Expensive Brands Research Articles

Austerity to materialism and brand consciousness: luxury consumption in India

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand the role of materialism and brand consciousness in determining the luxury consumption among the young Indian consumers.Design/methodology/approachIn order to measure materialism, brand consciousness, attitude toward luxury brands and purchase intention, pre-established scale items were used to design the self-administered questionnaire. A valid sample of 342 respondents was collected through mall intercepts, in-store intercepts, luxury brands exhibitions and festivals and international airports. The relationship was tested using regression analysis.FindingsThe findings support that the materialism and brand consciousness are positively related to the luxury consumption in India and play an important role in predicting the behavior of the young luxury buyers. The Indian youth is buying expensive luxury brands as symbols of status success and wealth in order to fulfill their materialistic goals. The desire to own and possess the well-known and expensive brand names demonstrates the importance the consumers attach to the social and symbolic value of the luxury brands.Practical implicationsThe study reveals that the young Indian luxury buyers choose to buy brands that are most advertised. Creative advertisements enhancing luxury brands’ symbolic and social value can be effective. The study has implications for the international luxury brands, as they are expensive, well known and famous among the global consumers.Originality/valueThe key contribution of the study is the establishment of materialism and brand consciousness as important antecedents in the development of attitude toward luxury brands among the young Indian consumers.

Trend in the affordability of tobacco products in Bangladesh: findings from the ITC Bangladesh Surveys

BackgroundThe price of tobacco products in relation to the income of tobacco users—affordability—is recognised as a key determinant of tobacco use behaviour. The effectiveness of a price increase as a...

Branding in the activities of poultry products producers

The brand is an effective tool for modern marketing communications. Specialists in branding distinguish two approaches to the brand – Anglo-American (Western approach) and Asian (Eastern approach). In practice, their combination is a European approach. It is necessary to distinguish between legal and marketing approaches to understanding the brand. From the legal point of view, the brand acquires its original meaning, it is a trademark that represents the manufacturer of the product and is subject to legal protection. In terms of marketing, the brand is information that is stored in the memory of consumers and causes the desire to buy goods with specific markings. Branding of unprocessed eggs and poultry in Ukraine began in 2001. The first to brand fresh poultry meat was OJSC «Myronivsky Hliboprodukt» (TM «Nasha Ryaba»). In advertising messages, emphasis was placed on the freshness and quality of products. It was a commodity propaganda of fresh chicken. In 2009, holding held rebranding. In the positioning of the products, the company refused the theme of freshness and concentrated on the idea of «natural products for a healthy life». Along with «Nasha Ryaba» legal registration and introduction of the national brand «Yasensvit» took place. These were the first packed eggs in individual packaging that appeared on the Ukrainian market. «Yasensvit» today is the most recognizable egg brand. Ukrainian poultry products producers use the European approach in the brand, using different trademarks for individual product lines. Over the past ten years, the cost of the most expensive poultry brands has grown more than 6 times. For ‎2014–2017, brand value declined slightly more than 30% due to the 2014 crisis, when holdings lost individual enterprises in captured areas and markets in Russia. Existing brands of poultry products today are positioned as a natural and environmentally friendly product, manufactured in compliance with all sanitary and hygienic standards, which at each stage of production and distribution are directly controlled by the manufacturer. They are not inherent in the pronounced values of the brand. Having some popularity in the media, they cause emotions of care, family, warmth, and more. All this in conjunction with the relevant quality parameters, other components of marketing activities ensures their effective functioning in the consumer market.

УЛОГА УПАДЉИВЕ ПОТРОШЊЕ У СОЦИЈАЛНОЈ ИНТЕРАКЦИЈИ И ПЕРЦЕПЦИЈИ

The subject of the paper was to examine the effect of conspicuous consumption on the perception and attitudes of young people in Novi Sad and Niš (Serbia). The paper presents the results of the experimental empirical research, aimed to investigate the role of this phenomenon in social interaction and the perception of youth. Experiment has been preceded by extensive non-experimental study with the aim to investigate the attitude of youth towards luxury goods, especially clothes. The experiment tested whether and how logos of expensive brands on the clothes affect the perception of the person wearing them. The results confirmed the existence of significant differences in thirteen of the fifteen selected features. The aim was to indicate the presence and role of conspicuous consumption in the contemporary context, as well as to point out its influence in the social interaction and perception of young people.

Heavy Metals Concentration in Facial Cosmetics

Heavy metals impurities in cosmetic products are common due to their natural abundance. However, they should be kept to a minimum wherever technically feasible. Most people, specially females, use cosmetic and their ingredients on a daily basis. Although human external contact with a substance rarely results in its penetration through the skin and significant systemic exposure, cosmetics produce local (skin, eye) exposure and are used in the oral cavity, on the face, lips, eyes and mucosa. Therefore, human systemic exposure to their ingredients can rarely be completely excluded. Because metals can induce unwanted side effects in humans, to establish their contents in body-care cosmetics is important for quality and health controls. In this work we have selected nine most expensive brands of facial cosmetics (Base jelly, Whitener, Sheen and Face powder) from the Saudi market. Twenty-eight elements were detected by using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) and a flow injection mercury system (FIMS). The mean, maximum and minimum concentrations of each element are reported.

Consuming For Recognition: South African Youth Consumption Of Status Clothing

Buying expensive and fashionable brands to portray social status is increasing rapidly among South African township youth. The South African youth mainly spend their income on status-depicting clothing in order to conform to social settings and groups and to be noticed by their community. This study investigates the factors influencing the need to consume status-depicting clothing items among South African township youth. A self-completing survey questionnaire was administered to 400 youth consumers from three township malls in the Sedibeng district, Gauteng region of South Africa. Regression analysis was employed to analyse the data. The results suggest that materialism, fashion clothing involvement and group identity are key factors predicting status consumption among South African township youth consumers (aged 18-24 years). Marketers interested in targeting status conscious township youth consumers are advised to devise their advertisements in such a way that they emphasise the brand or product’s ability to indicate status.

Economic evaluation of epinephrine auto-injectors for peanut allergy

BackgroundThree commercial epinephrine auto-injectors were available in the United States in the summer of 2016: EpiPen, Adrenaclick, and epinephrine injection, USP auto-injector. ObjectiveTo describe the variation in pharmacy costs among epinephrine auto-injector devices in New England and evaluate the additional expense associated with incremental auto-injector costs. MethodsDecision analysis software was used to evaluate costs of the most and least expensive epinephrine auto-injector devices for children with peanut allergy. To evaluate regional variation in epinephrine auto-injector costs, a random sample of New England national and corporate pharmacies was compared with a convenience sample of pharmacies from 10 Canadian provinces. ResultsAssuming prescriptions written for 2 double epinephrine packs each year (home and school), the mean costs of food allergy over the 20-year model horizon totaled $58,667 (95% confidence interval [CI] $57,745–$59,588) when EpiPen was prescribed and $45,588 (95% CI $44,873–$46,304) when epinephrine injection, USP auto-injector was prescribed. No effectiveness differences were evident between groups, with 17.19 (95% CI 17.11–17.27) quality-adjusted life years accruing for each subject. The incremental cost per episode of anaphylaxis treated with epinephrine over the model horizon was $12,576 for EpiPen vs epinephrine injection, USP auto-injector. EpiPen costs were lowest at Canadian pharmacies ($96, 95% CI $85–$107). There was price consistency between corporate and independent pharmacies throughout New England by device brand, with the epinephrine injection, USP auto-injector being the most affordable device. ConclusionCost differences among epinephrine auto-injectors were significant. More expensive auto-injector brands did not appear to provide incremental benefit.

Comparative Evaluation of Cost – Effectiveness and Medication Adherence Between Olanzapine and Iloperidone in Patients of Psychosis

Background: To assess the cost – effectiveness between Iloperidone and Olanzapine in relation to different measures of effectiveness and to evaluate significance of medication adherence and costs and outcomes. Methods: A prospective, randomized, comparative, flexible dose clinical study of 1 year duration was conducted in 100 first episode (drug naive) cases of psychosis attending to psychiatric outdoor patient department of Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly. 50 patients each in olanzapine (OLZ) and Iloperidone (ILO) group comprised the sample size. Patients were regularly evaluated by senior psychiatrist for dose titration. OLZ 10-20mg/day and ILO 6-12mg/day were used. Least expensive brands available in our hospital pharmacy were used. Cost – effectiveness and medication adherence were measured as per the formula. Results: It was observed that ILO (8mg/day) controlled 65-75% cases and 12mg/day dose controlled > 90% cases of psychosis. Whereas OLZ showed this level of control respectively with 10 – 15mg/day (average 12.5mg/day) and 15-20mg/day (average 17.5mg/d). Since olanzapine in 15-20mg/day dose cause more metabolic adverse events particularly obesity, hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia which need further management hence overall olanzapine is not cost-effective. 42(87.5%) cases had medication possession ratio (MPR) >90% in ILO group compared to 18 (37.5%) cases in OLZ group. Increased medication adherence led to better control and outcomes. Patients with 90% of patients on long term use.

Changes in cigarette prices, affordability, and brand-tier consumption after a tobacco tax increase in Thailand: Evidence from the Global Adult Tobacco Surveys, 2009 and 2011

Despite the 2009 implementation of a tobacco tax increase in Thailand, smoking rates remained unchanged between 2009 and 2011. Prior evidence has linked cigarette tax increases to compensatory behaviours aimed at lowering the cost of smoking, such as switching to lower-priced cigarette brands. Using data from 2009 and 2011 Global Adult Tobacco Surveys in Thailand, we estimated unadjusted changes in cigarette prices paid, cigarette affordability, and consumption of cigarettes in three price categories classified as upper-, middle-, and lower-priced brand tiers (or price tertiles). We used ordered logit regression to analyse the correlates of price-tier choice and to estimate the change in price-tier consumption adjusted for demographic and region characteristics. Between 2009 and 2011, real cigarette prices increased, but the affordability of cigarettes remained unchanged overall. There was a significant reduction in the consumption of cigarette brands in the top price-tier overall, accompanied by increases in the consumption of brands in the bottom and middle price-tiers, depending on the region. Adjusted estimates from the logit models indicate that, on average, the proportion of smokers selecting brands from upper- and middle price-tiers decreased while consumption of lower price-tier brands increased during the study period. The estimated shifts in consumption from more expensive to less expensive cigarette brands and the overall lack of change in cigarette affordability in Thailand between 2009 and 2011 are both factors that may have contributed to the observed lack of change in smoking rates after the 2009 tax increase.

Analisis Kinerja Web Server Menggunakan Algoritma Round Robin dan Least Connection

In the industrialized world many companies are using web as a form of promotion or online transactions such as e-commerce. It handles millions of hit visits on the web server. There are many things that can cause the failure hit. One of them is the number of requests or transactions to the web server that is not able to be handled or the slowness of the response, which is very dangerous and detrimental for the company. The single web server with extremely expensive brands is a way to face the constraints overload, but only certain companies are able to have it. The issues faced, how to use some of the PCs as a web server with a reasonable economic value, could be empowered by implementing network load balancing technology. Network load balancing is a technology solution that is used, and expected to be able to handle the simultaneous load of web server with small output failure. Web server performance measurement at the round robin algorithm and least connection include parameters against components such as throughput, request loss, response time and cpu utilization, from the result of the measurement, it will be seen which is the best algorithm to use.

Economics of vanity sizing

This paper examines the size charts of 54 American apparel retailers. Evidence reveals that sizes are inflated for women's apparel brands with moderately higher prices. Very expensive designer brands measure significantly smaller than lower priced brands for women's apparel. Brands that target young adult female consumers measure significantly smaller than their counterparts that target relatively older consumers.Evidence indicates little, if any, vanity sizing in men's or children's apparel.

The Structure of Cigarette Excises in the EU: From Myths to Reality

Although it may at first seem unimportant, the structure of excise taxes on cigarettes greatly affects the price of cigarettes, the structure of the consumption, but also the amount of the tax revenue. EU Directive 2011/64/EU prescribes the combination of the specific and the proportional (ad valorem) excise tax on cigarettes. However, Member States independently determine the shares of one or another component in the overall excise tax structure, whereby the EU directive only prescribes the upper and the lower limit. The purpose of this article is to challenge several myths related to the cigarette taxation in the EU. The first one is that an increase of the specific component of the cigarette excise negatively affects the consumption of cigarettes, whereas this does not hold for the proportional component. The second assumption empirically tested in the paper is that an increase of the specific excise increases the government revenue from cigarette excises, whereby this can not be confirmed for the proportional component. Lastly, since both previous hypotheses have been confirmed, we tried to delve into reasons why certain countries – despite obvious advantages of the specific in relation to proportional excise – still predominantly rely on the latter. To this end, we tested the assumption that countries with domestic production of tobacco increasingly use proportional excises to increase the price gap between domestic (usually cheaper) and more expensive (imported/international) brands. The results of the empirical analysis were consistent with this hypothesis and confirmed that domestic tobacco production is a significant determinant of the structure of cigarette excises.

An Inexpensive Bismuth-Petrolatum Dressing for Treatment of Burns.

Background:Xeroform remains the current standard for treating superficial partial-thickness burns but can be prohibitively expensive in developing countries with prevalent burn injuries. This study (1) describes the production of an alternative low-cost dressing and (2) compares the alternative dressing and Xeroform using the metrics of cost-effectiveness, antimicrobial activity, and biocompatibility in vitro, and wound healing in vivo.Methods:To produce the alternative dressing, 3% bismuth tribromophenate powder was combined with petroleum jelly by hand and applied to Kerlix gauze. To assess cost-effectiveness, the unit costs of Xeroform and components of the alternative dressing were compared. To assess antimicrobial properties, the dressings were placed on agar plated with Escherichia coli and the Kirby-Bauer assay performed. To assess biocompatibility, the dressings were incubated with human dermal fibroblasts and cells stained with methylene blue. To assess in vivo wound healing, dressings were applied to excisional wounds on rats and the rate of re-epithelialization calculated.Results:The alternative dressing costs 34% of the least expensive brand of Xeroform. Antimicrobial assays showed that both dressings had similar bacteriostatic effects. Biocompatibility assays showed that there was no statistical difference (P < 0.05) in the cytotoxicity of Xeroform, alternative dressing, and Kerlix gauze. Finally, the in vivo healing model showed no statistical difference (P < 0.05) in mean re-epithelialization time between Xeroform (13.0 ± 1.6 days) and alternative dressing (13.5 ± 1.0 days).Conclusions:Xeroform is biocompatible, reduces infection, and enhances healing of burn wounds by preventing desiccation and mechanical trauma. Handmade petrolatum gauze may be a low-cost replacement for Xeroform. Future studies will focus on clinical trials in burn units.

From offshore-provider to brand creator: fsQCA of footwear industry

Portugal has become the second most expensive footwear brand manufacturer in the global market in just one decade. How does an offshore-outsourcing provider become a direct competitor with former clients? This study applies a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to 12 Portuguese footwear manufacturers and identifies the underlying factors of the managerial transition from an offshore-outsourcing provider to a direct brand manufacturer. The study finds that the transformation of external knowledge from the client into internal knowledge must occur first. But the decisive factor is the management's recognition that brand creation is a long-term investment and is less risky than remaining dependent on outsourcing. These findings contribute to the understanding of the transition to becoming a direct brand manufacturer.

How much could be saved in Chinese hospitals in procurement of anti-hypertensives and anti-diabetics?

Background: Efficient use of government funding has been increasingly relevant for the success and sustainability of ongoing health-system reform in China; however, as there is no generic substitution policy, patients and basic health-insurance programs pay more for public-preferred brand originators. Such phenomenon is especially typical in public hospitals. The objective of this study is to estimate the potential cost savings in procurement by Chinese public hospitals when switching from brand originators of anti-hypertensive and anti-diabetic medications to their generic equivalents between 2012–2014.Method: IMS Health volume and value consumption data (IMS China Hospitals Audit system 2012–2014) were used, which covered all Chinese hospitals with 100 beds and above. The top 60% IMS volume consumption of respective anti-hypertensive and anti-diabetic medication with unique dosage form and strength were included. The potential cost savings were calculated from a switch of brand originators with their generic equivalents on the Chinese and international market. An independent sample t-test was conducted to compare the difference of proportion of cost savings in value between the Chinese and international market.Results: An average of 44% (US$44 million) and 87% (US$90 million) and a total of US$1.4 and 2.8 billion (2014 US$) could be saved from a switch from originator brand anti-hypertensives and anti-diabetics to domestically and internationally available generic equivalents, respectively. The differences of cost savings (in proportion) between domestic and international market were statistically significant (α = 0.005, p = 0.003, p = 0.002, p = 0.000).Conclusion: Expensive brand originators dominated the anti-hypertensive and anti-diabetic market in Chinese hospitals between 2012–2014. Preference of brand originators wastes a huge amount of health resources in China and these limited resources could have been used more efficiently. As one of the world’s key generic suppliers, if China wants to use its health resource more efficiently on medicines, comprehensive measures are needed to address both demand-side (consumers’ low trust in the quality of local generics) and supply-side barriers (health professionals’ preference of brand originators).

Price-Matching Strategies on the German Gasoline Retail Market

This article investigates how prices are affected by price matching in the German gasoline retail market. The effects are noted for implementing and consulted (i.e. retailers whose prices are matched) retailers. While analyzing an extensive panel data set, I find a 11-14% markup increase for a relatively more expensive brand. A relatively inexpensive brand and its consulted stations decrease their prices. Evidence is found that price matching can enhance other price discrimination strategies by 43%. I cannot verify theoretical and empirical literature predicting that price matching has competition-reducing motives.

A closer look at ‘Cheap White’ cigarettes

BackgroundGiven the prominence of Cheap Whites in illicit tobacco discussions, we examined various definitions, market presence, brand proliferation, manufacturers, production locations, trademark ownership, prices and compliance with tax stamp and...

Variability in leg compression provided by gradient commercial stockings.

Compression stockings are commonly prescribed by physicians for lower extremity edema and venous insufficiency. However, no data are available for clinicians to assess the relative quality of various brands, particularly low-cost generics now available directly to consumers through the Internet. We examined the actual compression provided by gradient stockings from multiple manufacturers. A total of 36 class 2 (20-30 mm Hg) men's medium-sized below-knee compression stockings from six different manufacturers (n = 6 of each brand) with approximately the same quality and materials were chosen to be studied. Identifying brand names were removed, and they were randomly and blindly tested by a technician in accordance with accepted industry standards. A calibrated constant rate of extension tensile instrument (Zwick Z010; Zwick Roell, Ulm, Germany) was used, and the tension generated by the stockings at the ankle and calf was measured using minimum, average, and maximum circumference sizes. All measurements were performed in duplicate. The compression pressures generated by the stockings were almost all within the stated range of 20 to 30 mm Hg at the ankle, but all except one were below 20 mm Hg at the calf. There were also significant differences between manufacturers at both the ankle and the calf (P < .0001). The expected pressure reduction between the two locations varied, but one stocking had only a minimal 2 mm Hg (8%) gradient, which was significantly less than all of the other tested brands and below the recommended 20% to 50% reduction. Cost analysis demonstrated that the discount brands were significantly lower in price but provided absolute compression and pressure gradients similar to those of the more expensive brands. There is significant variability among stockings, both in the absolute pressures and in the pressure gradients generated from the ankle to the calf, thought to be functionally important for venous flow. The cheaper stockings offered the same degree of compression and pressure gradient as the more expensive brands. These results suggest the need for manufacturing standards in the United States and a revision in labeling requirements to mandate more accurate and complete pressure disclosures.

An Evaluation of Health Service Impacts Consequent to Switching from Brand to Generic Venlafaxine in New Zealand under Conditions of Price Neutrality

ObjectiveTo study the health impact on adult New Zealand patients who switch from originator brand to generic venlafaxine. MethodsThe national pharmacy database was used to select patients using venlafaxine for at least 6 months. Switchers and nonswitchers were identified, and switch behavior was compared for a 12-month follow-up period. Change in health service use following switching was also compared between switchers and nonswitchers including use of the emergency department, hospital, and specialist outpatient services over the same period. ResultsApproximately 12% of all originator brand users switched to generic venlafaxine, at least half of whom continued to use the generic throughout the follow-up period to August 1, 2012. Almost 60% of new users of the generic venlafaxine, however, switched to using the originator brand. Aside from a slight reduction in the use of outpatient services among switchers, there were no significant differences in health services use between switchers and nonswitchers for either existing or new venlafaxine users. ConclusionsAlthough both products remain fully subsidized and available, there is little incentive for prescribers, pharmacists, or patients to switch to the less expensive generic brand. If savings to the national New Zealand budget are to be realized, additional policy measures should be implemented to minimize incentives for multiple and reverse switching, and prescribers, as key opinion leaders, could take the lead in promoting generics to their patients.

Characteristics of brand value and its application by tourism enterprises

Brand using of a tour operator and travel agent has been analyzed. Method of calculating the discount rate coefficient through BrandBeta has been researched, taking into account the dynamics of the brand development. The features using four brands of tour operators in fifty two travel agents’ brands from seven Ukrainian regions has been researched, indicating that the most expensive brand is Tez Tour. It has been determined, that the presence of the brand gives tourism enterprises certain benefits: it allows to earn additional revenue; protects manufacturer of tourism cervices while cooperating with partners; facilitates consumer choice among tourism products; identifies the tourism enterprise and its services among tourism products of competitors; facilitates entrance to the related markets with new products; gives an opportunity to invest in the future. It has been investigated, that to increase sales of travel packages and increase their own profits, travel agents need to make their own individual image among consumers in the competitive environment of numerous travel agencies.