Exploring behavioral branding: managing convergence of brand attributes and vogue
Authors: Rajagopal Ananya 
Published: June 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to address a fundamental research question on behavioral branding, as how behavioral branding experience in reference to self-congruence, brand attributes and vogue leads to a positive influence on behavioral branding.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on the qualitative information gathered from 25 purposively selected respondents using semi-structured research interviews in the Mexico City. The respondents belonged to the young executive segment within the age group of 20-40, who had trendy knowledge of fashion accessory brands and exhibited behavior toward buying high profile consumer brands. The respondents were located in the northern (Roma Sur) and southern (Coyoacan) municipalities of Mexico City representing 28 per cent male and 72 per cent female sample population.

Findings

Brands following the vogue in the market engage consumers emotionally toward its use and public expressions. The effect of vogue in fashion accessories was found to be greater for women. This effect influences personality traits, and comparison of appearance and social status. Brand attributes reveal a set of characteristics that identify the physical character and personality traits of the brand, congruent with the consumer emotions through which consumers identify themselves. Brand personality traits include brand image, responsiveness and trust among consumers. Consumer brand knowledge during the survey was explored in reference to the behavioral branding by gathering answers to what consumers identified as their favorite fashion accessory brands. Consumer perception on brand image, perceived use value and societal recognition to the brand drive the brand attachment feeling among consumers. Consumers personify the brands at an accelerated pace, and they get associated to these brands.

Research limitations/implications

Like many other empirical studies, this study also has some limitations in reference to the research methodology, sampling, data collection and generalization of the findings. As this study is qualitative in nature, there are possibilities of subjectivity in the responses, which might not be compatible with the quantitative data, if researched with such methodology.

Practical implications

This study prompts specific managerial implications allowing managers with insights to better understand the consumer perceptions on fashion brands, vogue and the cognitive dimensions in adopting the behavioral brands of the fashion industry. The study demonstrates that the process of co-creation of fashion brands, and setting up vogue in the society is based on the social needs and consumer engagement in the vogue.

Originality/value

There is paucity of qualitative research literature on brand behavior in reference to hispanic consumers in general and in reference to Mexican consumer in particular. Hence, this paper contributes to the existing literature. There are not many empirical studies that have addressed these questions either in isolation, or considering the interrelationship of the above factors. The determinants of brand behavior analyzed in this study can be further explored broadly with the consumer value and lifestyle management.