Purpose This paper aims to offer a systematic view of religious consumption and its iterative influences on consumers, as well as their differences in attitudes, values and behaviors. Design/methodology/approach Using a mixed-method approach – both qualitative and quantitative – the study develops religious self-transformation and self-categorization scales to empirically evaluate the hypotheses. Findings The convergence of consumption, self-identification and religious attitudes and behaviors proffer an essentially subjective concept useful in understanding the existential reflection and supernatural orientation that individuals may seek through consumption. Cluster analysis (based on product, services, media and practices) reveals four quadrants. The non-religious (religious) group has low (high) consumption in all four consumption categories Self-categorization (self-transformation) group has high (low) level of product consumption, but low (high) in all three other categories. This research presented four invisible identities that are visibly different in terms of life satisfaction, religious brand preference, dollars spending on religious products and monetary donation. Research limitations/implications This research only considers one medium-size city as opposed to all types of cities. All religious affiliated and nonaffiliated respondents are included in the total sample. Practical implications The study offers new insights into the triadic relationship between religious self-identification, religious consumption, and the marketplace that can be used in branding, segmentation, targeting, positioning, and persuasive advertising, public relation and social media, and services marketing. Social implications Religion addresses the nature of existence. In this religion–consumer–brand nexus, consumption is a way for consumers to experience and immense themselves in the sacred to solidify, communicate, transform, improve and transport who they are capitalizing on religious self-identification can affectively promote positive social change. Originality/value This work proposes four invisible identities that are different in consumption of religious products and services in terms of patterns and purposes. These groups of consumers shape the marketplace through the derived utility of their religious consumption based on their self-identification, which in turn influences their religious brand preference.

Marketers' use of eco-labels-verifying the environmental friendliness of products-has steadily grown. Earlier studies have focused on the direct influence of eco-labels on consumer purchase intention for these products. Findings from that empirical work revealed that eco-labels can have a positive impact on purchase intention. Other investigations disclosed a positive relationship between consumer attitude toward the brand and purchase intention. Based on the foregoing research efforts, the purpose of the present work was to examine selected factors that may influence consumer attitude toward eco-labeled products. The following constructs were discerned to have that impact: recognition/awareness of eco-labels, perceived credibility of the eco-label, and current purchase behavior of eco-labeled products. Environmental attitude, though, was found to be unrelated to consumer attitude toward eco-labeled products. Implications and suggestions for future research are provided.

A model is derived and tested drawing from I/O psychology and sales management literature addressing sales training. Findings suggest consistent influences of the organization and sales manager on training transfer. Relationships between organizational variables, such as training climate and manager behaviors, and training outcomes are discussed. A chief take-away of the model test concerns evidence that sequential linkages exist between individual determinants (e.g., locus of control, self-efficacy beliefs, learning orientation), salespeople's satisfaction with training, transfer of training materials (skills, time management, product knowledge), and performance.

The Native American population receives only a fraction of the auention devoted toward other minorities. However, their purchasing power, attitudes, and consumption patterns are extremely important to those serving their market. Presently, little research has been directed toward the consumer behavior of Native Americans. The present study was exploratory and investigated Native Americans in North Dakota and their attitudes toward price, brand choice, and advertising. Results indicate Native American consumers arc more attentive to price, have a propensity to purchase generic brands, and are subject to family influence.