These days, under the current business environment in which the firms' competition to satisfy the diversifying customer needs and demands and preferences is becoming increasingly intense, the cosmetic companies are observing brands as a source of supe...
These days, under the current business environment in which the firms' competition to satisfy the diversifying customer needs and demands and preferences is becoming increasingly intense, the cosmetic companies are observing brands as a source of superiority in long-term competitiveness, and the importance of brand image is highlighted as a way of building strong brands. At this point of time, this study investigated the influence of congruity between cosmetic brand image and self-image(actual/ideal) on brand attitude and purchase intention. In addition, this study introduced the concept of 'fashion innovativeness' as a moderator, and tested the relative effects of actual self-congruity and ideal self-congruity on brand attitude such a purchase intention and brand loyalty.
A cosmetic brand is formed by its symbolic meaning along with its physical attributes. However, when a cosmetic brand is used for its symbolic meaning, customers' value structure takes more effect than the brand's physical attributes. When a brand perse is used for its symbolic meaning, forming a brand image should focus on customers' value structure in order to appeal to customers more effectively.
Self-image, being both customers' value structure and a frame of reference, is at once subjective and objective perception with respect to oneself. Every customer, when it comes to consumption, tries to either maintain or improve one's self-image consciously or unconsciously, sometimes actively or passively.
This suggests that self-image has a great influence on a customer's decision on purchase.
This study theoretically analyzed how actual self-image and ideal self-image affect a preferred brand image through previous studies. For its empirical study, we use a survey method to collect data and the data was analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS 12.0)
Based on the research result, the study eventually aims to suggest a marketing strategy by coming to grips with the fact that customers' purchasing behavior is not only an economic behavior but it is in a transition toward a cultural behavior which concerns values(satisfaction, mood, sense and impression).
The results of this research are as follows :
First, it concludes that there is a significant difference between actual self-image and ideal-self image.
Second, most of Consumers tend to purchase the cosmetic brand that correspond to their own actual/ideal self-image.
Third, certain are more influenced by ideal self-image than actual self-image in terms of a preferred brand. Ideal self-image impact on brand attitude and purchase intention more importantly than actual self-image for cosmetic brands. Fashion innovativeness moderate the relative effects of actual and ideal self-congruity.
Finally, this study aims at deriving implications with respect to marketing strategy by relating brand image to self-image :
This study shows that there is a crucial difference between actual self-image and ideal self-image is the one that has great influence on a preferred brand-image. Thus, companies, through detailed research on ideal self-image, should make either brands or products that can provide self-image that the customers are looking for. Congruence of brand image and self-image will be a tool to gain the competitive advantage in the cosmetic marketplace.