Reports on a preliminary study which examined the impact ofmembership fees on consumer attitude and choice. Consumers participatedin a computerized simulated shopping experiment…
Abstract
Reports on a preliminary study which examined the impact of membership fees on consumer attitude and choice. Consumers participated in a computerized simulated shopping experiment in which repetitive choices were made from a set of videotape rental stores. Paying a membership fee had a short‐term impact on attitudes and choice. It is suggested that it is often a wise practice for retailers to build membership fees (even very small ones) into their pricing structure. Paying such a fee appears to make consumers resistant to the offers of competitors in the short run and may provide some insulation from competitive attacks.
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Dennis N. Bristow and Steven J. Walker
As suggested in the lyrics from the popular Beach Boys song, students may be expected, by themselves and/or others, to ‘be true’ to their school; to be loyal to their alma mater…
Abstract
As suggested in the lyrics from the popular Beach Boys song, students may be expected, by themselves and/or others, to ‘be true’ to their school; to be loyal to their alma mater. It is likely that the reader can readily recall their own school ‘fight’ song and rousing cheers at sporting events touting the superiority of the home team.
This paper aims to begin to remedy deficiencies in the understanding of how the increased focus on service, even in manufacturing environments, relates to consumer desire for…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to begin to remedy deficiencies in the understanding of how the increased focus on service, even in manufacturing environments, relates to consumer desire for relationships. The role of relationships in both services and physical goods has taken on a new meaning that should be further explored.
Design/methodology/approach
The qualitative study reported in this paper examines the extent to which consumers feel that they are in relationships with companies from a variety of product categories that range from search goods (easy to evaluate in advance of purchase) to credence goods (difficult to evaluate). The analysis is based on semi-structured interviews with 20 customers.
Findings
The results identify when consumers place an emphasis on specific relational behaviors in evaluating the product use experience. Specifically, trust, commitment and expertise seemed more important when products were difficult to evaluate in advance, whereas social benefits and special treatment were mentioned with search and credence products more than experience products.
Research limitations/implications
The results are exploratory and should be replicated and extended utilizing a larger, more representative sample before they are generalized to market.
Practical implications
The results have important implications for practitioners in both manufacturing and service industries, as they decide when and how to differentiate their service components and pursue relationships with consumers. Firms need to stand out from a service perspective.
Originality/value
The manuscript develops a more robust understanding of the relational behaviors that matter to customers and provides recommendations about how to best manage them.
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Most years, several AIB members are elected as AIB Fellows on account of their excellent international business scholarship, and/or past service as AIB President or Executive…
Abstract
Most years, several AIB members are elected as AIB Fellows on account of their excellent international business scholarship, and/or past service as AIB President or Executive Secretary. The Fellows are in charge of electing Eminent Scholars as well as the International Executive and International Educator (formerly, Dean) of the Year, who often provide the focus for Plenary Sessions at AIB Conferences. Their history since 1975 covers over half of the span of the AIB and reflects many issues that dominated that period in terms of research themes, progresses and problems, the internationalization of business education and the role of international business in society and around the globe. Like other organizations, the Fellows Group had their ups and downs, successes and failures – and some fun too!
This chapter complements the one that appeared as “History of the AIB Fellows: 1975–2008” in Volume 14 of this series (International Business Scholarship: AIB Fellows on the First…
Abstract
This chapter complements the one that appeared as “History of the AIB Fellows: 1975–2008” in Volume 14 of this series (International Business Scholarship: AIB Fellows on the First 50 Years and Beyond, Jean J. Boddewyn, Editor). It traces what happened under the deanship of Alan Rugman (2011–2014) who took many initiatives reported here while his death in July 2014 generated trenchant, funny, and loving comments from more than half of the AIB Fellows. The lives and contributions of many other major international business scholars who passed away from 2008 to 2014 are also evoked here: Endel Kolde, Lee Nehrt, Howard Perlmutter, Stefan Robock, John Ryans, Vern Terpstra, and Daniel Van Den Bulcke.
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Paul Richardson, Arun K. Jain and Alan Dick
Points out that, although blind tests have generally revealed that consumers can detect little difference between store brand and national brand products, private brands still…
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Points out that, although blind tests have generally revealed that consumers can detect little difference between store brand and national brand products, private brands still only have a small market share (14.9 percent). Using an environmental psychology model as the study framework, which postulates a stimulus‐response process, examines the effects of store atmosphere on consumer evaluations of private brand grocery products. Analyzes the results which show that store aesthetics do influence consumer perceptions of store brand quality. Discusses the managerial implications of the findings and the limitations of the study, and makes suggestions for future research.
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A few years ago Dick Laster, executive vice president of General Foods, was addressing the American Marketing Association on the subject of success and failure in new products…
Abstract
A few years ago Dick Laster, executive vice president of General Foods, was addressing the American Marketing Association on the subject of success and failure in new products. The title of his speech was, “Managing the Interface Between Marketing and R&D.” Dick's opening remark was, “I was thrilled when they told me the subject they wanted me to talk about today—because, frankly, I've never been sure until now that there was an Interface.”
The librarian and researcher have to be able to uncover specific articles in their areas of interest. This Bibliography is designed to help. Volume IV, like Volume III, contains…
Abstract
The librarian and researcher have to be able to uncover specific articles in their areas of interest. This Bibliography is designed to help. Volume IV, like Volume III, contains features to help the reader to retrieve relevant literature from MCB University Press' considerable output. Each entry within has been indexed according to author(s) and the Fifth Edition of the SCIMP/SCAMP Thesaurus. The latter thus provides a full subject index to facilitate rapid retrieval. Each article or book is assigned its own unique number and this is used in both the subject and author index. This Volume indexes 29 journals indicating the depth, coverage and expansion of MCB's portfolio.