Sandra J. Milberg

The Growth of Private Label Brands: A Worldwide Phenomenon?

In many countries, the growth of private label brands (PLBs) is negatively affecting manufacturer brands’ shares, though PLBs have yet to take hold in other markets. Numerous studies have identified factors leading to the success of PLBs in product categories, and yet little empirical research has investigated the factors underlying the variability of PLB shares across countries. This research examines country-level market structure factors—retail distribution structure, retailer typology, and logistic structure—to understand the differential success of PLBs across countries. The results indicate that these factors help explain the dispersion pattern of PLB penetration across 46 countries and that the distribution structure has the largest effect on PLB share, followed by the logistic structure and retailer typology in particular global discounters. The findings can enable manufacturer brand managers to better foresee whether specific countries represent fertile ground for internationalizing their brands or, contrarily, constitute bastions for brand manufacturers to protect their brands’ shares. The results also provide insights about the time frame over which PLB share development may pose a threat in different markets.

Call back the jury: Reinvestigating the effects of fit and parent brand quality in determining brand extension success

Abstract Prior research indicates that extension fit and parent brand quality are the key determinants of extension evaluations in non-competitive contexts. However, the very nature of the retail environment means that extensions are introduced into competitive contexts. Therefore, this research reinvestigates the influence and relative importance of key drivers of brand extension success within competitive scenarios. It also tests whether perceptions of purchase risk associated with extensions underlie these effects. In two studies, we examine the effects of extension fit with parent brand, parent brand quality, and extensions’ relative brand familiarity on extension preferences and perceived risk. When there is competition, extension fit and parent brand quality are less crucial than an extensions relative brand familiarity in determining extension evaluations, especially with respect to consumer choice. Moreover, perceptions of extension risk mediate the effects of these factors.

Synthesis of attraction effect research

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to extend the conclusions of a previous synthesis of attraction effect research (1995), focusing on the influence of background and design variables on the magnitude of the effect, and to identify additional factors that question the effect’s practical market relevance. Design/methodology/approach – Meta-analysis and moderator analysis (meta-regression) are used to summarize the findings and assess the explanatory power of background variables on the magnitude of the attraction effect. Findings – Analyses indicate significant effects for procedure and the pre-entrant target percentage in addition to decoy type and decoy location found in previous synthesis. These factors explain 16 per cent of the variance. Previous findings that between-subject designs result in stronger attraction effects are not substantiated. Viable decoys led to a reversal of the attraction effect. Research limitations/implications – This research contributes conceptually by demonstrating that t...

Investigating non-visitors’ intentions to travel to a long-haul holiday destination

This article aims to expand our understanding of the main drivers of traveler’s intention to visit a long-haul holiday destination drawing on a model of consumer-based brand equity. The authors propose and test a conceptual model using data from a sample of 152 Chilean travelers who have not visited Australia previously. The findings show that the image and value of Australia are positively and significantly related to Chilean traveler’s intention to visit this destination for holidays. Awareness of Australia has only an indirect effect on intentions to visit this destination through its effect on brand image. Finally, perceptions of brand quality were not significantly related to Chilean traveler’s intention to visit Australia for holidays. This study contributes to the tourism and leisure literature by identifying the main drivers for attracting long-haul potential travelers who have not visited the destination previously.