Consumer involvement in retail store positioning

The concept of consumer involvement in products and issues and its theoretical importance in attitude change strategy have been discussed in the past. This paper reports empirical findings relating to retail store perceptions and preferences, using involvement as a moderator variable.     

Validating the retail store image concept

The perceived images of seven retail firms encompassing several lines of trade are presented in this paper. To determine these images, data on store attributes and the importance of these attributes were collected from a random sample within selected census tracts of a Southwestern city. The linear compensatory multi-attribute model approach of product attitudes was extended to that of store patronage. The ability of these image models to predict attitudes towards the retail outlets as well as patronage behavior is investigated. In addition, the power of importance weights in these models is statistically examined.     

The continuity factor in retail store display

While future research is necessary to determine the variation in findings by such factors as store type, merchandise type, degree of self-selection, etc., these data do indicate that there is much to be said in favor of display continuity. This, of course, assumes that increased sales per minute is a desirable goal. The desirability of increasing sales per minute should be reviewed from the customer’s point of view as well as from a management’s frame of reference. If the shopping task is viewed as relatively unpleasant, then speed of purchasing becomes a real factor. However, should the customer feel that the shopping act is more one of entertainment relative to procurement, then purchase proficiency is less relevant.     

Involvement: Its measurement for retail store research

Several marketing scholars have noted the importance of the concept of involvement with respect to marketing strategy. Various definitions of involvement have been offered. These definitions have resulted in two major measures: the importance measure (importance attached to the attributes of the object under consideration in a choice process) and the “matrix approach”. This paper addresses the reliability and validity of these two measures. The author acknowledges the financial assistance of the Board for Research and Creativity, Bradley University.     

Differences in retail store images within husband-wife dyads

Aggregate measures of purchasing influence generally produce similar results whether husbands or wives serve as the respondents. However, this study indicates that wives should not be used as surrogates for husbands in studies measuring retail store images. The findings of this study indicate that developing marketing strategies based on the images held by wives may not be successful in dealing with the male segment of the market. There is substantial within-couple variation in the evaluation of specific aspects of specific retail stores. However, both groups do appear to use similar evaluative criteria. The differences are in the evaluation of the store characteristics, not in the underlying criteria.     

Salesperson learning,organizational learning,and retail store performance

Salesperson learning has the potential to contribute to the competitive advantage of the firm by increasing its capacity for organizational learning. The relationship between employee and organizational learning is often taken-for-granted, yet the relationship between the two is complicated. The transfer of individual learning to the organizational level can not always be assumed. The authors examine this relationship, focusing on the facilitating role of organizational climate for learning and information dissemination efficiency in translating salesperson learning to organizational learning. The model, tested using a sample of 422 respondents from 113 retail stores in a national chain, is partly supported. Individual learning was found to be postitively associated with organizational learning and organizational climate for learning had a positive moderating effect on this relationship. The hypothesized moderating effect of information dissemination efficiency was insignificant. Implications for theory and management are discussed.     

Conceptualization and operationalization of retail store image: A case of rival middle-level theories

This article presents the case that inconsistencies between retail store image conceptualization and operationalization signal a critical separation between theory and measurement within the paradigm. The authors attribute the separation to the influence of two rival, middle-level information processing theories. The first, piecemeal-based processing theory, has historically dominated retail store image operationalization and measurement within the area. The authors argue, however, that the time has come for a new information processing theory—category-based information processing—to challenge piecemeal processing as the positive heuristic within the store image paradigm. The advantages of adopting category-based processing over piecemeal processing are discussed both from a positive and normative perspective. Recommendations for managers and propositions for future research are offered.     

The home purchase process: Measurement of evaluative criteria through pairwise measures

Although the purchase of a home represents a sizable investment for the average family, relatively little consumer research pertaining to the home purchase process has been reported. This investigation utilized Thurstone's Case V methodology to identify key attributes used by consumers to make housing choices and to show how these attributes are perceived by consumers of different tenure and socioeconomic status. The pairwise comparison analysis showed a strong preference for the attributes “safety and security from crime” and “quality construction” by the respondents. In addition, the analysis revealed several important differences in attribute preferences between former owners and former renters. Former home owners, for example, were more likely than former renters to prefer school quality when it was pitted against several other attributes. Thurstone's Case V techniques was found to be an effective method for measuring consumer preferences. Implications which focus on home product development and marketing strategies are discussed.     

Single and multiple person household shoppers: A focus on grocery store selection criteria and grocery shopping attitudes and behavior

Responses of single and multiple person household food shoppers are analyzed to determine whether the two groups differ with respect to (1) those store criteria which are important in selecting a food store, (2) attitudes and behavior concerning the grocery shopping activity, and (3) various demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Even though many similarities were found between the two groups of shoppers, some differences were observed. The implications of these similarities and differences are discussed, with emphasis given to their impact on retail food store management and strategic planning.     

The influence of store environment on quality inferences and store image

The study reported here examines how combinations of specific elements in the retail store environment influence consumers’ inferences about merchandise and service quality and discusses the extent to which these inferences mediate the influence of the store environment on store image. Results show that ambient and social elements in the store environment provide cues that consumers use for their quality inferences. In addition, store environment, merchandise quality, and service quality were posited to be antecedents of store image—with the latter two serving as mediators—rather than components of store image (as they are typically treated in the store image literature). Theoretical and managerial implications of the findings are discussed, and future research directions are proposed. She received her Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. Her areas of interest include store environment, consumer behavior, and product/service quality. She has published articles in theInternational Journal of Research in Marketing and theJournal of Retailing. He received his Ph.D. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. His areas of interest include pricing, consumer behavior, product/service quality, and customer satisfaction. He has published articles in a number of journals, including theJournal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Journal of Marketing Research, Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Public Policy and Marketing, andJournal of Retailing. He received his D.B.A. from Indiana University in 1975. His research interests focus on the measurement and improvement of service quality and on services marketing strategy. He is the recipient of several teaching and research awards. In 1988, he was selected as one of the ten most influential figures in quality by the editorial board ofThe Quality Review. His articles have appeared in theJournal of Marketing, Journal of Marketing Research, Journal of Services Marketing, andBusiness Horizons, among other publications. He is the author ofMarketing Research, a college textbook, as well as coauthor ofMarketing Services: Competing through Quality andDelivering Quality Service: Balancing Customer Perceptions and Expectations. He is also an active consultant to a number of major corporations.     

A prediction study in perceptual and evaluative mapping

The study tests the ability of MDS model to predict individual preferences for new items introduced into a calibration-type similarities space. Towards this a small scale experiment involving various types of similarities and preference judgments was conducted. The results of the study show that the ideal point model fails to account for subjects' preference rankings of test items. The report discusses the study results and offers directions for future research. The author would like to acknowledge the helpful comments of Professor Paul E. Green in various phases of the project.     

On the meaning and measurement of religiosity in consumer research

The role of religiousness as a variable in models of consumer behavior is not well-established. Research findings in this area tend to be sparse and conflicting, and measurement issues have yet to be addressed. This article reports on an empirical investigation of religiosity in a causal modeling framework. The results suggest that religiosity is a viable consumer behavior construct in that it (1) did correlate with the life-style variables selected; (2) contributed directly to the model along with sex, age, and income; and (3) was successfully operationalized through multiple measures.     

A path analytic model of store loyalty involving self-concept,store image,geographic loyalty,and socioeconomic status

A model is introduced which posits that store loyalty is primarily determined by store-image evaluation and shopping-complex loyalty. Store image-evaluation, in turn, is hypothesized to be determined, to a major extent, by self-image/store-image congruity, and shopping-complex loyalty by area loyalty and socioeconomic status. The model was tested using a path analytic procedure and the results were consistent with the model. A replication study was attempted and the results reinforced the validity of the proposed model.     

对保险消费者概念的商榷——兼论保险相对人权益保护范式的选择

在全球金融危机背景下于2009年修订并实施的新《保险法》,对保险相对人的权益保护受到了社会各界最大程度的关注,＂保险消费者＂的概念在保险法学界引起了热烈讨论,体现出我国《保险法》在立法理念和保护范式选择上的分歧与争议。学者和实务界人士对此提出了肯定说、否定说和衡平说三种观点。本文认为,＂保险消费者＂概念的提出在当前特定背景下确有其积极意义,但将保险相对人的保护纳入消费者保护法制的轨道存在诸多问题,概念内涵上无法覆盖,权利构造上难以契合,法律精神上缺少共鸣,制度运行上易出现排异反应。无需完全摒弃现有的保险当事人利益衡平保护理论与制度,而在＂保险消费者＂概念下重塑保险相对人的保护范式。从根本而言,对于保险相对人权益的切实有效保护,仍应在保险法的制度框架中寻求。     

药品包装与消费心理

药品作为一种特殊的商品,具有药品和商品的双重属性。它的包装设计要求在遵循国家相关医药法规的同时,提高外观设计品味,才能获得消费者的心里认可。     

中国的零售企业如何做大做强

随着中国本土零售业的蓬勃发展和入世的冲击，中国零售业内外竞争日益加剧。中国零售企业要实现真正意义上的扩张，就必须从两方面着手：做大企业与做强企业。通过企业的规模扩张、资本扩张、业态扩张来做大企业；通过减少管理成本，提高管理效率，经营创新，实施品牌经营战略来做强企业。这是零售企业实现自身扩张的有效手段。     

突发事件中消费心理的分析与扩大消费需求--以“非典”流行期间消费现象为例

突发事件往往会对居民的消费心理和消费行为造成较大冲击，从而影响国民经济的发展。对“非典”期间的消费心理特点的分析表明，突发事件中消费波动的原因主要在于消费者对安全的需求、心理预期变化以及求速求便心理和从众心理等方面，应对的措施则有：满足消费者的安全需求，稳定消费者的心理预期，开发特殊时期新的消费方式等等。     

Source and message content credibility in retail advertisements

Source and message content credibility, two characteristics of effective communications, were examined in the advertising content. A quasi-experimental design using actual retail comparative price advertisements was used to test the effects of retailers (sources) and meassages (discount levels) on the acceptance of the message. The findings support the conclusion that source and message credibility exists in retail advertising but with a major modification. Credibility is composed of two components, trustworthiness and price competitiveness. It appears that the relevant credibility components for the audience will depend on the source, the situation, and the objectives of the audience.