Guest Editorial: Investigating the effect of the physical context on customer experience

Abstract

Purpose

This editorial introduces a special issue of the Journal of Services Marketing, dedicated to papers discussing the effect of the physical context on customer experience. This study aims to identify diverse areas of extant knowledge, upon which researchers might draw when investigating the effect of the physical context on customer experience, to inform future research agendas.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on available literature, the authors argue that, as prior studies in diverse scholarly fields have explored the physical context, these bodies of knowledge may offer theories and constructs that meaningfully inform explorations of the effect of the physical context on customer experience.

Findings

The authors identify five marketing subdisciplines and six nonmarketing disciplines, each offering theories, constructs and perspectives which researchers might draw upon in future studies of the effects of the physical context on customer experience.

Originality/value

The authors develop a novel map which depicts the field of study of the effects of the physical context on customer experience, which scholars might use to inform future research design. In addition, the authors suggest several directions for future research.

Citation

Bruce, H.L., Krolikowska, E. and Rooney, T. (2023), "Guest Editorial: Investigating the effect of the physical context on customer experience", Journal of Services Marketing, Vol. 37 No. 6, pp. 689-699. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSM-05-2023-0163