Insights into Consumer Preference of Foreign Brand Names: Reality or Myth?

Abstract

This study builds from LeClerc et al.’s (1989, 1994) work on foreign branding effects, but it does so in the context of a developing East European country; as in the case of Turkey. The purpose of this exploratory research is to examine consumers’ attitudes towards products with foreign brand names and also to assess the impact of foreign brand names on the purchasing decision making. In the data collection phase of the study an in-depth interviews were conducted with 23 participants in the city of Ankara, Turkey. The results show that products with foreign brand names elicit more positive consumer attitude than products with national brands. Overall, the findings suggest that consumers prefer to purchase products with foreign brand names for a variety of reasons which including quality, reliability, functionality and prestige. The results have important implications for domestic and foreign manufacturers with regards to the consumer-side effects of their decisions on branding strategies and on their competitive foreign branding decisions.