No / Loyalty, its antecedents, and its consequences have been considered extensively. Store loyalty, in particular e-store loyalty, has not, however, received the same level of attention despite the increase in the number of organisations that sell directly over the Internet. This paper focuses on two antecedents of e-store loyalty, perceived switching barriers and satisfaction, and the way in which they interact. It found that customers do not consider themselves loyal to the e-store they frequent despite being largely satisfied, that the impact of switching barriers varies at different levels of customer satisfaction, and that what customers consider to be a switching barrier differs at different levels of customer satisfaction.

Den svenska dagligvaruhandelns utveckling går mot fler etablerade stormarknader i utkanten av städer. Följderna blir att mindre butiker på landsbygden konkurreras ut och att kunder väljer handelsområden framför butiker i stadskärnor. Kundlojaliteten beräknas minska, när dagens kunder väljer att handla på ett flertal butiker istället för en specifik. Den omstrukturering som sker på marknaden problematiserar hur företag genom differentiering och marknadsföring bygger långsiktiga kundrelationer. Ett företags varumärke syftar till att skapa konkurrenskraft och differentieringsmöjligheter, därmed fanns ett intresse att inrikta studien mot butiksimage och kundlojalitet till en specifik butik. Med ovanstående resonemang som grund avser studien undersöka vilka butiksattribut som påverkar kunders lojalitet till en specifik butik inom den svenska dagligvaruhandeln. Undersökningen omfattar tre specifika Coop Forum butiker i Region Nord, i Umeå, Örnsköldsvik och Östersund. Då undersökningen syftar till att jämföra om valda butiker skiljer sig med avseende om påverkande butiksattribut och kundlojalitet. Tidigare forskning har identifierat ett samband mellan image, kundnöjdhet och lojalitet, dock är relationen mellan butiksimage, kundnöjdhet och lojalitet inom stormarknadsmiljöer ännu outforskad. Mer forskning krävs även angående varumärkets betydelse inom dagligvaruhandeln. Studiens byggstenar är definierade enligt butiksattribut, butiksimage, butikskundnöjdhet och butikslojalitet och ett eventuellt samband undersöks mellan dessa begrepp. Studiens praktiska syfte är att ge konkreta rekommendationer till Coop Nord angående vilka butiksattribut som är de bidragande till kunders lojalitet, för att vägleda Coop Nord i arbetet kring att skapa en starkare lojalitet hos dess befintliga kunder utifrån ett marknadsföringsperspektiv. För att besvara studiens forskningsfråga och syften har vi genomfört en enkätundersökning på vardera av de för studien utvalda Coop Forum butikerna. Den empiriska studien utfördes på Coops befintliga kunder, då vi ansåg att respondenterna krävde en förkunskap om butiken för att kunna yttra sig i frågor angående butikslojalitet. Vi delade ut 100 enkäter per butik, totalt 300 enkäter och erhöll 287 fullständiga svar. Resultatet från enkätfrågorna har sedan analyserats mot tidigare forskningsresultat, främst genom rangordning av olika alternativ inom ramen för studiens byggstenar. Vår studie visar att de påverkande butiksattributen för kunders val att handla kontinuerligt på Coop Forum differentierar mellan de tre för studien utvalda butikerna. I Umeå och Östersund var tillgänglighet det främst påverkande butiksattributet, medan medlemsförmåner var de främst påverkande för respondenterna i Örnsköldsvik. Coop Forums butik i Örnsköldsvik hade högst butiksimage och butikskundnöjdhet, medan butiken i Umeå hade högst kundlojalitet. Vår studie indikerar ett samband mellan butiksimage, butikskundnöjdhet och butikslojalitet vid en av de tre för studien utvalda Coop Forum butikerna.

The global fashion retail industry has been characterised by fierce competition for numerous years. Boutiques face increasing pressure to distinctly differentiate themselves from competing retail stores offering fashion merchandise, since customers are becoming ever more demanding as fashion evolves and new trends reach South African retail stores. Accordingly, marketers have to ensure customer satisfaction, build store loyalty, and stimulate repurchase intentions in the fashion retail industry in order to survive and prosper. For marketers to attract and retain customers, they have to adjust their marketing strategies and utilise various elements in the marketing mix to compete for customers’ attention, satisfy their retail experience needs, and encourage them to return. Shopping for clothes forms a significant part of many South African females’ lifestyles. Customers to whom fashion is important, have specific needs and wants and desire specific retail experiences. These customers are also becoming increasingly more sophisticated and individualistic, and therefore turn to small, speciality retailers such as boutiques, which they believe can accommodate them by providing unique and tailored retail experiences. Essentially, these customers do not merely purchase the retailer’s merchandise; they want to experience the store atmosphere the retailer offers. Therefore, it is important for boutiques to be aware of their store atmosphere which can offer customers a satisfying, consistent and sound retail experience. Customers who positively experience a retailer’s store atmosphere may feel more satisfied with the boutique, and may return to the retail store in the hope of receiving a similar retail experience. Once the customer returns to the same retail store, the possibility arises that the customer may become store loyal. As soon as the customer keeps on returning to the same retail store, the probability of repurchase intentions becomes real. That said, store atmosphere is considered to be a significant marketing tool, given that it provides boutiques with the power to manipulate a customer’s retail experience which could ultimately influence, customer satisfaction, store loyalty and repurchase intention. The primary objective of this research study is to investigate store atmosphere as a second-order construct model comprised from four sub-dimensions (factors) namely the retail store exterior, interior, layout and design and point-of-purchase and décoration in order to determine the interrelationships between these sub-dimensions (factors), customer satisfaction, store loyalty and repurchase intention in the fashion retail industry. In order to address this, a descriptive research design was followed and self-administered questionnaires were fielded amongst females, 18 years and older with an average monthly household net income of more than R14 000 (medium-to-high household income) who have bought items most recently from boutiques in Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp during the past six months. Judgemental, convenience and quota sampling methods were used to select the sampling units and sampling elements. A total of 361 questionnaires were ultimately analysed. With respect to the empirical results of this research study, respondents agreed the most that the exterior location of the boutique is convenient, the entrance to the boutique is inviting, the interior of the boutique is clean and that the temperature in the boutique is comfortable. Regarding the layout and design of the boutique, respondents agreed the most that the checkout and service points in the boutique are well placed and that all the spaces in the boutique are creatively utilised, as well as that the furnishings in the boutique are attractive. Finally, regarding the point-of-purchase and décoration of the boutique, respondents agreed the most that the pricing of the merchandise in the boutique is clearly visible and that the merchandise is well displayed. All the measurement scales measuring the sub-dimensions (factors) and constructs of this research study exhibit internal consistency reliability as well as content, construct and criterion validity. The standardised model results indicate that all statements included in the measurement model exhibit significant factor loadings above the recommended cut-off point, exhibiting a large effect in all instances, leading to the retention of all statements for further statistical analysis. With respect to the assessment of the structural model, the fit indices indicate an acceptable model fit. Based on the empirical results obtained from this research study, it became clear that store atmosphere has a large direct influence on customer satisfaction and store loyalty, albeit with no direct influence on repurchase intention. Both mediation relationships realised a medium indirect effect between store atmosphere and repurchase intention with customer satisfaction and store loyalty as mediators. The recommendations of this research study mainly focus on strategies to improve the store atmosphere of boutiques, since it positively influences customer satisfaction and store loyalty directly and repurchase intention indirectly. Limitations the researcher encountered were mainly related to budget and time constraints. Recommendations for future research include extending this research study to other Provinces of South Africa in order to determine the status quo in these Provinces and to determine whether statistical significant differences exist between respondents based upon demographic and geographic differences with respect to the constructs of this research study. / MCom (Marketing Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The global fashion retail industry has been characterised by fierce competition for numerous years. Boutiques face increasing pressure to distinctly differentiate themselves from competing retail stores offering fashion merchandise, since customers are becoming ever more demanding as fashion evolves and new trends reach South African retail stores. Accordingly, marketers have to ensure customer satisfaction, build store loyalty, and stimulate repurchase intentions in the fashion retail industry in order to survive and prosper. For marketers to attract and retain customers, they have to adjust their marketing strategies and utilise various elements in the marketing mix to compete for customers’ attention, satisfy their retail experience needs, and encourage them to return. Shopping for clothes forms a significant part of many South African females’ lifestyles. Customers to whom fashion is important, have specific needs and wants and desire specific retail experiences. These customers are also becoming increasingly more sophisticated and individualistic, and therefore turn to small, speciality retailers such as boutiques, which they believe can accommodate them by providing unique and tailored retail experiences. Essentially, these customers do not merely purchase the retailer’s merchandise; they want to experience the store atmosphere the retailer offers. Therefore, it is important for boutiques to be aware of their store atmosphere which can offer customers a satisfying, consistent and sound retail experience. Customers who positively experience a retailer’s store atmosphere may feel more satisfied with the boutique, and may return to the retail store in the hope of receiving a similar retail experience. Once the customer returns to the same retail store, the possibility arises that the customer may become store loyal. As soon as the customer keeps on returning to the same retail store, the probability of repurchase intentions becomes real. That said, store atmosphere is considered to be a significant marketing tool, given that it provides boutiques with the power to manipulate a customer’s retail experience which could ultimately influence, customer satisfaction, store loyalty and repurchase intention. The primary objective of this research study is to investigate store atmosphere as a second-order construct model comprised from four sub-dimensions (factors) namely the retail store exterior, interior, layout and design and point-of-purchase and décoration in order to determine the interrelationships between these sub-dimensions (factors), customer satisfaction, store loyalty and repurchase intention in the fashion retail industry. In order to address this, a descriptive research design was followed and self-administered questionnaires were fielded amongst females, 18 years and older with an average monthly household net income of more than R14 000 (medium-to-high household income) who have bought items most recently from boutiques in Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp during the past six months. Judgemental, convenience and quota sampling methods were used to select the sampling units and sampling elements. A total of 361 questionnaires were ultimately analysed. With respect to the empirical results of this research study, respondents agreed the most that the exterior location of the boutique is convenient, the entrance to the boutique is inviting, the interior of the boutique is clean and that the temperature in the boutique is comfortable. Regarding the layout and design of the boutique, respondents agreed the most that the checkout and service points in the boutique are well placed and that all the spaces in the boutique are creatively utilised, as well as that the furnishings in the boutique are attractive. Finally, regarding the point-of-purchase and décoration of the boutique, respondents agreed the most that the pricing of the merchandise in the boutique is clearly visible and that the merchandise is well displayed. All the measurement scales measuring the sub-dimensions (factors) and constructs of this research study exhibit internal consistency reliability as well as content, construct and criterion validity. The standardised model results indicate that all statements included in the measurement model exhibit significant factor loadings above the recommended cut-off point, exhibiting a large effect in all instances, leading to the retention of all statements for further statistical analysis. With respect to the assessment of the structural model, the fit indices indicate an acceptable model fit. Based on the empirical results obtained from this research study, it became clear that store atmosphere has a large direct influence on customer satisfaction and store loyalty, albeit with no direct influence on repurchase intention. Both mediation relationships realised a medium indirect effect between store atmosphere and repurchase intention with customer satisfaction and store loyalty as mediators. The recommendations of this research study mainly focus on strategies to improve the store atmosphere of boutiques, since it positively influences customer satisfaction and store loyalty directly and repurchase intention indirectly. Limitations the researcher encountered were mainly related to budget and time constraints. Recommendations for future research include extending this research study to other Provinces of South Africa in order to determine the status quo in these Provinces and to determine whether statistical significant differences exist between respondents based upon demographic and geographic differences with respect to the constructs of this research study. / MCom (Marketing Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

This study focuses on the variability of Canadian's value added meat purchase patterns by animal species, by level of processing, by branding and by grocery store chains. The results highlight that meat price, advertising and household socio-demographic characteristics and regional segments are strongly related to meat demand. The findings also indicate that there is no one correct pattern of meat product development across animal products from different species. In addition grocery store meat purchase exhibits little store loyalty most households purchase meat at more than one store chain regularly. The implications of the study suggest the importance of meat marketing segmentation by socioeconomic and household demographic factors in the development of marketing programs and product promotion for the food industry in general and meat industry to expand sales by targeting marketing strategies. Public health implications include the fact that habit persistence is important and likely an impediment to behaviour changes. / Agricultural and Resource Economics

Date: May 30, 2011 Program: MIMA – International Marketing Course name: Master Thesis (EFO 705) Title: Consumer behavior towards private label brands: A study of  Thai undergraduate students' experience Method: Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. Quantitative method was used to collect the primary data for this research. Moreover, qualitative method was also used to support the results from questionnaires. Conclusion: The research attempts to examine the different factors that influence consumers' purchasing intentions of private label brands among Thai undergraduate students. Five important factors were identified; there are collectivist culture, perceived risk, price, quality and store loyalty. Collectivist culture and perceived risk were found out to be important background factors which affect the other three factors. Furthermore, the result shows that price and quality of private label brands are highly related as most of the target consumers tend to associate expensiveness with high quality and vice-versa. However, the effect of store loyalty on consumers' (Thai undergraduate students)purchasing intention was found out to be insignificant.

No description available.

This study explores how brick-and-mortars toy retailer face the growing competition thatthe e-commerce is bringing to the market. It was found that the toy industry is reallysensitive to the increasing power online retailers are gaining, and that it is affecting theirstore loyalty. The foundation of this study is interviews of managers and salesman, indirect contact with the clients and their behavioural evolution.e-commerce has been previously studied through other academic researches, but wefound that its impact on brick-and-mortars store loyalty have been left aside and deservedto be studied.The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between e-commerce and brickand-mortars, along with understanding it. On a second time, determining if the storeloyalty of brick-and-mortars would be affected so bad by e-commerce that it would meanthe end of the traditional way of retailing. We also aimed to provide solutions, elementsthat could be generalize and applicable for the entire industry, on how brick-and-mortarsshould react to face this growing competition that is online retailing. To meet this purpose,we conducted three interviews in which the respondents shared their thoughts andreflections. The research question we inquire to answer is: “How is the rise of ecommerceimpacting store loyalty for the brick-and-mortars in the toy industry?”.It was found that the brick-and-mortars, in the toys industry, are threatened by the ecommercebecoming more popular towards clients. However, it is no foregoneconclusion, and the interviews we conducted demonstrated that there is room for brickand-mortars in this industry, if they find how to adapt themselves to this new type ofcompetition. Another finding that came out of this study is the importance of bringingadded value to your store, in order to keep your store loyalty at a good level and to notget affected by e-commerce. Future researchers are recommended to develop this subjecton focusing on the customer point of view, or on the overall digitalisation of the retailindustry to get a broader perspective.

Abstract Background The food retail business is characterized by fierce competition between a few large actors and low switching costs for consumers due to the similar offerings of the stores. In an oligopolistic market struc- ture like this it is critical for stores to create a loyal customer base in order to gain a competitive advantage. This is achieved through gen- erating customer satisfaction, which is an outcome of a positive evaluation of the store image. In the market of Jönköping there is one hypermarket, Ica Maxi, which enjoys a dominating market position over its two closest competitors, Coop Forum and City Gross, which must mean that more consumers chose to make their grocery shopping at this particular store. Therefore it is interesting to investigate the store image perceptions that the consumers of Jönköping hold of these three hypermarkets, and whether there is large difference be- tween them.  Purpose The main purpose of this thesis is to find out and measure how consumers in Jönköping perceive the store images of the three hyper- markets operating in the city, and what importance the different parts of the retail mix weighs on the consumers choice in what store to frequent. Further it aims to analyze the findings from the study in order to investigate if there are any differences in the store image perceptions, and if they might help explain a part of the dominating position Ica Maxi holds on the market.  Method Since store image is already a well defined concept within the marketing literature, it was most suitable to conduct a quantitative rather than a qualitative study. This was implemented through a questionnaire that was distributed to three separate samples, one per investigated hypermarket. The data collected was then processed mainly through One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), which allowed for comparisons between the three samples.  Conclusion The consumers of Jönköping ranked the influence of the store image dimensions on their choice of hypermarket as following; (1) mer- chandise, (2) customer service, (3) reputation, (4) location, (5) price, (6) store layout and design, and (7) advertising and promotion. The perceptions held of the stores images were different between the stores. Ica Maxi was shown to have the most positive store image, closely followed by City Gross, and Coop Forum had a significantly less favorable image than both its competitors. The difference between Ica Maxi and Coop Forum does explain why the stores have such different market shares. However, there was not a large enough difference in Ica Maxi’s and City Gross’ scores to justify the market share gap between them solely based on store image.

This study examines the within and between sex differences on the relative importances of merchandise quality and interaction quality as drivers of behavioral loyalty (share of wallet). A sample of customers of a national retail chain serves as the study setting. The results indicate that for female customers, interaction quality and merchandise quality have equally strong total influence on share of wallet. For male customers, the total effect of merchandise quality on share of wallet is significantly stronger than the total effect of interaction quality. Across sex comparisons reveal that the total effect of interaction quality on share of wallet is stronger for female customers. However, merchandise quality exerts a stronger total influence on share of wallet for male customers. Implications of the results are discussed and avenues for future research are offered.