Cause-related Marketing Campaigns Research Articles

Lowering the Minimum Donation Amount Increases Consumer Purchase Likelihood of Products Associated with Cause-Related Marketing Campaigns

Both the total amount to be donated and the way it is communicated can influence consumer reactions to cause-related marketing (CM) campaigns. While companies often choose not to explicate any donation limit, this study argues that donation frames (e.g., minimum or maximum total donation) can enhance the likelihood of consumer purchases associated with CM campaigns. In a series of four studies, the authors find that consumers often respond more favorably to minimum-frame CM campaigns with a relatively low donation amount (e.g., at least $100,000 will be donated) than those with a high donation amount (e.g., at least $10 million will be donated) despite the superiority of the latter for the recipient cause. This effect is inverted for maximum donation frames, such that a high donation amount leads to greater consumer participation. This research also demonstrates that this effect is driven by the consumer desire to make a personal contribution to a cause, which is more likely to be observed when consumers endow it with high importance. These effects are obtained with attitudes, behavioral intentions, and actual expenditures.

Cause-Related Marketing and Purchase Intention toward Team-Licensed Products: Moderating Effects of Sport Consumers’ Altruism

Cause-related marketing (CRM) has been a crucial concept of sport marketing literature in the professional sport context. However, there is little evidence available to address the effectiveness of CRM when the levels of sport fans’ embedded psychological characteristics helping others are considered. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of sport fans’ perceived CRM motive of a sport team on fan attitude and purchase intention for the team-licensed products, and the moderating effects of sport fans’ altruism on the relationships among these variables in the context of the Korean professional baseball league. A total of 164 Korean baseball fans participated in the present study. Results revealed that sport fans’ perceived CRM motive significantly affected fan attitude and purchase intention for the team-licensed products, and fan attitude also had a significant impact on purchase intention. Moreover, sport fans’ altruism had significant moderating effects on the relationships between perceived CRM motive and purchase intention, as well as team attitude and purchase intention for the team-licensed products. Consequently, the present study might demonstrate that professional sport fans with high altruism are more likely than fans with low altruism to evaluate the motive of a team’s CRM campaign as cause-oriented and show their support for the campaign.

The dynamics of cause-related marketing platform and interactivity on college sport fans' donations

PurposeThis study aims to examine how sport fans' intention to donate to college athletics differs by the type of communication and by the interactivity of communication when a college athletic department uses a social cause for marketing.Design/methodology/approachTo discover differences in donation intention, the study adopts a two (social media/newspaper) by two (interactive/non-interactive) factorial experiment in which the study's created scenario is randomly presented to subjects. Participating in the online survey are 184 collegiate sport fans at a university in the American Midwest. Collected data are analyzed on the analysis of variance.FindingsResults show that fans demonstrating the highest donation intention are those in the group of fan-interactive marketing on social media. Those showing the lowest are in the group of non-interactive marketing on newspaper. Between marketing interactivity and marketing platform, no interaction effect is found.Originality/valueThe study tests the effectiveness of marketing communication in the context of collegiate sports and identifies the impact of social media on college sport fans' donation intention. For collegiate athletic administrators designing a cause-related marketing campaign, this study provides practical information on how to use social media in delivering fan-oriented activities.

The Influence of Cause Related Marketing Towards Purchase Intention in Local Fashion Brands Indonesia

Cause-Related Marketing (CRM) becomes an increasingly popular nowadays as a used tool by companies operating in the market. CRM campaign represents form of a partnership in a creative manner which companies, nonprofit organization, and customers makes charities for collective benefits and believed as the most effective marketing strategy for company rather than other strategies, as customers have shifting paradigms in perception and recognition towards products that they are increasingly looking for products or brand that also have positive shared value in the surroundings or called the societal marketing concept. CRM used by brand marketers who believes that this approach significantly helps to improve the purchase intention. Knowing that, researcher want to get more inclusive and realistic understanding about it. The purpose of this research study is to analyze the influence of CRM towards purchase intention in local fashion brands Indonesia. Using simple regression analysis, the researcher will gather data from about 150-400 samples using purposive sampling method by spreading questionnaire via online.
 Keywords: Cause Related Marketing; Purchase Intention, Local Fashion Brands

Visual Design, Message Content, and Benefit Type: The Case of A Cause-Related Marketing Campaign

Engaging consumers in a firm’s prosocial initiatives can generate favorable responses. As such, cause-related marketing (CRM) advertisements typically employ various content and design elements to engage consumers. However, the appropriate integration of advertising elements has gained little research attention. To fill this void, this study focuses on the joint effect of benefit type (self-benefits vs. other-benefits), message content (prevention focused vs. promotion focused) and visual design (cute vs. aggressive) on customers’ CRM engagement. While previous research suggests that emphasizing self-benefits (vs. other-benefits) of giving is more effective, our findings indicate that the effectiveness of self-benefit appeals is contingent on the fit between regulatory focus of the message and visual design. This study contributes to the growing literature on CRM by illuminating the interplay of various advertising elements and providing guidelines for hospitality managers in promoting CRM campaigns. Additional theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.

The moderating role of donation quantifiers on price fairness judgments

In the cause-related marketing (CM) literature, transparent communication of donation amounts (e.g., monetary donation quantifiers) has been shown to positively impact the effectiveness of CM campaigns. In practice, however, many firms communicate their donation contributions in more ambiguous terms (e.g., descriptive quantifiers). Across three studies, the authors demonstrate when using monetary quantifiers is less beneficial, due to consumers’ skepticism of firm motives. Study 1 shows that the presence of a CM promotion positively affects perceptions of price fairness. Study 2 provides evidence that donation quantifier formats operate uniquely and impact price fairness through skepticism. Finally, Study 3 demonstrates ways in which practitioners can manage consumer skepticism, which affect perceptions of price fairness and ultimately purchase intent.

Measuring the Impact of Cause-Related Marketing: A Meta-Analysis of Nonprofit and For-profit Alliance Campaigns

ABSTRACT Cause-related marketing (CRM) campaigns are a type of joint venture between a business concern and a nonprofit organization. To determine effect sizes for these campaigns, a series of bivariate meta-analyses were conducted using a random effects assumption. Results included the effect of CRM advertising on brand attitudes, r = .248, 95% CI(0.189,0.373), and purchase intentions, r = .277, 95% CI(0.141, 0.404), and the effect of cause-brand fit on brand attitudes, r = .239, 95% CI(0.167,0.309), and purchase intentions, r = .319, 95% CI(0.206, .423). Unfortunately for nonprofit organizations, none of the seven meta-analyses conducted found any effect for the study characteristic, type of cause (generic or branded company). Thus, the contribution of a specific nonprofit organization’s brand did not have a significant impact on consumer attitudes or behavioral intentions to purchase CRM products.

An Experimental Approach to Examine the Antecedents of Attitude, Intention, and Loyalty Towards Cause-related Marketing: The Case of India and the Philippines

Firms utilize cause-related marketing (CRM) strategy to differentiate themselves by demonstrating their corporate responsibility efforts. However, national differences in the level of prior CRM exposure, local–global consumer values and culture can result in heterogeneity in consumer perceptions of CRM across countries. The authors reflect and examine national differences in customer attitudes, intention to participate in CRM and loyalty towards the company organizing the CRM campaign through variables like scepticism, perceived novelty, global connectedness and long-term orientation. They discuss and examine the impact of these variables on national preferences for CRM campaign variations by (a) type of company (local versus multinational) and (b) the time duration of CRM campaign (short term/long term). This research uses data from two emerging Asian countries—India and the Philippines. By diving deep into the nuances that drive consumers to participate in CRM, the research provides relevant strategies to drive CRM communication strategies that enhance consumer loyalty to the marketers of CRM campaigns of national, international and non-profit organizations.

Digital cause-related marketing campaigns

PurposeWith the rising concern for the planet and people dimensions of the triple-bottom-line, an increasing number of firms are using cause-related marketing (CRM) to create a win-win situation for all stakeholders. With growing internet and social media access the Indian consumer is being invited to participate in such campaigns through digital platforms. The purpose of the present study is to examine consumer perceptions about select digital CRM campaigns in terms of perceived fit between the brand and the cause being promoted and the extent of participation effort required by the campaign and further to investigate the relationship between these two variables and consumers’ intentions to participate in the campaign, engage in positive word-of-mouth about it and their brand purchase intentions.Design/methodology/approachSix online CRM campaigns in the consumer products space were taken up for study. Primary data was collected through a structured questionnaire in an online mode, which provided an advertisement snapshot and a brief description of each CRM campaign. Items to measure variables under examination were adapted from the extant literature. Three versions of the questionnaire were created, with each version involving two of the six campaigns. Thus, each respondent was responding to items pertaining to two campaigns only. A total of 242 responses were collected, using non-probability sampling.FindingsThe study indicates overall positive responses to the digital CRM campaigns included in the study. It finds that for the online CRM campaigns taken up for examination, respondents perceive a high extent of brand-cause fit. A fit between the cause being promoted and the brand’s sphere of activity is a factor that needs to be considered for its impact on consumer willingness to participate in the campaign and intention to engage in positive word-of-mouth about it. The study does not indicate a significant relationship between participation effort for online campaigns and consumer behavioural intentions. Consumer participation intentions and word-of-mouth intentions are found to be positively related to intentions to purchase the brand associated with the campaign.Practical implicationsIn their efforts to design effective CRM campaigns, marketers should use creativity in looking for a common thread, which ties their business or brand with the cause being promoted. Consumers tend to perceive this congruence between the cause and the brand and this impacts their behavioural responses. It is possible that the fact that consumers are not required to make a purchase but are being invited to support a cause by performing a non-transaction-based activity, may also underlie their positive response to this genre of CRM activities. The study provides an understanding of factors that contribute to the effectiveness of non-purchase-based online CRM campaigns in garnering consumer engagement with the campaign and the brand.Originality/valueThe results provide important insights regarding non-transaction based digital CRM campaigns and the relationship between brand-cause fit, perceived participation effort and targeted changes in consumers’ behavioural intentions. Online CRM campaigns involving consumer participation in forms other than brand purchase are an emerging area of effort towards customer engagement and thus warrant further investigation.

Effects of cause-related marketing campaigns on consumer purchase behavior among French millennials

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of cause-related marketing (CRM) campaigns on consumer purchase behavior among French millennials contrasted with their international counterparts. Based on the regulatory-focus theory, the influence of the types of arguments and products is tested on French millennials’ attitudes, intentions and behaviors in the context of CRM campaigns.Design/methodology/approachThree experimental studies among French millennials examine the effects of a CRM campaign vs non-CRM one on purchase behavior (study 1) through varying the formulation of the argument (promotion or prevention – study 2) and the nature of the advertised product (utilitarian or hedonic – study 3).FindingsThe results reveal French millennials’ favorable attitude and greater purchase intention for products carrying CRM messages, displaying similarities with American and Dutch millennials. When exposed to CRM advertising with promotion messages for hedonic products, French millennials, similarly to their South African and American counterparts, show greater purchase intentions, exhibiting cause sensitivity with hedonic products to reach aspirational goals.Research limitations/implicationsInconsistent findings related to French millennials’ willingness to pay are linked to possible message formulation and product nature biases. The study contributes to the CRM literature by bridging regulatory focus and product type in a CRM campaign context, while contrasting millennials’ perceptions from diverse countries.Practical implicationsTo improve CRM effectiveness toward millennials, firms must ensure the consistency between the causes, types of messages and products.Social implicationsCRM campaign efficiency is enhanced when promoted by brands, thereby increasing millennials’ engagement toward the causes.Originality/valueThis paper is the first to explore, in a single study, CRM campaign regulatory focus and product type among French millennials compared with their international counterparts.

How Cause Marketing Campaign Factors Affect Attitudes and Purchase Intention

ABSTRACT The authors propose that decisions regarding the duration of cause-related marketing campaigns should depend on the combination of cause type and product type. Results from three studies show that a long duration works when a utilitarian product is paired with a primary cause, such as life necessities, or a hedonic product with a secondary cause, such as quality of life. A short duration is advantageous for a hedonic product paired with a primary cause. Consumers favored these combinations because they attributed positive motives to the company for launching cause-related marketing campaigns. Companies can maximize the success of their cause-related marketing by choosing the duration that best suits their product–cause bundle.

Doing Good While Behaving Badly: Checkout Charity Process Mechanisms

Companies are increasingly using cause-related marketing campaigns to engage consumers during the purchase process and highlight their own corporate social responsibility initiatives. One growing trend among retailers is the use of charity campaigns, where cashiers or technologies solicit consumers to donate money at checkout. Though these checkout charity campaigns are ubiquitous, little is known about their impact on consumers or the psychological processes involved. This paper addresses this gap by examining the process by which checkout charity appeals may license consumers to engage in “guilty pleasures” counter to injunctive norms. In a series of four studies, we affirm this hypothesis, presenting a novel methodological approach for providing evidence of a credits-based process. This method utilizes a Johnson-Neyman procedure to demonstrate how a charitable donation creates a “warm-glow” feeling that subsequent counter-injunctive consumption erodes. In other words, we directly observe individuals “cashing in” credits to pay for bad behavior. We discuss the ethical implications of such campaigns in light of the subsequent behavior they may license.

Cause-related marketing campaigns and repurchase intentions: The mediating role of brand awareness, consumer attitude and corporate image

Cause-related marketing campaigns and repurchase intentions: The mediating role of brand awareness, consumer attitude and corporate image

Influence of different cause-related marketing (CRM) strategies on consumer decision making

Abstract Cause-related marketing (CRM) is a strategic tool that can link selling products with supporting a social cause. However, not all CRM campaigns are effective in terms of influencing consumer decisions. In our research, we explore the role of beneficiary origin in reactions to CRM campaigns created by brands either of national or foreign origin. We explore also the role of consumer ethnocentrism, defined as a preference for national brands and products, as a factor influencing the relations between beneficiary and brand origin. The online experiment was conducted on a sample of 549 participants. Six versions of a CRM advertisement were created (2 brands x 3 types of beneficiary). Participants were asked to evaluate the advertisement, estimate their product and firm perception, as well as their purchase intention. Consumer ethnocentrism was also measured. Results generally showed that the beneficiary type influenced advertisement evaluation, whereas brand origin influenced product and firm perception as well as purchase intention. Similar results were observed among subjects with a low consumer ethnocentrism. However, in the case of subjects with a high consumer ethnocentrism, only product perception changed under the influence of the experimental conditions and a significant interaction effect was observed. The product of a national brand was perceived better when the company helped in-group beneficiaries rather than out-group ones. However, when the product was of national brand, it was perceived as better in the case of helping an out-group than an in-group beneficiary.

Effect of skepticism and message abstractness on cause-related marketing campaign evaluation: The mediating role of message engagement

Cause-related marketing (CRM) skepticism significantly affects consumers’ attitudes and behavioral intentions. Thus, this study draws from construal-level theory to identify how the mediating role of message engagement curbs CRM skepticism. An online experiment indicated that matching skeptical consumers’ high-level mindset with abstract CRM messaging mitigates the negative effects of CRM skepticism on consumer responses. The resulting construal mindset congruency strengthens the favorability of consumer responses by increasing message engagement. Insight into skeptical consumers’ construal mindset adaptation is important because it provides a guide for the construction of advertising messages that engage skeptical consumers at the appropriate construal level to enhance message evaluation and behavior intention.

The impact of the macro-environment on consumer scepticism towards cause-related marketing

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how the macro-environment influences consumer scepticism towards cause-related marketing (CRM), especially in a turbulent economic setting.Design/methodology/approachAn exploratory qualitative research study utilising open-ended, semi-structured Skype interviews with 26 respondents was conducted in a country experiencing economic crisis.FindingsThe findings demonstrate that respondents hold a strong scepticism towards CRM campaigns and they are more negative towards the CRM campaigns initiated by foreign enterprises as compared to the domestic ones. This can be attributed to ethnocentrism, or even antipathy or animosity towards foreign companies due to crisis. Furthermore, results reveal that the political and legal elements of the macro-environment have an impact on consumer scepticism towards CRM campaigns, while the impact of the economic crisis itself did not seem to be equally significant.Originality/valueThis work contributes to the existing literature of CRM as it is the first study that explores the impact of macro-environmental elements on consumer scepticism towards CRM within an economic turbulence setting.

Extending the knowledge on cause-related marketing (CrM) campaign with focus on skepticism

PurposeThis study aims to gain insight on evaluation of cause-related marketing (CrM) campaigns by the millennial with focus on skepticism, brand identity and patronage intention.Design/methodology/approachTo attain the above objective a conceptual model was developed and tested using structural equation modeling and confirmatory factor analysis.FindingsThe finding suggests that sub-segments exist among millennial segments. They can be classified into hedonic, utilitarian, individualistic and collectivists. Compared to utilitarian and individualistic customers hedonic and collectivists were found to evaluate CrM campaign more favorably. Utilitarian and individualistic depict skepticism toward CrM campaign.Practical implicationsThe in-depth knowledge gained about millennials is expected to benefit academicians and marketers alike. Academicians will be enriched by the knowledge of the micro-segments that exists among the millennial and how that had differential impact on their skepticism while evaluating CrM campaign. The marketers involved in the designing and implementation of the CrM campaign will be benefited from the in-depth knowledge of segments with lower and higher levels of skepticism. Such knowledge gained will help them develop more effective CrM campaign.Originality/valueOne of the contributions of the present study is that it extends the existing knowledge about millennials, particularly in the context of CrM campaign evaluation integrating it with other important variables such as skepticism, brand identity and patronage intention.

Cause-related marketing in online environment: the role of brand-cause fit, perceived value, and trust

This article explores how cause-related marketing influences consumer response in an online environment, by analyzing the relationships between consumers’ perceptions of Cause-related Marketing (CrM) and their behavioral intentions toward an online store. Data was collected through an experiment using a sample of Portuguese respondents focusing on the effects of the cause–brand fit and consumer–cause identification on online stores perception and purchase intention. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. The results show that consumer–cause identification has a positive impact on perceived value and that the relationship is moderated by brand–cause fit but it does not influence online purchase intention. Brand–cause fit was shown to have a positive influence on trust and online purchase intention, which is also impacted by perceived value. Trust was found to be a predictor of perceived value but not of the online purchase intention. The main contributions of the findings include the improved understanding of the importance of the fit to consumer’s perception and efficacy for online cause-related marketing campaigns.

CRM campaigns with choice for enhanced business process performance

PurposeA substantial body of research evidence has now accumulated in the cause-related marketing (CRM) literature. Yet, research on positive word of mouth (WOM) in the CRM domain is scarce. Based on this, the purpose of this paper is to present a framework that enhances positive WOM persuasion in a CRM context.Design/methodology/approachSpecifically, the authors explore collectivism as a contextual dimension for positive WOM persuasion in a CRM setting and discusses three novel constructs for effectively designing such campaigns, namely, cause proximity, choice of donation type and choice variety of donation types in a single offering frame. Based on conceptual logic and drawing on literature from a variety of disciplines, this framework should provide deeper insight into achieving positive WOM persuasion with CRM strategy and implementation.FindingsAdditionally, the analysis leads to specific research questions regarding the associations between these contrasts and positive WOM persuasion in a CRM context.Originality/valueFinally, the managerial and theoretical contributions are discussed, as well as directions for further research.

Understanding and implementing CRM initiatives in international markets

PurposeDrawing from prior research, the purpose of this paper is to outline the benefits of cause-related marketing (CRM) campaigns for the sponsoring multinational organization and the non-profit, to examine the impact of firm–cause fit and how this fit forms and to describe consumer reactions to CRM campaigns. With this backdrop, the paper offers recommendations for how multinational corporations (MNCs) should undertake international CRM activities.Design/methodology/approachA comprehensive literature review, undertaken with a theoretical lens, helps reveal how CRM campaigns can be executed in international markets.FindingsWith accurate country market assessments, MNCs are better prepared to integrate with the local environment and deliver effective CRM strategies and value.Practical implicationsThis paper offers guidance for MNCs that are interested in expanding internationally in terms of how to develop an effective CRM in international markets. In addition, it explores relationship elements that are critical for creating a successful, synergistic relationship between the firm and the non-profit.Originality/valueWhen adopted effectively, CRM can be a valuable tool for firms as they expand internationally, by establishing relationships with local customers. This research suggests guidelines for multinationals to consider as they expand their presence globally and apply CRM in broader contexts.