The use of brand communities have been hailed as an effective tool for marketers to develop relationships between their brands and consumers, with the ultimate goal to create and sustain brand loyalty. The majority of theoretical assertions regarding brand communities are underpinned by the use of social identity theory (Tajfel, 1982). Social identity theory posits that individuals have a need to construct and display a ‘self-concept’ and a strategy to communicate this is the process of identification with groups. As the focus of a brand community is the brand itself it is clear that brand community identification and brand identification must be correlated, but little research has explored this relationship or its effects. This study aimed to fill a gap within the knowledge by further exploring the relationship between brand identification and brand community identification by providing more insight into the role which an individuals’ identification with a brand community (Muniz and O’Guinn, 2001) has within their relationship with the focal brand and their loyalty to that brand. Specifically, this research aimed to gain a greater understanding of the different effect brand community identification had upon the relationship between brand identification and both public and private brand loyalty. This was explored through the utilisation of a survey of fans of a professional basketball team within the UK (n=298). The data and subsequent analysis supported the hypotheses that individuals’ brand community identification has a positive relationship with both public and private forms of brand loyalty. More importantly it also presented brand community identification as a mediator in the relationship between brand identification and public brand loyalty. Therefore, this study is the first to present brand community identification as critical within consumers’ development of publicly displayed brand loyalty. Managerially this understanding provides support for the proactive utilisation of brand communities by marketers. It also provides guidance for the context in which brand communities are critical for the success of the brand. This research delivers support for marketers, to utilise brand communities proactively when trying to motivate consumers to participate in publicly displayed pro-brand behaviour. This guides the re-allocation of budget away from pure brand identification activities to brand community engagement strategies.

The aims of this study were to identify the dimensions of both store and PB apparel product attributes at large discount stores, and to empirically examine the effects of each dimension of store and PB apparel product attributes on satisfaction with PB apparel products and on repurchase intension. Questionnaires were given to 264 large discount store customers, who have experienced buying PB apparel products at large discount stores. The results were as follows. First, purchased PB items and image, improvement of PB apparel products showed differences by gender. Second, the dimensions for store attributes were categorized as convenient of shopping environment, product quality, customer service, advertising reach, convenient location, and reasonable prices. The PB apparel product attributes were categorized as material handling management, quality, fashion ability, and brand power. Third, generally, both store and PB apparel product attributes at large discount stores are significantly related to PB apparel satisfaction and repurchase intention. PB satisfaction and repurchase intention of males were partly affected by store attributes and PB apparel product attributes. PB satisfaction and repurchasing intention of females, however, were partly affected by only PB apparel product attributes, not store attributes.

Recently, the increasing power of distributors has given them the opportunity of introducing private brand (PB) products. Based on the game theory, this study analyzes the decision making of a distributor regarding the optimal pricing and quality strategi

The current higher education in Vietnam demonstrates the intense competition among local universities. Undoubtedly, the issue of enhancing the brand value to attract students is now placed at the top to Vietnamese universities. The research aims to identify the objective and subjective factors affecting the brand value of private universities in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam as mediated by students’ perceptions. This paper employs the mixed research methods and data were then analyzed by measuring Cronbach's Alpha coefficient for reliability, analyzing EFA, and using PATH model to test the experiment on the research model affecting HUTECH’s brand value. Probability sampling used is Stratified sampling and 500 students of 8 faculties of HUTECH surveyed by convenience sampling. Additionally, this paper also proposes some managerial implications on enhancing the brand value of private universities in Ho Chi Minh City. The results indicate that the new factor, namely geographic location is the most influential factor to enhance the brand value of private universities in general and HUTECH in particular. Brand still plays a determinant role in students' trust when choosing a university. Finally, some implications proposed to enhance the brand value of private universities in Ho Chi Minh City in the context of fierce competition in attracting students.

외환위기 이후 급격한 출점과 성장을 해온 대형마트 점포수가 이미 포화상태에 이르렀다는 우려의 목소리도 있지만 신규 출점은 계속적으로 지속될 전망이고 향후 대형마트 성장세는 둔화되나 점 포수 등 외형적 성장은 계속되는 가운데 상품 차별화 추구, 고객 니즈부응, 고마진획득 등이 지속적으로 가능해져 PB상품 개발이 불황 국면 극복을 위한 저성장 시대의 마케팅 전략의 하나로 자리 잡을 것으로 전망 된다. 또한 국내 3대 대형마트가 의류PB 브랜드 를 계속적으로 출시, 확장하고 있는 상황과 운영전략에 대해 연구 하고 이를 바탕으로 국내 대형마트의 PB의 성공사례와 문제점을 도출하여 PB의 필요성에 대해 차별화와 고이익 창출을 위한 성공 적 전략 방안을 논의 하고자 한다. 본 연구는 대형 마트 PB의 개념과 전략 방안 및 성공사례와 전 망을 살펴보고, 현재 전 세계적으로 빠른 성장을 보이는 PB를 단 순히 유통업체가 상품을 유통시키면 된다는 제한된 역할 수행에서 벗어나, 제조업체가 지닌 유통 채널에 대한 지배력을 얻을 수 있 다는 것을 의미 확장하여 설명하고자 한다. 이미 세계 주요 선진 유통업체들은 자사의 상품차별화와 수익성향상을 위해 PB상품 개 발에 많은 노력을 쏟고 있으며, 이를 통해 다국적전략 및 외형적 확장, 더불어 높은 재무성과를 창출하고 있는 좋은 사례는 쉽게 접할 수 있다. 따라서 본 연구는 국내 할인점의 포화에 따른 새로운 대안을 위해서는 차별화된 PB운영 전략이 필요함을 국내3개 주요할인점 사례를 통해 제시하였다. 특히 의류 PB상품은 철저한 시장분석과 디자인트렌드 및 고객니즈를 반영한 상품개발로 차별화된 상품력 및 고마진 획득을 통해 출점 정체된 대형마트 지속성장에 새로운 돌파구를 마련하는 좋은 계기를 줄 수 있는 시사점을 제공하여 할 인점 출점 한계에 따른 새로운 상품전략 방안을 제시하였다. 본 연구는 할인점 주요 3개사의 경영실적과 세계 몇 개국의 대표적인 PB성공사례를 중심으로 연구하여 국내 전체 소매 산업에 일반화 하기에는 다소 무리가 있다. 향후에는 국내에 입점된 다국적 SPA 브랜드와 국내 할인점 PB를 중심으로 비교분석하여 가치를 극대 화한 의류PB 확대전략에 대한 추가연구가 필요하다.

This study is conducted to verify existing differences in consumer attitude according to distributor type and PB product type. Pre-test was conducted for this study in order to select the distributor and to classify the product type, FGI was conducted with 10 graduate students of K university in Kyong-gi. This study survey housewives, office workers, and university students excluding the participants in the pre-test. In the final analysis, research hypothesis is verified through the data of 280 answers in Korea. This research is conducted with a factor design of 3 types of distributors –department store, discount store, convenience store-and 2 types of product –utilitarian product, hedonic product. To verify the hypotheses, ANOVA is carried out. Reliability test of each measurement variables, Cronbach α coefficient is used. For each analysis, SPSS Windows 15.0 statistical program is used. The findings suggest that First, according to the size and characteristics, distributors are classified into department stores, discount stores, and convenience stores and it is verified whether if there are differences in consumers' attitude (product attitude, brand attitude and purchase intention) by the effect of different distributors. Results showed that product attitude is statistically significant. Second, product type is classified by two categories according to whether the product seeks for practicality or emotional pleasure - Utilitarian product and Hedonic product. In this context, the result after verifying whether if there is difference in the attitudes -product attitude, brand attitude, and purchase intention - in accordance with the product types is shown that utilitarian products makes bigger difference compared to hedonic products. Third, it is confirmed that there is interaction effect between product attitude and purchase intention according to the distributer type and product type. However, we find that in terms of brand attitude, there is no interaction effect. The implications of this research is as the following. First, we propose the need of PB product development and marketing strategy, which considers the product types in accordance with the scale and features of each distributor. Second, PB products should break away from the simplicity of standardized products and consider the different features of distributors. Distributors will be in need of a strategy to build a compelling brand that can differentiate itself from other distributors. This will contribute to the improvement in reliability and formation of product value.