Min Teah

Consumer attitudes towards luxury fashion apparel made in sweatshops

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how attitudes towards sweatshops, social norms and perceived behavioural control (PBC) factors influence consumers’ attitudes towards luxury fashion apparel made in sweatshops. It also examines how these variables influence purchase intention and ultimately the willingness to pay more for luxury fashion apparel not made in sweatshops. Design/methodology/approach – A self-administered questionnaire was designed using established scales. A survey was conducted through the “mall intercept” method. Findings – Underpinned by the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) model, attitudes and PBC were found to have an influence on intention to purchase luxury fashion apparel made in sweatshops. The intention to purchase luxury fashion apparel also significantly influences the willingness to pay more for luxury fashion apparel not made in sweatshops. Practical implications – The research findings can be used to formulate strategies for academia, practitioners and, more importantly, policy makers to help curb sweatshop activities. Originality/value – This paper focuses exclusively on luxury fashion apparels made in sweatshops. Status consumption is also added as a potential antecedent towards purchase intention.

Pirating Pirates of the Caribbean: The curse of cyberspace

Abstract This study investigates the factors influencing the ‘illegal’ downloading of films and TV series through peer-to-peer (P2P) networks. Specifically, it examines how social and ethical orientations and attitudes towards downloading impact on downloading intentions. The neutralisation theory and theory of planned behaviour are used to underpin the research framework. The data analysis of 284 usable responses produced several significant relationships. Facilitating conditions, social factors, collectivism, and personal moral obligation were found to predict attitudes towards ‘illegal’ downloading. Social factors, collectivism, personal moral obligation, and attitudes towards ‘illegal’ downloading were also found to influence intentions to download. The findings derived from this study will provide marketers and policymakers with strategic and managerial initiatives to counteract this persistent problem.

Devil continues to wear “counterfeit” Prada: a tale of two cities

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the influence of social and personality factors on attitudes towards counterfeiting of luxury brands and purchase intention between China Chinese and Taiwan Chinese consumers. Design/methodology/approach – Data collection was conducted using a mall intercept approach in downtown Shanghai and Taipei. A self-administered questionnaire was developed and back-translated from English to Chinese and distributed. Structural equation modelling in LISREL was used to analyze the data. Findings – It was found that collectivism has a positive relationship with attitudes towards counterfeiting of luxury brands for the China Chinese but not for the Taiwan Chinese. Personal gratification was found to have a negative relationship with attitudes towards counterfeiting of luxury brands for the Taiwan Chinese consumers. Integrity and status consumption were found to have a positive relationship with attitudes towards counterfeiting of luxury brands for both the China Chinese and Taiwan C...

Moderating role of religious beliefs on attitudes towards charities and motivation to donate

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between image of charitable organizations, attitudes towards charities and motivation to donate. In addition, the study will investigate the moderating effects of religious beliefs on attitudes towards charities and motivation to donate. Design/methodology/approach – Data are collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Trained interviewers employed a mall-intercept method in downtown Kuala Lumpur over both weekdays and weekends. The scales are adapted from established sources. Findings – It was found that religious beliefs moderates the relationship between attitudes towards charities and motivation to donate. In addition, image of charitable organizations has a positive influence on attitudes towards charities. It was also found that both image of charitable organizations and attitudes towards charities influence motivation to donate. Research limitations/implications – The study is conducted within downtown Kuala Lumpur and is not...

Integrating Chinese cultural philosophies on the effects of employee friendliness, helpfulness and respectfulness on customer satisfaction

Purpose This study aims to investigate the main and interactive effects of three employee attributes, namely, employee friendliness, helpfulness and respectfulness, on customer satisfaction in Mainland China. Design/methodology/approach A 2 × 2 × 2 between-subjects experimental design enabled an eight-scenario study depicting a service experience manipulated by employee friendliness (high/low), helpfulness (high/low) and respectfulness (high/low). Findings It is found that the effect of respectfulness has the strongest impact on customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction generated by helpfulness is higher when respectfulness is high rather than low, while the interaction between helpfulness and friendliness is not found, even though helpfulness exerts a stronger effect than friendliness on customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction is also maximized when all three positive interpersonal attributes all jointly presented. Interestingly, the absence of respectfulness tends to trigger a negative effect, while the display of friendliness results in a positive effect. Research limitations/implications Beyond the joint positive effects on service outcomes, different interaction patterns reveal that the display of friendliness is desirable and beneficial to enhance interpersonal outcome. However, the communication of respect is crucial, and, as such, managers and employees need to strive for a good balance on how to demonstrate these behaviours in critical moments such as service recovery. The findings from relative and interactive effects of three employee attributes are new in the literature and provide significant theoretical and managerial contributions for both researchers and managers. Originality/value This study takes the first step in decoding the cultural meaning of employee attributes through integrating Chinese traditional philosophy, Li (i.e. politeness), into a specific service setting by examining its comparative effects with other attributes.

Investigating the Factors Influencing Digital Movie Piracy

ABSTRACT This article closes a theoretical gap in the literature by incorporating neutralization theory, mere exposure effect, self-control theory, and the theory of planned behavior to investigate social and personal factors influencing the downloading of pirated digital movies. Research was conducted using convenience sampling in a large university in Western Australia. Data were analyzed using regression models. Habitual conduct, affect, and facilitating conditions have significant influence upon attitudes toward downloading pirated movies; conversely, self-efficacy, moral judgement, and social factors do not. In addition, attitudes toward downloading pirated movies have a significant influence upon the intention to download pirated movies. It was also found that internet usage, internet time spent and internet speed do not moderate the relationship between attitudes and intention to download pirated movies. Managers, marketers and policymakers must collaborate aggressively to combat movie piracy. Marketers and policymakers can start by creating awareness campaigns to invoke the guilt factor and provide another, cheaper alternative on the internet. In addition, the punishment should be harsher and anti-piracy agencies should be more aggressive in catching all illegal downloaders by tracking their IP addresses from the internet provider that they used.

Case analysis of the do-it-yourself industry

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the accelerated growth within the Australian do-it-yourself (DIY) market and discusses the factors and drivers affecting consumer motivations to engage in such assembly tasks. Design/methodology/approach – Using a case study approach, evaluations and critical analysis of the DIY industry was being formulated by drawing on real life brands and examples. An analysis of various DIY retail strategies and DIY decking companies was synthesised to provide insights into the DIY industry. Findings – The insights into the industry outlines the changing consumer attitudes and motivations towards DIY and decking tasks. The findings on an evolving DIY industry, in particular the decking market demonstrate useful implications for academics, policy makers and brand practitioners. Originality/value – There have been little industry studies that delve into specifically decking products. Considering the vast increase in homeware, renovations, and gardening, the study provides insights from various case studies into the strategies undertaken by Australian and global companies. In addition, the majority of studies undertaken have also been concerned with the intrinsic motivations of consumers and not necessarily the extrinsic effect that brands and retailers advertently and inadvertently communicate and signal to consumers of DIY products.

Perceived Scarcity and Shelf Organisation: A Case of Luxury Chocolate (An Extended Abstract)

Over the last two decades, the growth and spending by consumers on luxury goods has increased tenfold. A total consumer spending was estimated at a whopping

Consumer’s Willingness to Pay More for Luxury Fashion Apparel Made in Sweatshops

300 billion at the end of 2013 (Bain & Co. 2014). The Asia Pacific region is expected to grow by up to 40.5 % through to 2020 (data monitor, January 2015). Luxury products are attracting new consumers to the market every year and are expected to reach over 500 million by 2030 (Bain & Co 2014). Luxury products are becoming increasingly sought after as consumers are able to signal their status (Belk 1985), style and uniqueness. Consumers within retail settings are more likely to infer that scarcer products are of higher quality and therefore more likely to choose them (Lynn 1989). As a result product scarcity coupled with shelf display organisation (shelf-based scarcity) influences how consumers process product information, which in turn alters their preference.

Factors Affecting Consumer’s Purchase Intention of Luxury South Sea Pearls: A Structured Abstract

The study investigates the antecedents of purchase intention towards luxury branded fashion apparel not made in sweatshops in Australia. The relationship between purchase intention and willingness to pay more for luxury branded fashion apparel is also examined. Data was collected using a mall intercept method in a luxury-shopping strip in Perth, Western Australia. The questionnaire was administered using trained interviewers resulting in 320 useable responses being retained for analysis. Structural Equation Modelling in AMOS 22 was employed to test for model fit. It was found that integrity and self-efficacy are positive predictors of purchase intention towards luxury branded apparel not made in sweatshops . Integrity and status consumption are the two variables that showed significant positive relationship towards willingness to pay more for luxury branded apparel not made in sweatshops. In addition, purchase intention has a significant positive relationship towards willingness to pay more for luxury branded apparel not made in sweatshops. The findings provide valuable insights for brand managers, researchers and policy makers. In particular, it is important for brands to inform and provide information about their ethical conduct through their labelling. It is therefore important to focus on the moral inclination and self-efficacy to encourage ethical consumption. The status oriented consumers are also more willing to pay more for ethical luxury apparel.