Investments In Consumer Relationships - A Critical Reassessment And Model Extension

This study is a critical reassessment and extension of De Wulf, Odekerken-Schröder, and Iacobucci’s (2001) framework investigating retail investments in consumer relationships. Their initial model relates four types of relationship marketing efforts to perceived relationship investment, in turn influencing relationship quality and ultimately behavioral loyalty. Based upon signaling theory, we extend this model by introducing product and service efforts as additional antecedents. Moreover, in contrast to the use of self-reported measures in the initial model, we apply customer database information in order to measure the construct of behavioral loyalty. Based upon 187 consumers reporting on their relationship with a Belgian apparel retailer, the SEM results provide guidelines for retailers how to increase the quality of their relationships with consumers by strengthening consumers’ perceptions of relationship investment.marketing ;

Is gender stereotyping in advertising more prevalent in masculine countries? A cross-national analysis

The objective of this study is to test whether gender stereotyping in printed advertising is more prevalent in masculine as opposed to feminine countries. We consider this to be important, as advertising is generally more influential than literature in spreading stereotypical ideas given its high accessibility. Moreover, the way in which sexes are portrayed in advertising affects people's perceptions of gender roles in real life. Using content analysis, we collected empirical data on gender stereotyping of women depicted in 946 printed advertisements from two European countries widely differing in their level of masculinity, the UK and the Netherlands. The results indicate that a country's masculinity index is hardly related to the use of gender stereotyping in printed advertising, potentially implying that other factors underlie the use of gender stereotyping. Key words: Gender stereotyping, UK and the Netherlands, advertising, content analysis, masculinity inde

The influence of topic involvement on mail survey response behavior

This study experimentally investigated the influence of topic involvement on mail survey response rate and speed. The results show that response rates were higher for topics that are generally considered as high involvement than for topics that are generally considered as low involvement. Moreover, we observed an interesting interaction effect. On the one hand, a positive and significant relationship existed between topic involvement and response rate for topics that on average are viewed as high involvement, leading to a non-response bias. On the other hand, no significant relationship was found between topic involvement and response rate for topics that on average are viewed as low involvement. Finally, we were not able to observe a relationship between topic involvement and response speed for topics that are, on average, either high or low involvement

The relationship between consumers' unethical behavior and customer loyalty in a retail environment

This paper investigates the relationship between two outcomes of relationship marketing - affective commitment and behavioral loyalty - and consumers' unethical behavior. The main objective of the study is to assess whether affective commitment and behavioral loyalty to a store translate into more ethical behavior towards that store, controlling for the variables of age, gender, and ethical beliefs. The study does not rely on a single measurement tool, but is based on ten months' panel data and three different mail surveys targeted at 359 Belgian households. The results provide support for our hypothesis that affective commitment is indeed negatively correlated with consumers' unethical behavior. The same conclusion could not be drawn for the relationship between behavioral loyalty and consumers' unethical behavior. No significant relationship was detected, not even in situations where affective commitment was high. The results hold major implications for retailing practice

The influence of topic involvement on mail survey response behavior

This study experimentally investigated the influence of topic involvement on mail survey response rate and speed. The results show that response rates were higher for topics that are generally considered as high involvement than for topics that are generally considered as low involvement. Moreover, we observed an interesting interaction effect. On the one hand, a positive and significant relationship existed between topic involvement and response rate for topics that on average are viewed as high involvement, leading to a non-response bias. On the other hand, no significant relationship was found between topic involvement and response rate for topics that on average are viewed as low involvement. Finally, we were not able to observe a relationship between topic involvement and response speed for topics that are, on average, either high or low involvement

What drives consumer participation to loyalty programs? A conjoint analytical approach

Little is known about the way in which different loyalty program attributes underlie consumers' intentions to participate in such a program. Based upon equity theory, the current study distinguished between consumer inputs (personal data release, participation cost, purchase frequency, participation exclusivity, and participation efforts) and outputs (program) benefits, number of program providers, and program duration) as underlying attributes potentially affecting participation in a loyalty program. Using conjoint analysis, we explored how different levels within each of these eight attributes affect consumers' intentions to participate. The study holds major implications for the design of successful customer loyalty programs. Keywords: Relationship Marketing, Customer Loyalty Program, Equity Theory, Conjoint Analysis

Beslissingsondersteunende systemen en besluitvorming in marketing management

Nadat eerst kort de complexiteit van de marketing-beslissingssituatie is geschetst, wordt in dit artikel een omschrijving gegeven van zogenaamde beslissingsondersteuningssystemen die een belangrijk hulpmiddel kunnen zijn bij een analytische benadering van marketingbeslissingen. Het artikel laat zien hoe in deze systemen marketingmodellen en marketinginformatiesystemen met elkaar worden geintegreerd, en gaat in op diverse aspecten, zoals het onderscheid in systemen voor strategische versus operationele beslissingen, kwantificering van modellen etc., en geeft een indeling van bestaande modellen. Er worden een aantal concrete ervaringen met deze beslissingsondersteuningssystemen vermeld en het artikel eindigt met een beschouwing over implementatie en de rol die de marktonderzoeker daarin kan spelen