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Green marketers should take cue from ten commandments

Researchers found that consumers prefer green products when making an 'exclusion' frame of mind, rather than an 'inclusion' one. By focusing on what they don't want, consumers are more likely to consider key issues such as animal testing and human rights. This framing shift can lead to increased preference for eco-friendly products.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business·JournalJournal of Marketing Research·DateMar 31, 2009

Exclusive marketing contracts best when competition is fierce, Rotman study finds

A new study by the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management found that exclusive marketing contracts are more lucrative when firms and products have low market differentiation. By analyzing a real-world example, researchers discovered that non-exclusive contracts can be beneficial in highly competitive markets.

SourceUniversity of Toronto, Rotman School of Management·JournalInternational Journal of Marketing Research·DateMar 18, 2009

Consumers stop buying as number of options increase

A study published in Psychology & Marketing found that when people have too many similar options, they are more likely to leave a store without making a choice. The researchers suggest that this phenomenon, known as the 'choice overload effect,' can affect people's ability to decide in certain situations.

SourceWiley·JournalPsychology and Marketing·DateMar 11, 2009

Outdoor alcohol advertising and problem drinking among African-American women in NYC

A study of 139 African-American women in Central Harlem found a significant link between exposure to alcohol advertisements and problem drinking behavior. The researchers also discovered that family history of alcoholism played a role in problem drinking, with advertising continuing to have an impact even after controlling for this fac...

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateJan 12, 2009

Doubts make consumers more willing to re-evaluate brands, study finds

A study by Sharon Shavitt found that consumers are more open to new marketing messages if they feel a sense of difficulty when thinking about brands. This can lead to a more favorable view of the brand. Consumers with the greatest need for closure were most likely to reevaluate brands after facing difficulties.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Marketing Research·DateJan 5, 2009

Sweepstakes are for the lucky, not every customer

A belief in luck was not sufficient to entice consumers to a lucky draw over other sales strategies, according to researchers Gerard Prendergast and Edmund Thompson. Consumers who personally feel lucky are more likely to participate in lucky draws.

SourceWiley·JournalPsychology and Marketing·DateNov 12, 2008

The language of luxury: Advertisers' language choices evoke different reactions

A new study reveals that multinational companies should advertise luxury goods in English, while necessities may be more effective in local languages. Multinational corporations marketing to bilingual populations must pay attention to language choices, as perceptions of ads change significantly with different languages.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateSep 15, 2008

Comrades to consumers

A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research reveals how Chinese advertising co-opted communist symbols and messages to promote consumption. The research found that advertisers transformed socialist economic goals into consumer messages, contributing to China's rapid materialistic shift.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJul 16, 2008

Personal information in E-mail marketing can backfire, study indicates

A recent study by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found that personalized e-mails can have an unintended boomerang effect on businesses, making customers feel threatened or over-pitched. The study suggests that firms should use personalization to convey value rather than just trying to 'wow' prospective buyers.

A company's good reputation can be a bad thing

A study by Michelle L. Roehm and Michael K. Brady found that high-equity brands initially face a disadvantage after failure, but may fare better when the issue is severe. This phenomenon can be attributed to a reduction in cognitive resources, allowing customers to focus on resolving the problem rather than re-evaluating the brand.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateDec 4, 2007

Optimism isn't always healthy

A new study in Journal of Consumer Research found that optimistic thinking about future goals can lead to detrimental decisions, such as overindulging in unhealthy snacks. In contrast, focusing on commitment to a goal results in more consistent actions with its attainment.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateDec 4, 2007

Got calcium? UWM researcher finds that food labels confuse consumers

A recent study found that current food labeling leads to under-consumption of calcium, a crucial nutrient for osteoporosis prevention. Researchers discovered that consumers struggle to translate %DV to milligrams, and even doctors often make incorrect calculations. However, providing simple guidelines can help individuals better naviga...

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin - Milwaukee·JournalJournal of Public Policy & Marketing·DateOct 5, 2007

Grocery retailers need not fear 'cherry pickers'

A new study by University at Buffalo researchers found that extreme cherry pickers barely affected retailer profits, with only 1.2% of grocery store customers engaged in this behavior. These 'extreme' shoppers saved an average of 76% of potential savings through their shopping strategies.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalJournal of Marketing Research·DateSep 19, 2007

'Less is more' online

A study by MU researchers found that people pay more attention to pictures selected from a small array of choices than from a large array. Participants who chose from six thumbnail pictures remembered the pictures with 99 percent accuracy, while those who chose from 24 only remembered with 89 percent accuracy.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalComputers in Human Behavior·DateJul 9, 2007

Fame sells

A study by Erik Hunter and Per Davidsson found that celebrity involvement is key to a product's success compared to traditional endorsement marketing. Celebrity entrepreneurs add value to products, making them more appealing to consumers.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business·DateJul 5, 2007

Candy cigarettes: Bringing the candy man home

A new study in Preventive Medicine reveals that candy cigarettes can favorably set the minds of some children towards becoming future cigarette smokers. Children who played with candy cigarettes were more likely to become adult smokers than those who never consumed them.

SourceElsevier·JournalPreventive Medicine·DateJun 18, 2007