No abstract

Recently, we have seen energy-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) light bulbs rapidly replace incandescent ones. However, results of new research are indicative of adverse health impacts of LED lighting, which is characterized by enriched blue light. Our study aims to reveal whether using color priming by attaching red/green traffic-light icons on light bulbs influences consumers’ preferences of light bulbs. We conducted a field study simulating the buying process, in which participants (N = 572) were presented with LED and carbon incandescent bulbs. We alternately displayed two pairs of bulbs: (1) in their original packaging and (2) in packages marked with traffic light icons (red = LED). Our results confirm that traffic light icons significantly (p < 0.01) increase the odds of choosing the healthier carbon bulb. The results highlight the benefits of attaching traffic light icons to light bulb packaging, helping consumers to make more health-conscientious purchasing decisions. Nowadays, this study’s contribution is more significant due to COVID-19 restrictions and stay-at-home policies, since people work or study remotely, which increases their exposure to household lighting. These results may incentivize policymakers to enforce adding traffic light icons to light bulb packaging, thus encouraging LED light bulb manufacturers to reduce the blue light component in order to improve the health aspect of their bulbs.

The current study aims to reveal whether using COVID-19 as the threatening message in anti-smoking ads will influence smokers differently than other threat appeals. All ads that were chosen for this study were created by the Israel Cancer Association/the Israeli Ministry of Health. Since the coronavirus has proven to have far-reaching effects on the human respiratory system, it is directly connected to smoking. The present study included semi-structured in-depth interviews with experts, a pre-test (n = 106) and an online questionnaire including 721 participants (adults aged 18–30 versus 55+). The findings indicated that when using the COVID-19 symbol as the threatening message in an anti-smoking ad for the older participants, smoking cessation intentions were higher than when using a cigarette simulating a ‘gunpoint’ threat (p < 0.08). Additionally, when using the COVID-19 symbol, there was a positive relation between participants’ age and smoking cessation intentions. The average smoking cessation intention for the participants from the older age group (M = 3.05, SD = 1.07) was higher than the average for the participants from the young age group (M = 2.80, SD = 1.13). Finally, when using impotence (for men) and pregnancy risks (for women) as the threatening message in the ads for young respondents, smoking cessation intentions were higher than when using COVID-19 (p < 0.05). The results may help decision-makers and public health officials in choosing the marketing communication suited for conveying messages aimed to encourage people to reduce/quit smoking.

Travelers’ duty-free shopping represents an under-researched consumption behavior with far reaching management and marketing implications. This study explores the extent to which three surface personality traits (impulsiveness, shopping involvement, and escapism) mediated by store atmosphere, store temptation, and shopping enjoyment, lead to buying in duty-free stores. A convenience sample of 163 Israeli adults in Israel’s Ben-Gurion International airport was used. A SEM-PLS model was used to analyze the relationships among the model’s constructs. The model supports the positive impacts of traits impulsiveness, shopping involvement, and escapism on buying behavior in duty-free stores, mediated by store atmosphere and store temptation (shopping enjoyment only affecting store temptation). A post-hoc analysis showed a positive relationship between store atmosphere and store temptation. This paper contributes to the literature by developing and testing an integrative model with important implications for tourism and hospitality industries. Deriving from the findings of this study, it behooves managers of stores and centers to promote the environmental sustainability aspects of the products sold in these stores.