How to build trust: Evidence from Thai customers in the latex glove industry

Abstract

This paper examined the impact of product quality, perceived risk, and perceived value on customer trust in the latex glove industry of Thailand. It used a structural equation model (SEM) to analyze the association between two or more variables. Data collection was conducted in Thailand during the pandemic of COVID-19. Five hundred people looking for glove protection were invited to join the survey; however, only 384 provided responses were valid enough for the data analysis. According to the empirical results of this study, product quality demonstrated significant and positive impacts on perceived value and trust. In addition, perceived value acted not only as a significant and positive predictor of customer trust but also as a partial mediator between product quality and customer trust. On the other hand, the current results demonstrated that perceived risk had little impact on perceived value and trust, while product quality was the primary benefit for increasing perceived value and trust among customers. Thus, ambiguity among customers was unlikely to demonstrate any serious concern for customer value and trust. Overall, customer trust relied significantly on perceived value through increased product quality. AcknowledgmentThis study was supported by Internal Research Grant Funding of Academic year 2021, Hatyai University and Postdoctoral Fellowship, Prince of Songkla University.