Can Ecological Product Win Consumers in China? A Study on the Effect of Product Attributes and Consumers’ Face Consciousness on Ecological Product Preference

Abstract

This research explores what product attributes consumers value and how consumer face consciousness influences ecological product preference. Study I shows that environmental attribute enhances product preference to a greater extent when consumers value gentleness-related attributes more than strength-related attributes. However, when the strength-related attributes are valued, the benefit of environmental attribute is attenuated, and sometimes even leads to greater preference for non-ecological products. Study II reveals that Chinese consumers with high face consciousness show a significant difference between explicit and implicit preferences for ecological products. In other words, these consumers believe in only their own preference for ecological products. In contrast, Chinese consumers with low face consciousness show no difference between explicit and implicit preferences, i.e., they believe that other people prefer ecological products as much as they do.

Keywords

ecological product / product attributes / face consciousness / product preference

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2014 Higher Education Press and Brill