The purpose of this research is to investigate the relationship that exists between salesperson appearance and consumer behavior in the context of in-home product demonstration parties. Researchers (Kim, Ju, & Johnson, 2009; Klassen, Clayson, & Jasper, 1996) have found that the way in which a salesperson dresses has an impact on consumers’ perceptions of the store’s image. Furthermore, consumers intend to purchase more from salespeople who are dressed formally than those dressed informally (Shao, Baker, and Wagner, 2004). Additionally, Cho (2001) suggested that consumers tend to be more satisfied with salespeople who are dressed in a manner (i.e., formal, informal) that is comparable to the way they would dress. Extrapolating from research based in bricks-and-mortar stores, it seems likely that in-home product demonstrators’ appearance would have a similar impact on both consumers’ perceptions of their companies’ image and purchase intentions.

To examine these relationships, 155 U.S. female consumers completed an online survey. Participants were first asked to look at one of four randomly assigned photographs of an in-home product demonstrator who was dressed either formally or informally and respond to items designed to measure their perceptions of the business’ image and their purchase intentions (Klassen, Clayson, & Jasper, 1996). Then participants viewed all four photographs and were asked to indicate which of these outfits looked the most similar to one that they would wear if they were going to host a party at their home and attend a party at someone else’s home.

A series of t-tests revealed that consumers perceive the in-home product demonstrator’s business’ image to be more positive and express greater purchase intentions when the salesperson is dressed more formally than when she is dressed less formally. Additionally, when similarity exists between the way in which the in-home product demonstrator is dressed and the way in which consumers would dress to host or attend a party, both impressions of the business and purchase intentions are greater than when dissimilarity exists.

The results of this investigation may assist non-store retail salespeople. Information gleaned from this study could help these entrepreneurs achieve their goals by using appearance management techniques. By presenting an appropriate, formal, professional appearance to new customers whose individual style they do not know and/or matching their appearance to that of the host and party attendees, the salespeople could increase sales during in-home product demonstration parties.

• Jennifer Yurchisin(University of North Carolina Greensboro)