Consumer-based brand equity and status-seeking motivation for a global versus local brand

Purpose - The purpose of this research is to explore how a successful global and a local brand may compete side by side in an existing market place based on consumer-based brand equity and consumers' status-seeking motivation for purchasing a global versus local brand. Design/methodology/approach - The data for this research were collected through a self-administered survey from students in a large Western Australian university. Findings - The results show that a global brand is generally preferred in terms of all the dimensions of consumer-based brand equity over a local brand. However, a significant interaction emerged between the type of brand and high versus low status-seeking motivation consumers. A global brand is strongly favoured in terms of awareness, perceived quality and overall brand equity by high status seekers while a local brand seems to enjoy loyalty and overall brand equity among low status seekers. A global brand is also clearly preferred over a local brand along all dimensions of consumer-based brand equity amongst high status-seeking consumers. Further, a local brand is clearly preferred in terms of consumer-based brand equity over the global brand by Australians whereas the global brand remains a clear favourite with non-Australians. Research limitations/implications - Findings may not generalize beyond Australian sample and the product category. Originality/value - This empirical research explores how global and local brands may compete with each other based on their strengths. This research also addresses a theoretical gap identified by Yoo and Donthu.