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The (Mis)alignment between Offline and Online Brand Image

Johansson, Sophie LU ; Källström, Emma LU and Erikson, Madeleine LU (2022) BUSN39 20221
Department of Business Administration
Abstract
Title: The (Mis)alignment between Offline and Online Brand Image: A Qualitative Study based on Customers’ Brand Associations of the Swedish Beauty Retailer Kicks.

Purpose: The purpose is to explore the alignment or misalignment of a beauty retailer’s offline and online brand image based on customers’ brand associations.

Theory: To explore a beauty retailer’s offline and online brand image, Keller’s (1993) framework of brand association is used and built upon to include Aaker’s (1997) framework of brand personality. Together, brand attributes, brand benefits and brand personality create the conceptual framework and thus, the concept of retailer brand image alignment.

Methodology: This study follows a qualitative research strategy... (More)
Title: The (Mis)alignment between Offline and Online Brand Image: A Qualitative Study based on Customers’ Brand Associations of the Swedish Beauty Retailer Kicks.

Purpose: The purpose is to explore the alignment or misalignment of a beauty retailer’s offline and online brand image based on customers’ brand associations.

Theory: To explore a beauty retailer’s offline and online brand image, Keller’s (1993) framework of brand association is used and built upon to include Aaker’s (1997) framework of brand personality. Together, brand attributes, brand benefits and brand personality create the conceptual framework and thus, the concept of retailer brand image alignment.

Methodology: This study follows a qualitative research strategy with an abductive approach grounded in a relativist and constructionist position. The empirical material consisted of 13 semi-structured interviews with Swedish customers of Kicks selected through convenience sampling, influenced by purposive sampling. The data was analysed through the process of sorting, reducing, and arguing.

Findings: The findings indicate that both alignments and misalignments can be discovered between a retailer’s offline and online brand image. The empirical material shows that none of the elements were to its entirety aligned between the offline and online brand image. Symbolic benefits was the only brand image element found to be entirely misaligned.

Implications: Academically, this study has suggested a comprehensive outline to explore the alignments or misalignments within a retailers’ offline and online brand image. It has contributed qualitatively to ongoing literature on brand image and through the creation of the retailer brand image alignment conceptual framework. Managerially, this new framework can work as a tool and could be valuable for brands and brand managers operating across various channels. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Johansson, Sophie LU ; Källström, Emma LU and Erikson, Madeleine LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
A Qualitative Study based on Customers’ Brand Associations of the Swedish Beauty Retailer Kicks.
course
BUSN39 20221
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
Brand Image, Brand Image Alignment, Brand Associations, Retailing, Multichannel
language
English
id
9089666
date added to LUP
2022-06-28 09:55:12
date last changed
2022-06-28 09:55:12
@misc{9089666,
  abstract     = {{Title: The (Mis)alignment between Offline and Online Brand Image: A Qualitative Study based on Customers’ Brand Associations of the Swedish Beauty Retailer Kicks.

Purpose: The purpose is to explore the alignment or misalignment of a beauty retailer’s offline and online brand image based on customers’ brand associations.

Theory: To explore a beauty retailer’s offline and online brand image, Keller’s (1993) framework of brand association is used and built upon to include Aaker’s (1997) framework of brand personality. Together, brand attributes, brand benefits and brand personality create the conceptual framework and thus, the concept of retailer brand image alignment.

Methodology: This study follows a qualitative research strategy with an abductive approach grounded in a relativist and constructionist position. The empirical material consisted of 13 semi-structured interviews with Swedish customers of Kicks selected through convenience sampling, influenced by purposive sampling. The data was analysed through the process of sorting, reducing, and arguing.

Findings: The findings indicate that both alignments and misalignments can be discovered between a retailer’s offline and online brand image. The empirical material shows that none of the elements were to its entirety aligned between the offline and online brand image. Symbolic benefits was the only brand image element found to be entirely misaligned.

Implications: Academically, this study has suggested a comprehensive outline to explore the alignments or misalignments within a retailers’ offline and online brand image. It has contributed qualitatively to ongoing literature on brand image and through the creation of the retailer brand image alignment conceptual framework. Managerially, this new framework can work as a tool and could be valuable for brands and brand managers operating across various channels.}},
  author       = {{Johansson, Sophie and Källström, Emma and Erikson, Madeleine}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The (Mis)alignment between Offline and Online Brand Image}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}