A4 Article in conference proceedings
Customer-Brand Relationships in the Context of Digital Brands (2022)

Paananen, T., Frank, L., & Kemppainen, T. (2022). Customer-Brand Relationships in the Context of Digital Brands. In A. Pucihar, M. Kljajić Borštnar, R. Bons, A. Sheombar, G. Ongena, & D. Vidmar (Eds.), 35th Bled eConference : Digital Restructuring and Human (Re)action (pp. 495-510). University of Maribor. https://doi.org/10.18690/um.fov.4.2022.31

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Paananen, Tiina; Frank, Lauri; Kemppainen, Tiina

Parent publication: 35th Bled eConference : Digital Restructuring and Human (Re)action

Parent publication editors: Pucihar, Andreja; Kljajić Borštnar, Mirjana; Bons, Roger; Sheombar, Anand; Ongena, Guido; Vidmar, Doroteja

Conference:

Place and date of conference: Bled, Slovenia, 26.-29.6.2022

eISBN: 978-961-286-616-7

Publication year: 2022

Pages range: 495-510

Number of pages in the book: 824

Publisher: University of Maribor

Publication country: Slovenia

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18690/um.fov.4.2022.31

Persistent website address: https://press.um.si/index.php/ump/catalog/view/691/927/2342-1

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/83313

Abstract

This qualitative study investigates customer-brand relationships between customers and digital brands. This study aims to describe different digital brand relationship types, and their manifestations among young adult customers. The data collection was conducted in 2021 by interviewing fourteen Finnish adults aged 22-31 years. The findings categorize the customer-brand relationships into four relationship types, according to the relationship strength from weak to strong. Brand liking lacks emotions and is characterized by low commitment towards a digital brand. Brand attachment includes having a slight barrier of digital brand replacement, and emotions towards the brand are weak. Brand loving denotes that a beloved digital brand is favored in the long term, but the brand is not considered irreplaceable. Brand addiction occurs when a customer has an irreplaceable, intimate, and dependent relationship with the digital brand. All the found relationship types need further investigation in future research.

Keywords: brands; branding; branded products; customers; young adults; digital marketing; marketing communication; customer loyalty

Free keywords: digital brands; customer-brand relationships; brand liking; brand attachment; brand love; brand addiction

Contributing organizations

Related projects

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

Preliminary JUFO rating: 1