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The pandemic consumer response: A stockpiling perspective and shopping channel preferences

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Savvas PapagiannidisORCiD, Professor Eleftherios AlamanosORCiD, Professor Michael Bourlakis, Professor Charles DennisORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND).


Abstract

Covid-19 has changed consumer behaviour, probably forever. Initial consumer stockpiling led to stockouts, threat and uncertainty for consumers. To overcome shortages, consumers expanded their use of channels and many consumers started buying online for the first time. In this paper we aim to address important research gaps related to consumer behaviour during the pandemic and especially stockpiling. Our paper starts by presenting the findings of our pre-study, which used social media to elicit or confirm potential constructs for our quantitative models. These constructs complemented the Protection Motivations Theory (PMT) to explain stockpiling behaviour, forming the basis for Study 1, the stockpiling preparation stage, and Study 2, the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic disruptor on customer service logistics and lockdown shopping channel preferences. For studies 1 and 2 we gathered data via a UK online panel structured questionnaire survey (n=603). Results confirm that consumer-driven changes to supply chains emanate largely from consumer uncertainty. Lockdown restrictions lead to consumers feeling socially excluded, but enhance consumers’ positive attitudes towards shopping online and increase consumers’ altruism. In response, consumers stockpiled by visiting physical stores and/or ordering online. Lockdown restrictions led to feelings of social exclusion but, importantly, stockpiling helps to minimise consumer anxiety and fear and even increases wellbeing.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Papagiannidis S, Alamanos E, Bourlakis M, Dennis C

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: British Journal of Management

Year: 2023

Volume: 34

Issue: 2

Pages: 664-691

Print publication date: 01/04/2023

Online publication date: 02/06/2022

Acceptance date: 24/04/2022

Date deposited: 07/06/2022

ISSN (print): 1045-3172

ISSN (electronic): 1467-8551

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd

URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8551.12616

DOI: 10.1111/1467-8551.12616


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