Online Purchase Intentions: An Empirical Testing of a Multiple-Theory Model

Manufacturing is a complex application domain, traditionally a realm of engineers and factory workers. As we are in the information age, the manufacturing domain has become more dependent on information through the use of computers and computer‐controlled machines. In the arena of advanced manufacturing, a number of concepts such as the “virtual corporation”; and “virtual factory”; have emerged, requiring that manufacturing be highly information‐intensive and knowledge‐based.

This article examines the role of the information infrastructure and explores the use of intelligent agents in its implementation for advanced manufacturing enterprises. The information infrastructure forms a complex hierarchy of distributed, heterogeneous information systems. Intelligent agents play various roles at different levels of the hierarchy to provide interoperability, reliability, programma‐bility, and controllability.     

Customer Testimonials and News Clips as Contextual Cues in the Consumer Cognitive Processing of Online Shopping

SUMMARY

This study examines to what extent degrees of nudity presented in advertising differ across five countries (Brazil, China, South Korea, Thailand, and the U.S.). Content is examined by media type (TV vs. magazine) and product category (congruent vs. others). Results show that Thai and U.S. ads employ the highest degrees of nudity, whereas Chinese ads present the lowest degrees. Across all the countries, magazine ads and congruent-product ads employ higher degrees of nudity than TV ads and non-congruent product ads. The effect of product type on degrees of nudity is stronger in TV ads than in magazine ads and the interaction effect between media type and product type also varies across the countries. Our study provides richer and more specific implications for global advertising strategy with respect to representation of models and use of sex appeals.     

The Role of Telepresence and User Engagement in Co-Creation Value and Purchase Intention: Online Retail Context

Using the technology of three-dimensional (3D) product presentation within online retailing, the current study aims to explore the role of telepresence and its determinants (control, color vividness, and 3D authenticity) in enhancing user engagement, which in turn impacts co-creation value and purchase intention. To test the proposed hypotheses, this research developed a hypothetical online retailer website, which presented a variety of 3D laptops that users could co-create, change the color, and control the content and form of. This research collected the data from Jordanian consumer panel members via online self-administered questionnaires. This research finds that control, color vividness, and 3D authenticity are the main determinants of telepresence. Furthermore, this research finds that telepresence has a positive impact on user engagement, which in turn positively impacts co-creation value and purchase intentions. This research finds that co-creation value impacts purchase intentions. The current findings contribute to the online retailing literature by connecting user engagement with co-creation value, as previous research had focused on one of them but not the link between them.     

The Moderating Role of Country of Origin on Brand Equity,Repeat Purchase Intentions,and Word of Mouth in Trinidad and Tobago

Brand equity has emerged as a critical aspect of marketing, but its effect on consumer behavioral intentions from a developing country perspective has not been sufficiently examined. This study proposes that country of origin and product type will moderate the relationships between brand equity, consumer repeat purchase intentions, and word of mouth. Data were collected from 157 customers and analyzed with regression analysis. Our results confirm the moderating role of COO such that favorable COO weakens the impact of brand equity on consumers' behavioral intentions. Product type was not significant. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are presented as well as the limitations, and future research opportunities are discussed.     

Sense and sensibility in personalized e‐commerce: How emotions rebalance the purchase intentions of persuaded customers

This research develops and tests a theoretical model of customer persuasion in personalized online shopping, building on information processing theory, and addressing cognitive and affective stages of the persuasion process. Data from 582 experienced online customers were used to validate the proposed model through structural equation modeling and multigroup analysis. Results show that quality of personalization, message quality, and benefits of the personalized recommendations are important in the persuasion process. Positive emotions increase the effect of persuasion on purchase intentions, contrary to negative emotions. The study extends online personalization theory, offers an in‐depth analysis of the persuasion process in online shopping, and provides valuable recommendations for personalized online marketing.     

Slicing,Dicing, Spicing,and Pricing: Factors Influencing Purchase and Consumption of Fresh Potatoes

To better understand potential reasons for a North American decline in fresh potato consumption, a region-wide survey (n = 1009) was undertaken in eastern Canada. Results were examined comparing high- and low-frequency potato users on a variety of factors, including beliefs, attitudes, barriers, needs, and satisfaction with potatoes. Respondents indicated positive perceptions pertaining to potato nutrition, taste, preparation, and overall enjoyment. Multiple logistic regression analysis suggested two variables—age and the perceived importance of potatoes for the everyday meal—were strong predictors of high versus low frequency of potato consumption. Respondents judged the ability to see the potato in the package, potato firmness, and locally produced as point-of-purchase characteristics particularly important when buying fresh potatoes. However, respondents also indicated that their needs were not fully met and expressed relatively low levels of satisfaction when purchasing potatoes. Based on the results, suggestions are provided for improving the marketing of fresh potatoes.     

The Effects of Corporate-Brand Credibility,Perceived Corporate-Brand Origin,and Self-Image Congruence on Purchase Intention: Evidence From China's Auto Industry

This study aims to investigate the effects of corporate-brand credibility, perceived corporate-brand origin, and self-image congruence on purchase intention. A cross-city survey of China's automobile industry was conducted in four major Mainland cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu). Results reveal that corporate-brand credibility, perceived corporate-brand origin, and self-image congruence have direct positive impacts on purchase intention. Furthermore, corporate-brand credibility and self-image congruence both act as moderating variables in the relationship between corporate-brand origin and purchase intention. Corporate-brand credibility is more significant in influencing consumers’ purchase intention toward the brand than perceived corporate-brand origin.     

Integrating Multiple Factors Affecting Consumer Behavior Toward Organic Foods: The Role of Healthism,Hedonism, and Trust in Consumer Purchase Intentions of Organic Foods

Consumer awareness about organic foods has been growing. However, this trend is not always translated to consumer organic food purchases. It is argued that when it comes to assessing organics, one should expect consumers to use multiattribute evaluations due to credence attributes and organic standards that organic foods need to adhere to. A thorough review of the existing literature on consumer buying behavior of organic foods identifies healthism, hedonism, and trust among some factors that enhance consumer experiences with organic foods and therefore can affect their purchase intentions. This article is one the few studies that integrated multiple factors in one research framework to empirically evaluate their role in explaining consumer purchase intentions of organic foods. Results from a demographically representative sample completed by an online survey in Australia (N = 1011) provides support for the research hypotheses by revealing positive and statistically significant effects of healthism, hedonism, and trust on consumer purchase intentions. The study concludes with implications and suggestions for future research.