IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/joreco/v68y2022ics0969698922001473.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Restaurants’ outdoor signs say more than you think: An enquiry from a linguistic landscape perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Song, Hanqun
  • Yang, Huijun
  • Ma, Emily

Abstract

Building on the linguistic landscape theory and literature on customers' experience with restaurants' authenticity and status, this study investigates whether restaurants' outdoor signs influence customers' perceptions and behavioral intentions. Using an experimental design comprising two studies, supported by data collected from Chinese consumers, we test how display characters and text flow may jointly impact on customers' perceptions of the status and authenticity of ethnic (Japanese and Taiwanese) restaurants, thus influencing their visiting intentions and willingness to pay. We find that display characters influence Chinese customers' perceptions of authenticity and status in both Japanese and Taiwanese restaurants in Mainland China. There is an interaction effect between display characters and text flow on customers' perception of authenticity and status in Japanese restaurants in Mainland China. This study applies the linguistic landscape theory to a restaurant context and examines how such features may influence customers’ perceptions and decisions. The findings have important practical implications on managing customer experiences and perceptions via effective restaurant sign designs.

Suggested Citation

  • Song, Hanqun & Yang, Huijun & Ma, Emily, 2022. "Restaurants’ outdoor signs say more than you think: An enquiry from a linguistic landscape perspective," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joreco:v:68:y:2022:i:c:s0969698922001473
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jretconser.2022.103054
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969698922001473
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jretconser.2022.103054?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. Kieran O’Connor & Glenn R Carroll & Balázs Kovács, 2017. "Disambiguating authenticity: Interpretations of value and appeal," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(6), pages 1-22, June.
    2. Carsana, Laurence & Jolibert, Alain, 2018. "Influence of iconic, indexical cues, and brand schematicity on perceived authenticity dimensions of private-label brands," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 213-220.
    3. Touchstone, Ellen E. & Koslow, Scott & Shamdasani, Prem N. & D'Alessandro, Steven, 2017. "The linguistic servicescape: Speaking their language may not be enough," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 147-157.
    4. Claudia Townsend & Darren DahlEditor & Page MoreauAssociate Editor, 2017. "The Price of Beauty: Differential Effects of Design Elements with and without Cost Implications in Nonprofit Donor Solicitations," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 44(4), pages 794-815.
    5. Sarbari Bordia & Prashant Bordia, 2015. "Employees’ willingness to adopt a foreign functional language in multilingual organizations: The role of linguistic identity," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 46(4), pages 415-428, May.
    6. Sea-Jin Chang & Arjen van Witteloostuijn & Lorraine Eden, 2010. "From the Editors: Common method variance in international business research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 41(2), pages 178-184, February.
    7. Kraak, Johannes Marcelus & Holmqvist, Jonas, 2017. "The authentic service employee: Service employees' language use for authentic service experiences," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 199-209.
    8. Na Young Lee & Stephanie M. Noble & Dipayan Biswas, 2018. "Hey big spender! A golden (color) atmospheric effect on tipping behavior," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 46(2), pages 317-337, March.
    9. Morrison, Michael & Gan, Sarah & Dubelaar, Chris & Oppewal, Harmen, 2011. "In-store music and aroma influences on shopper behavior and satisfaction," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 64(6), pages 558-564, June.
    10. Ahn, Taehong & Ekinci, Yuksel & Li, Gang, 2013. "Self-congruence, functional congruence, and destination choice," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(6), pages 719-723.
    11. Cervellon, Marie-Cécile & Poujol, Juliet F. & Tanner, J.F., 2019. "Judging by the wristwatch: Salespersons’ responses to status signals and stereotypes of luxury clients," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 191-201.
    12. Balázs Kovács & Glenn R. Carroll & David W. Lehman, 2014. "Authenticity and Consumer Value Ratings: Empirical Tests from the Restaurant Domain," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 25(2), pages 458-478, April.
    13. Li, Rong & Laroche, Michel & Richard, Marie-Odile & Cui, Xinyu, 2022. "More than a mere cup of coffee: When perceived luxuriousness triggers Chinese customers’ perceptions of quality and self-congruity," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    14. Pelet, Jean-Éric & Durrieu, François & Lick, Erhard, 2020. "Label design of wines sold online: Effects of perceived authenticity on purchase intentions," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    15. Al-Kilani, Shaymaa & El Hedhli, Kamel, 2021. "How do restaurant atmospherics influence restaurant authenticity? An integrative framework and empirical evidence," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    16. Nabi, Nazia & Siahtiri, Vida & O'Cass, Aron, 2019. "In search of status: Unpacking the relationship of status with individualism-collectivism, counterconformity motivations and life satisfaction," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 378-386.
    17. Wu, Shu-Ling & Hsu, Chiu-Ping, 2018. "Role of authenticity in massively multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPGs): Determinants of virtual item purchase intention," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 242-249.
    18. Peter H. Bloch & Omid Kamran-Disfani, 2018. "A framework for studying the impact of outdoor atmospherics in retailing," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 8(3), pages 195-213, December.
    19. Jebarajakirthy, Charles & Das, Manish, 2020. "How self-construal drives intention for status consumption: A moderated mediated mechanism," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    20. Turley, L. W. & Milliman, Ronald E., 2000. "Atmospheric Effects on Shopping Behavior: A Review of the Experimental Evidence," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 49(2), pages 193-211, August.
    21. Xavier Drèze & Joseph C. Nunes, 2009. "Feeling Superior: The Impact of Loyalty Program Structure on Consumers' Perceptions of Status," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 35(6), pages 890-905, April.
    22. Nguyen, July & Ferraro, Carla & Sands, Sean, 2020. "Similarity over difference: How congruency in customer characteristics drives service experiences," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 592-603.
    23. Mbaye Fall Diallo & Norchène Ben Dahmane Mouelhi & Mahesh Gadekar & Marie Schill, 2021. "CSR Actions, Brand Value, and Willingness to Pay a Premium Price for Luxury Brands: Does Long-Term Orientation Matter?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 169(2), pages 241-260, March.
    24. André Le Roux & François Bobrie & Marinette Thébault, 2016. "A typology of brand counterfeiting and imitation based on a semiotic approach," Post-Print hal-02117651, HAL.
    25. Lee, Sean & Sung, Billy & Phau, Ian & Lim, Aaron, 2019. "Communicating authenticity in packaging of Korean cosmetics," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 202-214.
    26. Laurence Carsana & Alain Jolibert, 2018. "Influence of iconic, indexical cues, and brand schematicity on perceived authenticity dimensions of private-label brands," Post-Print hal-01984655, HAL.
    27. Pino, Giovanni & Amatulli, Cesare & Peluso, Alessandro M. & Nataraajan, Rajan & Guido, Gianluigi, 2019. "Brand prominence and social status in luxury consumption: A comparison of emerging and mature markets," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 163-172.
    28. Youfa Wang & Liang Wang & Hong Xue & Weidong Qu, 2016. "A Review of the Growth of the Fast Food Industry in China and Its Potential Impact on Obesity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-16, November.
    29. Osorio, María Lucila & Centeno-Velázquez, Edgar & López-Pérez, María Eugenia & del Castillo, Ernesto, 2021. "Authenticity, fit and product type: Testing a celebrity brand extension model cross-culturally," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    30. Marie-Cécile Cervellon & Fanny-Juliet Poujol & John F. Tanner Jr, 2019. "Judging by the wristwatch: Salespersons’ responses to status signals and stereotypes of luxury clients," Post-Print hal-03122118, HAL.
    31. Sirgy, M Joseph, 1982. "Self-Concept in Consumer Behavior: A Critical Review," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 9(3), pages 287-300, December.
    32. Katherine White & Darren W. Dahl, 2007. "Are All Out-Groups Created Equal? Consumer Identity and Dissociative Influence," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 34(4), pages 525-536, June.
    33. Le Roux, André & Bobrie, François & Thébault, Marinette, 2016. "A typology of brand counterfeiting and imitation based on a semiotic approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(1), pages 349-356.
    34. Tan, Wee-Kheng & Huang, Shih-Yin, 2020. "Why visit theme parks? A leisure constraints and perceived authenticity perspective," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    35. Hosany, Sameer & Martin, Drew, 2012. "Self-image congruence in consumer behavior," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 65(5), pages 685-691.
    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. Wang, Fei & Xu, Haifeng & Hou, Ronglin & Zhu, Zhen, 2023. "Designing marketing content for social commerce to drive consumer purchase behaviors: A perspective from speech act theory," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).

    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. Jacob, Isaac & Khanna, Monica & Rai, Krupa A., 2020. "Attribution analysis of luxury brands: An investigation into consumer-brand congruence through conspicuous consumption," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 597-607.
    2. Pelet, Jean-Éric & Durrieu, François & Lick, Erhard, 2020. "Label design of wines sold online: Effects of perceived authenticity on purchase intentions," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    3. Shamah, Rania A.M. & Mason, Michela C. & Moretti, Andrea & Raggiotto, Francesco, 2018. "Investigating the antecedents of African fast food customers' loyalty: A self-congruity perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 446-456.
    4. Thomas, Veronica L. & Yeh, Marie & Jewell, Robert D., 2015. "Enhancing valuation: the impact of self-congruence with a brand on the endowment effect," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 178-185.
    5. He, Yue & Mo, Zan & Wan, Xiuqi & Li, Mengyin & Fu, Huijian, 2023. "Who will embrace upward line extension? The role of power distance belief," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    6. Japutra, Arnold & Ekinci, Yuksel & Simkin, Lyndon, 2019. "Self-congruence, brand attachment and compulsive buying," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 456-463.
    7. Kim, Sun-Hwa & Huang, Ran, 2021. "Understanding local food consumption from an ideological perspective: Locavorism, authenticity, pride, and willingness to visit," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    8. Arnold Japutra & Keni Keni & Bang Nguyen, 2016. "What’s in a university logo? Building commitment in higher education," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 23(2), pages 137-152, March.
    9. Hector Gonzalez-Jimenez, 2017. "The self-concept life cycle and brand perceptions: An interdisciplinary perspective," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 7(1), pages 67-84, June.
    10. Hess, Nicole J. & Kelley, Corinne M. & Scott, Maura L. & Mende, Martin & Schumann, Jan H., 2020. "Getting Personal in Public!? How Consumers Respond to Public Personalized Advertising in Retail Stores," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 96(3), pages 344-361.
    11. Kaufmann, Hans Ruediger & Petrovici, Dan Alex & Filho, Cid Gonçalves & Ayres, Adriano, 2016. "Identifying moderators of brand attachment for driving customer purchase intention of original vs counterfeits of luxury brands," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(12), pages 5735-5747.
    12. Ifie, Kemefasu & Mousavi, Sahar & Xie, Junyi, 2023. "Enforcement of service rules by frontline employees: A conceptual model and research propositions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    13. Si-Fan Liu & Zhi-Xuan Li & Yang Zhang, 2023. "Sustainable Operation of Fine-Dining Restaurants: Antecedents and Consequences of Customers’ Self-Image Congruity at a Cantonese Michelin-Starred Restaurant Based on the Value-Attitude-Behavior Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-21, January.
    14. Gwarlann Kerviler & Nico Heuvinck & Elodie Gentina, 2022. "“Make an Effort and Show Me the Love!” Effects of Indexical and Iconic Authenticity on Perceived Brand Ethicality," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(1), pages 89-110, August.
    15. Ferdinand Augusty Tae, 2021. "Destination authentic value advantage: an SDL perspective," Management & Marketing, Sciendo, vol. 16(2), pages 101-117, June.
    16. Errajaa, Karim & Legohérel, Patrick & Daucé, Bruno, 2018. "Immersion and emotional reactions to the ambiance of a multiservice space: The role of perceived congruence between odor and brand image," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 100-108.
    17. Wang, Yingjia & Fan, Di & Fung, Yi-Ning & Luo, Suyuan, 2022. "Consumer-to-consumer product exchanges for original fashion brands in the sharing economy: Good or bad for fashion knockoffs?," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    18. Leenders, Mark A.A.M. & Smidts, Ale & Haji, Anouar El, 2019. "Ambient scent as a mood inducer in supermarkets: The role of scent intensity and time-pressure of shoppers," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 270-280.
    19. Jebarajakirthy, Charles & Das, Manish, 2021. "Uniqueness and luxury: A moderated mediation approach," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    20. Habib Alipour & Shahrzad Amelshahbaz & Farzad Safaeimanesh & Bahman Peyravi & Alireza Salavati, 2021. "The Impact of Environmental Stimuli on Hotel Service Employees’ Service Sabotage—Mediation Role of Emotional Intelligence and Emotional Dissonance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-18, January.

    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:68:y:2022:i:c:s0969698922001473. 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.