Channel preferences: Unveiling omnichannel behavior in sports and leisure product purchases

Current customer segmentations in omnichannel retail are based on channel usage and tend to be rather descriptive. In comparison, this research focuses on the role of “need for touch” (NFT) and channel preferences (attractiveness, appropriateness, satisfactoriness) introduced as antecedents to chann...

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Main Authors: Nagy Akos, Kemeny Ildiko, Szucs Krisztian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sciendo 2024-12-01
Series:Management şi Marketing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.2478/mmcks-2024-0030
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author Nagy Akos
Kemeny Ildiko
Szucs Krisztian
author_facet Nagy Akos
Kemeny Ildiko
Szucs Krisztian
author_sort Nagy Akos
collection DOAJ
description Current customer segmentations in omnichannel retail are based on channel usage and tend to be rather descriptive. In comparison, this research focuses on the role of “need for touch” (NFT) and channel preferences (attractiveness, appropriateness, satisfactoriness) introduced as antecedents to channel choice. The aim of this research was to develop a predictive model of omnichannel purchase behaviour and use its results to identify customer segments in the so far under-researched sports and leisure category, where the key decision factor of NFT seems to dominate when considering information and purchase options. We have examined its role and incorporated it as an exogenous variable and channel preferences as mediating variables in a SEM model to predict omnichannel purchase behaviour. Using the latent scores of channel preferences, we performed a cluster analysis and introduced various segments. In the proposed structural model preferences towards the information channel and the purchase channel serve as key mediators. Webrooming behaviour is negatively related to offline search channel preference, but showrooming is positively related to it. Meanwhile, webrooming behaviour is positively related to offline shopping channel preference, but showrooming is negatively related to it. Competitive mediation results indicate cross-channel synergies and complementary mediation results point out lock-in effects. Six customer segments were identified, and we found significant differences in their shopping behaviour. Lock-in effect arises in the case of online information enthusiasts and online shopping enthusiasts. While in the case of the webrooming-oriented cluster, offline shopping was more appropriate and satisfactory, and positive cross-channel synergies appeared to be prevalent.
format Article
id doaj-art-19d44b72eff9402eaefd18acd3c47368
institution Kabale University
issn 2069-8887
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
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series Management şi Marketing
spelling doaj-art-19d44b72eff9402eaefd18acd3c473682025-01-14T14:22:49ZengSciendoManagement şi Marketing2069-88872024-12-0119466769110.2478/mmcks-2024-0030Channel preferences: Unveiling omnichannel behavior in sports and leisure product purchasesNagy Akos0Kemeny Ildiko1Szucs Krisztian2University of Pecs, Pecs, Baranya, HungaryCorvinus University of Budapest, Budapest, Pest, HungaryUniversity of Pecs, Pecs, Baranya, HungaryCurrent customer segmentations in omnichannel retail are based on channel usage and tend to be rather descriptive. In comparison, this research focuses on the role of “need for touch” (NFT) and channel preferences (attractiveness, appropriateness, satisfactoriness) introduced as antecedents to channel choice. The aim of this research was to develop a predictive model of omnichannel purchase behaviour and use its results to identify customer segments in the so far under-researched sports and leisure category, where the key decision factor of NFT seems to dominate when considering information and purchase options. We have examined its role and incorporated it as an exogenous variable and channel preferences as mediating variables in a SEM model to predict omnichannel purchase behaviour. Using the latent scores of channel preferences, we performed a cluster analysis and introduced various segments. In the proposed structural model preferences towards the information channel and the purchase channel serve as key mediators. Webrooming behaviour is negatively related to offline search channel preference, but showrooming is positively related to it. Meanwhile, webrooming behaviour is positively related to offline shopping channel preference, but showrooming is negatively related to it. Competitive mediation results indicate cross-channel synergies and complementary mediation results point out lock-in effects. Six customer segments were identified, and we found significant differences in their shopping behaviour. Lock-in effect arises in the case of online information enthusiasts and online shopping enthusiasts. While in the case of the webrooming-oriented cluster, offline shopping was more appropriate and satisfactory, and positive cross-channel synergies appeared to be prevalent.https://doi.org/10.2478/mmcks-2024-0030omnichannel preferencespls-sem modellingcustomer segmentationlock-in effectneed for touchcross-channel synergies
spellingShingle Nagy Akos
Kemeny Ildiko
Szucs Krisztian
Channel preferences: Unveiling omnichannel behavior in sports and leisure product purchases
Management şi Marketing
omnichannel preferences
pls-sem modelling
customer segmentation
lock-in effect
need for touch
cross-channel synergies
title Channel preferences: Unveiling omnichannel behavior in sports and leisure product purchases
title_full Channel preferences: Unveiling omnichannel behavior in sports and leisure product purchases
title_fullStr Channel preferences: Unveiling omnichannel behavior in sports and leisure product purchases
title_full_unstemmed Channel preferences: Unveiling omnichannel behavior in sports and leisure product purchases
title_short Channel preferences: Unveiling omnichannel behavior in sports and leisure product purchases
title_sort channel preferences unveiling omnichannel behavior in sports and leisure product purchases
topic omnichannel preferences
pls-sem modelling
customer segmentation
lock-in effect
need for touch
cross-channel synergies
url https://doi.org/10.2478/mmcks-2024-0030
work_keys_str_mv AT nagyakos channelpreferencesunveilingomnichannelbehaviorinsportsandleisureproductpurchases
AT kemenyildiko channelpreferencesunveilingomnichannelbehaviorinsportsandleisureproductpurchases
AT szucskrisztian channelpreferencesunveilingomnichannelbehaviorinsportsandleisureproductpurchases