Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine if brand passion shapes attitudinal brand loyalty while driving a series of important brand-related outcomes (i.e. brand advocacy, social media following, sense of community, willingness to pay a premium price and alternative devaluation). These aspects are explored for sports apparel brands after considering the perceptions of Iranian consumers. Design/methodology/approach This study is based on the analysis of survey data gathered online and face-to-face from a sample of Iranian consumers of sports apparel brands that were analysed using partial least square path modelling. Findings The key empirical findings obtained confirm that brand passion underpins attitudinal brand loyalty and several important brand-related outcomes. Furthermore, the findings show that attitudinal brand loyalty explains the impact of brand passion on most of the outcomes considered, except for social media following. Research limitations/implications This study advances knowledge of brand passion by illustrating its “power” as a strong nuance of relationships between consumers and brands. In particular, this study highlights the importance of brand passion in shaping attitudinal brand loyalty, as well as a driver of several outcomes of theoretical and managerial relevance. Practical implications By establishing strategies aimed at enhancing brand passion, brand managers can increase attitudinal brand loyalty, attain important goals such as brand advocacy, premium price and social media following, as well as the devaluation of competing brands. Originality/value This study uses a unidimensional theorisation of brand passion to increase the understanding of its role as predictor of attitudinal brand loyalty and driver of relevant outcomes. It also examines the mediating effect of attitudinal brand loyalty, thus illustrating important conceptual links between brand passion and brand loyalty in the context of sports apparel brands in a growing economy (Iran).

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This research aims to test the power of brand attribute associations and emotional consumer-brand relationship (E-CBR) as drivers of the intention to purchase brand extensions, while taking into consideration the moderating role of perceived fit. These aspects are examined in the context of luxury brands, given their expressive and hedonic nature. In more detail, using survey data from a population of Iranian consumers and covariance-based structural equation modelling (SEM), this study confirms that E-CBR has a positive impact on the intention to purchase a luxury brand's extension. The study also confirms that E-CBR mediates the relationship between brand attribute associations and the intention to purchase a luxury brand's extension. As such, this research sheds light on the synergic effects of cognitive (brand attribute associations) and emotional (E-CBR) factors in relation to extensions of luxury brands. With respect to perceived fit, the results highlight that it moderates the relationship between brand attribute associations and the intention to purchase a luxury brand's extension. These findings advance existing knowledge of how consumers see extensions of luxury brands, revealing important underlying mechanisms that tie rational and emotional aspects, shaping consumers’ intent. Accordingly, this research yields important implications in relation to the marketing tactics that could be utilised to promote the acceptance of luxury brands’ extensions, especially in growing middle-Eastern markets such as Iran.

This study investigates two decision‐making paths that underpin the continued use of branded apps. One path originates from past use of a category of apps and leads to continued use of a branded app from that category via recognition. The second path also starts with past use, but leads to continued use through the evaluation of the app's benefits. Two empirical studies test and subsequently validate the resulting conceptual model, confirming that both paths underpin continued use; however, the strength of the theoretical links varies, and the two paths warrant separate investigation. These outcomes support the generalizability of the proposed model, highlighting its potential as a tool to advance the understanding of consumer decision‐making leading to the continued use of branded apps. The findings of this study also yield practical relevance, especially for the delineation of strategies to enhance the chances of market survival of branded apps.