Buyer information and brand Choice behavior in markets with asymmetries

This thesis Entitled Buyer information and brand choice behaviour in markets with asymmetries.The period of transition set in by globalization and liberalization has ensued a onsiderable degree of homogeneity with western societies with respect to quantity and quality of goods and services.The study is aimed at finding out how the buyers adapt to the prevalent complex and dynamic market configuration by taking an archetypical situation of information gathering and brand- choice decision of select household consumer durables.The study was based on a set of 301 sample respondents who were either first time purchasers or repeat purchasers for household use, of the items under study in the sample area comprising of rural, urban and semi-urban areas. Data were collected using interview schedule and analysis of the same was done with standard statistical computer programs.Buyer confidence as perceived by buyers with respect to information acquisition and brand-choice represents the felt competence to effectively function in the market.In general, lower levels of education, income and occupation showed lower levels of search. The oldest were also low searchers. The repeat purchasers of the product searched less than the first purchasers. The most important source of information was word of mouth or information from others followed by television advertisements. The least important source of information was billboards, displays and similar forms of advertisements.The second factor is characterized by items representing ���social attributes��� like, use by many others, use by peers, recommendation by significant others and reputation of the brand. The third factor represents ���susceptibility to incentives and promotions���.

Influence of personality factors on the consumption of personal care products

The study is significant from both an application perspective of marketing management as well as from an academic angle. The market for personal care products is a highly fragmented one, with intense competition for specific niche segments. It is well known in marketing literature that the bulk of the volume of sale is accounted for by the minority who are the heavy users. This study will help the marketers to identify the personality profile of such a group and understand how the interaction of personality factors at least partially explains differences in consumption. This knowledge might be useful for better segmentation using psychographic variables as well as for designing specific advertisement campaigns to target the vulnerable groups of customers. From a theoretical perspective, the research may contribute to understanding how specific personality variables and their interaction lead to differences in consumption. The knowledge corresponding to self theory, social comparison theory, persuasibility, evidence from psychology of eating disorders: these all may be integrated into a common frame work for explaining consumption of products having a social function.

A study of information-seeking behavior and user perceptions of academic researchers

The purpose of this paper is to examine the information-seeking behavior of science and social science research scholars, including service effectiveness, satisfaction level on different type of sources and various methods adopted by the scholars for keeping up to dateData were gathered using a questionnaire survey of 200, randomly selected, PhD students of science and social science departments of four universities in Kerala, IndiaAlthough similarities exist between social science and science PhD students with regard to information-seeking behavior, there are significant differences as well. There is a significant difference between science and social science scholars on the perception of the adequacy of print journals and database collection which are very relevant to the research purposes. There is no significant difference between science and social science scholars on the perception of the adequacy of e-journals, the most used source for keeping up to date. The study proved that scholars of both the fields are dissatisfied with the effectiveness of the library in keeping them up to date with latest developments

Ver��nderungen im ��ko-Lebensmittelkonsum in Familien mit Kindern und deren Hintergr��nde

Im Rahmen der Arbeit wird den Fragen nachgegangen, inwiefern der Konsum von ��ko-Lebensmitteln in Familien mit Kindern im zeitlichen Verlauf Ver��nderungen unterliegt und worin Ver��nderungen im ��ko-Lebensmittelkonsum in Familien mit Kindern begr��ndet sind. Aus den hierzu gewonnenen Erkenntnissen werden Schlussfolgerungen f��r die Konsumentenforschung und das Marketing von ��ko-Produkten gezogen. Theoretische Grundlage stellen der Familienzyklus sowie Forschungsergebnisse zum Konsumentenverhalten in Familien und zum Konsum von ��ko-Lebensmitteln in Familien dar. F��r die empirische Bearbeitung der Forschungsfragen wurde ein qualitatives Forschungsdesign gew��hlt. Der Forschungsprozess gliederte sich in drei Wellen der Datenerhebung und -auswertung. Im Rahmen dessen wurden Eltern mithilfe problemzentrierter Interviews zur Entwicklung des ��ko-Konsums in ihren Familien befragt. Die Interviews wurden computergest��tzt und in Anlehnung an die Kodierprozeduren offenes und axiales Kodieren der Grounded Theory ausgewertet. Ergebnis der Datenanalyse sind drei Zusammenhangsmodelle, die zu einer Erkl��rung von Ver��nderungen im ��ko-Lebensmittelkonsum von Familien beitragen. Ver��nderungen k��nnen demnach erstens in einer Erh��hung der Konsumintensit��t w��hrend einer Schwangerschaft bestehen. Als Bedingungen hierf��r konnten ein verst��rktes Bewusstsein f��r ��ko-Produkte, die k��rperliche Konstitution der Mutter sowie die Unterst��tzung durch die soziale Umwelt identifiziert werden. Weitere Bedingungen stellen Lebensmittelskandale sowie eine gute Verf��gbarkeit von ��ko-Produkten dar. Handlungsstrategien der Eltern beziehen sich auf das Wohlergehen des noch ungeborenen Kindes (F��rderung der Gesundheit, Erhalten der zuk��nftigen Lebenswelt, Orientierung f��r die sp��tere Ern��hrung des Kindes) sowie auf das Wohlergehen der werdenden Mutter (F��rderung der Gesundheit, F��rderung des Wohlbefindens, Umgang mit schwangerschaftsbedingten Beschwerden). Zweitens k��nnen Ver��nderungen des ��ko-Lebensmittelkonsums in einer Erh��hung der Konsumintensit��t ab dem Zeitpunkt der Umstellung der Ern��hrung eines Kindes auf eine Beikostern��hrung bestehen. Bedingungen hierf��r sind eine verst��rkte Beachtung von ��ko-Produkten, die k��rperliche Konstitution des Kindes, die Abstimmung von Familien- und Baby-Kost, der Austausch mit und die Unterst��tzung durch die soziale Umwelt sowie der Wunsch von Eltern, einen Beitrag zum ��ko-Landbau zu liefern. Bedingungen k��nnen au��erdem eine gute Verf��gbarkeit von ��ko-Produkten sowie der Einfluss von Medien darstellen. Handlungsstrategien der Eltern beziehen sich auf die Ern��hrung des Kindes (F��rderung der Gesundheit, F��rderung der Geschmackssozialisation) und auf die Ern��hrung der restlichen Familie (effiziente Beschaffung und Verwendung von Lebensmitteln, F��rderung des Wohlbefindens der Eltern). Drittens k��nnen Ver��nderungen im ��ko-Lebensmittelkonsum in Familien in einem R��ckgang der Konsumintensit��t w��hrend des ��bergangs von Kindern ins Jugendalter bestehen. Bedingungen hierf��r bestehen in der Konsequenz, mit der Eltern konventionellen Lebensmittelw��nschen ihrer Kinder nachgeben, in der Beurteilung von Lebensmitteln durch die Eltern sowie in der Intensit��t, mit der Kinder ihre W��nsche einfordern. Handlungsstrategien der Eltern sind darauf ausgerichtet Kindern einen Wunsch zu erf��llen, sich gegen��ber diesen liberal zu verhalten, Konflikte mit Kindern zu vermeiden oder diese ihre eigenen Erfahrungen sammeln zu lassen. Die Ergebnisse tragen zu einer theoretischen Fundierung des Zusammenhangs zwischen Familienzyklus und dem ��ko-Lebensmittelkonsum in Familien bei und zeigen, dass dieser ein sinnvolles theoretisches Bezugssystem f��r Ver��nderungen der Konsumintensit��t von ��ko-Produkten darstellt. F��r die Konsumentenforschung tragen die Ergebnisse zu einem differenzierten Verst��ndnis von Ober- und Untergrenzen von Familienzyklusstadien bei. Es zeigt sich weiterhin, dass Ver��nderungen des ��ko-Konsums unter anderem unter dem Einfluss der sozialen Umwelt stehen. Im Hinblick auf das Marketing kann insbesondere geschlussfolgert werden, dass bei bestimmten Produktkategorien die Bed��rfnisse jugendlicher Zielgruppen verst��rkt ber��cksichtigt werden sollten. Zur Bindung junger Familien ist darauf hinzuwirken, einen Mehraufwand bei der Beschaffung von ��ko-Produkten auszuschlie��en. F��r die Ansprache der Zielgruppe Schwangere erscheinen Kommunikationsbotschaften geeignet, die sich auf das Wohlbefinden von Kind und Mutter und auf Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte beziehen. Eltern mit Kindern im ��bergang zu einer Beikostern��hrung k��nnten gezielt durch Kommunikationsbotschaften angesprochen werden, die in Zusammenhang mit der F��rderung der Gesundheit und der Geschmacksozialisation von Kindern stehen.

Estudio log��stico en la empresa COMERFRUTAS de Colombia S.A.S para la exportaci��n de pulpa de lim��n al mercado holand��s

El presente documento ofrece una gu��a log��stica y an��lisis financiero para las peque��as y medianas empresas (PyMES) de Colombia que deseen exportar pulpa de lim��n al mercado Europeo. Para el desarrollo de este trabajo se ha tomado el caso de la micro empresa COMERFRUTAS de Colombia S.A.S. (productora de pulpa de lim��n) y se ha realizado un estudio de competitividad de puertos, agentes de carga tanto terrestre como mar��timos para dar las bases necesarias de exportaci��n a las PyMES colombianas en un marco legal establecido.

Estudio de factibilidad para realizar un plan exportador entre Colombia y Espa��a (Pamplona) para productos alimenticios de fabricacion aut��ctona Colombiana como el arequipe, herpos, obleas y el bocadillo

This investigation was made in order to develop an exporting plan of Colombian autochthonous Products target to Navarra, Spain, and then contribute with the economy and progress of Colombia, increasing the exports and the employment in the country. Thanks to the opportunity that one of the participants of this project had, it was possible to have a direct contact with the Pamplona citizens, investigating the different aspects of exporting to another country, analyzing the target, the market access, the product portfolio, and the consumer behaviour. To begin with this project, the first step was to develop a marketing research investigation, in order to determine the possibility of having a new segment of the Colombian autochthonous products, composed of Spanish and Colombian people. This was the first step to aim into a defined segment, and to learn about all the agreements and regulations between Colombian and Spain. These regulations are about food regulations, quality standards, and to remark, production chains, and distribution channels. Alter analyzing the international distribution chain to Spain, it will be found the market size, and the different enterprises that offer the same products to this country, that further more than competence, is a source of information to find the right way to sell this kind of products.

Contribuyendo al reto de la sostenibilidad: el sistema producto- servicio en la industria de la moda r��pida

El presente proyecto de grado se inscribe bajo el proyecto de Responsabilidad Social Empresarial de la l��nea de investigaci��n de Realidad Empresarial de la Facultad de Administraci��n de la Universidad del Rosario. El problema de investigaci��n surge de dos problemas actuales, que convergen en la insostenibilidad a largo y mediano plazo de la manera en que se hacen la mayor��a de los negocios hoy en d��a. El primer problema, es el de suficiencia, se evidencia desde el punto de vista del consumidor, el cual pareciera estar dise��ado para comprar y acumular objetos y cosas que luego de un tiempo ir��n a parar a la basura. El segundo problema es el modelo de negocio que extrae recursos, los transforma, los comercializa de manera repetitiva y obliga al cliente a seguir comprando, olvidando que la mayor��a de cosas que produce, terminan en el basurero. La deficiencia actual del consumismo insostenible y del dise��o que no piensa en las generaciones futuras son dos caras de la misma moneda. Por eso es que se estudia el problema desde la perspectiva tanto del consumidor, como del productor. Las tendencias internacionales relacionadas con la sostenibilidad est��n llevando a los negocios por una nueva senda, la cual les dar�� ventajas competitivas a los adoptadores tempranos. A ra��z de los problemas planteados y con el objetivo de encontrar la sostenibilidad empresarial, se estudia una posible soluci��n para cada actor del problema. Por el lado del consumidor, se analiza la teor��a que gira alrededor del consumo responsable y de c��mo los consumidores tienen el poder de causar un efecto positivo con lo que mejor saben hacer: comprando (y eligiendo que comprar). Por el lado del productor se estudia un nuevo modelo de negocios llamado el sistema producto-servicio, el cual se enfoca a satisfacer necesidades de los clientes por medio de una combinaci��n de prestaci��n de servicios y facilitaci��n de productos, en vez de la comercializaci��n de estos. Es decir que en vez de vender cosas que los consumidores quieran acumular (problema de suficiencia), se les vende soluciones que satisfagan sus necesidades, reteniendo la compa����a la propiedad sobre los productos que integran al servicio. Se estudia tambi��n de que maneras este modelo particular de sistemas producto-servicio puede ser recibido por los consumidores de hoy en d��a, tan acostumbrados al modelo actual. Se quiere explorar el sistema de productos y servicio como una alternativa empresarial perdurable que solucione los retos ambientales del siglo XXI. Para poder probar la viabilidad de este hipot��tico modelo que cambia los patrones de interacci��n de las empresas con los usuarios, se plantea una idea de negocio que integre productos y servicios para satisfacer las necesidades del cliente. Se escogi�� un ��rea viii caracterizada por ser de las m��s consumistas y acumuladoras en cuanto al volumen de compras anual de los clientes: el negocio de la ropa. Y no solo cualquier tipo de ropa, sino el de la moda r��pida, un modelo que obliga a los consumidores a comprar ropa con una frecuencia a��n mayor. Se hizo esto con el objetivo de probar que el modelo propuesto puede funcionar inclusive bajo los supuestos m��s ���consumistas��� que existen hoy en d��a.

Abordagem do internet marketing aliada ao comportamento do consumidor em Mo��ambique

A presente disserta����o procura compreender o grau de aceita����o dos consumidores na comunidade mo��ambicana em rela����o �� recente abordagem da internet nos meios de comunica����o. Desta forma, o objetivo principal deste trabalho consistiu em avaliar o impacto do internet marketing no comportamento dos consumidores, assumindo como ponto de partida e suporte, estudos j�� realizados e aplicados em Portugal. Divagando sobre a problem��tica foi tra��ada a seguinte quest��o de partida para a investiga����o em curso: De que forma o aparecimento do internet marketing veio afetar o comportamento do consumidor atual em Mo��ambique? O uso da internet est�� a crescer rapidamente em todo mundo, assumindo deste modo um papel primordial no quotidiano dos consumidores e como consequ��ncia tem impulsionado a altera����o dos seus padr��es de consumo. O mesmo comportamento dos consumidores tem vindo a modificar a forma como o indiv��duo v�� a compra de bens e servi��os, podendo dizer-se que o consumidor atual passou claramente a assumir as suas pr��prias escolhas, segundo as suas reais necessidades. Assente nesta tend��ncia do meio digital, surge-nos um novo tipo de consumidor, mais aut��nomo, inteligente, exigente e informado, o consumidor 2.0. Como conclus��o deste estudo, aplicado �� realidade mo��ambicana, iremos constatar que apesar da crescente utiliza����o deste novo m��todo de comunica����o o pa��s e a popula����o em geral ainda n��o est��o preparados para esta nova abordagem do marketing.

A mobilidade no sector banc��rio portugu��s

Devido ao per��odo dif��cil que o pa��s atravessa �� importante para todos os sectores empresariais e tamb��m, para a banca, que n��o se percam clientes para a concorr��ncia, de modo a conseguir fideliz��-los. Os consumidores t��m o direito de eleger o banco onde pretendem que exista uma rela����o. Desta forma, perante o mercado existente e os produtos que as institui����es banc��rias oferecem num determinado momento, os consumidores t��m de analisar as v��rias propostas dos bancos e esta escolha tem por base diversos fatores: o pre��o, a localiza����o do banco, qualidade de atendimento, etc. No caso de um determinado consumidor n��o estar satisfeito com o servi��o prestado pelo seu banco, quer em termos de pre��os ou qualidade, tem o direito de mudar de banco. No entanto, e perante a crise que se atravessa, os bancos colocam alguns entraves na sa��da do cliente para o banco concorrente, nomeadamente, custos de mudan��a. Estes custos refletem, principalmente, as comiss��es de encerramento de produtos banc��rios. Assim, para que a mobilidade dos clientes se realize sem entraves, os bancos devem simplificar as medidas de modo a facilitar este processo de transfer��ncia dos clientes, para outras institui����es.

Comportamento de compra face �� obsolesc��ncia planificada

No s��culo XXI as f��bricas produzem mais do que necess��rio, os fabricantes competem entre eles pelo mercado de consumo e s��o pressionados para vender. Para n��o ficarem com produtos em stock, recorrem a diversas t��cnicas de marketing, entre elas a inser����o de obsolesc��ncia planificada nos seus produtos no ato da cria����o. A presente disserta����o pretende estudar o comportamento de compra face �� obsolesc��ncia planificada. O conceito de obsolesc��ncia planificada divide-se em tr��s (3) tipologias: tecnol��gica, por qualidade, e psicol��gica. Quando um modelo mais recente do mesmo produto �� colocado no mercado, este pode ser colocado com base em inova����es tecnol��gicas reais ou melhoramentos superficiais fict��cios. Em ambos os casos �� considerado obsolesc��ncia tecnol��gica. Se um produto avaria antes do tempo ou �� utilizada mat��ria-prima de qualidade inferior ou defeituosa, o fabricante introduziu obsolesc��ncia por qualidade no produto. Por fim, existe a obsolesc��ncia psicol��gica. Neste caso o problema n��o �� do produto, pois continua funcional, mas sim do consumidor. Este est�� psicologicamente cansado do produto e opta pela sua substitui����o. O que se pretende estudar �� o comportamento humano adotado face ao conceito. Ter�� a sociedade consumidora conhecimento deste assunto tabu? Este e outros fatores ser��o questionados e estudados nos cap��tulos seguintes.

Interventions to promote healthy eating habits: evaluation and recommendations

Although in several EU Member States many public interventions have been running for the prevention and/or management of obesity and other nutrition-related health conditions, few have yet been formally evaluated. The multidisciplinary team of the EATWELL project will gather benchmark data on healthy eating interventions in EU Member States and review existing information on the effectiveness of interventions using a three-stage procedure (i) Assessment of the intervention's impact on consumer attitudes, consumer behaviour and diets; (ii) The impact of the change in diets on obesity and health and (iii) The value attached by society to these changes, measured in life years gained, cost savings and quality-adjusted life years. Where evaluations have been inadequate, EATWELL will gather secondary data and analyse them with a multidisciplinary approach incorporating models from the psychology and economics disciplines. Particular attention will be paid to lessons that can be learned from private sector that are transferable to the healthy eating campaigns in the public sector. Through consumer surveys and workshops with other stakeholders, EATWELL will assess the acceptability of the range of potential interventions. Armed with scientific quantitative evaluations of policy interventions and their acceptability to stakeholders, EATWELL expects to recommend more appropriate interventions for Member States and the EU, providing a one-stop guide to methods and measures in interventions evaluation, and outline data collection priorities for the future.

A typology of internet users based on comparative affective states: evidence from eight countries

Purpose - The role of affective states in consumer behaviour is well established. However, no study to date has empirically examined online affective states as a basis for constructing typologies of internet users and for assessing the invariance of clusters across national cultures. Design/methodology/approach - Four focus groups with internet users were carried out to adapt a set of affective states identified from the literature to the online environment. An online survey was then designed to collect data from internet users in four Western and four East Asian countries. Findings - Based on a cluster analysis, six cross-national market segments are identified and labelled "Positive Online Affectivists", "Offline Affectivists", "On/Off-line Negative Affectivists", "Online Affectivists", "Indistinguishable Affectivists", and "Negative Offline Affectivists". The resulting clusters discriminate on the basis of national culture, gender, working status and perceptions towards online brands. Practical implications - Marketers may use this typology to segment internet users in order to predict their perceptions towards online brands. Also, a standardised approach to e-marketing is not recommended on the basis of affective state-based segmentation. Originality/value - This is the first study proposing affective state-based typologies of internet users using comparable samples from four Western and four East Asian countries.

Can sentiment surveys pre-empt real estate market activities?

We evaluate a number of real estate sentiment indices to ascertain current and forward-looking information content that may be useful for forecasting the demand and supply activities. Our focus lies on sector-specific surveys targeting the players from the supply-side of both residential and non-residential real estate markets. Analyzing the dynamic relationships within a Vector Auto-Regression (VAR) framework, we test the efficacy of these indices by comparing them with other coincident indicators in predicting real estate returns. Overall, our analysis suggests that sentiment indicators convey important information which should be embedded in the modeling exercise to predict real estate market returns. Generally, sentiment indices show better information content than broad economic indicators. The goodness of fit of our models is higher for the residential market than for the non-residential real estate sector. The impulse responses, in general, conform to our theoretical expectations. Variance decompositions and out-of-sample predictions generally show desired contribution and reasonable improvement respectively, thus upholding our hypothesis. Quite remarkably, consistent with the theory, the predictability swings when we look through different phases of the cycle. This perhaps suggests that, e.g. during recessions, market players��� expectations may be more accurate predictor of the future performances, conceivably indicating a ���negative��� information processing bias and thus conforming to the precautionary motive of consumer behaviour.