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Hey big spender! A golden (color) atmospheric effect on tipping behavior

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  • Na Young Lee

    (University of Tennessee)

  • Stephanie M. Noble

    (University of Tennessee)

  • Dipayan Biswas

    (University of South Florida)

Abstract

This research examines how gold-related color in atmospherics might influence customer tipping behavior at restaurants. A series of five studies shows that the color gold (as opposed to other colors) in a service atmosphere positively influences consumer tipping. First, a field experiment (Study 1) demonstrates that customers presented with a gold-colored (vs. black-colored) service prop (i.e., bill folder) leave larger tips. Study 2 further confirms this effect of the color gold by validating the findings of Study 1 with a different service prop (i.e., tablecloth). Process evidence demonstrates the underlying mechanism of this effect, whereby a gold-colored service prop increases tipping by influencing status perceptions about the restaurant and the self (Study 3). Additional studies further confirm this by ruling out novelty of the color in this mechanism (Study 4) and by highlighting the effect of status on tipping through status priming (Study 5). The findings of this research have implications for strategic use of color in servicescape design and atmospherics in general.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joamsc:v:46:y:2018:i:2:d:10.1007_s11747-016-0508-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s11747-016-0508-3
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    2. Renaud Lunardo & Camille Saintives & Damien Chaney, 2021. "Food packaging and the color red: How negative cognitive associations influence feelings of guilt," Post-Print hal-04455590, HAL.
    3. Roy, Rajat & Das, Gopal, 2022. "The role of contextual factors in increasing Pay-What-You-Want payments: Evidence from field experiments," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 1540-1552.
    4. Lefebvre, Sarah & Hasford, Jonathan & Boman, Laura, 2022. "Less light, better bite: How ambient lighting influences taste perceptions," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    5. Dipayan Biswas & Kaisa Lund & Courtney Szocs, 2019. "Sounds like a healthy retail atmospheric strategy: Effects of ambient music and background noise on food sales," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 47(1), pages 37-55, January.
    6. Shuvam Chatterjee & Pawel Bryla, 2023. "Mapping consumers’ semi-conscious decisions with the use of ZMET in a retail market setup," DECISION: Official Journal of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Springer;Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, vol. 50(2), pages 221-232, June.
    7. Basu, Rituparna & Paul, Justin & Singh, Kandarp, 2022. "Visual merchandising and store atmospherics: An integrated review and future research directions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 397-408.
    8. Nha Nguyen & Gaston LeBlanc, 2021. "The Impact of Service Employees and Servicescape on Customers’ Perception of Quality Improvement Efforts," Athens Journal of Business & Economics, Athens Institute for Education and Research (ATINER), vol. 7(2), pages 123-144, April.
    9. 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).
    10. Elmashhara, Maher Georges & Soares, Ana Maria, 2022. "Linking atmospherics to shopping outcomes: The role of the desire to stay," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    11. Jha, Subhash & Balaji, M.S. & Peck, Joann & Oakley, Jared & Deitz, George D., 2020. "The Effects of Environmental Haptic Cues on Consumer Perceptions of Retailer Warmth and Competence," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 96(4), pages 590-605.
    12. Kevin L. Sample & Henrik Hagtvedt & S. Adam Brasel, 2020. "Components of visual perception in marketing contexts: a conceptual framework and review," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 48(3), pages 405-421, May.
    13. Lunardo, Renaud & Saintives, Camille & Chaney, Damien, 2021. "Food packaging and the color red: How negative cognitive associations influence feelings of guilt," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 589-600.
    14. 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).
    15. Chen, Huan & Pang, Jun & Koo, Minkyung & Patrick, Vanessa M., 2020. "Shape Matters: Package Shape Informs Brand Status Categorization and Brand Choice," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 96(2), pages 266-281.

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