Retail-Brand Baby-Products: What Do Consumers Think?

Abstract

This research investigated consumer perceptions and buying behaviour of retail versus manufacturer brand baby care toiletry products. Using a pluralistic methodology the findings revealed that most respondents had tried some retail-brand baby-care products, although certain baby products and labels carried higher perceived risk than others. In general, however, manufacturer-branded baby-care products were regarded by respondents to be of higher quality and lower perceived risk than retail-brand baby-care products. It was concluded that the introduction of a retailer-brand baby-care product range as a differentiating competitive strategy for a retail chain in Northern Ireland should not be pursued owing to insufficient consumer acceptance and trust of this high risk product category.