Multiple Collective Identities of Far Eastern Russians and Their Choice of Asian versus European Brands.

The purpose of this study is to empirically examine multiple collective identities that coexist with consumers in Far Eastern Russia and the effects of these identities on their choice of Asian versus European brands. Our study investigated Asian, European, and Russian collective identities. Surveys were conducted with 311 individuals in Vladivostok and Khabarovsk to assess their brand choice for eight Asian and European brands of two consumer durables. The findings of this study show that collective identity can affect Russian consumers in their brand choice. More importantly, the findings suggest that the effect of collective identity can be extended to consumer choice between Asian and European brands. In addition, our findings support the coexistence of multiple identities for consumers in Far Eastern Russia and suggest a consumer tendency of choosing a brand that reflects a relatively stronger collective identity vis-à-vis others. This result is in agreement with Risse (2003) and Medrano and Gutiérez (2001), who contended for the coexistence of multiple identities and their influences in social behavior. Finally, marketing implications for international marketers are discussed as to their competitive strategy against other foreign brands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]