PurposeThis paper aims to identify factors that influence customers' panic buying behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachA self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 357 participants in Fiji, and structural equation modeling to analyze the collected data.FindingsResults indicate that expected personal outcomes is positively associated with customers' attitudes while expected community-related outcomes negatively impact customers' attitudes. Factors such as attitude, subjective norms, scarcity, time pressure and perceived competition were found to positively influence customers' panic buying intention. Furthermore, scarcity and time pressure were confirmed to positively influence perceived competitiveness while perceived social detection risk negatively influences customer's panic buying intention.Practical implicationsThe findings highlight the need for better measures to ensure that every customer has access to goods and services and is not deprived of such necessities in times of a crisis. These results will assist store managers and policymakers in introducing better management, social policies and resource utilization mechanisms to mitigate panic buying during the pandemic.Originality/valueThis study's findings contribute to the literature on customer's panic buying behavior during a global pandemic. Research in this area remain scarce, inconsistent and inconclusive. Novel insights are generated as this study is the first to combine the theory of planned behavior, privacy calculus theory and protection motivation theory. Applying these theories allows new relationships to be tested to better understand customer behavior during a global pandemic. With most studies on customer behavior during crises and disasters in developed countries, this study generates new insights by exploring customer behavior in a developing country.

The purpose of this research is to investigate use of Social Networking Sites by SMEs to engage with their customers. A conceptual framework is developed that tests the relationship between customer satisfaction, customer engagement and customer loyalty. This research adopts a quantitative approach where data is collected from 336 respondents. Analysis is performed using structural equation modeling. The empirical results show that customer satisfaction has a positive influence on customer loyalty. When customer engagement was modeled directly to customer loyalty, a positive relationship was found. The multi-dimensional nature of customer engagement is also confirmed by this study. This study highlights the value of social networks for SMEs and contributes to literature by testing the research model to better understand the research topic.

PurposeThis study examines the influence of service quality dimensions (food quality, physical environment quality and employee service quality) and brand image of fast-food restaurants on price fairness and its consequence on customer retention.Design/methodology/approachThis survey collected 331 responses using the public intercept method. Data analysis involved performing confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on the measurement model, followed by structural equation modeling. Moderation analysis was performed using SPSS (model1 in process macro), while mediation was performed using model 4 in process macro.FindingsEmpirical results of this study revealed the positive effect of restaurant service quality dimensions on price fairness and price fairness on customer retention. It also revealed that brand image strengthened the restaurant service-quality/price fairness interrelationship, and that customer satisfaction partially mediated the price fairness/customer retention interrelationship.Research limitations/implicationsFindings of this study are useful to marketers and fast-food restaurateurs in establishing the right combination of service quality dimensions and brand image that increase perceptions of price fairness and increase customer satisfaction and retention.Originality/valueThis study contributes to advancing the theoretical foundations of customers' perceived price fairness and retention research, specifically in the understudied fast-food sector of emerging economies. It extends the application of the equity theory to expose the direct and indirect influences on customer perceived price fairness and customer retention. The findings provide a better understanding of price fairness perceptions.

An infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. PandemicAn epidemic occurring worldwide, or over a very wide area, crossing international boundaries and usually affecting many people. Public sectorGovernment and all publicly controlled or funded entities that deliver public programs, goods, or services. Telework/ Teleworking/A flexible work arrangement where employees perform all Telecommuting ("working from home") or a substantial part of their work while physically separated from their employer's location.

An infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. PandemicAn epidemic occurring worldwide, or over a very wide area, crossing international boundaries and usually affecting many people. Public sectorGovernment and all publicly controlled or funded entities that deliver public programs, goods, or services. Telework/ Teleworking/A flexible work arrangement where employees perform all Telecommuting ("working from home") or a substantial part of their work while physically separated from their employer's location.