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Behavioral changes of multichannel customers: Their persistence and influencing factors

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  • Li, Xi
  • Dahana, Wirawan Dony
  • Li, Tongmao
  • Yuan, Jingbo

Abstract

This study addresses how behavioral changes following a new channel's adoption persist over time, and how their patterns vary among customers. We verify the roles of individual behavioral traits reflecting self-selection, marketing exposure, and loyalty in explaining these differences. Based on the elaboration likelihood model and attitude commitment theory, we develop hypotheses to predict these traits' effects on customers' membership in a particular segment with a unique post-adoption behavioral pattern. A latent class model is developed to empirically identify various customer segments and connect behavioral traits to the probability of segment membership. The results reveal that only 25% of the sample exhibits permanent behavioral changes, and most of these tend to buy from numerous stores with intense cross-buying. Approximately 43% of customers who temporarily changed their behaviors were strongly inclined to use multiple shopping channels and spend substantial amounts on hedonic products. The remaining 32% who did not change their purchases appear to be frequent buyers. We also discuss the work's implications for managing multichannel customers.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Xi & Dahana, Wirawan Dony & Li, Tongmao & Yuan, Jingbo, 2021. "Behavioral changes of multichannel customers: Their persistence and influencing factors," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joreco:v:58:y:2021:i:c:s0969698920313436
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jretconser.2020.102335
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhou, Jiaying & Dahana, Wirawan Dony & Ye, Qiongwei & Zhang, Qingyu & Ye, Mingqi & Li, Xi, 2023. "Hedonic service consumption and its dynamic effects on sales in the brick-and-mortar retail context," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    2. Neslin, Scott A., 2022. "The omnichannel continuum: Integrating online and offline channels along the customer journey," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 98(1), pages 111-132.
    3. Frasquet, Marta & Ieva, Marco & Ziliani, Cristina, 2021. "Online channel adoption in supermarket retailing," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    4. Peng Vincent Zhang & Seoyoung Kim & Anindita Chakravarty, 2023. "Influence of pull marketing actions on marketing action effectiveness of multichannel firms: A meta-analysis," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 51(2), pages 310-333, March.
    5. Li, Xi & Dahana, Wirawan Dony & Ye, Qiongwei & Peng, Luluo & Zhou, Jiaying, 2021. "How does shopping duration evolve and influence buying behavior? The role of marketing and shopping environment," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).

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