Parent Brand Quality Research Articles

Parent brand susceptibility to negative feedback effects from brand extensions: A meta‐analysis of experimental consumer findings

AbstractGiven the prevalence of brand extensions in the market, it is important to consider extensions' potentially harmful effects on the parent brand, that is, negative feedback effects. This paper integrates experimental research on negative feedback effects using a meta‐analytic framework. The results support previous findings for extension evaluations, parent brand breadth, parent brand image fit, and consumer task motivation on the occurrence of negative feedback effects. However, four moderator variables found in earlier work are not significant: accessibility of extension information, parent brand awareness, branding strategy, and participant type. Mixed findings related to extension fit, valence of extension information, and parent brand quality are clarified, indicating that extension fit and valence of information appear to drive negative feedback while parent brand quality does not. Four methodological factors have significant effects: within‐subject‐dependent variable designs, parent brand product class, type of brand, and whether the extension was evaluated, suggesting that the effects may be, in part, an artifact of background factors. The results provide insights into when brands seem vulnerable to negative feedback effects, while simultaneously identifying common market scenarios under which brands appear less susceptible. Finally, a post hoc model points to involvement and level of processing as two key constructs that may underlie the effects of moderators.

An Evaluation of Retail Brand Extension in the Context of Store Atmosphere, Perceived Quality of Parent and Extended Brands, and Perceived Fit

The purpose of this study is to examine the mediator role of the parent brand quality between the store atmosphere and extended brand quality and to investigate the moderator role of perceived fit in the effect of the parent brand quality on the extended brand quality. Data from 200 participants were collected through surveys conducted face-to-face in Ankara. The results of the process analyses reveal that the parent brand quality is a mediator between the store atmosphere and the extended brand quality. Perceived fit is a moderator between the parent brand quality and the extended brand quality.

By-Brand or By-Category? The Effect of Display Format on Brand Extension Evaluation

Although consumers often encounter brand extensions for the first time during a store visit, most research on brand extensions does not take into consideration how product display in retail environments might affect evaluation of a brand extension. We explore the effect of two distinct display formats on brand extension evaluations: by-brand display, where a brand extension is presented in the context of other products made by the same parent brand (e.g., Nike razors displayed with Nike sneakers, Nike sportswear, etc.), and by-category display, where a brand extension is presented in the context of competing brands within the extension category (e.g., Nike razors displayed with Philips razors, Gillette razors, etc.). Three studies demonstrate that low fit extensions of high quality brands are evaluated more favorably when displayed by-category than by-brand, whereas high fit extensions of low quality brands are evaluated more favorably when displayed by-brand than by-category. In support of the proposed underlying mechanism, we show that display format influences consumers’ evaluations of brand extensions by changing the weight of importance given to parent brand quality and brand-extension fit information. Finally, we demonstrate that display format not only influences evaluation of the extension, but also has downstream consequences for the consumption experience with the extension.

Parent brand quality, service intensity and consumers’ usage consideration of service-to-service brand extensions

PurposeThis study aims to examine the relative impact of three drivers affecting consumers’ usage consideration for a brand extension into a service category using data from actual consumers of a national oil change retailer contemplating various service brand extensions.Design/methodology/approachData for the study were collected in two separate surveys using structured self-administered questionnaires. Three drivers were measured for their effect on consumers’ usage consideration for service brand extensions (dependent variable), namely, parent brand evaluation, extension fit and degree of service intensity of the extension.FindingsThe results indicate that parent brand evaluations are the strongest drivers of brand extension usage consideration, regardless of the extension fit or the degree of service intensity of the extension. In addition, the findings suggest that the closer the fit to the parent brand, the more likely the extension will be considered. In contrast, consumers are less likely to consider using an extension as the level of service intensity increases.Originality/valueThis study’s use of actual customers of the brand, for real service brand extensions provides a higher degree of external validity than previous work in this area, and it yields a deeper understanding of the criteria used by consumers when evaluating service brand extensions. The study also provides managerial implications that are of practical value to academics and practitioners alike.

Extending service brands into products versus services

PurposeThis paper aims to provide an empirical investigation into extension category effects on service brand extensions, both to other services (service–service extensions) and to products (service–product extensions), and the extension category’s influence on brand/consumer-level success drivers, as well as the perceived quality of the extension.Design/methodology/approachThis study included an empirical testing of a conceptual framework using a hierarchical linear modeling approach and testing of hypotheses with a multilevel regression analysis. The data set consisted of 216 respondents reporting on both product and service extensions. Data were collected on three levels, namely, consumer level, parent brand level and extension level.FindingsThe findings indicate a general and consistent extension category-dependent effect that moderates the importance of brand extension success drivers. The influence of parent brand reliance and perceived parent brand quality were found to have stronger effects, whereas parent brand conviction was weaker in the context of service-to-service extensions.Research limitations/implicationsThe study focuses on two brands with four extensions. Further research could replicate the study with a broader range of brands and extensions.Practical implicationsThe study provides guidance to service managers to enhance consumers’ extension evaluations through better-positioned communication efforts when extending to different categories.Originality/valueThe study is one of the first empirical investigations into category-extension effects and its moderating role regarding brand and consumer level success drivers. Sparse research has been dedicated to a real-world occurrence of services extending between extension categories; this study thus furthers service brand research in terms of brand management decisions.

EXPLORING THE ANTECEDENTS OF BRAND EXTENSION SUCCESS: A RESEARCH ON AN ATHLETIC FOOTWEAR BRAND

Brand extension strategy which means using the current name when offering new products for the market, has become a frequently used branding strategy for firms since 1980s. Brand extension strategy is an appealing strategy for many firms since it helps reducing costs of creating a new and benefiting from the brand's equity. Thus, it is crucial for companies to understand the antecedents of extension success especially in athletic footwear segment that targets mostly young consumers. The aim of this study is to explore the relationships among the antecedents of extension success from the generation Y cohort’s perspective on an athletic footwear and to propose marketing strategies. The proposed model aims to examine the relationships among success factors such as parent brand's quality, perceived fit between and extension brand and perceived risk. For testing the proposed model in this study, a existing in the athletic footwear sector was determined. It is a very popular and favorable especially among the generation Y cohort. A hypothetical product was chosen for those consumers and collected data is analyzed by means of structural equation modelling. The sample is composed of university students in Bursa. This study is expected to make academic and practical contributions to the existing branding literature and the companies in athletic footwear industry, Turkey in particular. Keywords : Brand Extension Success, Branding Strategies, Athletic Footwear Brand, Structural Equation Modelling, Bursa.

Does poor fit always lead to negative evaluations? Extension advertising and perceived brand quality

This article investigates the moderating roles of advertising strategy (relational vs. elaborational) and perceived parent brand quality on the influence that parent brand–extension fit exerts on consumer evaluations of both extensions and the parent brand. Two studies manipulate fit in terms of either brand concept consistency or product feature similarity. Lower fit results in negative consumer responses, yet an elaborational advertising strategy mitigates the negative effects of lower fit on extension evaluations. This mitigating effect is stronger for high quality than for average quality brands. The results also indicate extension feedback effects for the parent brand, suggesting that elaborational advertising strategies may reduce the impact of fit on parent brand feedback effects. This latter link is not moderated by parent brand quality.

AN INTEGRATED MODEL FOR EXTENDING BRAND BASED ON FUZZY ARAS AND ANP METHODS

Brand extension is one of the most popular strategies in marketing. This is due to the fact that consumers usually take into account the brand first because it indirectly reflects the design, quality, and functions. According to the significant role of brand in creating benefit and diminishing risk for a new product, this study intended to develop a novel model for selecting the most appropriate strategy in brand extension. However, there are a number of criteria influencing the possible strategies, and they often are interdependent. Therefore, a multi-criteria decision making model based on Analytic Network Process and Additive Ratio Assessment methods has been developed to systematically clarify the interdependent relationships among the evaluation criteria of brand extension and then, scientifically evaluate the feasible strategies and rank the priorities of brand extension strategies. The results of the proposed model show that “Production cost” is the most important factor, followed by “Quality of parent brand” and “Perceived risk” while “Ice cream” is the highest satisfaction of brand extension.

Extension to Brand Category, An Exploratory Investigation on Brand Extension Attitude

The purpose of this research study is to identify the impact of the brand category on brand extension attitude. The concept of brand extension is used for the marketing of any brand which is associated with the firm. Most of the large industries are using well-known names to launch a new product range to earn more profile for the organization as well as to make new position rather than other brands. This study especially identified that those brand who want to extend the product range of brands. Data was collected from a convenience sample of different brand buyers in the Faisalabad via surveys. The final sample consisted of 200 responses. Correlation, Linear regressions and ANOVA were used to test the hypotheses Results revealed that initial parent brand image has a positive relationship toward the brand extension attitude. Parent brand quality has a positive effect on brand extension attitude. Brand extension information toward the brand extension attitude is significantly impacted. The results provide some suggestion to marketers who want to expand their parent brand or launch fashion extension products.

Call back the jury: Reinvestigating the effects of fit and parent brand quality in determining brand extension success

Prior research indicates that extension fit and parent brand quality are the key determinants of extension evaluations in non-competitive contexts. However, the very nature of the retail environment means that extensions are introduced into competitive contexts. Therefore, this research reinvestigates the influence and relative importance of key drivers of brand extension success within competitive scenarios. It also tests whether perceptions of purchase risk associated with extensions underlie these effects. In two studies, we examine the effects of extension fit with parent brand, parent brand quality, and extensions’ relative brand familiarity on extension preferences and perceived risk. When there is competition, extension fit and parent brand quality are less crucial than an extension's relative brand familiarity in determining extension evaluations, especially with respect to consumer choice. Moreover, perceptions of extension risk mediate the effects of these factors.

The impact of perceived brand globalness, brand origin image, and brand origin–extension fit on brand extension success

This research investigates perceived brand globalness, brand origin image, and brand origin–extension fit as drivers of brand extension success that are mediated through parent brand quality and brand–extension fit. The authors present two complementary studies based on consumer samples from a mature and an emerging market respectively. In both studies, out of all drivers examined, the brand origin–extension fit has the strongest effect on brand extension success both in terms of quality evaluations and purchase intentions. The findings further indicate that extension success is more influenced by consumers’ perceptions of the country from which the focal brand originates than by their perceptions of the brand’s global availability and reach. Implications of the findings for theory and practice are considered and future research directions identified.

The analysis of effective factors on product brand image after extension (PBI) in home appliance industry in Iran

Nowadays, brand is vital in business. An important parts of each brand’s life is brand extension which firms often use for introducing their new products. This paper’s purpose is analyzing the effects of brand associations and fit perception on product brand image after the extension. In this research we have used a questionnaire with 21 questions to study a 198 sample of home appliance consumer in Isfahan (Iran). A conceptual model has been designed to show all relationships among all variables which is tested by LISREL software. According to the obtained results, it has been determined that brand associations and fit perception influence attitude toward brand extension directly and indirectly through product brand image after extension (PBI). It means, attitude toward brand extension affect product brand image after extension. Amount of goodness indexes (AGFI= 0.97, GFI= 0.99) shows suitability of the model. Key words: Brand loyalty, brand awareness, parent brand quality, fit perception, PBI.

The Importance of the Context in Brand Extension: How Pictures and Comparisons Shift Consumers' Focus from Fit to Quality

It is well established that consumers' evaluations of brand extensions depend on the quality of the parent brand and the fit between that brand and the extension category. The authors propose that the relative importance of these two factors is influenced by two key features of a typical shopping environment: the presence of visual information and the availability of comparison brands. In particular, the authors demonstrate that adding pictures and enabling brand comparisons shift consumers' preference from extensions of better-fitting brands to extensions of higher-quality brands. The authors propose that this occurs because pictures and brand comparisons create a more concrete representation of the extension, which in turn increases the importance of parent brand quality relative to brand–extension fit. They provide support for this underlying mechanism and discuss the practical implications of their findings.

The impact of brand extension success drivers on brand extension price premiums

Research into brand extensions has mainly focused on consumers’ extension evaluations without considering an important financial implication: the ability of the extension product to charge a price premium. This study analyzes (1) the extent to which consumers are willing to pay a price premium for the extension product and (2) the impact of potential success drivers on consumers’ attitudes toward the extension and the extension price premium. The results show, for example, that perceived advertising support positively influences consumers’ attitudes toward the extension, but it does not directly affect the magnitude of the brand extension price premium. Furthermore, this study reveals monetary effects associated with these success drivers (i.e., parent brand quality, perceived fit, marketing support for the brand extension, and consumer experience with the extension category), which offer important information regarding how to allocate resources to various success drivers. For example, brand investments that increase perceptions of parent brand quality by one unit (seven-point scale) tend to enhance the brand extension price premium of typical fast moving consumer goods (average price of €2.04 in the study sample) by €.208, all else being equal.

The Influences of the Fit and Quality of Parent Brand on Extended Brand Evaluation: In the Context of Pioneer and Follower Brands

The Influences of the Fit and Quality of Parent Brand on Extended Brand Evaluation: In the Context of Pioneer and Follower Brands

The Role of Parent Brand Quality for Service Brand Extension Success

Although substantial differences between product quality and service quality have spurred service research for the past 30 years, studies of brand extension success drivers in a services context measure the core driver of parent brand quality, using scales developed for fast moving consumer goods (FMCG). This study instead assesses parent brand quality with a context-specific measure, drawn from service quality research, and analyzes the relative effects of key brand extension success drivers for services. Partial least squares (PLS) modeling offers diagnostic information about the impact of three dimensions of perceived parent brand quality on the perceived service quality of an extension product, a key success metric for service brand extensions. In contrast with previous studies, the dominant success driver is parent brand quality rather than the perceived fit between the parent brand and the extension. Moreover, all three dimensions of parent brand quality constitute distinct drivers that should be considered when managers assess the chances of service brand extension success, with outcome quality having the strongest impact on service brand extension success. An importance performance analysis of the PLS estimates for 27 hypothetical service extensions demonstrates the diagnostic value of this approach and charts a ‘‘priority map’’ for managerial decisions.

Product difficulty incongruity and consumer evaluations of brand extensions

Ever since the appearance of Aaker and Keller's (1990) seminal article, the brand extension research stream has intensively investigated factors that impact consumer evaluations of brand extensions. However, the main effect of product difficulty and the interactions between the parent brand quality and fit variables have not been consistent across studies. We conjecture that this inconclusiveness of findings is due to an equivocal conceptualization and operationalization of the key concepts – product difficulty and product difficulty incongruity. The existing studies mainly focus on product difficulty, i.e., the perceived difficulty level of designing and making the extension, whereas the latter refers to the difference between consumers’ perceptions of the difficulty of designing and making the parent product and the difficulty in designing and making the extension product. We specifically propose that product difficulty incongruity will negatively impact consumer evaluation of brand extensions, and this negative effect is stronger for high parent brand quality and consumers with high levels of need for cognition. The findings from two empirical studies well support our predictions.

Attitudes toward the extension and parent brand in response to extension advertising

This paper investigates how ads for extensions can trigger different reactions with respect to consumers' attitudes towards new line and brand extensions of familiar brands. Using a structural equation model, the authors research the influence of attitude towards the ad (Aad), parent brand quality, and perceived fit on attitude toward the extension (Aext), and resulting feedback effects on attitude toward the parent brand (Apb) with a sample of 509 Belgians. Results are compared between two types of advertising strategies (informational vs. positive emotional). The findings indicate that informational appeals, in comparison to emotional appeals, reduce the effects of parent brand quality and fit, but Aad is all the more important. In terms of feedback effects to the parent brand, Aext transfers more easily to Apb with an informational appeal than with a positive emotional appeal. On the other hand, Aad directly influences Apb for positive emotional appeals, but not informational appeals.

Advertising for extensions: Moderating effects of extension type, advertising strategy, and product category involvement on extension evaluation

This paper investigates how advertisements for extensions contribute to consumers’ attitudes towards new line and brand extensions of highly familiar brands. We investigate the relative importance of attitude toward the advertisement (Aad), parent brand quality, and fit between the extension and the parent brand for extension evaluations with a sample of 754 Belgians. Hierarchical regressions showed that Aad is the major influencer of extension evaluation. The importance of Aad, quality, and fit on extension evaluation is moderated by extension type (line or brand extension), advertising strategy (informational, positive emotional, negative emotional), and product involvement (low or high involvement). Quality transfer from the parent brand was more outspoken for line than for brand extensions; Aad was relatively more important for low product involvement and fit for high involvement conditions. Informational appeals, compared to emotional appeals, reduced the effects of parent brand quality and fit, but Aad was all the more important.

Vulnerability of global brands to negative feedback effects

Going global is a successful strategy to leverage a brand's equity, in part, because global is synonymous of quality for consumers. This research examines the impact of competitor brand familiarity on the quality perceptions of global brands in Chile when the brand extends into new product categories. The results indicate that there is a negative impact on the quality perceptions of brand extensions when an extension competes with well-known and well-liked competitor brands. However, brand extension quality beliefs seem to produce negative feedback effects on parent brand quality beliefs only for narrowly extended parent brands but not for broadly extended ones.