Purpose This paper aims to examine the impact of employee-based brand equity (EBBE) and perceived environmental uncertainty (PEU) on firm performance. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected through an e-mail survey from fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) firms in the UK and UAE. Sample sectors included cosmetics and toiletries, household care products, packaged food, soft drinks and tobacco firms. Quantitative data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings The results suggest strong support for the hypothesized relationships, thereby providing strong validation for the proposed model. One interesting finding was that the PEU affected employee brand equity significantly stronger in the UK than in the UAE. This phenomenon is explained in the discussion section. Research limitations/implications Although several studies have indicated several other elements for EBBE, such as brand commitment and brand citizen behavior, the authors borrowed King et al.’s (2012) EBBE concept and limited their variables on EBBE for brand endorsement, brand allegiance and brand consistent behavior. Practical implications Knowledge is expanded through an empirical study validating the proposed model, which provides meaningful insights for developing training tools for internal brand management. Firms have to increase the brand manager’s commitment to increase the employee brand equity, which in turn increases the firm’s performance. Originality/value This paper makes three imperative contributions to the branding literature: expanding the existing brand equity literature to incorporate employee brand equity; being the first known empirically tested PEU on employee brand equity; and empirically testing employee brand equity, which has been ignored in branding literature on firm performance.

The concept of emotional intelligence has become popular as a consulting tool as theorysuggests that individuals who are high in emotional intelligence are likely to exhibit a higherlevel of performance outcomes. In this study, we examined the impact of emotional intelligenceon sales performance. We hypothesized that the impact of emotional intelligence on salesperformance was mediated by adaptive selling behaviour. Data were collected from salespeople in the financial industries in Malaysia via the WLEIS emotional intelligence scale andADAPTS adaptive selling behaviour scale, and were quantitatively analysed using structuralequation modelling (SEM). Results were in keeping with the model. Emotional intelligencewas not found to impact sales performance directly. It impacted on sales performance througha mediating variable; adaptive selling behaviour.Keywords: Emotional Intelligence; Adaptive Selling Behaviour; Sales Performance.

Purpose This study aims to explore how consumers process and respond to fake news on halal food in a Muslim-majority country. The study hypothesises that fake news that violates one’s moral code could induce anger resulting in brand hate. Religiosity plays a role as a moderating variable for the relationship. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected in two studies using quasi-experiment repeated measures factorial design, 2 × 2 between subjects. In Study 1, 219 participated, whereas in Study 2, a total of 173 was recruited for the experiment. The study uses one-way repeated measures design ANOVA and MEMORE to test the effects of moderation for repeated measures. Findings The findings indicate that fake news that violates one’s moral code, belief and values could induce anger and brand hate. Religiosity moderates the relationship between anger and brand hate Research limitations/implications The study’s limitations include the limited dimension measured for religiosity and brand hate. Originality/value The study of brand hate as opposed to brand love is relatively scarce. This study has observed how fake news that violates one’s moral code is detrimental to the brand, which in turn induces hate. Marketing managers have to be cautious in marketing their products in more religious countries. Besides, they have to be proactive in combating fake news that might tarnish their brand.

PurposeThis study aims to understand the relationships among relationship quality, repurchase intention, word-of-mouth and the moderation effect of the loyalty program.Design/methodology/approachBase on social exchange theory and trust commitment theory, the study hypothesizes that relationship quality is a multidimensional construct consisting of trust, satisfaction, commitment and perceived value. Relationship quality is posited to influence word-of-mouth, and this relationship is mediated by the repurchase intention. Loyalty program is expected to moderate the relationship between independent and dependent variables. Data were collected through online survey and mall intercept in North Island of New Zealand. 144 responses were obtained and were analyzed through SEM.FindingsThe findings support a multidimensional construct for relationship quality; however, the moderation effect of the loyalty program was insignificant.Originality/valueThis study helps to understand the relationship quality in the e-tailing industry. Theoretical and practical implications are finally discussed.

Worldwide, Muslim travelers are expected to be worth more than US$450 billion by 2026. Ignoring Muslim tourists would be a missed opportunity for any country’s economy that depends on tourism. This study aims to help non-Muslim tourism providers to understand what Muslim travelers require. Specifically, the study posits that accessibility to cultural needs and brand image affects customer satisfaction, which in turn influences brand loyalty among Muslim tourists. Religiosity plays a role as a moderating variable. Quantitative data was collected from 291 Muslim tourists visiting New Zealand that is predominantly a Christian country through online and mall intercept surveys. The study has adopted Hayes’s PROCESS Model 8 to test the mediated–moderated model. The results indicate strong support for the research model. Finally, the study provides some theoretical discussions and strategic managerial implications on how to offer Muslim tourists the best possible experience.