• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.77-97
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• 2014

The concept that human and brand can related to each other is referred to as 'brand relationship' or 'consumer-brand relationship'. By arguing that the concept of brand relationship is a readily understandable analogue, it appears that relationship thinking in the context of consumers and brands sometimes is taken for granted without thoroughly discussing its applicability. This study tried to investigated the role of brand personification in building consumer-brand relationship. In order to explain the consumer-brand relationship as a kind of partner relationship among human beings, we need to define brand as human not inanimate object. Research findings show that personification is not a important factor that affects consumer-brand relationship. And this study shows brand experience is much more important factor than brand personification in building consumer-brand relationship. In the past researches, brand personality and brand congruity were major variables that effect consumer-brand relationship, but they did not mean consumers think their brands as human whenever they contact them. As a result, this study conclude that the frequency of personification is not that high compared to past studies suggested before, even if it is possible to find partial characteristics of human from brands.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.97-115
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• 2010

The concept that human and brand can related to each other is referred to as 'brand relationship' or 'consumer-brand relationship. By arguing that the concept of brand relationship is a readily understandable analogue, it appears that relationship thinking in the context of consumers and brands sometimes is taken for granted without thoroughly discussing its applicability. In this perspective, this paper tests the limitations with the relationship metaphor and interpersonal relationship theory by comparing the differences among product categories. And research findings as follow like these. First, even if many companies seek to anthropomorphize their brands, consumers may still don't consider them as human. Second, the possibility of personification is much higher in product categories like lead higher interaction between consumers and brands and give higher enjoyment than those of lower. And finally, consumer's personification of products are not essential factors that lead higher brand relationship.