A cross cultural examination of “off-price” fashion shopping
International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management
ISSN: 0959-0552
Article publication date: 14 July 2022
Issue publication date: 24 October 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The “off-price” retailing concept is defined as the presentation of limited inventories of products in a “disorganised” retail environment which provides an extra level of “challenge” to the shopping experience. Research has identified “off-price” shoppers as those who approach this challenging experience in a purposeful, task-driven way. This current research contributes new knowledge by testing the impact of antecedents (i.e. involvement) on the “off-price” shopper experience and the moderating role of national culture across two distinct cultural groups.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected via a self-completed, anonymous, online survey provided to a sample of Australian (n = 355) and Chinese (n = 400) shoppers who were identified as regularly shopping for fashion in “off-price” retail stores.
Findings
The research found that the consumer's level of involvement positively impacted their “off-price” shopping experience in terms of effort/mastery and pride. However, in contrast to current knowledge of East-Asian and Western cultural variances, limited moderation effects were identified. All national cultural dimensions interacted with product involvement in influencing consumer pride. Whilst product involvement decreased with pride in higher individualism, uncertainty avoidance, long-term orientation and indulgence cultures, these reversed in cultures with a lower score in these four dimensions.
Originality/value
This new research extends knowledge of “off-price” shopper behaviour by testing the levels of involvement and experience across two distinctly different cultures – East Asian and Western – and challenges existing knowledge of cultural variances. Further, the work extends the use of achievement goal theory as an approach to delineate these consumers from other cohorts.
Keywords
Citation
Mortimer, G., Grimmer, M., Grimmer, L., Wang, S. and Su, J. (2022), "A cross cultural examination of “off-price” fashion shopping", International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, Vol. 50 No. 12, pp. 1494-1517. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJRDM-09-2021-0457
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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