Customer Loyalty: Influences on Three Types of Retail Stores' Shoppers

Customer loyalty is a major factor for a firm’s success. Loyal customers are less price sensitive. Furthermore, these customers are likely to purchase more frequently, try the firms’ other products and bring new customers to the firm. This study examines the relationship of shoppers’ characteristics and behavior, and customers’ perception of marketing strategy (product, price, place, promotion), customer value (quality, sacrifice) and relationship quality on customer loyalty. Depending on the type of retail store, convenience, department and hypermarket stores’ loyalty is influenced by several factors, including different marketing strategies (price deals, distribution intensity) and relationship quality (customer satisfaction, trust, commitment). The results have particular implications for further research and for marketing managers.