The Impact of Product Tagging on Trust and Purchase Intention: A cross-cultural perspective in visual e-commerce

The present study aims to examine the opportunity of in-app shopping, more specifically, analyzing the influence of product tags and cultural background on consumers’ trust and purchase intention. For this purpose, a comparison was made between European and South American female consumers from two cultures: the Netherlands and Paraguay. A total of 225 subjects, 143 from the Dutch background and 82 from the Paraguayan background, participated in an experimental survey where they judged an Instagram product page (product tag: present vs. absent). The analysis of the results revealed that the Paraguayans had higher purchase intentions than the Dutch. Additionally, the presence of a text appeal in the visual product presentation had a direct positive effect on consumers’ purchase intentions and perceived trust in the shopping environment, for both the Dutch and Paraguayan cultural groups. In virtual web shops, perceiving trust is a decisive point for purchase intentions. This study contributes to the fast-growing investigations on social media effectiveness and visual marketing as an informative and persuasive tool. The findings pinpoint the synergic value of visual and textual cues of product presentation online in the atmospheric trust of in-app shopping.

S/he styles: narcissistic fashion apparel consumption in India

Purpose This research aims to investigate if consuming fashion apparel brands for the purpose of social appearance expressiveness may garner calculative brand commitment, through the mediation of narcissistic brand love. It also tests moderation of gender for the aforementioned mediated relationship. Design/methodology/approach The research has a core qualitative component (Study 1), which focuses on an interpretivist approach using a grounded theory paradigm to analyze data (N = 37) collected from semi-structured depth interviews. It is followed by a positivist survey based enquiry (study 2), and the data (N = 245) were analyzed using Haye’s (2017) process macro. Findings Analysis reveals that Indian consumers fall in narcissistic love with those apparel brands that aid their quest for maintaining desirable social appearances and develop a calculative commitment toward the brands, which aid this quest. The effect of social appearance expressiveness of apparel brand on consumers’ narcissistic brand love is moderated by gender, such that female consumers (as compared to males) are more invested in consuming fashion apparel brands as a means to enhance their social appearances. Originality/value The value of this study lies in extending self-presentation theory to understand the role of consumer narcissism in shaping Indian consumers’ fashion apparel consumption. The authors investigate the narcissistic consumption orientation that evolves as a result of consumers’ desire for social self-expression, irrespective of possessing narcissism as an enduring personality trait. Thus, the findings are relevant for possibly all consumers who, given certain conditions, may temporarily develop narcissistic brand love.

The Influence of Promotional Mix on Female Consumers’ Buying Behaviour

The skin care industry has become very competitive today. The demand for skin care products has grown rapidly due to the growth in the population of working females and the penetration of Korean culture among Malaysians. Hence, this study aims to investigate the influence of promotional mix on buying behaviour of female consumers towards skin care products. This study has recruited 200 female respondents from Melaka using convenience sampling. The data was collected using a set of self-administered questionnaires. Advertising, sales promotion, direct marketing, personal selling and public relations were included in the research model to predict buying behaviour of female consumers towards skin care products. Data analysis which involves measurement model and structural model were performed using PLS-SEM. Sales promotion and public relation both influence buying behaviour significantly. Advertising, direct selling and personal selling, however, were found to be non-significant. The findings have thus implied that sales promotion and public relation are important factors of buying behaviour of female consumers towards skin care products. This study has provided valuable information and insightful input to the marketers of skin care products.

Effect of Customized Cosmetics Selection Attributes and Safety Perception on Intention to Purchase

Purpose: This study investigated how choice attributes and safety perception of adult female consumers influence purchase intention.Methods: Data were collected from women aged 20 years and older and analyzed using SPSS WIN 25.0 program. Analyses included frequency, descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation, one-way ANOVA, factor, reliability, principal component, and regression.Results: Among the attributes of personalized cosmetic selection, quality was highly significant for women aged 40 and older. As regards the safety perception of customized cosmetics, the safety of the manufacturing environment was significantly important for women in their 30s and that of the expiration date, and the ingredients were significantly higher for women aged 40 and above. The significance of safety was high in the case of married women and those in the income group above 4 million won. Quality has the greatest positive impact on safety of the manufacturing environment and shelf life, and perceptual value has the greatest positive impact on universal safety. Perceptual value and universal safety had the greatest positive influence on purchasing intention.Conclusion: Through this study, we increase the safety perception of customized cosmetics to consumers who choose customized cosmetics and help them select customized cosmetics according to their selection attributes. For related companies, we not only hope to develop customized cosmetics with proven safety but also build and develop appropriate marketing strategies.

Female Consumers Awareness Level on Purchasing Online Beauty Products in Kathmandu Valley

Consumer awareness about their appearance and beauty results in the growing demand on the market for cosmetic and beauty products. Cosmetic used by consumers depends on various attributes such as size, consistency, brand name, brand loyalty and labeling. This study therefore tries to analyze awareness level of female consumers on purchasing online beauty products in Kathmandu valley. Descriptive method is employed in this study where 285 female customers who buy cosmetics online are taken as sample for the study. Likewise, awareness level is also measured with the help of awareness index. Findings of the study revealed that 95% females are aware about online purchase of cosmetic products. Likewise, both literate and illiterate women use online platforms to buy cosmetic products however, the ratio of literate women is higher. Also, the trend to buy cosmetics product is higher in unmarried compared to married females. Thus, the study concludes effectiveness of online beauty products can be enhanced if online sites focuses on delivering quality products in reliable price to customers. Keywords: Female customers, Beauty products, Awareness, Kathmandu valley, Cosmetics

Understanding the ties between brand gender and brand engagement in online brand communities: the moderating role of consumers’ biological sex

Purpose This study aims to examine how brand gender (masculine/feminine brand personality [FBP] traits) stimulates brand engagement (cognitive processing, affection and activation) inside online brand communities (OBCs). The authors also explore the mediation of this effect through brand identification and brand personality appeal (BPA). The moderating role of consumers’ biological sex is also investigated. Design/methodology/approach The theoretical model has been tested with the data collected from OBC members through the structural equation modelling technique. Bootstrapping is used for mediation analysis and multiple group analysis for testing the moderating effects. Findings Results show that masculine brand personality (MBP) influences brand engagement directly, as well as through brand identification and BPA. However, FBP elicits brand engagement only through the mediation of brand identification and BPA. Consumers’ biological sex moderates the effect of FBP on brand engagement, but no moderation was traced for the effect of MBP on brand engagement. Research limitations/implications The context of the research poses a limitation on the broader replication of study findings. Other limitations include the absence of community-based variables and the focused use of gender centric brands in this study. This research will help researchers to understand the nuances in the underlying relationship between brand gender and brand engagement inside OBCs. Practical implications The managers can emphasize MBP but should not downplay the importance of FBP inside OBCs. To achieve brand engagement, the marketers should curate FBP in a way to affecting consumers’ brand identification and brand appeal. To achieve consumer brand engagement, MBP can be targeted at both male and female consumers, whereas FBP holds more importance among female consumers. Therefore, classifying members as per their biological sex is recommended for better brand engagement from brand gender inside OBCs. Originality/value This study explores finer mechanisms in the relationship between brand gender and brand engagement inside OBCs by charting out the powerful mediating role played by brand identification and BPA. The moderating role of consumers’ biological sex is an important dimension to these relationships, not explored hitherto.

The Infinite Wardrobe: Female Consumers’ Value Perceptions Regarding Collaborative Consumption of Apparel

Understanding the potential factors and underlying mechanisms to engage in collaborative consumption practices has become a significant concern for academics and practitioners. However, collaborative consumption research is still considered in its early stage; thus, further research is needed. Based on this need, this study extends existing research by providing empirical support for the importance of value perceptions and empathy on female consumers’ attitudes and behavioral intentions to engage in collaborative consumption in the apparel industry. This study also shows a significant moderating effect for materialism and the need for uniqueness in the collaborative consumption of apparel. These findings are believed to be particularly valuable in contributing to the broader literature on collaborative consumption and guiding, especially practitioners, to develop strategic tactics for motivating consumers to engage in collaborative consumption practices.

Mobile Application Purchase: Comparison of Utilitarian Features between Users and Non-users

This study aims to understand how utilitarian features of a mobile application moderate purchase motivations and intentions among users and non-users. Taking a case of cinema ticket purchase in the Iranian context, this study has collected empirical data through a questionnaire from 240 respondents. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze data. Motivational variables were grouped into four groups: functional motivations, convenience-based functional motivations, product motivations, and service motivations. In addition, the gender issue of the consumer was also considered. This study finds that such motivational factors significantly affect consumers’ motivations, both male and female consumers. Analysis on gender shows no significant differences among male and female consumers. Therefore, these factors should be considered in formulating marketing communication strategy and media management, especially for non-users. Further research should consider other motivational factors, such as hedonic motivations, attitude, and situational factors, to understand consumer behaviors comprehensively. Keywords: marketing communication, mobile application, mobile purchase, utilitarian features, mobile marketing, cinema ticket.

Consumer Preferences for Cheese with Focus on Food Safety—A Segmentation Analysis

This research work analyzes Albanian urban consumer preferences and purchasing behavior related to cheese, focusing on food safety and related attributes, including origin, packaging, and certification. This paper is based on a structured survey targeting urban consumers. The analysis consists of a two-step cluster and descriptive statistics. The clustering was based on key sociodemographic variables, namely, gender, education, and age. The results show that the local cheese is preferred to imported cheese, and the main sources of food safety guarantee are the producer name/brand and knowing the seller. Most consumers across all five identified clusters preferred buying unpacked cheese to packed cheese. The cluster of educated female consumers preferred to buy cheese mainly in supermarkets compared to other clusters that preferred convenience shops. Consumer clusters with a university education appeared to be more informed about both HACCP and ISO compared to other (less educated) consumer clusters. Low trust in state institutions to guarantee food safety calls for the need to strengthen their capacities, professionalism, and awareness engagement with consumers.