0000000000553008
AUTHOR
Julie Horáková
From places to platforms : Examining the transformation of servicescapes
Place represents one of the underlying elements of the marketing mix. However, due to ongoing digitalisation, places have undergone substantial changes in recent years. With the transition from physical shopping environments towards intangible Internet spaces and digital platforms, how places affect consumer behaviour and how consumers use places are rapidly changing. This transition challenges the existing conceptualisation of place as a physical environment. In the online environment, consumers can no longer rely on physical and tangible cues to complement their shopping experience. Instead, they have to learn the logic of technological platforms and the rules of interaction in digital sp…
Does the digitalization of retailing disrupt consumers’ attachment to retail places?
This study breaks new ground in the marketing domain by extending the concept of place attachment to the study of the online retail environment. We provide empirical evidence that consumers can establish strong attachments not only with traditional offline places but also with online retail stores. Moreover, we assessed how distinct dimensions of the place affect the formation of consumers’ attachment and their behavioral loyalty. Our findings show that while consumers who feel a strong sense of attachment toward the place engage in spreading positive word-of-mouth regardless of the environment, their attachment to the store does not prevent them from switching to another provider, especial…