Contemporary Consumer Research Articles

A Comprehensive Analysis on Customer Satisfaction and Preference with Special Emphasis on Lovely Foods, Doddaballapur, Bangalore Rural

Customers' choices and satisfaction levels with Lovely Foods, a niche FMCG brand that specializes in traditional South Indian snacks, are critically examined in this study. Lovely Foods has a devoted following thanks to its genuine recipes and focus on quality, but it competes in a sector where changing consumer demands provide both opportunities and problems. The study used a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative interviews and structured surveys to investigate how well customers' expectations and experiences with the brand match up. The study aims to evaluate customer satisfaction levels, pinpoint important factors that influence customer loyalty, and suggest focused tactics for raising general satisfaction and retention. The results show that consumers place a high value on Lovely Foods' products' flavour and calibre, which stand out as the main factors influencing customer happiness. The report does, however, also point out important areas that require improvement, such as the need for more aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly packaging, improved pricing schemes to cater to a range of consumer demographics, and more product availability to guarantee uniformity across markets. The report ends with practical suggestions for filling in these gaps. Lovely Foods may strengthen its position in the market and cultivate long-term client loyalty by expanding its product line, modernizing its packaging to suit contemporary consumer tastes, and optimizing its supply chain. This study offers the brand a road map for navigating the cutthroat FMCG market while adhering to its key principles of authenticity and quality.

Enhancing Guest Engagement through Sustainable Practices: The Role of Lobby Ambassadors at The Apurva Kempinski Bali, Indonesia

The research titled " Enhancing Guest Engagement through Sustainable Practices: The Role of Lobby Ambassadors at The Apurva Kempinski Bali, Indonesia " investigates the sustainable products offered by The Apurva Kempinski Bali and their effectiveness in attracting guests. This quantitative descriptive study utilized a questionnaire as its primary research instrument, targeting guests of the hotel, with a sample size of 70 participants. The analysis was conducted using various statistical tools, including descriptive analysis, classical assumption tests, simple linear regression analysis, validity and reliability tests, coefficient of determination tests, and T-tests via SPSS version 25. The findings indicate that sustainable products play a crucial role in enhancing guest interest in visiting The Apurva Kempinski Bali. The implementation of these products has been executed effectively. In the context of globalization, it is essential for tourism businesses to prioritize not only profitability but also their environmental impact. The Lobby Ambassador serves as a vital link between the hotel and its guests, effectively communicating the sustainable initiatives of The Apurva Kempinski Bali. Given their frequent interactions with guests, Lobby Ambassadors are positioned to educate visitors about the hotel's sustainable offerings. This study highlights the importance of sustainability in the hospitality sector, aligning with contemporary consumer preferences for environmentally responsible practices. As travelers increasingly seek eco-friendly options, hotels that successfully integrate sustainability into their operations can enhance guest satisfaction and loyalty. Thus, the role of the Lobby Ambassador is not only significant in promoting sustainable products but also instrumental in fostering a deeper understanding among guests regarding their benefits, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable tourism experience.

Defining food well-being from the perspective of young Canadian consumers: an exploratory study

Food well-being (FWB) is fundamental for consumers’ overall well-being. Previous studies have explored FWB through five domains (food socialization, literacy, marketing, availability, and policy) or food-related concepts (e.g., food pleasure, healthiness, and satisfaction). However, the understanding of FWB is limited due to two main issues: (1) the absence of a clear definition and reliable measurement tools for this multifaceted and multidisciplinary phenomenon, and (2) the tendency of studies to focus on individual dimensions rather than examining it as an integrated whole, making it difficult to understand how these dimensions are interconnected. To address these gaps, a qualitative exploratory study was conducted with young Canadian consumers using a focus group and 15 individual interviews. A directed content analysis revealed a disconnect between consumer perceptions and the existing definition of FWB. This study makes three key contributions to understanding FWB: first, it provides a deeper insight into FWB conceptualization by identifying new themes within its domains. These include: (1) food socialization, shaped by family, peers, and meal traditions; (2) food literacy, encompassing both conceptual and procedural knowledge, as well as individual goals; and (3) food marketing, shaped by the impact of marketing activities (the 4Ps) on food experiences. Second, this study presents a comprehensive framework that illustrates the interconnections among FWB domains. It highlights, for example, how food socialization influences food literacy, the interactions between food literacy and food marketing, and the role of policy in shaping FWB. Third, it offers practical implications for enhancing FWB in contemporary consumer society.

Virtuous spaces, virtual places: institutionalizing values on ethical consumerism in the Indian toy industry through field-configuring events

Focusing on India's toy industry, this study investigates how field-configuring events facilitate the institutionalization of ethical consumerism in emerging markets. Through virtual ethnographic analysis of the First India Toy Fair 2021, we examine how digital platforms enable institutional change processes. Drawing on institutional theory, we identify three key mechanisms through which the fair shaped ethical consumption practices: normative space creation, regulatory framework development, and cultural-cognitive meaning making. The fair served as a platform where stakeholders collectively defined ethical practices, negotiated quality standards, and legitimated traditional production methods within contemporary sustainability discourse. Our findings reveal how virtual field-configuring events can transcend geographical boundaries to enable broader participation in institutional change processes, while also highlighting the complex interplay between traditional craft values and modern market demands. The study demonstrates how traditional practices can provide templates for sustainable production while meeting contemporary consumer expectations. These insights contribute to understanding how ethical markets are moralized in emerging economies and how virtual spaces can support the preservation and evolution of traditional craft sectors.

Effect of Brand Image and Brand Trust on Purchase Intention of Fast-Moving Consumer Goods

An extensive analysis is performed in this research regarding how consumer relationships with brands influence brand trust and brand image, which represents a strong form of brand support rooted in consumer connections. This study examines how two consumer-brand relationship elements, specifically brand trust and brand image, influence buying intentions. Based on a review of the literature pertaining to consumer-brand dynamics, a theoretical framework is formulated that addresses the constructs of brand trust and brand image in their association with purchase intentions. In the current investigation, a quantitative approach is employed to rigorously assess the impact of brand trust and brand image on consumer purchasing intentions concerning fast-moving consumer goods. The data collected from a cohort of 167 individuals residing in the city of Madurai served as a basis for the empirical validation of the research hypothesis, which was established through the administration of a meticulously designed questionnaire. It was discovered that there exists a direct and significant correlation between brand trust, brand image, and purchase intention. This finding indicates that the connection between brand trust and brand image positively influences purchase intentions. Furthermore, it was uncovered that brand trust exerts a stronger effect on purchase intention than brand image alone. In summary, the findings highlight the substantial impact of consumer-brand relationships on purchasing intentions. The research recognizes specific constraints and provides suggestions for subsequent investigations within this field. As consumers increasingly exhibit intense loyalty and disdain towards brands, marketers must comprehend the importance of brands in the contemporary consumption landscape. This research indicates that marketers can enhance consumer purchase intentions and transform potential customers into actual buyers. Keywords: Brand trust, Consumer-brand relationships, Purchase intention , Brand image, Brand equity.

Impulsive consumer digital shift: virtual reality as a new mode of physical experience

People are now attempting to develop an ideology for the digital transformation of contemporary consumers, which requires a deep understanding of the basic constructs or variables behind this type of migration. The current research model is based on nearly 61 research papers from top marketing journals to understand the impact of variables like technology, social media, online reviews, consumer engagement, and marketing ethics on the digital transformation of online consumers. A thorough analysis of the literature was conducted to identify independent and dependent variables, along with their supporting components, and then distributed a questionnaire reflecting these variables to 1187 participants for data collection. PLS-SEM, with its robust and reliable measuring standards, was incorporated owing to its ability to manage complex models with multiple variables and indicators. Research predictions has aimed to find out the digital shift amongst modern consumers, checking the impact of extracted variables, i.e. technology, social media, online reviews, consumer engagement, and marketing ethics. The results clearly validates that customer engagement through customer reviews and social media has a priority influence on the digital shift of online consumers, backed up by the attributes of marketing ethics and technology.

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR: UNDERSTANDING ECONOMIC DECISIONS IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND INSTANT GRATIFICATION

Consumer behaviour has changed dramatically in an age of social media and instantaneous information access, with psychological factors and technological improvements playing a bigger role. With an emphasis on the opposing forces of social media and quick satisfaction, this research examines the complex interrelationship between psychology and economics in the context of consumer decision-making. It investigates how social effects, emotional triggers, and cognitive biases affect consumer behaviour in digital settings, drawing on theories from behavioural economics and psychology. The study explores how social media platforms might operate as strong inducers of impulsive spending through strategies like scarcity tactics, influencer marketing, and FOMO. It also examines how these actions affect both personal financial security and more general economic patterns, such as the increase in consumer debt and changes in saving patterns. Case studies emphasise the advantages and disadvantages of digital consumerism while offering practical insights into its workings. The initiative also addresses the long-term financial effects of quick satisfaction and suggests ways to encourage better spending practices and financial knowledge. To provide a forward-looking perspective on consumer psychology in a changing digital context, it looks at new trends like AI-driven advertising and virtual reality buying. This study emphasises the need for a balanced approach to regulating the psychological and economic implications of social media and rapid gratification, and it concludes with practical advice for consumers, legislators, and marketers. The initiative seeks to advance knowledge of contemporary consumer behaviour by fusing theoretical insights with real-world applications.

The Role of AI-driven Digital Advertising in Sustainable Real Estate Marketing in Nigeria

The 21st century has witnessed massive digital disruptions in all sectors, in what is now known as the Information Age. The foundation of these disruptions can be traced back to digital technology, which has drastically transformed communication and access to information in societies. It has also enabled organizations improve their business operations and create more value for their customers. Contemporary consumers’ behaviors and patterns are constantly changing hence, organizations need to adapt and transform their processes to incorporate use of digital tools in order to remain a going-concern, as well as be creative in offering them products and services that align with these needs. Using the Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) and Media Richness theories, this paper adopts a qualitative research design to explore how Industry 4.0 (4iR) technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Big Data are changing the way organizations advertise Real Estate to targeted consumers, while considering the ethical and privacy implications of such engagements. Using a purposive sample of ten realtors in the luxury home segment, semi-structured interviews were used to collect data that was analyzed thematically. Findings confirmed that AI-driven tools have enhanced the digital advertising strategies of realtors, stimulated purchase intentions and sustained business growth.

Parent-child dynamics of cultural tensions between traditional and consumerist values through an identity perspective

This study addresses a gap in literature by exploring how dynamic cultural forces between parents and children lead to paradoxical identity conflicts and related tensions. The study explores two distinct consumer categories. The results reveal that traditionally rooted parents consider dependent children as extensions of their identity and experience intense tensions due to the conflict between consumerist aspirations and traditional obligations toward children. They experience tensions due to discrepancies between an ideal self-guide or ought self-guide (both representing traditional values), an ideal self-guide (representing consumerist values at a level considered ideal) and a feared self (embracing too many consumerist values beyond what is considered ideal). The child, in turn, feels obliged to comply with parents’ traditional expectations despite their consumerist identity. They feel similar tensions just as their parents do, between conflicting value systems. In contrast, non-traditional parents do not use children as identity extensions; hence, they find no need to transfer personally rooted values to children and do not experience tensions. The findings contribute to literature on how children as contemporary consumers have implications with regard to identity and tensions of parents and vice versa. Accordingly, practitioners should cater products differently to target groups, based on specific value internalizations—the traditionally rooted parent and child are influenced by each other’s values during the buying decision process. However, marketers have the liberty of considering non-traditional parents and children as separate consumer categories as there are no interplay of values during the buying decision process. By such considerations marketers can successfully exploit consumer expectations and desires that would help address prevailing anxieties and cultural contradictions in society.

The Impact of Urban Culture on Residents' Online Consumption: Evidence from China

The study explores the impact of urban culture on residents' online consumption behavior in China. Utilizing big data technology, the research collects and integrates multidimensional data, including consumer behavior and e-commerce platform information, to gain a comprehensive understanding of high-quality online consumption patterns and motivations. By combining qualitative and quantitative methods and conducting case studies across multiple cities, the paper delves into how different urban cultural system characteristics influence online consumption behavior. The findings provide valuable insights into the relationship between urban culture and digital consumption, contributing to a deeper understanding of contemporary consumer dynamics in China.

The Dominance of TikTok in Shaping Online Purchasing Intention

In recent years, TikTok has emerged as a dominant force in the realm of social media, captivating millions worldwide with its short-form video content. This paper explores the significant influence of TikTok on consumers' online purchase intentions. Through an examination of relevant literature and empirical studies, the paper elucidates the mechanisms through which TikTok impacts consumer behavior and decision-making processes. It delves into the role of user-generated content, influencer marketing, and algorithmic recommendations in shaping consumer preferences and driving purchase intentions on the platform. Additionally, the paper discusses the unique features of TikTok, such as its immersive and engaging format, personalized content delivery, and seamless integration of e-commerce functionalities, which contribute to its efficacy as a persuasive tool for brands and marketers. Furthermore, the paper highlights the implications of TikTok's dominance for businesses seeking to leverage the platform for marketing purposes and outlines strategies for effectively harnessing its potential to enhance online sales and brand engagement. Overall, this paper sheds light on the transformative influence of TikTok in the digital landscape and underscores its pivotal role in shaping contemporary consumer behavior and purchase intentions.

What about QR codes on wine bottles? A statistical analysis of technology's influence on purchase decisions among Italian wine consumers

The growing significance of information availability about products for consumers represents a pivotal dimension in contemporary consumer behavior and decision-making processes. In the context of an ever-evolving global marketplace characterized by a huge number of choices, rapid technological advancements and increased consumer awareness, access to comprehensive product information has emerged as a fundamental factor affecting consumers' preferences, choices, and satisfaction levels. There is a significant scientific gap on Italian wine consumers' readiness to adopt emerging technologies. Therefore, the research objective is to investigate whether Italian wine consumers trust and are willing to use emerging technologies such as Quick Response (QR) code and Blockchain Technology (BCT) and to identify the factors influencing their acceptance. By examining and evaluating several crucial aspects in the context of wine purchases in Italy using an online survey, this work seeks to fill the gap in the literature. These crucial elements include customers' propensity for novelty, information-seeking behaviors, faith in new technology, and the intention to use them during wine purchasing. What can be derived is the positive interconnection between consumers novelty-seeking, information-seeking, intention to use the QR code and trust in emerging technologies. With other words, consumers' information-seeking and novelty-seeking is interconnected and they positively determine consumers trust in technologies and their adoption. The implications of this study are twofold. Firstly, it enriches consumer behavior theory by providing new insights into how information availability and emerging technologies influence consumers’ decision-making processes, particularly in the context of the Italian wine market. Secondly, businesses can leverage these insights to enhance consumer trust and satisfaction, enabling them to make more effective marketing strategies, improve product transparency, and gain a competitive edge in the increasingly competitive wine market.

The making of cheese in the Orkney Islands

ABSTRACT This paper explores the meanings of cheese production and consumption in the geographical branding of the Orkney Islands. Based on both traditional and innovative techniques, the making of cheese in the Orkney Islands is rooted in the historical farming role of its inhabitants but also in its strategic position in the North-Atlantic Ocean. This article explains the origins and evolution of the production of cheese on the islands and connects it to the contemporary consumption on the islands’ restaurants, that award tourism value to cheese people, places and practices.

Bergamot Pomace Flour: From Byproduct to Bioactive Ingredient for Pasta Production

Contemporary consumers demonstrate an increasing preference for foods formulated with sustainable ingredients and health-promoting benefits. In this study, both demands were addressed by formulating enriched pasta using by-products derived from the processing of bergamot, a typical Calabrian citrus fruit. Wheat flour was replaced with different percentages of exhausted bergamot pomace flour (BPF: 1.5%, 2.5%, and 5%). The results indicated that bergamot pomace is a source of various phytochemical compounds, such as minerals, fibers, and polyphenols, which are beneficial to human health. The enriched pasta samples showed a significant increase in antioxidant properties, measured as a total polyphenol and flavonoid content and through chromatographic analysis. From the latter, it emerged that phenolic compounds, particularly flavonoids, were resistant to cooking. The best qualitative characteristics were shown by the sample formulated with 2.5% BPF, as also confirmed by the sensory analysis; indeed, sample C exhibited a similar level of acceptability to the control sample (A) in terms of general acceptability by the panelists. Hence, BPF can be considered as a functional ingredient for the formulation of pasta, enhancing the product’s functionality, or as an addition as flour in gluten-free products.

The Emerging Challenges of Customer Relationship Management with Customer Data Platforms (CDP): Constraints and Perspectives

Customers today are increasingly demanding a personalized shopping experience, coupled with stringent data security measures and prompt responses. As the landscape of online privacy evolves, particularly with the anticipated sunset of third-party cookies by 2024, businesses face a critical imperative to revamp their customer data management strategies. The emergence of Customer Data Platforms (CDPs) stands out as a pivotal solution in this evolving ecosystem. This article undertakes a detailed critique of CDPs, starting with insights gathered from both users and industry experts, and subsequently examining consumer perceptions and behaviors in the digital realm. At the heart of contemporary consumer expectations lies the desire for tailor-made interactions that reflect their preferences and behaviors. This demand necessitates robust data management tools capable of aggregating, analyzing, and activating customer data across multiple touchpoints. CDPs have emerged as a central tool in this endeavor, offering businesses a unified platform to integrate disparate data sources and derive actionable insights in real-time. By leveraging comprehensive customer profiles built from first-party data, CDPs enable businesses to deliver personalized experiences that foster customer loyalty and drive revenue growth. Moreover, the impending demise of third-party cookies, compounded by stringent data protection regulations like GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act), underscores the urgency for businesses to adopt privacy-centric data practices. CDPs play a crucial role in this paradigm shift by empowering businesses to ethically collect and utilize customer data, thereby enhancing transparency and trust. However, challenges persist, including the complexity of integrating CDPs into existing infrastructures and ensuring compliance with evolving regulatory frameworks. From a consumer standpoint, attitudes towards data privacy are evolving, with an increasing emphasis on transparency and control over personal information. Consumers are more inclined to engage with brands that demonstrate a commitment to data security and ethical data usage practices. This shift necessitates a nuanced approach from businesses using CDPs, emphasizing not only personalization but also data protection and consent management. While CDPs offer substantial benefits in navigating the complexities of modern data management and meeting consumer expectations for personalized experiences, their successful implementation hinges on addressing technical, regulatory, and ethical considerations. By doing so, businesses can not only adapt to the evolving landscape of digital privacy but also foster enduring customer relationships grounded in trust and mutual value.

Knowing the Impact of Efficient Social Media Marketing

Twenty-first century, people no longer make time to visit and socialize with each other. Through social platform, people can now remain disconnected while still being linked. In addition to this, “social media platforms like Facebook foster a strong bond between people and products, opening up several chances for advertising”. Similar to this, “other social media platforms like blogs provide a forum for posting comments on any event that has to be publicized and can be used as a promotional tool for both customer adoption and promotions”. This study article focuses on methods that can expand “the current social media's current use of viral marketing”. It can also aid in creating a “community that is robust enough to support your marketing efforts”. As a result of ‘social identity’ and ‘perceived value’, “Social Media Marketing efforts have an indirect impact on satisfaction, according to the analytical data”. Simultaneously, “social identity and perceived value have a direct impact on satisfaction, which in turn drives plans to continue, participate, and spend money”. Finally, “references for improving social media marketing are supplied based on the academic and managerial implications of the study's empirical findings”. According to the literature review, various contemporary consumers turned to social networks for peer guidance. Social media has encouraged consumer-to-consumer contact and made it easier for customers and companies to engage with one another. This study report sheds light on the internet-related literature and online shopper behaviour with regard to the use of online media in small companies. Study aims to pinpoint and examine the factors or behaviours that influence customers' decisions whether to follow or unfollow a specific Brand on social media.

ViewR: Architectural-Scale Multi-User Mixed Reality With Mobile Head-Mounted Displays.

The emergence of mobile head-mounted displays with robust "inside-out" markerless tracking and video-passthrough permits the creation of novel mixed reality (MR) experiences in which architectural spaces of arbitrary size can be transformed into immersive multi-user visualisation arenas. Here we outline ViewR, an open-source framework for rapidly constructing and deploying architectural-scale multi-user MR experiences. ViewR includes tools for rapid alignment of real and virtual worlds, tracking loss detection and recovery, user trajectory visualisation and world state synchronisation between users with persistence across sessions. ViewR also provides control over the blending of the real and the virtual, specification of site-specific blending zones, and video-passthrough avatars, allowing users to see and interact with one another directly. Using ViewR, we explore the transformation of large architectural structures into immersive arenas by creating a range of experiences in various locations, with a particular focus on architectural affordances such as mezzanines, stairs, gangways and elevators. Our tests reveal that ViewR allows for experiences that would not be possible with pure virtual reality, and indicate that, with certain strategies for recovering from tracking errors, it is possible to construct large scale multi-user MR experiences using contemporary consumer virtual reality head-mounted displays.

Consumer Trends: Exploring Shifts and Patterns in Contemporary Consumer Behavior

Consumer Trends: Exploring Shifts and Patterns in Contemporary Consumer Behavior

The Contested Terrain of Sporting Consumption: Navigating Meaning, Identity, and Late Capitalist Marketing through Sneaker Customization

This discussion critically examines and questions assumptions about the meanings and motivations of sporting consumption. We argue that the practice of sneaker customization demonstrates the contested terrain of sporting consumption, wherein contemporary consumerism is characterized by a dynamic interplay between top–down structural determination (by mass commercial forces) and bottom–up creative agency (by everyday consumers). Based on in-depth interviews with 15 sneaker consumers, we narrate the complexities of late capitalist consumer culture through three overlapping “tensions” between the commercial sneaker industry and everyday sneaker consumers: (1) Sneakers as a vehicle to express individuality versus to demonstrate conformity; (2) Sneaker customization as a means of artistic expression versus being a commodity rationalized to maximize profit; (3) An affective versus instrumental attachment to sneakers. Overall, the analysis illuminates how the cultural and affective meanings that consumers attach to sneaker consumption operate; sometimes in conjunction with, more often in opposition to, but always in tension with the meanings that the sneaker industry attempts to embed through its ever-expansive means of marketing and advertising.

Life is better but not without challenges: experiences following discharge from community-based residential mental health rehabilitation-a qualitative content analysis.

Community-based residential mental health rehabilitation units for people experiencing severe and persistent mental illness are increasingly available in Australia. Research completed 20 years ago suggested that people leaving these services often experienced impoverished social lives and other challenges in the community. It is unclear whether contemporary consumers experience similar difficulties. This qualitative study explored contemporary consumers' experiences after leaving community-based residential services. An inductive qualitative content analysis of individual interviews was completed with consumers 12-18 months following discharge from three community care units (CCUs) in Queensland, Australia. The interview schedule explored three questions: (1) What does life look like after leaving the CCU, (2) Has the CCU impacted their life, and (3) How could the CCU experience be improved? A convenience sample was used, with sampling continuing until thematic saturation was achieved. A member of the research team who had relevant lived experience actively supported the analysis and interpretation. Seventeen interviews were completed. Three themes were identified: 'life is better but not without challenges', 'the CCU helps you get ready to go out into the world', and 'strict rules are important but rigid expectations can be hard; things could be better'. Consumers reflected positively on their lives post-discharge from a community-based residential rehabilitation unit and viewed the service as having supported improvements in their lives. The findings suggest the appropriateness of optimism about the possibility of sustained improvements in quality of life after leaving community-based transitional residential rehabilitation support.