Journal of Consumer Marketing

Grnhaug, Kjell; Trapp, Paul S.

doi: 10.1108/eb008235pmid: N/A

Social class is assumed to be a crucial determinant in consumer behavior. Most previous research has focused on purchase and consumption behavior across social class segments at the generic product class level. In contrast, this article reports an exploratory study on how brands from narrowly defined groups of products and services are perceived to appeal to different social classes.

Lorenzi, Peter; Friedmann, Roberto; Paolillo, Joseph G.P.

doi: 10.1108/eb008236pmid: N/A

Four hundred professionals were sent surveys which measured the individual's propensity for financial risk and selfdescriptions of personal and business financial risktaking behavior. One of four possible incentives a prepaid 1 payoff, a promised 2 payoff, a 100 lottery, and no incentive was offered to each surveyed subject. The prepaid 1 incentive resulted in the highest response rate. The type of incentive did not result in meaningful bias in the response pool.

Lipscomb, Thomas J.

doi: 10.1108/eb008237pmid: N/A

Many leading authorities contend that materialism, the disposition to own and consume products, is a basic core value of the contemporary culture of the United States. Little is known, however, regarding the manner in which children's interest in consumer products changes with age. This article examines this and related issues, citing empirical evidence of age and genderbased patterns with respect to materialism as evidenced by reference to consumer products in children's conversations with peers.

Fram, Eugene H.; DuBrin, Andrew J.

doi: 10.1108/eb008238pmid: N/A

This article describes an empirical investigation of a relatively new marketing concept, the Time Guarantee, as implemented by an automobile dealership. Results suggested Consumers regarded the Time Guarantee as a feature that could prompt them to differentiate sellers. Consumers in a variety of demographic categories placed a high value on time. Consumers viewed the Time Guarantee as a benefit which should be included in the price paid for the product.

Darling, John R.; Arnold, Danny R.

doi: 10.1108/eb008239pmid: N/A

Introduction Growing internationalization during the past three decades has become one of the most pervasive influences in business today. This is true for both the export manager responsible for positioning a firm's products in various foreign markets and for the marketing executive responsible for managing the competitive interaction of a firm's products with foreign products in a particular domestic market. As a consequence, the impact of national boundaries on the marketplace has continued to diminish. To compete successfully in this broad arena, marketing managers must have a thorough understanding of, and empathy for, the different needs and preferences of consumers in the various markets within which a firm interacts. Consumer attitudes toward both products and the related marketing practices naturally have a major influence on purchase behavior. In addition, consumer attitudes toward products from different countries can be a major factor in determining successful marketing strategies. We will present here a longitudinal analysis of the general attitudes of consumers in a foreign country, Finland, toward the products imported from the United States, japan, and selected European countries. We will also compare these consumer attitudes toward various dimensions of the related marketing mix strategies. It should be noted that the methodology for analyzing export opportunities is applicable by any company for any foreign country.