for companies to understand consumers’ buying behavior, and moreover investigate in which factors are related to the consumers’ online purchase intention.   Purpose: The purpose is to explain the relationship between trust, perceived risk, shopping enjoyment, site design quality and online purchase intention.   Hypotheses: The authors of this study set up the following hypotheses: H1+: Trust is positively related to consumers’ online purchase intention. H2-: Perceived risk is negatively related to consumers’ online purchase intention. H3: Shopping enjoyment is related to consumers’ online purchase intention. H4+: Site design quality is positively related to consumers’ online purchase intention. Methodology: Survey study. Conclusion: Hypothesis 1 was supported in this study. Hypothesis 2 was not supported in this study. Hypothesis 3 was supported in this study. Hypothesis 4 was supported in this study.

Buying and selling of used goods is something that has been done for centuries. Throughout the last 20 years, rapid growth of second-hand products consumption has got the attention of researchers and raised the question why customers buy second-hand products. The growth of the Internet has developed different applications, and this combined with the introduction of new electronic devices, provides users with buying and selling facilities of goods over the Internet and mobile devices. The uses of social networks and smart-phones have also revolutionized the second-hand product market among all economic classes. The consumption of second-hand products is increasing daily. Therefore it is important to pay attention to the factors that affect the purchase of second-hand products since it is not a simple form of mercantilism. It's a lifestyle, a way to acquire goods that we need and get rid of those that we do not see as useful anymore. The purpose of this study is to create new knowledge in the area of second-hand products consumption and customer buying behavior by identifying factors that influence the customer in buying second-hand products. In order to fulfill the research purpose, a quantitative research approach and cross sectional research design were adopted. Questionnaires were designed using Google survey tool and through this method 169 questionnaires were collected from respondents. After which, SPSS was used to perform the required tests of descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, bivariate correlation, single item measurement and multiple regression analysis. It was observed that price was the most important factor influencing customers when purchasing second-hand products; risk is the second most influencing factor and brand is the third and location come last as most influencing factor.  The results show that the factors such as brand, price and purchase intention of second-hand products have no association and influence on each other during the purchase decision. In contrast, risk and location factors have a weak association with each other but both factors lack association with brand, price and intention. This study contributes to the existing literature on second-hand products consumption and customer buying behavior as well as touching upon theories of brand, price, risk, and seller location.

Corporations follow different strategies to leverage their existing brands. One of these is brand extension, which is the extension of an existing brand to a new product category. In this strategy, corporations have two alternatives, one of which is the family brand extension. Here, the new product is introduced under the corporate name along with the extension’s category name (e.g. Sony mobile, Nestlé mineral water, and Gillette shampoo). The second alternative is the brand endorsement. In this alternative, the extension is given a new name. Moreover, the corporation’s name is presented as the endorser in the extension brand structure and communications (e.g. Scandic by Hiliton, Courtyard by Marriott). However, the focus will be on the extension brand name, rather than the corporate name. The endorser’s main role is to provide credibility and substance to the endorsed brand, while maintaining the endorsed brand’s freedom to establish its unique associations and personality. It is well-known that, in the family brand extension, the perceived fit between the parent brand and the extension product category moderates consumers’ judgement of the extension (i.e. the new product which is introduced under the parent name). However, widely-diversified corporations (e.g. Nestlé, Unilever) often endorse their products to leverage their corporate credibility. The proliferation of using a corporate name to endorse products in the case of corporations with diversified product portfolios puts the importance of the fit on the corporate endorser, and the endorsed product brand under scrutiny. Specifically, it raises the following questions: to what extent is the perceived fit between the corporate brand endorser and the endorsed brand really important in an endorsement context? What is the relative importance of fit and endorser credibility in an endorsement context, and why? In the current research, it is proposed that both corporate credibility and fit affect consumers’ judgement in an endorsement context. However, the endorser credibility is more important. It is also proposed that corporate credibility is more important than fit because it is more diagnostic, which makes the endorser credibility more recallable for the consumer. The current research results have shown that, when consumers can easily recall information related to the endorser credibility and the fit between the endorser and the endorsed brand, both endorser credibility and fit has an effect on the endorsed brand. However, endorser credibility has a stronger effect on the endorsed brand judgement than fit. Moreover, the results have shown that fit moderates the effect of corporate credibility only when the endorser credibility is high. When consumers have difficulty recalling information, fit does not moderate the effect of the endorser credibility on the endorsed brand. The current research findings have been obtained by conducting two experiments. In Experiment One, corporate credibility and perceived fit were manipulated in an endorsement context. Consumer judgement of the endorsed brand was measured by the perceived quality and purchase intention. Experiment Two was conducted to study the impact of the information accessibility on the effect of the endorser credibility and fit on the endorsed brand judgement. Endorser credibility, fit and information accessibility were manipulated in an endorsement context. Perceived quality and purchase intention of the endorsed brand were also used to measure the consumers’ judgement of the endorsed brand.

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to investigate the influential factors on consumer attitude towards organic food in a rapid growing market and how the attitude influences consumer purchase intention. Design/methodology/approach – after reviewing relevant literatures, a research model was developed based on six hypotheses. The model was tested by conducting an online survey on Chinese consumers. Findings – Four out of six hypotheses were accepted. In specific, health consciousness, consumer knowledge and personal norms obviously showed their impacts on Chinese consumer attitude and the last hypothesis indicates the positive relationship between attitude and purchase intention. Originality/value – Since two hypotheses from the research model were rejected, a new model was developed which is particularly represented for Chinese market. Keywords - Consumer attitude, Organic food, Health, Consumer knowledge, Environmental, Norms, China, Purchase intention Paper type - Research paper

It is important for companies to reach their goal of marketing success and a way for them doing so is to improve their sales and differentiate themselves from their competitors. There is in fact a need for companies to focus on sustainable consumption and how customers are influenced by purchasing these products. Since several research has been studying the impact brand equity has on purchase intention, this paper intends to explain this impact further by adding the context of sustainability. In order to explain this, this paper used a quantitative approach where a survey was sent out. A total of 220 responses were collected and the answers given were calculated through the program SPSS. In SPSS a multiple regression line was conducted where the results could be found, where the developed hypotheses showed acceptance or rejection. The result showed that the variables of brand equity had different levels of impact, where three out of four hypotheses were accepted. Even though one of the variables was rejected, the overall representation of brand equity had a positive impact on purchase intention when the context of sustainability was added.

The purpose of this research is to extend the understanding of consumers’ perceived brand innovativeness. Within a quantitative approach an online survey was conducted, using a quota-sample of 501 physically active Germans. The data was analyzed through simple linear regression, mediation and moderation analysis. Further, the effects for two brands were compared. The findings corroborate previous literature, suggesting a highly positive effect of consumers’ perceived brand innovativeness (CPBI) on brand attitude, purchase intention, consumer satisfaction and consumer excitement. Further, brand attitude mediates the impact of CPBI on purchase intention and consumer satisfaction. Consumer innovativeness and involvement have a negative significant effect on the majority of the relations. Most of the constructs are controlled by previous purchase experience. Managers should consider CPBI as a possible antecedent for consumer behavior, however, CPBI should be in line with the actual offer of the brand. Further, the involvement and innovativeness of the desired target group should be taken into account for the brand positioning. However, the survey was conducted using non-probability sampling, focusing on the sporting goods market in Germany, which might have caused some limitations. The study contributes to the CPBI literature in supporting the scale for CPBI and providing further knowledge into the effects CPBI has on consumer outcomes. Further, the research points out the differences in consumers’ evaluation of CPBI based on their level of innovativeness and involvement.

Aim The aim of the thesis is to examine if there are internal variations within generation Y and to what extent it is in their online clothing purchase intention, based on existing knowledge of factors influencing them. Methodology A survey was distributed online to Swedish generation Y residents, born between 1979 and 2000. Thus, primary data totalling 114 responses were collected and analysed by using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). The non-probability sampling technique was applied using convenience and snowball sampling methods. Results There were no statistically significant differences in the effect of perceived risk, perceived benefit and personal factors on purchase intentions within generation Y (Y1, Y2 and Y3 groups) towards online clothing purchase. Practical implication As generation Y is an attractive segment to business managers, this research affirms the previous studies confirming generational cohort as a suitable way of categorising consumers. Thus helping managers in market segmentation strategies. Originality/Value This study contributes to the literature on generational cohorts by questioning the concept of cohort and how reliable it is for business managers to use in market segmentation.

A quantitative research in the attitude of European students towards Chinese web shops. The purpose of this research is to determine which factors influence the attitude of European students the most while purchasing from Chinese webshops. The research framework is inspired by the Theory of Planned behaviour. The responses from the questionair were analysed using SPSS and the findings indicated that perceived behaviour control influences the attitude of European students the most, closely followed by website factors and service quality. In contrast, the factors subjective norms, price as well as product variety shows relatively smaller influence. Nevertheless, these factors should not be neglected when targeting European students for online shopping.

Bakgrund: I dagens samhälle växer uppmärksamheten kring kända profiler på sociala medier i takt med att användandet av sociala medier ökar. Personer som blivit kända via sina sociala medier benämns ofta som influencers och ses som ett växande fenomen inom marknadsföring då de kan bidra till en ökad viral tillväxt för företag. För att konsumenter ska vilja köpa en produkt är det av vikt att det skapas attraktiva upplevelser kring ett varumärke. Det är därförav intresse att studera om influencers, som ett varumärke, på Instagram kan skapa upplevelser för konsumenter, som i sin tur har en påverkan på konsumenters köpintentioner av produkter och tjänster som syns i influencersinnehåll på Instagram. Syfte: Givet tidigare forskning är syftet med denna studie att studera om influencerupplevelse, eller delar av upplevelsen, på Instagram har en påverkan på konsumenters köpintentioner. Metod: En kvantitativ forskningsmetod har tillämpats i denna studie. Insamlande av data har skett genom en enkätundersökning som innefattade 200 studenter i åldrarna 19–39 år från Karlstads universitet. Data analyserades med hjälp av faktoranalys samt enkel- och multipel linjär regression. Slutsats: Den upplevelse som skapas kring influencers har i denna studie en påverkan på konsumenternas köpintentioner. Dessutom har varje del i upplevelsen på egen hand en effekt, vilket visar att de dimensioner som ingår ien influencerupplevelse inte är beroende av varandra för att påverka köpintentioner, däremot har de bäst effekt tillsammans. Marknadsföring via influencers kan därför ses som effektivt, genom att de upplevelser som en influencer skapar påverkar konsumenternas vilja att köpa produkter och tjänster. / Background: In today’s society, famous social media profiles are gaining more attention due to the increasing use of social media. People who have become famous through their social media are often referred to as influencers and is a growing phenomenon in marketing, as they can contribute to an increased viral growth for companies. In order for consumers to want to buy a product, it is important to create attractive experiences in the encounter of a brand. Therefore, it is interesting to study whether influencers at Instagram can create experiences and if these experiences in turn have an impact on consumers’ purchase intentions of products and services seen in an influencers content on Instagram. Purpose: Given previous research, the purpose of this paper is to study whether influencer experience, or parts of the experience, at Instagram has an impact on consumers’ purchase intentions. Method: A quantitative research method has been used in this study. The data collection was conducted through a survey that comprised 200 students at the age of 19-39 from Karlstad University. The data was analysed using factoranalysis, as well as simple and multiple linear regression. Conclusion: In this study, the experience that is created around influencers has an impact on consumers’ buying behaviour. Additionally, every dimensionof the experience alone has an impact on purchase intentions, which shows that the dimensions are not dependent on each other to influence purchase intentions. However, they do have a better effect when they are put together. Influencer marketing can therefore be seen as effective, since the experiences that an influencer creates has an effect on the consumers’ intention to buy products and services.