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This research investigates the respective contributions of three CSR actions (sponsorship, cause-related marketing, CSR-linked sponsorship), implemented by a retailer, to the development and maintenance of a relationship between this retailer and its consumers in order to build loyalty. Three hundred sixty-four individuals who were members of an internal panel were assigned to one of these three CSR actions. The results obtained indicate that these three CSR actions increase or maintain consumers’ loyalty to a retailer through their personality, their perceived identity proximity, and their trust in this retailer, but also indicate that the type of CSR actions considered has an influence on the validated causal relationships. From a theoretical point of view, this research complements previous works which have mainly focused on the effectiveness of the means of communication used in order to highlight these three CSR actions in terms of persuasion and attitude toward the brand using them (Lii and Lee 2012; Lii et al. 2013; Uhrich et al. 2014; Floter et al. 2016). In fact, these works never compared them as loyalty tools. From a managerial point of view, it indicates a classification of these CSR actions to be favored according to their influence on the variables studied (personality, identity proximity, trust, and loyalty) and their impacts on: 1) CSR-linked sponsorship; 2) sponsorship; and 3) cause-related marketing. Lastly, this research stresses that sponsorship and cause-related marketing are complementary and that these actions must therefore be linked together.

PurposeThe research aim is to investigate the impacts of comparative ads used by retailers to compare the prices of their store brand (SB) products with those of equivalent national brand (NB) products. More specifically, this research examines if consumers perceive retailers as legitimate when they use comparative ads to compare the prices of their SB products to those of equivalent NB products, and how effective are these comparative ads in terms of actual purchases. This research also explores for which SB type (economy, standard or premium) and consumers are comparative ads most effective.Design/methodology/approachThis research investigates consumers' reactions to comparative ads used by retailers to compare the prices of their SB products with those of similar NB products through an experiment within a store laboratory. A between-subject design has been used. The participants of the first/second/third group (n1 = 93/n2 = 92/n3 = 91) were exposed to ads comparing the prices of retailer's economy/standard/premium SB food products with their equivalent NB food products, in the same product category. The participants of each group carried out a shopping trip in the store laboratory.FindingsConsumers consider retailers legitimate when they use comparative ads. This favourable evaluation improves their attitude towards these ads. However, the impact of retailers' legitimacy of (1) means, (2) objectives and (3) historical legitimacy on consumers' attitude towards comparative ads depends on the SB type (economy, standard and premium). By contrast, comparative ads are effective in terms of consumers' attitude towards these ads and towards SBs, along with purchase intention and actual purchases of these brands, whatever the SB type. Lastly, this research highlights that comparative ads for SBs are mainly directed at consumers with high levels of price consciousness and resistance to NBs.Research limitations/implicationsThis research only tested the impact of direct comparative advertising and an extrinsic attribute (price). The research experiment was conducted on a convenience sample, which limits its external validity.Practical implicationsThis research encourages retailers to use comparative advertising for their SBs (economy, standard and premium) for several reasons. First, this study suggests that comparative advertising is an effective tool for retailers to shape or improve consumers' attitude towards SBs, via their attitude towards comparative ads. Second, this research proposes that comparative advertising contrasting the prices of SB products with those of NB products could increase retailers' in-store sales of their SBs. Lastly, this research underlines that comparative advertising is particularly effective for consumers with high levels of price consciousness and resistance to NBs.Originality/valueThis research supplements previous research in the field of SBs and comparative advertising. Previous research on comparative advertising has examined NBs exclusively (Dianoux et al., 2013; Beard, 2018). Comparisons between SBs and NBs are lacking. This research thus validates the use of this specific form of communication for SBs, given the paucity of studies of the effects of the use of mass media communication on SBs (Nenycz-Thiel and Romaniuk, 2014; Gendel-Guterman and Levy, 2017).

PurposeAnimal welfare is increasingly favoured by consumers in their choice of food and cosmetic products, proposed by manufacturers and retailers. This study aims to investigate the impact of the “not tested on animals” claim on consumers' attitude and behavioural intention towards a cosmetic product through an enriched version of Ajzen's theory of planned behaviour.Design/methodology/approachA between-subjects design has been used. 450 participants were recruited through the social network of a cosmetics and personal hygiene brand in Quebec, Canada, and answered a questionnaire. They were randomly assigned to either a manipulation group (n = 226) or a control group (n = 224). Data were analysed with partial least squares structural equation modelling.FindingsThis study shows that external (credibility and attitude towards marketing claims) and internal psychological variables (subjective norms and altruistic concerns with animal welfare) influence attitude towards and purchase intention of “not tested on animals” personal care products. More egotistic concerns, such as personal appearance, also explain the formation of attitude towards cruelty-free cosmetics.Research limitations/implicationsThis research supplements Ajzen's original model with internal psychological (individuals' concerns with animal welfare and personal appearance) and external (general credibility of cosmetic products claims, credibility of the “not tested on animals” claim and attitude towards this claim) variables. These variables, as suggested by previous research on cosmetics and their claims, improve the understanding of consumer attitude and purchase behaviour patterns.Practical implicationsThe study's findings point out the role of companies to increase consumers' knowledge on the significance and transparency of their messages, notably the “not tested on animals” claim. They also stress that policymakers in regions where regulation is unclear should at least punish untruthful communication pertaining to animal testing in cosmetic and personal care products.Originality/valuePrior studies on cosmetic products did not investigate the difference of consumer attitude formation towards cruelty-free products compared to conventional cosmetic products. Consequently, this research shows that the construction of attitude towards cruelty-free products highly differs from conventional personal care.

This research investigates the consequences for retailers and their stores of a new sustainable consumption trend—the purchase and consumption of bulk products. It examines the effects of offering packaging-free products on three subdimensions of perceived proximity (identity, process, and relational) and on transactional loyalty (satisfaction–loyalty) and relational loyalty (satisfaction–trust–loyalty). A total of 1407 buyers and consumers of bulk products at a convenience store (of a university cooperative style) filled out an online questionnaire. These consumers were then divided into three subgroups (convinced, pragmatic, and wary). This research empirically establishes that unpacked products are a strategic tool for retailers and their stores to create or strengthen the relationships established with their customers. Unpacked products and the proximity they create between a consumer and a store are the first link in the development or preservation of a relational chain between the consumer and the store. Moreover, the step reached by the consumer in his process of purchasing and consuming packaging-free products (from the discovery stage to the already well-established habit) has a direct impact on the relational chain built.

PurposeThis research has three research objectives. First, this research will demonstrate that the link between consumers' attitude towards a region and their intention to purchase products from that region is not direct but indirect. Second, this research will establish that perceived value of regional products and consumers' preference for these products are mediating variables of the relationship between consumers' attitude towards a region and their intention to purchase regional products. Lastly, this research will highlight cognitive (through perceived value) and affective (through preference) routes or paths, from consumers' attitude towards a region to their purchase intention of products from that region.Design/methodology/approachAs previous works in the authors’ field of research, the authors conducted a field study, combined with a questionnaire survey. 398 consumers responded to the authors’ questionnaire in a hypermarket (belonging to the retailer Système U) in Vendée (a region in France). The authors measured their attitude towards this region, their preference for regional food products and their purchase intention of these products as well as the perceived value of regional food products.FindingsThe perceived value of regional products and consumers' preference for these products are full mediating variables of the relationship between consumers' attitude towards a region and their intention to purchase products from that region.Research limitations/implicationsThis research supplements prior works. It shows that the link between consumers' attitude towards a region and their intention to purchase regional products is indirect. Consumers' purchase intention of regional products is not directly attributable to their attitude towards the region of origin of these products. Regional products and their features have to be reintegrated into this equation.Practical implicationsThis study identifies several routes or paths to explain consumers' purchase intention of regional products. A cognitive route or path, from consumers' attitude towards a region to their purchase intention of products from that region, mediates by perceived value. An affective route or path, from consumers' attitude towards a region to their purchase intention of products from that region, mediates by preference. A hybrid path that combines cognitive and affective paths, as this research established a link between perceived value and preference.Originality/valueThis research foregrounds regional products and their features, too often neglected in favour of consumers and their characteristics.

This research shows that consumers’ attitude toward terroir store brands has a positive and significant influence on the store price image and on the retailer’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) image, regardless of the store format considered (hypermarket, supermarket, and convenience). It thus affirms that the terroir store brand, with a price–quality ratio considered satisfactory by consumers, contributes to the development of a positive price image and a favorable CSR image. This research also indicates that consumers’ attitude toward terroir store brands has a direct positive and significant influence, or indirect influence through its CSR image, on two dimensions of territorial legitimacy (territorial impregnation and territorial rooting). Terroir store brands are thus shown to be a factor in retailer legitimization.

Cet article propose une analyse comparative des qualites theoriques et psychometriques des echelles de mesure existantes du concept d’image-prix (Zielke, 2011 ; Ngobo et Jean, 2012 ; Coutelle-Brillet et Riviere, 2013 ; Diallo et al., 2013). Il ressort de l’etude menee aupres de 209 clients d’enseignes de GMS que ces echelles possedent des qualites psychometriques satisfaisantes mais souffrent de limites de validite de contenu. Leurs analyses ont enfin permis de proposer une echelle de mesure unidimensionnelle synthetique de l’image-prix (5 items) dont la fiabilite et la validite ont ete etablies.

International audience; This research shows that consumers' relationship to terroir store brand, measured through attachment and two facets of brand loyalty (attitudinal and behavioral) is respectively influenced by their perceptions of the product, retailer and store. More specifically, the perceived authenticity of the products of the terroir store brand and its perceived value have a positive and significant influence on the attachment and behavioral loyalty of the regular buyers of this store brand and a positive and significant influence on the attachment of its occasional buyers. Trust in the retailer has a positive and significant impact on the behavioral loyalty of the regular buyers of this terroir store brand while perceived image of the store has only a positive and significant impact on the attitu-dinal loyalty of its occasional buyers.

International audience; This study investigates the effects of fruits and vegetables (FaVs) abnormality on consumer perceptions and purchasing behavior. For the purposes of this study, a virtual grocery store was created with a fresh FaVs section, where 142 participants became immersed using an Oculus Rift DK2 Head-Mounted Display (HMD) software. Participants were presented either “normal”, “slightly” misshapen, “moderately” misshapen or “severely” misshapen” FaVs. The study findings indicate that shoppers tend to purchase a similar number of FaVs whatever their level of deformity. However, perceptions of the appearance and quality of the FaVs depend on the degree of abnormality. “Moderately” misshapen FaVs are perceived as significantly better than those that are “heavily” misshapen but also “slightly” misshapen (except for the appearance of fruits).

International audience; This study investigates the consequences of price image. Two conditions, a policy of intermediate price condition and a policy of low price condition, were distinguished in an experiment. Three moderators (consumers' price conscientiousness, retailer's motives perceived by consumers and consumers' familiarity with the retailer) were considered for these two conditions. Using partial least squares analyses (PLS), we propose integrated models of the consequences of price image highlighting the direct and indirect effects of this concept on consumers' satisfaction, trust, attitude and future behavioral intentions to the retailer. This research fills a gap in the literature since previous studies have mainly focused on the antecedents of price image or have only investigated specific links between the variables considered. Finally, considering our findings, we recommend to managers to favor either a policy of intermediate or low price depending of their consumers' characteristics.

International audience; Cette recherche montre que l’attitude des consommateurs à l’égard des Marques De Distributeurs (MDD) de terroir a une influence positive et significative sur l’image prix du magasin et sur l’image RSE (Responsabilité Sociétale de l’Entreprise) de l’enseigne, quel que soit le format de magasin considéré (hypermarché, supermarché et proximité). Elle souligne ainsi que la MDD de terroir, par un rapport qualité-prix jugé satisfaisant par les consommateurs, participe au développement d’une image prix positive et d’une image RSE favorable. Cette recherche indique également que l’attitude des consommateurs à l’égard des MDD de terroir a une influence positive et significative directe, ou indirecte via son image RSE, sur les deux dimensions de sa légitimité territoriale (l’imprégnation territoriale et l’enracinement territorial). Elle révèle donc que la MDD de terroir est aussi un facteur de légitimation de l’enseigne.

International audience; This study examines the influence of the link between individuals and their region on the development and translation of the consumer-regional brand relationship through the concepts of trust, attachment, affective commitment, attitude and behavioral intentions. Based on data collected from 311 consumers in a supermarket in France, the study finds that the relationships established between consumers who value their region and the brands of this region vary with the positioning adopted and the products offered by these brands. It also highlights that the duration of consumers’ residence in the region improves the understanding of the studied relationships.

International audience; This research examines consumers’ in-store reactions to regional products. A field study has been conducted in two stores which adopt different types of visual and shelf merchandising strategies (i.e., regional products are located within their product categories with POS ads (n = 307) versus in a dedicated space with theatrical visual merchandising (n = 404)). This research shows that consumers’ perceptions of regional products assortment and merchandising (for the store where regional products are located within their product categories) have a direct impact on retailer's local image and their loyalty toward these products and an indirect impact, through these two variables, on their loyalty toward the store. This research thus points out the superior performance of the strategy of merchandising regional products within their product categories, using POS ads to identify them. This research also highlights the existence of the two groups of consumers (i.e., the “regionals” and the “moderates”) who are the most receptive to the regional products offered by grocery stores and on which retailers should concentrate their sales promotion efforts.

International audience; This research investigates retailers’ societal advertisements on ugly fruits and vegetables. A three (retailer's claim is focusing on consumers’ health, on food taste, on food price) x 2 (the retailer studied is Intermarché, Biocoop) between subjects design has been conducted. Several paths that retailers can follow in order to build the credibility of their message and consumers’ attitude toward the ad (the two explanatory variables relating to the message) as well as consumers’ trust in the retailer and their attitude toward this retailer (two explained variables relating to the retailer) are indicated. The direct and indirect impacts of societal advertisements on ugly fruits and vegetables on consumers’ relationship with retailers are thus pointed out.

International audience; When eating deformed fruits and vegetables contributes to food well-being: A value-based analysis of an oxy-moronThis research examines the contribution of cultural and individual values, highlighted by Schwartz (1999, 2006),to our understanding of eating well-being in relation to the aesthetic appearance of produce. A qualitative studyconducted on 30 individuals indicates two types of consumers - “landed / rooted” and “pragmatic / uprooted”– who differ in their conception of individual well-being in relation to deformed fruits and vegetables. For theformer, deformed fruits and vegetables activate the positive values associated with natural and human singularitybut generate dissonance for the latter, who are more conditioned by the calibration of fruits and vegetables. Thecontribution to social well-being must also be nuanced according to the type.; Cette recherche s’interroge sur l’apport des valeurs culturelles et individuelles, mises en évidence par Schwartz(1999, 2006), à la compréhension du bien-être alimentaire en lien avec l’esthétique des aliments. Une étudequalitative menée auprès de 30 individus a identifié deux profils de consommateurs, les « terriens/enracinés » etles « pragmatiques/déracinés », opposés par leurs conceptions du bien-être individuel en lien avec les fruits etlégumes difformes. Ceux-ci réactivent chez les premiers les valeurs positives associées à la singularité naturelleet humaine mais génèrent une dissonance chez les seconds, davantage conditionnés par le calibrage de l’offre. Lacontribution au bien-être social doit également être nuancée selon les profils.

National audience; The objective of this research is to study the impact of the perceived store proximity of a food convenience store chain on customers’ loyalty. The results of the study led with 909 customers of three different stores highlight first the existence of two complementary roads to understand the formation of consumers’ future behavioural intentions towards the store of a food convenience store chain. One leans mainly on the material store proximity and consumers’ attitude towards this store. The other leans mainly on the immaterial store proximity and consumers’ attachment towards this store. They also show that in the case of a rural store, the regular consumers give more weight to the immaterial road while the occasional consumers favour the material road. For the urban stores, both material and immaterial roads have similar weights.; L’objectif de cette recherche est d’étudier l’impact de la proximité perçue d’un magasin d’une enseigne alimentaire dédiée à la proximité sur le comportement de fidélité de ses clients. Les résultats de l’étude menée auprès de 909 clients de trois magasins différents mettent tout d’abord en évidence l’existence de deux routes complémentaires pour comprendre comment se forment les intentions comportementales futures des clients envers un magasin d’une enseigne alimentaire de proximité. L’une s’appuie principalement sur la proximité matérielle perçue du magasin et l’attitude des clients à l’égard de ce magasin. L’autre repose davantage sur la proximité immatérielle perçue du magasin et l’attachement des clients envers ce magasin. Ils montrent aussi que dans le cas d’un magasin rural, les clients réguliers ont tendance à donner plus de poids à la route immatérielle alors que les clients occasionnels privilégient surtout la route matérielle. Pour les magasins urbains, les deux routes, matérielle et immatérielle, ontdes poids similaires.

International audience; This study focuses on the impact of two antecedents of retailer personality (grasped by five personality traits: introversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, sophistication and disingenuousness), on trust and attitude toward the private brand, as well as on one major consequence of these three concepts, loyalty to the retailer. Data were collected through a natural experiment on a convenience sample of 226 consumers of a French grocery retailer. Using partial least squares analysis (PLS), our results mainly indicated that (1) private brand trust has a positive and significant influence on the retailer personality traits “conscientiousness” and “sophistication” (2) private brand trust and private brand attitude have a positive and significant influence on the retailer personality trait “agreeableness” (3) trust and attitude toward the private brand have a positive and significant influence loyalty to the retailer while retailer personality traits have no influence on this variable. This research fills a gap in the literature since few studies have looked at the antecedents of retailer personality. Moreover, it reinforces the strategic importance of private brands for retailers since they have the potential to improve retailer personality and loyalty to the retailer.

International audience; Cette recherche questionne l’efficacité des stratégies d’enrichissement des offres d’expérience. Un modèle intégrant différents effets de ces stratégies sur le consommateur : émotions positives élémentaires – enchantement – satisfaction – valeur de consommation – intentions comportementales est proposé. Une étude dans le secteur touristique valide empiriquement le modèle mais conduit à rejeter l’hypothèse d’un effet des contextes expérientiels différenciés sur ce modèle.

Disponible en ligne sur le site de l'éditeur : http://ram.sagepub.com/content/20/1/21.full.pdf; The main goal of this research is to study some non-transactional consequences of browsing such as subjective knowledge, opinion leadership, and word-of-mouth. Our results from a field study in a retail store validate the hypothesized linkages between browsing and subjective expertise, opinion leadership, and word-of-mouth. Furthermore, our findings point out the relationships between subjective expertise and opinion leadership as well as between opinion leadership and word-of-mouth. Finally, our results highlight that consumer's enduring involvement may be considered as an antecedent of his/her browsing behaviour as well as his/her level of subjective expertise, opinion leadership, and word-of-mouth.; L'objectif principal de cette recherche est d'étudier certaines conséquences non transactionnelles du butinage, telles que l'expertise subjective, le leadership d'opinion et le bouche-à-oreille. Les résultats d'une étude de terrain réalisée au sein d'un magasin valident les liens supposés entre butinage et expertise subjective, leadership d'opinion et bouche-à-oreille. Par ailleurs, nos résultats soulignent les relations existantes entre expertise subjective et leadership d'opinion ainsi qu'entre leadership d'opinion et bouche-à-oreille. Finalement, ceux-ci mettent en évidence que l'implication durable d'un consommateur peut être considérée comme un antécédent de son comportement de butinage ainsi que de ses niveaux d'expertise subjective, de leadership d'opinion et d'activité de bouche-à-oreille.

International audience; This study investigates the impact of a retailer's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy and its price image on retailer personality, along with the impact of these two variables on the consequences of retailer personality: consumers' satisfaction, trust and loyalty toward the retailer (measured by their attitude and future behavioral intentions). Data were collected on a convenience sample of 352 consumers of a French grocery retailer. Using Partial Least Squares analysis (PLS), we show that perceived Corporate Social Responsibility and price image have a significant positive/negative influence on retailer personality traits ("agreeableness" and "conscientiousness"/"disingenuousness") and that Corporate Social Responsibility has also a significant positive influence on the "sophistication" personality trait. For the consequences examined (satisfaction, trust and loyalty to the retailer), we show that Corporate Social Responsibility, price image and retailer personality have a direct or indirect impact on these dependent variables.

Disponible en ligne sur le site de l'éditeur : http://ram.sagepub.com/content/22/4/5.full.pdf+html; L'objectif majeur de cette recherche est d'étudier les principales conséquences à court et plus long terme du comportement de butinage au sein d'un point de vente suggérées par la littérature scientifique: la réalisation d'achats non planifiés, le temps passé en magasin, les réactions affectives ressenties, la satisfaction du consommateur et, par conséquent, ses intentions de revenir dans le magasin, d'y réaliser des achats futurs et de le recommander. Pour ce faire, une étude terrain a été réalisée au sein de l'espace loisirs d'un hypermarché (livres, bandes dessinées, DVD, CD, jeux vidéo, etc.) auprès de 599 consommateurs. Il en ressort que la principale conséquence à court terme du comportement de butinage est le temps passé au sein du point de vente. Les réactions affectives ressenties et la satisfaction du consommateur viennent ensuite et précèdent finalement la réalisation d'achats non planifiés.

Disponible en ligne sur le site de l'éditeur : http://ram.sagepub.com/content/19/2/1.1.full.pdf+html; This paper develops a scale of browsing following the procedure advocated by Churchill (1979). The concept of browsing is presented, then the building of the scale. An initial qualitative study of 17 consumers was used followed by four stages of data collection among 530 consumers to reach a reliable and valid uni-dimensional scale operationalised through seven items.; Cet article présente la mise au point, suivant le paradigme de Churchill (1979), d'une échelle de mesure du butinage. Après avoir présenté le concept de butinage, nous exposons les différentes étapes du paradigme de Churchill appliqué à celui-ci. Au terme d'une étude qualitative menée auprès de 17 consommateurs et de 4 collectes de données conduites auprès de 530 consommateurs, nous proposons une échelle de mesure fiable et valide du butinage, outil unidimensionnel matérialisé pour 7 propositions.

International audience; The objective of this research is to appreciate, from the consumers’ point of view, if a retailer can develop the image of a responsible retailer while mastering its price image. Consequently, an experiment was conducted in a store laboratory to study consumers’ perceptions and behaviors in twostores of the same retailer, different in terms of price image (low prices versus average prices) but sharing the same commitments and actions to corporate social responsibility (common to all retailer’s stores), notably those relative to their offers of responsible labeled products (organic and ecological) of the store brand. The results indicate that this double strategy seems integrated and accepted by consumers. These, however, remain skeptical about the retailer’s CSR commitments and actions.; L’objectif de cette recherche est d’apprécier, du point de vue des consommateurs, si une enseigne peut développer une image d’enseigne responsable tout en maîtrisant son image-prix. En conséquence, une expérimentation a été réalisée en magasin laboratoire afin d’étudier les perceptions et comportements des consommateurs dans deux contextes de magasins d’une même enseigne, différents en termes d’image-prix (prix bas versus prix moyens), mais partageant les mêmes engagements et actions en matière de RSE (communs à l’ensemble des magasins de l’enseigne), notamment ceux relatifs à leurs offres de produits responsables labellisés (biologiques et écologiques) de la marque propre de cette enseigne. Les résultats indiquent que cette double démarche semble intégrée et acceptée par les consommateurs. Ceux-ci restent toutefois sceptiques, dans les deux contextes étudiés, quant à la réalité des engagements et actions RSE de l’enseigne.