• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.167-188
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• 2013

In today's society with its emphasis on unlimited information access, control of available information about high-technology products is often vital to their success. When a product is released, consumers may initially be attracted through information about its remarkable internal and external features. They may also perceive a degree of congruence between their own personalities and the product image as more information becomes available over time. Consumers' changing impressions of the product may influence personality congruence negatively or positively. These changes and their effects on preference for high-technology products are the focus of this paper. A survey was given to a sample of 206 students at K University to investigate the degree to which consumer behavior can be influenced by personality congruence. The need for clear and definite product knowledge in this process and the effect of product information on preference were also investigated. Three analyses were conducted. The results of Analysis 1 showed the influence of personality congruence on preference for high-technology products. Judgments about personality congruence were based on non-compensatory rather than compensatory information processing. The respondents considered certain aspects of a product's personality rather than the product as a whole when making preference decisions. The results of Analysis 2 indicated that when less information was available about a product, consumers who perceived high personality congruence with the product tended to have higher preference for it compared to those who perceived low personality congruence with the product. On the other hand, when consumers were given more information, no difference was observed in the impact of personality on preference between perceived high and low personality congruence. Lastly, the results of Analysis 3 showed that when consumers with high need for closure (NFC) perceived high congruence between their own personalities and a product, objective information regarding the product was not used in decision-making: instead, judgments about the product were based on perceived personality congruence. On the other hand, high-NFC consumers who perceived low personality congruence between themselves and the product tended to require more information about the product in order to give it a positive evaluation. In contrast, low-NFC consumers who perceived high personality congruence felt comfortable with large amounts of information. For low-NFC consumers who perceived low congruence, the level of information had no influence on preference.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.89-98
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• 2017

This research focused on recognizing and empirically testing a relationship between brand personality congruence and brand extension, which can lead to effective marketing strategies for the hotel industry. The objective of this research was to identify how customer's brand personality congruence affect brand extension and to then address what the most appropriate brand extension types for hotel brands are. This study offered a better approach to assess the broader impact of extension strategy for the marketer managers. The methodology for achieving these objectives were described in the following sections: developing measurements based on extensive reviews of literature and analyzing data utilized a exploratory factor analysis and a series of simple linear regression analyses. The result of this study showed customer's brand personality congruence had a great impact on the customer's positive attitude toward core brand. However, customer's attitude toward core brand had no impact on the updated attitude. The findings provided some theoretical and managerial implications for hotel operators.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.69-93
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• 2010

In this research, through experiments, we show that incongruity of color between mediums has positive influence on brand attitude in terms of integrated management of brand. We also present that self-image congruence of 'brand-consumer' has moderating effect on such influence of color incongruity. Mediums were limited to the ones that magnifying visual influence in order only to observe influence of color. With the same reason, visual factors other than color were coherently set or held constant and we chose brands with either low familarity or no previous knowledge. As a result, we find that brand attitude by the incongruity of color between mediums was higher compared to brand attitude by the congruence of color. In case with lower self-image congruence of brand-consumer we show higher change in attitude compared to the one with higher self-image congruence of brand-consumer. We believe our findings are interesting to note that brand may be enhanced by forming positive brand attitude through brand expression i.e., color of visual factors. In addition, we suggest that level of congruence and diversity of brand expression is in fact deeper or wider than that of brand manager's intuition. We see that it is possible for studying brands the incongruity which has been studied as a strategy to reposition mature brands can be a way of improving the recognition on new brands.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.113-128
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• 2022

This research emphasizes on the role of congruence between the sponsor and the sponsored unit that effect sponsor's brand image, attitudes towards it and the memorization of the sponsor's name. The contribution of this research is highlighted especially during the sponsorship of national football team during the 2018 football World Cup. Because of the increasing cost of sponsorship, it has become essential for sponsors to understand how the direct and indirect audience responds to their congruence with the sponsored sports team; and which of the two types of audiences is more and more receptive to their actions. Specifically researchers were not conscious about the level of congruence that optimizes the effects on the sponsor. Therefore, this research aims to characterize the congruence between the marks of the sponsors and the football team through a survey administered face to face. Then, we test the global model to determine if the sponsorship operation has more impact on the sponsor in case of high, low or average congruence? To respond to our research questions we selected two samples from customers that were exposed to the sponsoring actions two ascertain the exploratory and confirmatory steps. The first sample consists of 200 interviewees and the second 400 are considered as an acceptable representation guarantee for our research. In addition, we propose to validate the research model and test the inherent hypotheses that analysis the relationship between the chosen constructs.

• The Korean Journal of Franchise Management
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.53-66
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• 2022

Purpose: How to build the attitude on brand is very important, because it affects the positive word of mouth and revisit intention. Brand attachment, brand name, and image congruence play important role on consumer behavior in terms of reinforcing consumers' perception of food service companies and differentiating them from competing brands. Following the planned behavior theory, this paper examines the effect of linking brand attitude to word-of-mouth and revisit intentions in the restaurant sector. Research design, data, and methodology: This paper examines the structural relationship among brand attachment, brand name, image congruence, brand attitude, WOM, and revisit intention. In order to test the purposes of this study, research model and hypotheses were developed. The questionnaire items were modified and used according to the content of this study based on previous studies. All constructs were measured by multiple items tested and developed in the previous research. The study is based on the quantitative method and considered 519 questionnaires fulfilled by customers of restaurants. The data were explored employing the partial least square-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Frequency analysis was conducted to identify the general characteristics of the survey subjects. To measure the reliability and validity of the measurement tools, confirmatory factor analysis was conducted. Structural model analysis was conducted to verify the research model. Result: The findings demonstrate that brand attachment and brand name had positive effects on attitude while image congruence did not have. Also, attitude had positive effect on WOM and revisit intention. Conclusions: This study expands the literature about WOM and revisit intentions. This study expands prior research in a similar field to which the theory of planned behavior (TPB) is applied, and reveals that brand attachment, brand name, and brand image congruence play an important role in developing brand attitude that affect revisit intention and WOM. And provide guidelines on how to enhance competitiveness in the restaurant sector based on understanding of linking brand attitude to customer loyalty and repeat business. By putting into practice these suggestions in the restaurant industry, brands can easily build up their attitude and boost a positive WOM and the intention to revisit.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.366-374
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• 2023

Growing environmental awareness around the world has made environmental issues increasingly important in business. While most past research has focused on consumers' sustainable morals and lifestyles as the main motivations for eco-friendly consumption, few studies have examined the effect of traditional marketing programs on sustainable consumption. In this study, the author posited that delicate visual cues in store retail environments, particularly visual cues of the store interiors, affect the ways consumers evaluate the brand. The author specifically tested the effect of visual congruence, or the perceived fit between brands and visual cues in retail atmospheres, on perceived brand image and trust. The results of the online survey of 622 U.S. consumers indicated that visual congruence has a significant positive effect on consumer trust in the brand. The author also hypothesized that environmental concerns would moderate the relationships. consumers' subjective environmental concerns do not moderate the positive effect of visual congruence on trust in the brand.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.77-89
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• 2019

Purpose - This study presents the relationships between parent brand-self image congruence, parent brand -functional congruity, perceived fit between parent brand and extension product, and consumer's attitude toward extension product using the structural equation model. As for preceding concepts having a direct effect on consumer's attitude toward brand extension, the study focuses on parent brand-self image congruence and parent brand-functional congruity. It also looks at the effect of parent brand-self image congruence and parent brand-functional congruity on the consumer's attitude toward extension product and identifies if the perceived fit between parent brand and extension product is a concept playing a mediating role between parent brand-self image congruence or parent brand-functional congruity and consumer's attitude toward brand extension product. Research design, data, and Methodology - SPSS for Windows 18.0 and AMOS 18.0 were used for data analysis. Then, the Cronbach's α coefficient was obtained using SPSS for Windows 18.0 to measure reliability. In addition, the convergence and discriminative measures of the measured items were statistically verified using AMOS 18.0. Finally, we have validated a path model and a parameter model in which brand personality-self-matched attitude toward brand extension. Results - Studies have shown that the impact of parent brand-self image consistency and parent brand-functional consistency on the attitude of extended products was positive. Perceived fit between parent brand and extension products has been shown to play a role of intermediary between parent brand-self image congruence and consumer attitudes to extended products. However, perceived fit between parent brand and extension products did not play a role as intermediary between the parent brand-functional congruity and the attitude toward the extended product. Finally, in relation to the causal relationship between parent brand-congruity (self image/functionality) and attitudes to extended products. The effect of parent brand-functional coherency on attitudes toward extended products was found to be greater in groups with higher involvement than in those with lower involvement. Conclusions - Although few studies have been done on what variables mediated when parent brand-self image consistency and parent brand-functional coherency affect consumer attitude, this paper is significant in finding whether perceived fitness between the parent brand-congruity and the extension product is mediated.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.389-402
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• 2015

Due to tough competition among social network services, technological specification alone could not be an adoption factor by the users. Instead, emotional factors such as a brand image and feeling towards an SNS brand became important factors in service differentiation. This study examined Korean young users perception of brand personalities of three social network services, Facebook, Kakao Story, and Band. It also analyzed the influence of the perception of brand personality, brand-self-image congruence, and brand affect on brand recommendation to others. The authors conducted a survey of Korean college students. The results indicate that SNS users perceived three SNS's brand personalities differently, and the positive perception of an SNS service has a positive effect on brand recommendation. Brand personality, brand-self-image congruence, and brand affect combined determine brand recommendation. When the brand personality variable is statistically controlled, brand affect has strong effect on brand recommendation.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.75-82
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• 2018

Purpose - As the role of salespersons in retail stores has expanded from selling products to sharing brand experiences with customers, the importance of research on the effects of salesperson-brand relationships has grown. The purpose of this research is to investigate the influences of salespersons' brand identification on conceptual fluency and customers' service and brand evaluations. It was supposed that salespersons' brand identification is affected by brand knowledge, which is a core dimension of internal branding. Research design, data, and methodology - The author developed a structural model in which salespersons' brand knowledge influences brand identification, hence customers' perception of salesperson-brand image congruence. And it is hypothesized that salesperson-brand image congruence influences conceptual fluency which affects customers' satisfaction and brand evaluation. Data were collected from five department stores in Seoul. Results - First, salespersons' brand knowledge was found to have a significant effect on brand identification. The more a salesperson knows about the affiliated brand, the higher her level of brand identification. Second, salespersons' brand identification influenced salesperson-brand image congruence. Third, salesperson-brand image congruence had a significant effect on brand conceptual fluency. Customers who perceive salesperson-brand image congruent are more likely to process information easily. Finally, conceptual fluency was found to be a significant determinant of store loyalty and brand value evaluation. Conclusions - The results of this study verify importance of salesperson's brand identification on customers' service and brand evaluations. To enhance salespersons' brand identification, retailers should emphasize the importance of internal branding and communication, especially by sharing brand vision, values, and identity with employees at customer contact points. Also, as brand conceptual fluency is a significant determinant of customer responses, retailers need to deliver consistent messages through various components of store environments, including salespersons' attitudes, appearances, and manners, as well as physical store design. With a deeper understanding of the effects of salesperson-brand relationship and brand conceptual fluency, retailers will be able to create more effective brand strategies to enhance their performances. Future studies should consider data from various retail types, such as discount stores, to generalize the findings.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.373-381
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• 2016

This study examined the interaction of nostalgia and self-congruence on consumer behavior. We proposed that nostalgia make consumers' brand attitude and purchase intention more positive when the level of congruence between the brand and consumer's ideal self-image is high, irregardless of the level of actual self congruence. 283 middle-aged people participated and 2(nostalgia: stimuli vs. control) X 2(ideal self-congruence: high vs. low) between subject design is used. The result showed the interaction effect of nostalgia and ideal self congruence. Nostalgia-primed (vs. control) participants reported higher brand attitude and purchase intention to the ideal self-congruent brand. Finally the theoretcal and practical implications and limitations of this study are discussed.