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Considering the inconsistency in the literature on crowdinvestment motivations and the uniqueness of football club investors, the purpose of this study is to identify the motivation to invest in football clubs through equity crowdfunding. Following Churchill's scale development procedure, it is found that those who crowdinvest in football clubs are fans who highly identify with these teams. The fans' motivations include supporting the cause of the campaign, acquiring the status of a football club owner, and gaining rewards. These findings show the dominance of intrinsic motivations among crowdinvestors of European football clubs, providing evidence for compensatory activities assumed in self-determination theory, which is the theoretical framework for this research. Moreover, we devise a motivation scale that can be adopted in future research on equity crowdfunding for football clubs. For sports managers, the results offer practical recommendations for marketing communication and relationship marketing of equity crowdfunding campaigns by football clubs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sports betting in the United States is exploding in popularity and has the potential to change the way sports fans interact with sports properties and sports content. However, not all sports bettors are the same, and market segmentation research provides a resource for more targeted communication and marketing strategies. Utilizing behavioral and psychographic data, the current study segmented 1,077 sports bettors by involvement. The segments were then contrasted on a number of factors within the framework of Mowen's 3M model of motivation and personality. A sample of 513 nonbetting sports fans was also included as a segment within the analyses. Statistically significant differences were found at the motivational, elemental, compound, and surface trait levels between the betting segments and between the betting and the nonbetting sports fans. The findings point to a strong emotional draw regardless of involvement yet a clear need for the betting industry to educate on issues related to jurisdictional legality and common language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fierce competition in the market makes it necessary for enterprises to not only consider how to increase consumers' purchase intention but also study to maintain high customer loyalty for continuous purchases. Taking the smartphone brands on the Jingdong platform (hereafter referred to as JD) as an example, the study collected 60,000 review data and using NLP technology for data mining, factors that may affect consumers' willingness to repurchase were extracted. Based on Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), the questionnaire was made for empirical research. The results showed that the four factors, product attributes, service quality, brand image and price significantly affect consumers' repurchase intention, while service quality had the strongest effect among them, implications of the research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid proliferation of online businesses, national authorities are facing challenges managing the online supply of illegal health products due to the anonymity of the internet, increasing number of global syndicates, new technologies, and inability to enforce against overseas sellers. This paper describes these challenges and the Health Sciences Authority's regulatory approaches to tackle the online sales of illegal health products. These include partnering with platform administrators to remove illegal online postings, leveraging technological tools and relevant legislation, empowering consumers to make informed decisions, and fostering closer collaborations across different jurisdictions to combat online pharmaceutical crimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reflects on the study of consumer-related emerging topics in the Journal of Consumer Research (JCR) and looks ahead to consider what the next generation of emergent issues might be that capture consumer researchers' attention and interest. Drawing on conversations with eminent scholars who have made major contributions to JCR by introducing emerging topics to our literature, the author (i) provides a commentary of past approaches to researching novel emerging topics, (ii) suggests some domains from which new emerging topics for consumer research can be sourced, such as new digital technologies (e.g. artificial intelligence) and major societal challenges (e.g. climate change, sustainability, and health), and (iii) offers guidance on how to approach research on important emerging topics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article chronicles the evolution of the two main paradigms within the Journal of Consumer Research : consumer information processing and behavioral decision-making. The work synthesizes interviews with preeminent scholars who have shaped these paradigms, featuring theoretical developments, key findings, and methodological innovations. This article also connects these perspectives to practical applications in advertising, branding, and retailing and identifies knowledge gaps to be addressed in future consumer research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research shows that although the used and unused versions of a digital good (e.g. virtual apparel) are identical in every pixel and functionality, consumers tend to prefer the unused version. This "genesis effect" occurs because consumers tend to perceive used (vs. unused) digital goods as virtually contaminated and because being permanently listed as the first (vs. subsequent) owner in the ownership record can confer a greater sense of status. Specifically, in study 1, analyses of large-scale field data on purchases of digital goods in the metaverse showed that consumers paid substantially more to acquire the unused (vs. used) version of the same good. Studies 2–4 causally demonstrated the genesis effect and its underlying mechanism across metaverse product categories—participants were less likely to purchase digital goods described as used (vs. unused). Virtual contamination and virtual status jointly mediated the effect. Furthermore, being the first—at the genesis of a digital product's usage history—was particularly special, such that participants were less sensitive to increases in the number of prior owners after the first one. Finally, showing participants that a used good had been digitally reconstituted attenuated the genesis effect. These findings add to the literature on consumer behavior in the metaverse and offer managerial insights on digital goods marketing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital advertising platforms have emerged as a widely utilized data source in consumer research; yet, the interpretation of such data remains a source of confusion for many researchers. This article aims to address this issue by offering a comprehensive and accessible review of four prominent data collection methods proposed in the marketing literature: "informal studies," "multiple-ad studies without holdout," "single-ad studies with holdout," and "multiple-ad studies with holdout." By outlining the strengths and limitations of each method, we aim to enhance understanding regarding the inferences that can and cannot be drawn from the collected data. Furthermore, we present seven recommendations to effectively leverage these tools for programmatic consumer research. These recommendations provide guidance on how to use these tools to obtain causal and non-causal evidence for the effects of marketing interventions, and the associated psychological processes, in a digital environment regulated by targeting algorithms. We also give recommendations for how to describe the testing tools and the data they generate and urge platforms to be more transparent on how these tools work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advances in technology have brought about transformative changes in the wine industry, leading to a convergence of multisensory perception and technological innovation. This special issue explores the intersection of multisensory experiences and technology within the context of the wine industry, examining the impact that various digital technologies have had on sensory engagement, consumer behavior, and the vinicultural landscape. From augmented reality (AR) wine label experiences to smart decanters and aroma simulators, technology is reshaping the way in which consumers perceive, interact with, and appreciate wine. The research curated in this special issue investigates how multisensory technologies influence consumers' wine consumption experiences by enhancing their visual, olfactory, gustatory, tactile, and auditory sensations. Additionally, it explores some of the implications of multisensory digital technology on wine production, marketing strategies, and brand storytelling. By examining the dynamic interplay between sensory perception and technological innovation, this special issue offers insights into the evolving nature of the wine industry and the potential for multisensory digital technologies to redefine the future of wine consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The food and drink industry is the UK's largest manufacturing sector, and small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) play a key role in the UK's food system. This study investigates food‐providing SMEs' knowledge of nutrition labels and perceptions of the use of front‐of‐pack nutrition labels in making informed and healthy food choices by consumers. The SMEs were based in Lincolnshire, UK, and comprised food manufacturers (75%), food retailers (14%) and food service providers (11%) (n = 35). A 25‐item questionnaire was developed and validated to collect responses. The questionnaire link was disseminated by email and completed online. Comparisons were made between competing answers using Cochran's Q tests, each with post‐hoc pairwise McNemar test comparisons. Confidence intervals were computed using ordinal regressions. More than half of the SMEs' products (58%) had UK traffic light (TL) colour‐coded schemes and % Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs). The SMEs stated that the TL label was the best format that provided 'at‐a‐glance' information, and this was significantly higher than %GDA and interpretative text (Ps < 0.003). Nearly 49% of the SMEs were unaware of the front‐of‐pack labels being not mandatory in the United Kingdom. Many (86%) acknowledged that the nutrition information on food products was helpful or very helpful for consumers in making purchasing decisions. The SMEs seemed to place the costs of implementing FOP labels on food products above their helpfulness in making healthier food decisions by consumers. This research is one of the first to investigate the perceptions of SMEs on how consumers utilise nutrition labels when making healthier food choices in the United Kingdom. Government subsidies on the costs incurred by incorporating TL labelling on the products are necessary in order to have front of pack (FOP) labels mandatory in the United Kingdom. Greater food industry involvement in academic and policy‐related research is essential to creating a healthier and more sustainable food environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamification, the integration of game design elements into various processes, has found application in promoting sustainability. The field of simulation and gaming has a history of using games to teach and raise awareness about sustainability issues, covering all areas addressed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Gamification has emerged as a solution to bridge the gap between knowledge and action in sustainable development. It can motivate individuals to improve sustainability, create networks to solve complex problems, and has been successful in interventions such as reducing energy consumption and promoting sustainable food choices. There are different design approaches to gamification, including instrumental design that nudges behavior and humanistic design that involves users in co-defining problems and solutions. This issue of the Simulation & Gaming journal explores the success factors of gamified interventions in sustainable development, including business models, contextual factors, and skill-building interventions. The issue includes articles on gamified sustainable consumption apps, promoting virtuous water usage practices, and teaching road safety to school children using virtual reality. [Extracted from the article]

Drawing on the logic behind customer-brand relationships, this study presents a model outlining the role of brand authenticity in the context of green hospitality brands. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 352 Korean consumers who visited green hospitality premises. The results indicated that functional qualities and stakeholder involvement are essential to building perceived green brand authenticity. The study supported that an authentic green brand is instrumental in increasing customer beliefs about its warmth and competence. Surprisingly, the results showed that evaluating a green brand as warm is the key to building green brand trust, while found a non-significant influence of green brand competence on green brand trust. This study also provided evidence that when green brand trust is formed, its effect on both green brand love and green brand identification is noticeable, which then translates into green brand choice. Overall, this study enriches the significance of the perception of green brand authenticity in fostering a favorable relationship between customers and green brands. In green brand management, brand stereotypes play a dual role in the brand choice formation. Furthermore, contextually induced green stimuli, which include operations, employee behavior, and customer engagement, are required to influence customer perception of green brand authenticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel technique Gaussian-Embedded Clustering-based Piecewise Linear Convolutional Deep Belief Classifier (GEC-PLCDBC) is introduced for enhancing the accuracy of consumer behaviors pattern prediction with minimum time consumption. The proposed GEC-PLCDBC technique performs three major processes, namely, preprocessing, clustering, and behavior pattern analysis. First, preprocessing is carried out using Gaussian distributive neighbor embedding technique to remove the repeated, retweets, and duplicate tweets from the dataset. After preprocessing, the clustering process is said to be performed using Tversky qualitative Hartigan–Wong clustering for grouping similar tweets to minimize the time complexity of the behavior pattern analysis. Finally, the Piecewise Linear Regressive Convolutional Deep Belief Neural Classifier (PLRCDBNC) is used for behavioral pattern prediction such as positive, negative, or neutral based on the extracted words from the tweets. In this way, the GEC-PLCDBC technique improves behavioral pattern prediction while maintaining a low error rate. GEC-PLCDBC technique's experimental assessment is carried out with respect to clustering accuracy, behavior pattern prediction accuracy, behavior pattern prediction time, and error rate, with respect to different number of tweets. The quantitative results show that GEC-PLCDBC outperforms existing methods by 8% in clustering accuracy and 8% in prediction accuracy of behavior pattern prediction with 15% less time and 26% mean absolute error than the conventional methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While economic sociology research and theory argue that excessive network embeddedness depresses competition in illegal markets, prior research does not examine how distinct types of embeddedness may have asymmetric effects on the diversity of purchasing behavior—the range of illegal goods that buyers typically purchase. This study considers how network embeddedness can positively or negatively affect drug purchasing diversity in online drug markets by referring buyers to new vendors or "locking" buyers into recurrent trade for the same products. We analyze novel network data on 16,847 illegal drug exchanges between 7205 actors on one online illegal drug market. Consistent with hypothesized network asymmetry, buyers are more likely to purchase a new type of drug when the transaction is part of an indirect network referral. Although histories of exchange increase the overall frequency of drug purchasing, they are associated with decreases in new drug-type purchases. In the aggregate, these processes either contribute to an integrated market where buyers purchase multiple drugs from multiple vendors (in the case of referrals) or a fragmented market characterized by recurrent trade from the same vendors for the same substances (in the case of repeated trade). We discuss the implications of these findings for research on embeddedness, illegal markets, risky exchange, and drug policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Consumer precycling behaviors aim to prevent waste generation. • Three different types of precycling behaviors were identified. • Precycling depends on consumer motivation, skills, and available opportunities. • Conscious and creative planning are important parts of waste avoidance. • Availability of circular services enables a more efficient use of goods. Dealing with overconsumption and the waste crisis requires consumers to make a drastic lifestyle change, adopting more circular consumption patterns that support the prevention of waste generation. The goal of our study was to explore the range of precycling behaviors aimed at preventing waste generation in households. We tested the hypotheses of the Motivation Opportunity Ability framework using a nationally representative survey of consumers residing in Finland (n = 1,000). Respondents reported a high level of motivation, moderate level of opportunity and ability and engaged in precycling occasionally. Using exploratory factor analysis, we identified three types of precycling behaviors: long-term planning, resourceful behavior, and reuse for circularity. Multiple linear regression indicated that motivation (frugality and minimalism), opportunity (distance to circular economy services), ability (skills related to the circular economy), and precycling were associated. These findings suggest that policymakers need to focus on increasing consumers' precycling skills and improving the accessibility and availability of precycling services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malaria treatment is faced with the challenge of access, affordability, availability, and quality of antimalarial medicines. Affordable medicines facility-malaria (AMFm) program and subsequently Co-payment mechanism were developed to help increase access to quality assured Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) in seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa. We explored through a qualitative study, experience of healthcare personnel on Co-payment mechanism and the implication on its use in private drug outlets in Uganda. Method: Private drug outlets that reported stocking antimalarial agents in moderate-to-high and low malaria transmission settings were purposively selected for inclusion in the study. In each drug outlet, data was collected from a pharmacist/dispenser through key informant interview. The interview was done using a key informant interview guide which covered the following areas, (i) sociodemographic characteristics, ii) awareness of healthcare personnel on the co-payment mechanism, (iii) awareness of healthcare personnel on quality assured artemisinin combination therapies (QAACT), (iv) antimalarial stocking in private drug outlets, (v) antimalarial dispensing prices, (vi) considerations made while stocking, and pricing antimalarial agents, vii) challenges in antimalarial dispensing, and (viii) access to antimalarial agents in private drug outlets. Data was managed using Atlas.ti and analyzed using framework methodology. Results: Data was collected from 25 key informants (12 pharmacists and 13 dispensers). Five themes emerged following data analysis, (i) antimalarial stocking influenced by price and client demand, (ii) access and purchasing behavior of drug outlet clients, (iii) basis of dispensing antimalarial agents in private drug outlets, (iv) awareness of QAACT, and (v) awareness of Co-payment mechanism. None of the study participants was aware of the existence of Co-payment mechanism and QAACT in the private sector. Duocotecin brand of ACTs was the most mentioned and dispensed ACT among the study participants in private drug outlets. Nearly all the pharmacists/dispensers said that many clients who request to purchase ACTs don't come with a prescription and prefer buying cheaper antimalarial agents. Study participants reported stocking and selling both ACTs and non-ACT antimalarial agents in the drug outlets. Pharmacists/dispensers in the drug outlets reported that most clients could not afford buying a full dose of an ACT. None of the study participants considered using Co-payment mechanism while stocking ACTs in the drug outlets. Conclusion: There is lack of awareness and utilization of Co-payment mechanism in stocking, pricing, and dispensing of ACTs among pharmacists/dispensers in private drug outlets in Uganda. The antimalarial dispensing in drug outlets was mostly based on prescriptions, clients' preferences, and medicine affordability. The Ministry of Health needs to create demand for Co-payment mechanism through public awareness campaigns, training of healthcare personnel and behavior change communication in the private sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human inclination to value rarity contributes to the exploitation of many wildlife species by driving up their market value when their numbers are scarce. This research investigates a model to explore how the value attached to rarity impacts the harvesting of predator species and subsequently influences the dynamics of predator-prey interactions in an ecological system. To broaden the model's scope, it's extended to its nonautonomous form by allowing the harvesting rate of predator species and the degree of neutrality in consumers to respond for the rarity of predator species to change over time. Both the autonomous and nonautonomous systems are explored through analytical and numerical investigation. Numerical findings reveal that as the prey population's growth rate gradually increases, the unforced system shifts from stable boundary equilibrium (harvesting absent) to stable interior equilibrium, then to oscillatory interior equilibrium, followed by period doubling oscillations leading to chaotic behavior. The autonomous system exhibits limit cycle oscillations around the boundary equilibrium when predator species are minimally harvested. Moderate harvesting stabilizes the system, while excessive harvesting induces instability. However, the chaotic oscillations can be eliminated through period-halving route upon decreasing the consumers' response to predator rarity. Furthermore, the seasonally forced model demonstrates periodic solutions, higher order periodic solutions, and chaotic dynamics contingent upon different settings of prey growth rate, the strength of seasonality in predator harvesting, and the consumers' response to predator rarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve a competitive advantage, corporations are growingly adopting strategies to effectively promote their market demand. Trade credit payment and pricing strategies provided by corporates can efficiently influence customers' purchasing behavior. Although granting a trade credit strategy can increase corporations' market share, such a strategy is a risk-based financing program for corporations. Therefore, corporates should choose whether to use trade credit financing in their long-term. This paper proposes an analytical model to investigate the evolutionary behaviors of retailers regarding pricing and trade credit strategies in the long term. In the study under investigation, retailers can use two financing strategies: risk-based trade credit and non-trade credit (i.e., pricing). This study provides both numerical and analytical findings. Our findings demonstrate that the risk-based trade credit strategy is the stationary financing solution for retailers in the long term. The result indicates that when customers are financially constrained, providing a trade credit scheme to customers is a successful marketing policy in both short-term and long-term frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Internet of Things (IoT) technology trend is transforming business and society. This creates a need to understand strategic behavior in the consumer IoT, where firms tend to offer multiple platform devices, and new generations of devices are introduced frequently. We propose a novel analytical model that formalizes the concept of a multiplatform firm that offers a system of platforms, such as a smartphone, and a new platform device, such as a smartwatch, and orchestrates a multiplatform ecosystem. The analysis shows how a platform design decision, like offering a new standalone device, affects consumer choices and market outcomes. We identify two classes of new devices that matter, and show when a new platform device may disrupt the smartphone market. Moreover, we characterize conditions under which it is profitable for a vendor to make its new platform device look and feel more like its smartphone. Overall, we provide insights into how multiplatform firms differ from platform firms. We identify future research opportunities on the economics of consumer IoT and multiplatform ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese traditional cultural symbols possess great aesthetic and cultural value, and are widely utilized in product design. In this study, we explore the relationship between metaphor design based on traditional cultural symbols, customer experience and cultural identity, and further estimate how these three variables stimulate consumers' perceived value to generate consumers' purchase intention. Based on existing traditional cultural literature and Stimulus-organism-response theory (SOR), we proposed a theoretical research model to characterize the relationship among metaphor design based on traditional cultural symbols, customer experience, cultural identity, perceived value and consumers' purchase intention. A research survey was conducted and 262 questionnaires were collected in total with 241 valid. We used Smart PLS graph version 3.0 for data analysis. Results indicate that the cognition of metaphor design based on traditional cultural symbols and customer experience has a direct and significant impact on the emotional value thereby, eliciting consumers' purchase intention, metaphor design based on traditional cultural symbols is directly and indirectly (i.e., through customer experience or perceived value) positively associated with consumers' purchase intention, also customer experience is directly and indirectly (i.e., through perceived value) associated with consumer purchase intention, cultural identity mediates the indirect effect of customer experience and perceived value on purchase intention, the moderating role of cultural identity between customer experience and perceived value is not significant. Our findings help to expand the existing literature on consumer purchase intentions by rationally using traditional cultural symbols in the product metaphor design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of plant-based beverages hinges not only on their inherent properties but also on an understanding of consumer behavior. Factors such as health conditions, sustainability awareness, and constant innovation drive consumer interest, while barriers like food neophobia and sensory attributes can deter consumption. To address these challenges, strategies such as nutrient complementation and customization of taste, color, and texture cater to individual preferences, expanding the appeal of plant-based beverages. Despite challenges, the plant-based beverage industry presents significant opportunities for growth, with consumer behavior playing a pivotal role in shaping this trend. This paper investigates the multifaceted factors influencing consumer behavior towards plant-based beverages, offering specific examples of motivations and barriers, drawing from a comprehensive analysis of available literature. The findings suggest that a consumer-centric approach, informed by a nuanced understanding of consumer behavior, is essential for the success of the plant-based beverage industry. By addressing consumer needs and preferences, companies can attract new customers and foster loyalty among existing ones, thereby capitalizing on the significant opportunities for growth within the plant-based beverage market. This paper highlights the implications of consumer behavior for industry stakeholders and underscores the importance of ongoing research and innovation in meeting evolving consumer demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractVirtual reality has begun to show itself in many areas of our lives as its accessibility becomes easier. Especially in recent years, it has been observed that investments have been made in this field in the retail sector and many brands have created virtual reality stores. The research emphasizes the need for new studies on consumer behavior in virtual reality stores, the new interface of the retail sector, in order to shed light on future investments. The attitude of Generation Z, who grew up with technology and is open to innovation, towards the virtual reality store is important because they are the consumers of today and the future. Given this situation, in the current study, the attitude of Generation Z towards the virtual reality store is examined psychophysiologically. The physiological outcomes of university students (n = 40) between the ages of 18–29 during the shopping experience in a virtual reality store were analyzed with electrodermal activity (EDA) and photoplethysmography (PPG) research techniques. Physiological data were analyzed by comparing them with the data obtained from the Socio-Demographic characteristics and the Hedonic and Utilitarian Consumption Behaviors Scale. In line with the findings in the study, the psychophysiological effects of the virtual reality store on Generation Z participants did not show significant differences in terms of demographic characteristics and hedonic and utilitarian consumption behaviors. However, the increase in the heart rate averages of the majority of the participants during the experience was significant. This is attributed to the fact that virtual reality adresses both hedonic and utilitarian consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The research on the cultural aversion to eating insects in Western countries provides valuable insights into consumer behavior and consumption patterns. By exploring the cultural norms, historical practices, and symbolic associations related to insects, the study sheds light on why most people in Western societies find it difficult to accept insects as a food source. This research contributes to existing consumer research knowledge by delving into the roots of disgust and negative perceptions surrounding insect consumption. It situates itself within the broader context of cultural and historical influences, examining the impact of Slavic folk culture, biblical references, and symbolism associated with specific insect species. This comprehensive approach enhances understanding of the multifaceted nature of disgust towards insects as a potential food source. The research is relevant to academia and non-academic constituents, such as policymakers, food industries, and cultural influencers. Understanding the cultural and psychological barriers to insect consumption can guide marketing strategies, product development, and public awareness campaigns to promote alternative protein sources. Policymakers may use these findings to address regulatory hurdles and promote the acceptance of insect-based products in Western markets. Insects are a conventional food in many cultures worldwide. Why therefore are they treated with aversion by the majority of people in Western countries? The aim of this work is to understand cultural norms and historical practices related to insects that can explain why in the countries of the West it is so difficult to accept them as a foodstuff, and why the disgust that they arouse is more common than in other regions of the world. Insects in Western countries are associated with negative experiences resulting from cultural and religious beliefs, traditions, stories, myths and individual experiences. Although there are species of insect that have positive associations, the high number of negative terms popularized the negative image of these creatures in people's minds, as a result of which the concept of insects as a foodstuff arouses disgust in the culture of the West. Understanding the aversion to insects will contribute to the broader understanding of consumer attitudes, cultural influences on consumption, or potential shifts in food choices. It also can help develop strategies or methods that will assist in changing this reluctance and encourage the utilization of insects as a food source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This article seeks to understand how live-streaming technology (i.e. interactivity and effective use of live-streaming shopping's information presentation tool) impacts consumers' credibility perception regarding live streamers. Design/methodology/approach: The authors empirically examined their hypotheses with data (n = 405) collected from a survey of consumers who engage in live-streaming shopping. Findings: The results demonstrate that vicarious learning strategies (both coactive and independent) can shape consumers' benefit perceptions (i.e. virtual presence and psychological proximity), and further have a positive effect on consumers' personal value (i.e. perceived live streamer credibility). Furthermore, the consumers' perception of the live streamers' credibility positively affects their purchase intention and ultimately influences their purchase behavior. Originality/value: Building on the vicarious learning theory and means-end chain (MEC) model, this study investigates the mechanism of the IT features of live-streaming shopping in reducing consumers' uncertainty about live streamers. This study reveals the value of vicarious learning experiences in reducing consumers' uncertainty and further enhancing their purchase behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Careful and focused decision-making in the food sector reduces the challenges threatening food systems' stability. Besides, it can optimally control any changes that result in food shortages. The present study aimed to identify identifiable factors' effects on food insecurity using a dynamic system with an emphasis on consumption behaviors. A dynamic model was developed to understand the long-term interaction between individual characteristics, average cost, average income, and hygiene status, and a dynamic model was then validated and operationalized among 1,000 Alborz Province's households randomly using a questionnaire. The base scenario for predicting food insecurity changes revealed that food insecurity had increased over ten years, resulting in changes in social and economic status and vulnerability of urban society. Four additional scenarios indicated that the average cost and income could directly affect the food insecurity status in Iran by indirectly influencing policies to increase food security, health, and hygiene. Individual characteristics and food security also influence food insecurity and reinforce the relationship between these variables. The study revealed that dynamic systems modeling could be a valuable tool for assessing food insecurity policies and their factors in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given consumers desire to prioritize their physical health, there has been a marked growth in the alcohol beverage industry toward the production of no and low-alcohol beer (NLAB). While NLAB offerings have attracted a lot of attention on the store shelves, little academic research has been given to exploring consumer perceptions of appeals used in product messaging. Utilizing a between-subjects experimental design, results from 287 participants suggest that congruent advertising appeals can play a meaningful role in influencing certain consumer response behavior to NLAB products. Specifically, consumers exposed to messaging that is congruent with their value-expressive or social adjustive attributes of self-concept had higher NLAB purchase/trial intentions. Practical implications for beverage manufacturers and directions for future research are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organic food industry has experienced rapid growth in recent decades. The industry is relatively new to developing countries compared to developed countries. Since Iran has the potential to produce organic products, it is essential to study factors that influence consumers' intention to buy them. The present study was designed and implemented for this purpose. In this cross‐sectional study, 520 adults were selected using multistage sampling. Path analysis was employed to test a hypothesized model of predictors of consumer purchase intention for organic food. Attitude, environmental concern, and sensory characteristics directly impacted the intention to purchase organic food (p <.01). Knowledge, perceived price, and household size indirectly affected purchase intention through attitude (p <.01). Age indirectly affected purchase intention through health consciousness, environmental concern, perceived price, and sensory characteristics (p <.01). Subjective norms, health consciousness, and the perceived convenience of purchase had a positive and significant effect on purchase intention, directly and indirectly, through the mediating influence of attitude (p =.000). The educational level also affects purchase intention directly and indirectly through knowledge, health consciousness, environmental concern, and subjective norm (p =.000). The most potent total effects belonged to health consciousness, subjective norms, and education, respectively. Overall, the model could explain 47% of the intention variance and 45% of the variance in attitude. Various factors influence Iranian consumers' decision to buy organic food. This information can help professionals make well‐informed decisions in policymaking, production, marketing, tourism, and retailing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding consumer choice behavior for seafood is important for the efficient and sustainable use of marine resources and the improvement of human health. This study aims to identify the information content that effectively motivates Japanese consumers to purchase fresh fish products. Group interviews with 12 consumers were conducted in September 2021 to collect qualitative information on consumer evaluations of the presentation of package labels for freshness, taste, and serving suggestion. Subsequently, data were collected through a web-based survey, administered to 3651 consumers in the Kanto area, Japan from October to November 2021. A latent class logit model was applied to the data to estimate the influence of product attributes and personal characteristics on the choice and willingness-to-pay for each product attribute. The consumers gave the highest rating to freshness labels. The taste label was evaluated highly by consumers in one class. The group interview showed that when the serving suggestion label recommending meunière use was presented, consumers associated it with the recommendation to heat the fish because of less freshness. The results of the choice experiment also showed that the "meunière" label was evaluated negatively. The consumer segment characterized by a high income and frequent purchases of fish tended to respond to all types of labels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The benefits of generative AI tools come with the risk of misleading users and radicalizing existing societal biases. This study examined the effects of inoculation treatment on users' attitudes and behaviors by testing a misinformation inoculation model. Based on inoculation theory, it discusses the cognitive mechanisms underpinning the effects of inoculation messages presented by AI chatbots by addressing how users construe inoculation messages and how they influence users' resistance against misinformation. This study renders theoretical rationales and empirical evidence for cognitive immunity by clarifying how the theory can be extended to misinformation and how the framework can be practically implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the impact of the Philadelphia Beverage Tax on perceived beverage healthfulness, and awareness and opinions of the tax. Natural experiment Small independent stores in Philadelphia (n = 61) and Baltimore (untaxed control site; n = 65) Shoppers in Philadelphia (n = 2,731) and Baltimore (n = 4,600) pre- and post-tax implementation. Perceptions of 4 beverages (unhealthy vs healthy/neutral), tax awareness, and tax opinions (oppose vs favor/neutral). Mixed-effects linear probability models estimated changes in perceived beverage healthfulness in Philadelphia, relative to Baltimore, following a difference-in-differences approach. Mixed-effects linear probability models estimated pre-post changes in tax awareness and opinions in Philadelphia-only. The probability of perceiving taxed beverages as unhealthy increased 2-years post-tax relative to Baltimore (regular soda: 5.7% [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.9–10.6], P = 0.02; diet soda: 7.7% [95% CI, 1.5–13.8], P < 0.001; sports drinks: 6.4% [95% CI, 0.4–12.4], P = 0.04), with similar changes at 1-year post-tax, whereas perceived healthfulness of untaxed 100% fruit juice did not change. Tax awareness was high at baseline (72%) and increased post-implementation; however, the probability of opposing the tax (22%) also increased over time. Decreases in the perceived healthfulness of taxed beverages suggest the tax had a health-signaling effect. Consumer awareness and health education efforts could complement tax policies to enhance understanding of health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper conceptualizes a consumer-centric, regenerative artificial intelligence ("ReGenAI") model for the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods ("FMCG") retailing channel. The system uses its awareness of context, time, and users to (re)generate customer touchpoints and other marketing communications. Its output provides deep insights into regular and altered FMCG customer journeys, such as shopping behaviors under stressors like lifestyle choices or cataclysmic socio-economic and weather events. The recursive model advances from current, generative AI systems. It uses "tired or inspired" as a simplified bifurcated grocery shopper taxonomy to operationalize customers' purchasing and consumption behaviors into actionable data for demand planning and retail operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid expansion of social commerce (S-commerce) has necessitated the development of effective advertising strategies. Despite claims that gamification offers several benefits when integrated with S-commerce, its significance in emerging markets remains unclear. This study was designed to evaluate the influence of gamification on advertising effectiveness in emerging markets such as Vietnam. Personalization and privacy concerns (S-commerce's recent prominent factors) were also assessed. A quantitative approach was used in this study. Data were collected through a survey of 477 individuals exposed to gamification advertising on S-commerce platforms. The results demonstrate that gamification significantly influences the intention to interact with advertisements through both hedonic and utilitarian mechanisms. However, this factor only affects attitudes toward advertising through hedonic mechanisms. The influence of attitudes toward advertising on consumer behavioral intentions was also reinforced in our study. Moreover, the empirical findings show that personalization significantly influences gamification and attitudes toward advertising. Finally, privacy concerns were found to have no effect on gamification and attitudes toward advertising and, simultaneously, produced only a small negative effect on the intention to interact with advertisements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study investigates the influence of visual complexity and color harmony, two important aspects of visual esthetics in the online context, on customer engagement and word-of-mouth (WOM) transmission. We further examine whether consumer expectations and self-concept congruence operate as critical boundary conditions for the effect of these esthetic factors. The study uses an experimental design in which 402 respondents viewed researcher manipulated Instagram brand pages with varying levels of visual complexity and color combinations. The results show that independently, high levels of visual complexity, and complementary color combinations evoked greater consumer engagement and positive WOM intentions. Engagement levels declined when analogous color combinations were used on Instagram pages with high visual complexity and complementary colors on low visual complexity pages. Additionally, consumer engagement mediated the relationship between the visual esthetic elements and WOM transmission. Consumer expectations emerged as an important moderator of the effect of visual complexity on engagement but our prediction regarding the moderating effect of self-concept congruence was not supported. The results of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of the underlying process by which visual esthetic elements on image-centric platforms, like Instagram, interact to influence customer engagement and WOM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the impact of sales promotions that are featured in store flyers distributed by prominent retailers and their capacity to attract consumers to their establishments. A distinctive conceptual framework is introduced that scrutinizes the influence of ethically-minded consumer behavior, digital citizenship/literacy, and a retailer's orientation toward environmental sustainability and explicit ecological concerns. A quasi-experimental design was used to formulate four distinct scenarios from a possible set of eight, stemming from the combinations of three variables: 2 Retailer Positioning (green vs. without explicit ecological claims) × 2 Flyer Mediums (paper vs. digital) × 2 Discount Levels (5% discount vs. 30% discount). Through an online survey, a sample of 269 responses was garnered to gauge consumer reactions to these store flyers, evaluating their attitudes and receptiveness. The findings suggest that attitudes toward paper flyers were more favorable when presented by non-green retailers compared to their green counterparts. This can be attributed to a perceived inconsistency between a green brand positioning and the use of paper flyers. Furthermore, the propensity to transition to digital flyers was notably stronger for green retailers compared to non-green retailers, but this inclination was most pronounced when higher discounts were offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to examine the relationship between service providers' self-disclosure on hotel booking platforms (i.e. Booking.com and TripAdvisor) and consumers' trust, hesitation, and booking intentions. The study also investigates the mediating effects of trust and hesitation on booking intentions and the moderating role of social media influencers (SMIs) on these relationships. Data analysis of 418 respondents found that service providers' self-disclosure significantly affects consumers' trust and hesitation, which in turn impacts their booking intentions. The results also showed that trust and hesitation both mediate the relationship between self-disclosure and booking intentions, with trust decreasing hesitation. Additionally, the study found that SMIs significantly strengthen the effect on consumers' trust and weaken hesitation through self-disclosure. These findings contribute to our understanding of trust, service management, and consumer behavior, and have implications for online booking platforms. The study also acknowledges its limitations and suggests areas for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation, consumers face high levels of consumption uncertainty from both P2P sites and hosts. Our study applies principal–agent theory to develop a dual processing model in examining how to support consumers' repurchase intention by reducing consumers' uncertainty perceptions associated with booking and staying. We selected Airbnb as our context and collected survey data from American consumers. The results show that perceived uncertainty (hosts) has a direct effect on repurchase intention, whereas perceived uncertainty (site) has an indirect effect. Further, perceived utility and trust in the last host can help reduce fears of opportunism (hosts), whereas site quality can alleviate fears of opportunism (site). Our study contributes to the literature by developing a dual-processing model of repurchase intention to clarify how consumers' repurchase intention can be enhanced. The results can provide important guidelines regarding how to support consumers' repurchase intention. We also provide suggestions regarding how to deal with additional uncertainties post COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary consumer behavior is characterized by its multidimensionality and complexity, which, at the same time, pushes traditional segmentation approaches to their limits. In response, this methodological study proposes a multistage machine learning-based segmentation process using semiotic-semantic community detection. This innovative method was conducted exemplarily and evaluated on a representative sample of 1,101 German travelers. The main contribution of this study lies in the novel use of word vectors, which result from assigning a semiotic meaning to travel-type images. Thus, high-dimensional data could be used during the segmentation process, overcoming several classical segmentation problems. By using semantic similarities, tourists could be grouped and represented in their multidimensionality. From a theoretical perspective, this study was inspired by postmodern tourism practices in order to better understand the (oftentimes) hybrid and multilayered behaviors of tourists. To make this innovative approach reproducible, recommendations for implementation and all necessary data have been provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to examine how consumers' consumption behaviors change in response to food supply chain disruptions and food security crisis during COVID-19. A new conceptual framework of consumer food stress and food consumption paradigms for crises is proposed based on the pillars of food security. This study also investigates the mediating effects of food prices and food stress on the proposed framework between pillars of food security and consumption behavior. A range of quantitative techniques was adopted for collecting the data during the COVID-19, with the sample of Bangladeshi consumers (n = 1150) generating a precise measurement. The study applied PLS-SEM (partial least squares-structural equation modeling) to predict food consumption behavior model and expose relevant relationships between all the constructs. Findings reveal that food access, food quality and safety, and food pricing directly impact consumer food stress and consumption behavior. Also, consumers' consumption behavior is ultimately influenced by food stress. However, food availability has no significant influence on food stress. This research is one of the few empirical studies exploring a range of food security variables that helps explain why consumers are so anxious about food during COVID-19. This study discussed theoretical and practical implications that help food producers, suppliers, marketers, and policymakers maintain a stable food supply chain management and manage food crises during national emergencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the global e-commerce landscape has witnessed rapid growth, with sales reaching a new peak in the past year and expected to rise further in the coming years. Amid this e-commerce boom, accurately predicting user purchase behavior has become crucial for commercial success. We introduce a novel framework integrating three innovative approaches to enhance the prediction model's effectiveness. First, we integrate an event-based timestamp encoding within a time-series attention model, effectively capturing the dynamic and temporal aspects of user behavior. This aspect is often neglected in traditional user purchase prediction methods, leading to suboptimal accuracy. Second, we incorporate Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) to analyze user behavior. By modeling users and their actions as nodes and edges within a graph structure, we capture complex relationships and patterns in user behavior more effectively than current models, offering a nuanced and comprehensive analysis. Lastly, our framework transcends traditional learning strategies by implementing advanced meta-learning techniques. This enables the model to autonomously adjust learning parameters, including the learning rate, in response to new and evolving data environments, thereby significantly enhancing its adaptability and learning efficiency. Through extensive experiments on diverse real-world e-commerce datasets, our model demonstrates superior performance, particularly in accuracy and adaptability in large-scale data scenarios. This study not only overcomes the existing challenges in analyzing e-commerce user behavior but also sets a foundation for future exploration in this dynamic field. We believe our contributions provide significant insights and tools for e-commerce platforms to better understand and cater to their users, ultimately driving sales and improving user experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Focus group discussions reveal consumer attitudes about sorting plastic waste. • Information and financial incentives are the most important motivation factors. • Uncertainty and confusion hinder consumers from separating waste correctly. • Different structural waste regulations in Germany are reported as problematic. • The Internet and social media are the preferred ways to obtain information. Despite international efforts to foster the circular economy, plastic waste remains a major environmental problem. In the circular economy, the success of a waste management system depends, inter alia, on consumers properly sorting their plastic waste. Yet mis-sorting of plastic food packaging waste happens routinely. We sought to find out why and to outline the ways consumers prefer to receive information about waste sorting procedures. Tailoring information to consumer preferences can improve the effectiveness of waste management policy. Using the Motivation Opportunity Ability (MOA) framework to explain consumer behaviour, we conducted focus group discussions in two German cities. Our findings suggest that more accurate information and financial incentives best motivate consumers to sort waste correctly. Uncertainty and confusion over the packaging material are the most severe hindrances to correct sorting behaviour. The Internet and social media are preferred most for acquiring information on how to sort plastic food packaging correctly. Policymakers can use our results to adjust packaging and waste management regulations to help eliminate confusion among consumers and to facilitate their recycling intentions. Food industry practitioners and company decision makers can use our results to adjust their plastic packaging features to better match consumer preferences for easily recyclable waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of tobacco will lead to the littering of a large number of filters, and the leakage of pollutants from them into the urban environment is a serious concern. The aim of this study was to analyze the leakage of heavy metals from filter and estimate the annual concentration of pollution leakage in different waste routes and different climatic conditions. The results showed that the highest and lowest density of filter in the studied urban environment were 0.51 and 0.01 number/m2, respectively. According to the estimated annual production of 306 million cigarette butts in the studied area, the leakage of the studied metals was estimated to be 401 g. The share of copper, chromium, and cadmium from the total leakage was 67%, 8.3%, and 1.88%, respectively. The leakage of studied metals in rainy conditions was 2.86 times more than sunny conditions. In different scenarios, the minimum and maximum annual leakage of metals were estimated 23,043 and 350,419 mg/year, respectively. Filters are a little but important source of heavy metal emission into the urban environment, the amount of pollution from which is affected by the consumers' behavior and the efficiency of the urban cleaning system. Education on the correct disposal of filters and increasing the efficiency of the urban cleaning system will lead to a reduction in pollution caused by tobacco consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important to examine the purchasing behavior of consumers in order to change their current habits and ensure their transition to electrification. This study aims to provide outputs to stakeholders by evaluating 74 articles based on consumers' electric vehicle purchasing behavior in the Scopus database between 2014 and 2023. In the study, first a quantitative analysis was carried out through Bibliometrix and VOSviewer programs, and then a qualitative analysis was carried out within the framework of PRISMA Meta-Analysis. As a result of the research; It has been observed that the studies increased after 2020, the most cited author was Hair and the scientific source was the Journal of Energy Policy, the expression electric vehicles was determined as the most frequent keyword, the most studies at the country level were conducted in China, and researchers benefited greatly from the Theory of Planned Behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advancement of technology, evolutions in communication and the opportunities provided by the digital age have enabled individuals to transform from passive message receivers into active participants who produce content, share it and express their opinions. Thus, social media has managed to penetrate every aspect of our lives. With the change in communication technologies, marketing strategies have also become digital, and companies have had the opportunity to reach their target audiences more economically and quickly through social media. Digitalization also offers the opportunity to use corporate communication functions more effectively. Social media contributes to the formation of hedonic consumption habits by influencing individuals with low levels of awareness, especially through advertisements. Opportunities such as one-click shopping, quick access, quality and price comparison provided through social media platforms also encourage individuals to shop in the social media environment. This shows that social media use and social media advertisements negatively affect hedonic consumption habits. In this research, individuals' consumption habits and the impact of social media on these habits will be examined, while social media will be traced in hedonic consumption habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Australian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy and Research (ABCPTR) established the Bragg Consumer Advisory Group (BCAG) in 2023. The ABCPTR, being the first of its kind in Australia, will offer proton therapy treatment for challenging solid tumours with the potential to reduce radiationinduced side effects. With over 110 Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) centres globally, Australian patients currently can apply to access government funded treatment overseas, however, international travel for treatment presents various, significant challenges. Consumer engagement in healthcare plays a pivotal role in navigating the multifaceted journey of cancer treatment and can complement cancer control strategies by ensuring the practicalities of the cancer journey are realised. The ABCPTR aims to involve consumers in decision-making processes, especially as it prepares to open Australia's first national proton therapy centre. The aim of this commentary is to highlight the importance of involving consumers in cancer care, and to demonstrate how this was done in Australia's first proton therapy centre. To establish a consumer engagement team, ABCPTR utilised existing clinical staff. The team's formation and upskilling were integral to the project's success. The engagement framework was developed based on the five stages of commitment by the Australian Health Research Alliance and Western Australian Health Translation Network. The ABCPTR consumer engagement team successfully created a community engagement framework and upskilled in consumer engagement principles over 9-12 months. An Expression of Interest (EOI) was launched, resulting in the formation of the BCAG comprising of 10 members with diverse backgrounds and experiences. The BCAG has been actively involved in decision-making processes, with a consumer-led chair and co-chair in place. The group's feedback is expected to influence key performance indicators for the centre. The establishment of the BCAG at the ABCPTR emphasises the importance of integrating patient and community perspectives into clinical initiatives. This proactive approach ensures that processes remain patient-centred. The ongoing multi-level consumer engagement strategy aims to shape a more inclusive approach to cancer care in Australia, especially concerning PBT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]