Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed June 8, 2007). Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 159-168).

Influencer marketing has become a significant marketing tool for companies since the profession as an influencer is emerging. Especially on Instagram as it is one of the biggest social media platforms for influencers. This results in a change for followers also being consumers since more products are being marketed through Instagram. Further, the easy access of mobile devices makes it effortless to purchase products endorsed by influencers. Previous research exists about Influencer marketing, m-shopping and impulse buying behavior. However, an opportunity was found to study the relation of these. Thus, this paper focus on investigating factors on consumers mobile impulse buying behavior affected by influencers, in the context of Instagram. The purpose of this thesis was to investigate influencers impact on consumers mobile impulse buying behavior, analyzing through the social media platform of Instagram. A study with mixed method research design was conducted to carry out the purpose of this thesis. The qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews with the aim to discover in what way Instagram influencers affect consumers mobile impulse buying behavior. The themes and codes acquired from the findings of the qualitative study were tested with a questionnaire through a quantitative study, this to identify which factors impact the consumer’s mobile impulse buying behavior the from Instagram influencers. The empirical evidence suggests that the Relation to influencers content, Perception of influencer, Conscious spontaneous purchase and Cause of purchase are factors that have an impact on consumers mobile impulse buying behavior by influencers on Instagram. The empirical evidence further implies an influential process between the different factors. Tough, it was not tested how they were related as the study did not aim to compare the interrelation between the factors.

Title: Technology and Consumers’ Experiences in Fashion Physical Stores: The Case of Sweden Level: Master Thesis in Business Administration Author: Meron Kebede Abebaw; Willard Kingstone Matukuta Supervisor: Agneta Sundström, PhD Examiner: Maria Fregidou-Malama, PhD Date: May, 2018  Aim: The aim of this study is to analyze whether in-store digital technology in fashion retailers are used to change the customers’ shopping experience and behavior. Method: This study chooses qualitative research and used both primary and secondary data collection as method. Results and conclusions: This study have reached to conclude that: with the current advances in technology, physical stores can use in-store technology to give customers a new experience; physical stores perceive that using in-store digital technology will change customers shopping experience. Also, marketing mix inputs and technology affect customers’ behavior. Suggestions for future research: For future research, how smart fitting rooms may influence the customer experience in the physical store will be important to study. Researchers can also consider understanding customer responses to in-store technology. Finally, a customer’s perspective to both suggestions should improve the knowledge on whether digital solutions are preferred in in-store shopping or not. Contributions of the thesis: This thesis contributes to the current state of theories on in-store technology by showing atmosphere has effect on customers’ experiences and behavior in addition to the marketing mix. On the managerial perspective, analyzing the installation of this technology will enable to identify its effect on customers’ experiences and behavior. In addition, on the societal perspective, the behavior of customers will help in motivating younger generation to utilize this in-store technology.

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Ciências Humanas, Departamento de Geografia, 2008. / Submitted by Jaqueline Oliveira (jaqueoliveiram@gmail.com) on 2008-11-27T18:44:34Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTACAO_2008_GilbertoADeOliveiraJunior.pdf: 3734500 bytes, checksum: c221d4aa4acd44313af8ba2d2149899c (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Georgia Fernandes(georgia@bce.unb.br) on 2009-02-11T15:52:10Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTACAO_2008_GilbertoADeOliveiraJunior.pdf: 3734500 bytes, checksum: c221d4aa4acd44313af8ba2d2149899c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2009-02-11T15:52:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTACAO_2008_GilbertoADeOliveiraJunior.pdf: 3734500 bytes, checksum: c221d4aa4acd44313af8ba2d2149899c (MD5) / A presente dissertação resulta da realização de um esforço reflexivo acerca das cidades médias. Esse esforço pautou-se na busca em apreender, partindo da teoria espacial, a premência de possíveis modificações no que tange à relevância contemporânea das cidades médias enquanto resultado e condição para o atendimento e consumação das novas formas contemporâneas de reprodução e acumulação do capital. Nesta direção, depreende-se que as novas formas de reprodução do capital vêm sendo suscitadas essencialmente pela imposição de novos processos econômicos no território, esses engendrados historicamente a partir dos processos de reestruturação produtiva e acumulação flexível, dos quais decorrem rupturas e permanências interescalares que, embora não apreensíveis no âmbito estrito de uma escala espacial, possuem maior expressão concreta na escala intra-urbana. Objetivando proceder ao cumprimento das reflexões acerca das cidades médias, o problema acerca do qual se conduziram os debates encontrou-se centrado essencialmente a partir das modificações decorrentes da dinâmica econômica e os resultados provenientes desta que são impostos às cidades médias, convocadas a prover a materialização de interesses e racionalidades hegemônicas. Esse processo econômico se realiza pela materialização no espaço de formas verticais de reprodução do capital, conduzidas pela justaposição de escalas espaciais que se interpenetram para a realização dos interesses econômicos de grandes grupos investidores. Esses grupos, nesta perspectiva, passam a diversificar suas estratégias locacionais na medida em que outras categorias de cidade, para além das metrópoles, potencializam a realização dos seus interesses. Ao potencializar os interesses de reprodução e acumulação do capital por meio de processos espaciais e sociais que se coadunam, se aperfeiçoa a reprodução capitalista do espaço, congregando um debate entre a estruturação e a produção do espaço sob a luz da crítica à ampliação do mundo da mercadoria e à revalorização da terra urbana que aprofunda a fragmentação do espaço. Desta forma, a centralidade, e suas formas de expressão no espaço urbano, constituíram-se objeto das reflexões deste trabalho, na medida em que a centralidade, elemento essencial na capacidade de agregar, de realizar a política, a apropriação, foi e continua a ser subjugada aos interesses do capital e travestida em elemento de negação da sua própria realização. E mais, de opressão às potencialidades humanas e às formas transgressoras de apropriação do espaço que tendem a subverter os interesses do capital. Enquanto recorte espacial, os debates se desenvolveram acerca da cidade de Itabuna-BA, na qual debruçamonos essencialmente sobre o Jequitibá Plaza Shopping e a expressão de centralidade do mesmo. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT / La presente disertación resulta de la realización de un esfuerzo reflexivo acerca de las ciudades medias. Este esfuerzo se basa en la búsqueda en aprehender, partiendo de la teoría espacial, la premiosidad de posibles cambios a respecto de la relevancia contemporánea de las ciudades medias en cuanto resultado y condición para la atención y consumación de las nuevas formas contemporáneas de reproducción y acumulación del capital. En este sentido, se entiende que las nuevas formas de reproducción del capital vienen siendo causadas por la imposición de nuevos procesos económicos en el territorio, esas formaciones históricamente a partir de los procesos de reestructuración productiva y acumulación flexible, de los cuales resultan rupturas y permanencias interescalares que, aunque no aprehensibles en el ámbito estricto de una escala espacial, poseen mayor expresión concreta en la escala intraurbana. Objetivando proceder al cumplido de las reflexiones acerca de las ciudades medias, el problema acerca del cual se conducieron los debates se encontró centrado esencialmente a partir de las modificaciones venidas de la dinámica económica y de los resultados procedentes de éstas que son impuestos a las ciudades medias, solicitados para proveer la materialización de intereses y racionalidades hegemónicas. Ese proceso económico se realiza por la materialización en el espacio de formas verticales de reproducción del capital, conducidas por la yuxtaposición de escalas espaciales que se interpenetran para la realización de los intereses económicos de grandes grupos inversionistas. Esos grupos, en esta perspectiva, pasan a diversificar sus estrategias locacionales en la medida en que otras categorías de ciudad, para allá de las metrópolis, potencializan la realización de sus intereses. Al potencializar los intereses de reproducción e acumulación del capital por medio de procesos espaciales y sociales que se concilian, se perfecciona la reproducción capitalista del espacio, congregando un debate entre la estructuración y la producción del espacio bajo la luz de la crítica a la ampliación del mundo de la mercancía y a la revaloración de la tierra urbana que profundiza la fragmentación del espacio. De esta manera, la centralidad, y sus formas de expresión en ele espacio urbano, se constituyeron objeto de las reflexiones de este trabajo, en la medida en que la centralidad, elemento esencial en la capacidad de agregar, de realizar la política, la apropiación, fue y continúa a ser subyugada a los intereses del capital disfrazada en elemento de negación de su propia realización. Y más, de opresión a las potencialidades humanas y a las formas transgresoras de apropiación del espacio que tienden a subvertir los intereses del capital. En cuanto recorte espacial, los debates se desarrollaron acerca de la ciudad de Itabuna-BA, en la cual nos inclinamos esencialmente sobre el Jequitibá Plaza Shopping y la expresión de centralidad del mismo.

This diploma thesis analyzes free movement of services and freedom of establishment in EU countries. The main aim is to find an appropriate strategy for Czech marketing companies in the field of mystery shopping when providing business services into Poland. The goal is achieved through analysis of trends in EU internal service market, opportunities and barriers in providing services, mystery shopping characteristics with focus on Poland. Mystery shopping is building up its position in whole Central, Eastern and Southern EU countries According to pre-research the Poland was choosen as the best potentional target country for Czech companies. PESTEL analysis of political, economical, socio-cultural, technological, ecological and legal factors in Poland shows that this country has good macroeconomic environment for expansion of services. Thesis is built on analysis of mystery shopping industry in Poland too and summarized in external factor evaluation matrix. The biggest threat of providing the services are existing bargaining power of competitors and the power of customers in determining prices. External opportunities mainly for establishment are futher penetration into other market and getting more potentional customers, for posting of workers are mainly in easy entrance. Cross-border providing of services is suitable form of free movement till the Czech company has in average 3 projects in Poland. As a recommendation companies should use first of all posting of own workers, after deep cooperation with Polish clients and agreement on at least 3 projects the creation of daughter company is recommended to achieve higher competitiveness in Polish market, profit and stable economic growth. While expanding into Poland is recommended to use differentiation strategy to attract bigger market segments with focus on local conditions.

The aim of this thesis was to evaluate current approaches in the field of modern tools and technologies used in business. A secondary aim was to assess the level of their representation in practice and on the basis of their occurrence to gather recommendations with regard to their implementation in Czech companies. In the theoretical part, I outlined the importance of technological advances and modern technologies and emphasize their impact on the future of the company. Attention was focused on the creation, resource opportunities and allocation towards innovation and also on ways to support and fund them. The new generation technologies have also been mentioned and at the end of this work, I paid attention to modern approaches in the retail business. In the practical section I conducted research in five retail chain stores in the UK, Germany and the Czech Republic. Using statistical diagnostic methods I evaluated the resulting primary data revealing the extent of using modern technologies in the five monitored businesses. These methods then further helped me to classify the tracked subjects by success levels to reveal the ideal 'fictitious' company. The results of the case studies were general design guideline for action and the basis for the second part of the research. Like the analysed group of subjects, I conducted research at the retail chain Kaufland Czech Republic v.o.s.. I compared results of the research with values of the 'fictitious' company and from the resulting differences I have derived practical suggestions to improve each area. Key proposals that have been established through this study include: presentation of the subject in social networks, the introduction of online sales with the possibility to pick up goods at the store, installation of self-service checkouts, the use of NFC tags and electronic shelf price tags and increasing attractiveness of in-store communication by the use of interactive eye-catching displays and information channels. In conclusion the main points of the proposed solution would bring subject Kaufland cost savings and physical employee labor savings while improving awareness of the company in the eyes of target customers.

This diploma thesis deals with a research carried out at Prague travel agencies using the Mystery shopping method and the follow-up evaluation and recommendation of a suitable form of selling in a respective region. The aim of the work is to evaluate the travel agencies from the point of view of the quality of the offered products, provided services, the agents´knowledge and the general interaction with them. The theoretic part consists of chapters that explain the key concepts and definitions of tourism and their forms of selling. In the methodical part the Mystery shopping method is discribed from the point of view of the historiy and evaluation of the work including the research period. The practical part is dedicated to the analysis of the data obtained during the Mystery shopping realized at travel agencies and includes three parts. The first research has the form of an online require in which the agents´ability of offering and follow-up selling of a product is evaluated. This research is carried out through the email communication. The second research concerns ordering tours on web portal where the agents´willingness to arrange further services for a tour is evaluated. This research is carried out through the phone communication. The third Mystery shopping research is realized personally at individual travel agents offices and the agent´s direct communication and dealing with the customer as well as his professionality are evaluated.

This thesis deals with the evaluation of the quality of service in a selected subject, which is travel agency Čedok, Inc. In the first part of the thesis the theoretical starting-points and characterized terms related to the issue of service quality are defined. To obtain information regarding the literature search was used literature and other resources freely available in electronic and printed character. The second part includes a description of the company and analysis of the current state of the services provided by travel agencies using the methods of observation and survey. The method of Mystery Shopping uncovers weaknesses and is used as a feedback for further development. In the end of the thesis, there are some recommendations suggested for the company to improve service quality and increase customer satisfaction.

The presented diploma thesis deals with the newly opened shopping center Galerie Teplice. The center is currently working on creation of a suitable market position with respect to the existing strong competition. The objective of the thesis is to evaluate the current position of the aforementioned shopping center on the market, then to learn more about its visitors and finally to improve targeting and personalize the marketing communication based on the analysis of results. For this reason the diploma thesis is focused on identifying and analyzing detailed information about the behavior, perceptions and preferences of visitors of designated shopping centers, especially of the Galerie center and on defining of its current positioning in relation to specified competitors.

The aim of this thesis is to characterize the current situation of the company Znovín Znojmo Inc. in the area of distribution and to propose any improvement in this area based on the survey and mystery shopping. The theoretical part defines the service and service quality. The following is the characteristic of the chosen company. The practical part contains macro environment, characteristic of the market in which the company operates and characteristic of the customers and the competitors. The practical part continues with the characteristic of the company from the view of marketing mix with the emphasis on the distribution. In the second half of the practical part is evaluation of the survey and the mystery shopping. The ending of the thesis is based on found weaknesses in the distribution of the company, such as a behavior of the dealer to the customer, and proposing of the possible solutions.