IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/joreco/v27y2015icp121-125.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Brands as substitutes for the need for touch in online shopping

Author

Listed:
  • González-Benito, Óscar
  • Martos-Partal, Mercedes
  • San Martín, Sonia

Abstract

This article addresses the potential of reputable brands to overcome the lack of tangibility that characterizes the process of e-commerce through an experiment-based analysis. In a sequential argument, the authors propose that (1) the brand becomes more important in online than in offline channels, as a consequence of the intangibility or lack of physical contact in online purchasing processes; (2) the limitations associated with the need for touch and the lack of access to the physical product during the buying process does not have equal importance across all product categories and (3) the role of the brand in online channels thus is more relevant if the product category is associated with a higher need for touch. The study based on the experimental design reveals that leading brands enjoy an advanta in consumers' quality assessments, regardless of the objective attributes that characterize the products. This advantage may be greater in online channels, though only for product categories for which the lack of physical contact with the product during the purchase process is an important limitation. In such cases, brand associations can compensate for intangibility during purchase.

Suggested Citation

  • González-Benito, Óscar & Martos-Partal, Mercedes & San Martín, Sonia, 2015. "Brands as substitutes for the need for touch in online shopping," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 121-125.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joreco:v:27:y:2015:i:c:p:121-125
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jretconser.2015.07.015
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969698915300187
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jretconser.2015.07.015?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Peter J. Danaher & Isaac W. Wilson & Robert A. Davis, 2003. "A Comparison of Online and Offline Consumer Brand Loyalty," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(4), pages 461-476, February.
    2. Erik Brynjolfsson & Michael D. Smith, 2000. "Frictionless Commerce? A Comparison of Internet and Conventional Retailers," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 46(4), pages 563-585, April.
    3. Chu, Junhong & Arce-Urriza, Marta & Cebollada-Calvo, José-Javier & Chintagunta, Pradeep K., 2010. "An Empirical Analysis of Shopping Behavior Across Online and Offline Channels for Grocery Products: The Moderating Effects of Household and Product Characteristics," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 24(4), pages 251-268.
    4. Lynch, John G, Jr & Srull, Thomas K, 1982. "Memory and Attentional Factors in Consumer Choice: Concepts and Research Methods," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 9(1), pages 18-37, June.
    5. Png, I P L & Reitman, David, 1995. "Why Are Some Products Branded and Others Not?," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 38(1), pages 207-224, April.
    6. Bettman, James R & Luce, Mary Frances & Payne, John W, 1998. "Constructive Consumer Choice Processes," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 25(3), pages 187-217, December.
    7. Pauwels, Koen & Leeflang, Peter S.H. & Teerling, Marije L. & Huizingh, K.R. Eelko, 2011. "Does Online Information Drive Offline Revenues?," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 87(1), pages 1-17.
    8. Birger Wernerfelt, 1988. "Umbrella Branding as a Signal of New Product Quality: An Example of Signalling by Posting a Bond," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 19(3), pages 458-466, Autumn.
    9. Peck, Joann & Childers, Terry L, 2003. "Individual Differences in Haptic Information Processing: The "Need for Touch" Scale," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 30(3), pages 430-442, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Yazdanparast, Atefeh & Ketron, Seth, 2023. "The effect of color lightness on anticipated product comfort: The role of the lightness-softness cross-modal correspondence," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    2. Gielens, Katrijn & Dekimpe, Marnik G. & Mukherjee, Anirban & Tuli, Kapil, 2023. "The future of private-label markets: A global convergence approach," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 248-267.
    3. Gielens, Katrijn & Steenkamp, Jan-Benedict E.M., 2019. "Branding in the era of digital (dis)intermediation," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 367-384.
    4. Adilson Borges & Felipe Pantoja & Patricia Rossi & Amanda Yamim, 2020. "If I Touch It, I will Like It! The Role of Tactile Inputs on Gustatory Perceptions of Food Items," Post-Print hal-02507986, HAL.
    5. Gielens, Katrijn & Dekimpe, Marnik & Mukherjee, A. & Tuli, Kapil R., 2023. "The future of private-label markets: A global convergence approach," Other publications TiSEM 06f4bad4-fc32-42f4-8b7f-2, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    6. Aw, Eugene Cheng-Xi & Kamal Basha, Norazlyn & Ng, Siew Imm & Ho, Jo Ann, 2021. "Searching online and buying offline: Understanding the role of channel-, consumer-, and product-related factors in determining webrooming intention," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    7. Kim, Changju & Kim, Woonho & Nakami, Shinya, 2022. "Do online sales channels save brands of global companies from consumer boycotts? A geographical analysis," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    8. Pantoja, Felipe & Borges, Adilson & Rossi, Patricia & Yamim, Amanda Pruski, 2020. "If I touch it, I will like it! The role of tactile inputs on gustatory perceptions of food items," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    9. Kühn, Frauke & Lichters, Marcel & Krey, Nina, 2020. "The touchy issue of produce: Need for touch in online grocery retailing," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 244-255.
    10. Hamacher, Kevin & Blach, Maike & Kozlik, Jan & Muster, Felix & Nöllenburg, Pascal-Philipp & Ohletz, Jan-Henrik & Franken, Gereon & Hernes, Dominic & Hinterding, Martin & Höveler, Patrick & Huppertz, M, 2023. "Analyse sensorischer E-Commerce-Elemente mittels Big-Data-Methoden und Künstlicher Intelligenz: Automatisierung sensorischer Bewertungen von E-Commerce- und Social-Media-Plattformen auf Basis des Onli," ifid Schriftenreihe: Beiträge zu IT-Management & Digitalisierung, FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management, ifid Institut für IT-Management & Digitalisierung, volume 2, number 2 edited by FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management, ifid Institut für IT-Management & Digitalisierung, July.
    11. Acquila-Natale, Emiliano & Iglesias-Pradas, Santiago, 2021. "A matter of value? Predicting channel preference and multichannel behaviors in retail," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    12. Verstraeten, Julie & Heeremans, Eva & Geuens, Maggie & Vermeir, Iris, 2023. "How online grocery shopping drives private label food purchases," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    13. Gielens, Katrijn & Ma, Yu & Namin, Aidin & Sethuraman, Raj & Smith, Ronn J. & Bachtel, Robert C. & Jervis, Suzanne, 2021. "The Future of Private Labels: Towards a Smart Private Label Strategy," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 97(1), pages 99-115.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chu, Junhong & Arce-Urriza, Marta & Cebollada-Calvo, José-Javier & Chintagunta, Pradeep K., 2010. "An Empirical Analysis of Shopping Behavior Across Online and Offline Channels for Grocery Products: The Moderating Effects of Household and Product Characteristics," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 24(4), pages 251-268.
    2. Harris-Lagoudakis, Katherine, 2023. "The effect of online shopping channels on brand choice, product exploration and price elasticities," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    3. Gielens, Katrijn & Steenkamp, Jan-Benedict E.M., 2019. "Branding in the era of digital (dis)intermediation," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 367-384.
    4. Vaishnav, Bharat & Ray, Sourav, 2023. "A thematic exploration of the evolution of research in multichannel marketing," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    5. Oksana Loginova, 2009. "Real And Virtual Competition," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(2), pages 319-342, June.
    6. Gensler, Sonja & Leeflang, Peter & Skiera, Bernd, 2012. "Impact of online channel use on customer revenues and costs to serve: Considering product portfolios and self-selection," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 29(2), pages 192-201.
    7. Hauser, John R., 2014. "Consideration-set heuristics," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(8), pages 1688-1699.
    8. Betancourt, Roger R. & Chocarro, Raquel & Cortiñas, Monica & Elorz, Margarita & Mugica, Jose Miguel, 2016. "Channel Choice in the 21st Century: The Hidden Role of Distribution Services," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 1-12.
    9. Jie Xu & Ming Gao & Yina Zhang, 2021. "The variations in individual consumption change and the substitution effect under the shock of COVID‐19: Evidence from payment system data in China," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(2), pages 990-1010, June.
    10. Régibeau, P & Rockett, K, 2004. "The Relationship Between Intellectual Property Law and Competition Law: An Economic Approach," Economics Discussion Papers 2851, University of Essex, Department of Economics.
    11. David R. Bell & Santiago Gallino & Antonio Moreno, 2018. "Offline Showrooms in Omnichannel Retail: Demand and Operational Benefits," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 64(4), pages 1629-1651, April.
    12. Brynjolfsson, Erik & Dick, Astrid Andrea & Smith, Michael D., 2004. "Search and Product Differentiation at an Internet Shopbot," Working papers 4441-03, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Sloan School of Management.
    13. Youngsoo Kim & Ramayya Krishnan, 2019. "The Dynamics of Online Consumers’ Response to Price Promotion," Service Science, INFORMS, vol. 30(1), pages 175-190, March.
    14. Verhagen, Tibert & Dolen, Willemijn van, 2007. "Explaining Online Purchase Intentions: A Multi-Channel Store Image Perspective," Serie Research Memoranda 0008, VU University Amsterdam, Faculty of Economics, Business Administration and Econometrics.
    15. Ashish Agarwal & Tridas Mukhopadhyay, 2016. "The Impact of Competing Ads on Click Performance in Sponsored Search," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 27(3), pages 538-557.
    16. Fedoseeva, Svetlana & Herrmann, Roland & Nickolaus, Katharina, 2017. "Was the economics of information approach wrong all the way? Evidence from German grocery r(E)tailing," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 63-72.
    17. Gielens, Katrijn & Ma, Yu & Namin, Aidin & Sethuraman, Raj & Smith, Ronn J. & Bachtel, Robert C. & Jervis, Suzanne, 2021. "The Future of Private Labels: Towards a Smart Private Label Strategy," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 97(1), pages 99-115.
    18. Dholakia, Utpal M. & Kahn, Barbara E. & Reeves, Randy & Rindfleisch, Aric & Stewart, David & Taylor, Earl, 2010. "Consumer Behavior in a Multichannel, Multimedia Retailing Environment," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 24(2), pages 86-95.
    19. Melis, Kristina & Campo, Katia & Lamey, Lien & Breugelmans, Els, 2016. "A Bigger Slice of the Multichannel Grocery Pie: When Does Consumers’ Online Channel Use Expand Retailers’ Share of Wallet?," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 92(3), pages 268-286.
    20. Katharina Dowling & Daniel Guhl & Daniel Klapper & Martin Spann & Lucas Stich & Narine Yegoryan, 2020. "Behavioral biases in marketing," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 48(3), pages 449-477, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:joreco:v:27:y:2015:i:c:p:121-125. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-retailing-and-consumer-services .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.