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Dimensions of consumer knowledge and its impacts on country of origin effects among Australian consumers: a case of fast‐consuming product

Ian Phau (Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia)
Vasinee Suntornnond (Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia)

Journal of Consumer Marketing

ISSN: 0736-3761

Article publication date: 1 January 2006

6984

Abstract

Purpose

The main purpose of the study is to extend Schaefer's paper by investigating how different dimensions of consumer knowledge may affect country of origin cues with an Australian sample.

Design/methodology/approach

A self‐administered mail survey was used in this study. The main sample consisted of Australian residents who are aged 18 and above and may or may not be alcoholic drinkers. The mailing list was purchased from a local council consisting of a suburb of metropolitan Perth, Western Australia. The total usable response rate was 38.7 per cent.

Findings

The results indicated that country of origin cues affect Australian consumers in beer evaluations despite its weak influences. It suggested that brand familiarity and objective product knowledge mediate the extent to which consumers relied on country of origin in product evaluation. However, the study found inconsistent results between different levels of objective knowledge and its effects on country of origin of manufacture.

Originality/value

The paper replicates Schaefer's with extensions. Despite the inconclusive results, objective product‐country knowledge, to some extent, may distort country of origin influences on consumers. This finding yields some insight for the efficiency in market segmentation. By segmenting consumers on different levels of knowledge, the marketers will subsequently make a better decision of how brand and country of origin should be managed.

Keywords

Citation

Phau, I. and Suntornnond, V. (2006), "Dimensions of consumer knowledge and its impacts on country of origin effects among Australian consumers: a case of fast‐consuming product", Journal of Consumer Marketing, Vol. 23 No. 1, pp. 34-42. https://doi.org/10.1108/07363760610641145

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2006, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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