There has been an enormous increase in the economic power and global scope of the second‐hand clothing trade since the early 1990s. Young consumers are a major driver behind the growth of the second‐hand clothing industry in the US. While the stigma of buying second‐hand clothing is fading in the western countries, little is known about second‐hand clothing consumption in the Asian countries. The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate young consumers' behaviours towards second‐hand clothing from a cross‐cultural perspective in the US and Chinese contexts. Results of this study indicated significant differences in young consumers' second‐hand clothing consumption behaviour between the two countries in the following aspects: past purchase experience, perceived values and concerns, perceived subjective norm and future purchase intention.

PurposeThe aim of this study is to determine, using the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), affluent female consumers' purchase intention of a controversial luxury product, apparel made with American alligator leather.Design/methodology/approachInfluence variables evaluated in the model included: attitude toward performing the behavior (purchasing alligator leather apparel); subjective norm, involvement (fashion involvement); controversy perception (social acceptance and endangerment status of the American alligator); price perception (price‐quality schema and prestige sensitivity); personality traits (self‐confidence and self‐consciousness); and demographics. A mail survey of 1,200 affluent female consumers residing in eight US metropolitan statistical areas defined as fashion centers was conducted.FindingsA total of 430 usable surveys were returned for a 36 percent response rate. The general linear model regression analysis revealed that attitude toward performing the behavior, subjective norm, controversy perception (social acceptance), and fashion involvement were significant predictors of purchase intention.Practical implicationsThe model was effective in predicting affluent females' purchase intention for a controversial luxury apparel product, and results suggest the TRA could be used to predict purchase intention of other luxury products considered controversial. Producers and retailers of controversial luxury apparel products or interested researchers could use the model in their exploration of consumer attitudes and behavioral intentions. Luxury exotic leather producers and retailers could use the results as they develop merchandising and promotions campaigns for their product lines.Originality/valueThe theory could be used to predict purchase intention of other controversial and/or luxury fashion merchandise. Information about affluent female consumers' knowledge, perceptions, and purchase intention of American alligator leather apparel is provided, thus expanding the current limited literature.

PurposeThis study aims to investigate young consumers' compulsive buying tendency from the perspective of psychological motivation. Specifically, this research aims to study the influence of public self‐consciousness and materialism on young consumers' compulsive buying.Design/methodology/approachA self‐administered survey was distributed to a class at a Mid‐Western university. LISREL 8.7 was employed to assess the validity and reliability of the constructs by using confirmatory factor analyses and to test the hypotheses by using structural equation modeling.FindingsMaterialism was found to have a strong, significant and direct influence on young consumers' compulsive buying tendency. Public self‐consciousness was strongly related to young consumers' compulsive buying tendency. However the influence of public self‐consciousness on compulsive buying tendency was mediated by materialism.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the literature on young consumers' compulsive buying. Not only is the influence of materialism confirmed, but this study also provides an insight into the motivation behind compulsive buying by investigating the relationship between public self‐consciousness and compulsive buying.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate Generation Y consumers’ luxury fashion consumption. Generation Y is becoming a very important segment for the luxury market in the USA. Specifically, this study is designed to investigate Generation Y consumers’ consumption of luxury fashion products from the following perspectives: the influence of self-related personality traits on their brand consciousness; and the influence of brand consciousness on consumption behaviours in terms of consumption motivations, purchase intention, and brand loyalty. Design/methodology/approach – A conceptual model was developed to represent the proposed relationships among the related variables. An online survey was conducted and 305 valid surveys were collected. The proposed hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling (SEM) analyses. Findings – From the perspective of self-concept, this research shed some light on the luxury fashion consumption behaviour of Generation Y consumers. Public self-consciousness and self-esteem were both found having significant influence on Generation Y consumers’ brand consciousness and in turn their luxury consumption motivations and brand loyalty. Research limitations/implications – Limitations for this study mainly come from the representativeness of the sample, which was recruited from a panel of a third party research group. Implications for luxury fashion brand managers and retailers focus on strategies that influence the social and self-motivation for luxury consumption and level of brand consciousness. Originality/value – This research is unique because it focuses on luxury fashion consumption of Generation Y consumers, an emerging segment in the luxury market. Generation Y consumers’ behaviour towards luxury fashion was examined in terms of their self-related personality traits, brand consciousness, motivation, and brand loyalty.

China's rapidly growing economy and consumption are creating serious environmental problems in the country. The throwaway trend credited to fast fashion changes and short-lived styles made textiles and clothing a new body of solid wastes, resulting in a negative environmental consequence in China. While minimizing consumption of textiles and apparel cannot be the primary solution to environmental problems, it is important to enhance consumer awareness of the impact of their daily consumption on the environment and to promote environmentally sustainable apparel consumption and disposal behaviours. From a generational cohort perspective, this study aims to gain an insight of Chinese consumers' behaviours towards second-hand clothing, in terms of their consumption intentions and the influence of consumers' perceived values, perceived concerns and descriptive norms on their purchase intentions. Data for this study were collected through a survey of 350 Chinese consumers across the four generational cohorts in China, including the Post-60s, Post-70s, Post-80s and Post-90s. It was observed that Chinese consumers, in general, had a strong resistance towards second-hand clothing consumption, with the Post-70s having the strongest resistance. Significant differences were identified among the four cohorts.The younger generations perceived higher values and held higher purchase intentions than their older counterparts. Different motivations were also identified among the four cohorts in their second-hand clothing consumption. K E Y W O R D SChinese consumers, descriptive norm, generational cohorts, perceived concern, perceived value, second-hand clothing

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to model Chinese consumers' purchase intentions for imported soy‐based dietary supplements (DS) based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and the health belief model (HBM). The central hypotheses for this study are that purchase intentions of Chinese DS consumers are a result of attitudes toward using DS, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Health value and perceived susceptibility to illness, as well as product knowledge and marketer distrust, are integrated into the model.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 251 consumers in Shanghai, China. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data.FindingsThe TPB model is effective in predicting Chinese consumers' imported soy‐based DS purchase intentions. Attitudes toward using soy‐based DS, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control have significant influences on purchase intention. Perceived behavioral control also plays an important role in the formation of attitudes. Subjective norm significantly influences perceived behavioral control. Chinese consumers' marketer distrust plays a significant role in forming their attitudes and purchase intentions. On the other hand, product knowledge has no moderating influences on the relationships between health value and attitudes and perceived susceptibility to illness and attitudes. Neither health value nor susceptibility to illness has any influence on attitudes.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study regarding the impact of marketer distrust on attitude and purchase behavior have important implications for western marketers exporting to China and the Chinese government. The western marketers of soy‐based DS should consider taking specific actions to decrease consumer distrust of marketers promoting soy‐based DS products. In regards to production of goods for the domestic market in China, relevant Chinese state agencies, such as the State Food and Drug Administration, would be well‐advised to continue to step up their efforts in product inspections and regulation of pharmaceutical ingredients and also to strengthen legislation such as the Consumer Rights Protection Law.Originality/valueConsidering the growing popularity of DS in China, the current research is the first academic attempt to identify factors that affect purchase of imported soy‐based DS among Chinese consumers.

Purpose -This research attempts to expand the understanding of the nature of tourist shopping behavior. More specifically, this study aims to explore the influences of the components of planned behavior, impulsive behavior, and experiential consumption on tourists' intentions to shop/purchase in the tourism context.Design/methodology/approach -This conceptual study reviews and investigates the major current research in the areas of planned behavior, impulse purchase, experiential consumption, as well as tourism shopping behavior/experience. By reviewing and assessing important relevant concepts, this study proposes a conceptual framework of tourist shopping behavior.Findings -Based on the extensive review and discussion of the related literature, this study proposes that tourist shopping intention and actual purchase behavior are influenced by various indicators, including planned behavior, impulsive behavior, and experiential consumption factors. In other words, tourist shopping behavior is a mixture of planned, impulsive, and experiential consumption behavior.Originality/value -The study of tourism shopping is still limited and in an exploratory stage. The resulting theoretical framework of this study is an inclusive overarching structure systematically explaining the nature of tourist shopping behavior from the perspectives of planned behavior, impulsive buying, and experiential consumption. This study is expected to provide better information and understanding of the factors influencing tourist shopping behavior, which, in turn, will lead to improved planning, marketing and management of sales, expenditures and opportunities in the tourism and retail industries.

Purpose -To study college students' attitudes toward and behavioral intention of shopping online for apparel products by using the theory of reasoned action. Design/methodology/approach -Focus group interviews and a literature review identified specific items of interest related to the desirability of shopping online for apparel products. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to two groups of respondents: college students who lived in rural and urban areas. Findings -The students, in general, had positive attitudes toward shopping online for apparel products. ANOVA results showed that the students who intended to shop online for apparel products had more positive attitudes than those who did not have the intention. The GLM results showed that internet usage, employment status, and car access had significant influence on students' attitudes toward online shopping for apparel products.Research limitations/implications -The samples for this study were randomly chosen from two universities in the United States. This limited sampling frame may affect the generalization of findings. Practical implications -Both local retailers in rural college towns and online retailers can benefit from the findings of this study. Originality/value -This research contributes to the literature by studying college students attitudes toward online shopping for apparel products.