Bianca Grohmann

Measuring the Hedonic and Utilitarian Dimensions of Consumer Attitude

This article reports the development and validation of a parsimonious, generalizable scale that measures the hedonic and utilitarian dimensions of consumer attitudes toward product categories and different brands within categories. The hedonic/utilitarian (HED/UT) scale includes ten semantic differential response items, five of which refer to the hedonic dimension and five of which refer to the utilitarian dimension of consumer attitudes. The authors conducted six studies to establish the unidimensionality, reliability, and validity of the two HED/UT subscales. In reaching the final scale, the authors also develop and implement a unique process of paring down a psychometrically sound but otherwise too large set of items. Nomological validity is established by replacing a typical, one-dimensional attitude toward the brand measure with the hedonic and utilitarian dimensions in a central route processing model. Results suggest that the hedonic and utilitarian constructs are two distinct dimensions of brand attitude and are reliably and validly measured by the HED/UT scale.

Market-focused strategic flexibility: Conceptual advances and an integrative model

This article develops the concept of market-focused strategic flexibility. It begins with a review of the historical perspectives of strategic flexibility. To support the conceptualization, the authors offer a theoretical schema that considers market-focused strategic flexibility as conceptually rooted in capabilities theory, resource-based views of the firm, and options. With the conceptualization in place, the authors propose an integrative model that explicates the mediating role of market-focused strategic flexibility in marketing strategy frameworks. Propositions are developed relating market-driven and driving orientations to market-focused strategic flexibility with consideration for how turbulent macro environments modify the relationship. In addition, the authors offer propositions regarding outcomes of market-focused strategic flexibility under conditions of macro environmental turbulence.

Gender Dimensions of Brand Personality

Although masculinity and femininity are personality traits relevant to brands, their measurement and contribution to branding theory and practice have not been examined. This article describes the development and validation of a two-dimensional scale measuring masculine and feminine brand personality that is discriminant with regard to existing brand personality dimensions and scales measuring masculinity and femininity as human personality traits. This scale is applied to show that (1) spokespeople in advertising shape masculine and feminine brand personality perceptions; (2) brand personality-self-concept congruence in terms of masculine and feminine brand personality and consumers’ sex role identity positively influences affective, attitudinal, and behavioral brand-related consumer responses; and (3) masculine and feminine brand personality lends itself to the creation of brand fit in a brand extension context, which in turn leads to more positive brand extension evaluations and increased purchase intentions with regard to the extension.

Mass-Communicated Prediction Requests: Practical Application and a Cognitive Dissonance Explanation for Self-Prophecy

Marketers often promote socially beneficial actions or discourage antisocial behaviors to the benefit of their firms, target markets, and society as a whole. One means by which marketers accomplish such influence is a technique referred to as the “self-prophecy effect,” or the behavioral influence of a person making a self-prediction. Researchers have yet to establish the efficacy of self-prophecy in influencing large target markets. In addition, the theoretical mechanism underlying the effect remains in question. The authors report two field studies that demonstrate successful application of self-prophecy through mass-communicated prediction requests. Furthermore, in three laboratory experiments, the authors provide theoretical support for a dissonance-based explanation for self-prophecy, and they discuss practical implications for marketers interested in influencing socially normative behavior.

The effect of brand design on brand gender perceptions and brand preference

Purpose – This research aims to examine the impact of brand design elements (logo shape, brand name, type font and color) on brand masculinity and femininity perceptions, consumer preferences and brand equity. Design/methodology/approach – This research empirically tests the relation between brand design elements, brand masculinity and femininity and brand preferences/equity in four studies involving fictitious and real brands. Findings – Brand design elements consistently influenced brand masculinity and femininity perceptions. These, in turn, significantly related to consumer preferences and brand equity. Brand masculinity and femininity perceptions successfully predicted brand equity above and beyond other brand personality dimensions. Research limitations/implications – Although this research used a wide range of brand design elements, the interactive effects of various design elements warrant further research. Practical implications – This research demonstrates how markers of masculinity and feminini...

Consonants in brand names influence brand gender perceptions

Purpose – This paper examines to what extent consonants in brand names influence consumers’ perceptions of feminine and masculine brand personality. Design/methodology/approach – Four experiments empirically test the influence of consonants on feminine and masculine brand personality. The experiments involve different sets of new brand names, variations regarding the consonants tested (the stops k and t, the fricatives f and s), as well as different locations of the focal consonant in the brand name. Findings – Consonants influence consumers’ brand perceptions: brand masculinity is enhanced by stops (rather than fricatives), and brand femininity is enhanced by fricatives (rather than stops). Consonants specifically affect feminine and masculine brand personality, but not other brand personality dimensions. Consumers’ responses to brand names and resulting brand gender perceptions (i.e. likelihood to recommend) were moderated by salience of masculinity or femininity as a desirable brand attribute. Practica...

Communicating brand gender through type fonts

The marketing literature suggests that positioning a brand in terms of brand gender (i.e., brand masculinity and brand femininity) generates favorable consumer responses, yet there is little research on how brand gender perceptions arise. This research examines whether type font can be employed to create brand gender perceptions in the context of unfamiliar brands. Building on the theoretical framework of personality inferences based on static cues, three studies involving a range of type fonts, brand names, and product categories demonstrate that type font influences consumers’ perceptions of brand gender. Type font effects emerged for brand names presented in isolation (Study 1), brand names presented on signage (Study 2a), and brand names on product labels (Studies 2b and 3). Importantly, type font effects on brand gender persisted in the presence of a competing brand gender cue (i.e., brand name with gender associations), and type font and brand name influenced brand gender perceptions independently. A fourth study demonstrates that type fonts representing the brands influence consumers’ likelihood to recommend the brand. The article concludes with a discussion of theoretical and brand management implications.

The brand authenticity effect: : situational and individual-level moderators

Purpose This paper aims to examine under what conditions consumers develop emotional attachment toward authentic brands. It proposes that authentic brands’ ability to evoke attachment is contingent upon situational (i.e. need to belong and need to express the authentic self) and consumer individual difference variables (i.e. brand engagement in self-concept [BESC] and personal authenticity). Design/methodology/approach Two experiments empirically test the effects of brand authenticity on emotional brand attachment. Experiment 1 considers the moderating roles of social exclusion and BESC. Experiment 2 examines the moderating roles of situationally induced feelings of self-inauthenticity and enduring personal authenticity. Findings Consumers with a high level of BESC show greater emotional brand attachment to authentic (versus less authentic) brands when they feel socially excluded. Consumers with a high level of enduring personal authenticity show greater emotional brand attachment to authentic (versus less authentic) brands when they experience situations that make them feel inauthentic. Practical implications This paper has implications for brand communication strategies adopted by brands that are positioned strongly on authenticity. Originality/value This paper is one of the few to examine the effect of brand authenticity on brand attachment taking into account the moderating role of situational and individual difference variables. The findings contribute to the brand attachment and brand authenticity literatures.

Communicating Sensory Attributes and Innovation Through Food Product Labeling

Abstract This article explores the influence of food product packaging on consumers’ sensory expectations and perceived newness of the product. Two experiments examine to what extent consumers use product typicality, graphical representations, and package typicality in evaluating new food products. Study 1 finds that (1) a typical flavor induces more positive expectations of pleasantness, taste, color, and smell, and (2) the presence of graphic representation on product labels increases perceived pleasantness but does not affect sensory expectations. Study 2 indicates that the product seems newer in the absence of a package (label-only condition), but when the product packaging is presented, an atypical package conveys more newness than a typical package. These results provide practical guidelines for the design and introduction of innovative food products.

The Effect of Brand Gender Similarity on Brand-Alliance Fit and Purchase Intention

A brand alliance, particularly by co-branding, wherein a brand seeks to reinforce its brand image, expand into new markets and gain new customer segments by utilizing the brand image of a second, external brand, is a strategic alternative to a brand extension. A brand alliance is only successful if the brand fit between the two constituent brands is high. Recent literature suggests the brand personality as a possible basis for brand fit. On this basis, brand gender is a relevant criterion for determining the success of a brand alliance, although this criterion has not been considered in previous studies. In this article, which relies on congruency theory, two experiments conducted to explore the role of brand gender as a driver of both positive consumer response and consumer behaviour towards an alliance are presented. The first experiment demonstrates that, if a consumer is asked to match an initial brand to a second brand from a set of brand options, the consumer will pair brands with the same brand gender. The second experiment reveals that brand gender similarity in a brand alliance results in greater perceived fit, visual appeal and perceived unity for the alliance in question, as well as an increase in purchase intention. This positive response to gender similarity was independent of the sexes and ages of the study participants. Managerial implications for successful brand alliances may be drawn from these findings.