Does Word-Of-Mouth’s Effect on Products/Brands Differ Between Countries? A Comparative Study of England and Russia

The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect that Word-Of-Mouth (WOM) could have on consumers in different countries, with respect to brand-choice, brand-image, product-category choice, the quantity purchased of a product/brand, and with respect to the likelihood of sharing a product/brand experience depending on a consumer’s level of satisfaction with a specific product-category or brand (Satisfied, Dissatisfied, or Delighted). The hypotheses to be investigated were generated from the literature, and then used to define the variables that were later integrated in a Discriminant-Analysis, to help differentiate between the effects that WOM could have on the product/brand-related decisions stated above, in different countries.The effect of WOM on products categories and brands differs from one country to another on several facets, as illustrated here through the case of England and Russia. The findings of this paper advise marketers on whether to standardize their reliance on WOM to support their brands in different countries, or adapt its extent and manner to each specific country. Ability to predict consumers’ country of origin, merely by analysing their answers to survey questions, and therefore foresee the differentiated effect of WOM on products and brands in each country

Direct selling: a distribution channel generating jobs in Russia

The goal of this article is to demonstrate that the system of direct sales, when viewed in an economic context, is an effective distribution channel that generates jobs and facilitates upward mobility in Russia. When compared to classic distribution systems, including large-scale distribution, small commerce and industrial enterprises, the system of direct sales relies more heavily on the human component. The system has proven to be very effective in Russia, where it has contributed to the development of a new model of capitalism. This new model is more social and based on human relations without the hierarchical constraints which characterize a more traditional profit-based capitalism