How Global are Global Brands? An Empirical Brand Equity Analysis

Pforzheim University Working Paper No. 136

69 Pages Posted: 19 Feb 2010

See all articles by Thomas Cleff

Thomas Cleff

Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences; ZEW – Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research

Lena Fischer

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Cesar J. Sepulveda

Tecnologico de Monterrey

Nadine Walter

Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences

Date Written: January 17, 2010

Abstract

The term “global brand” has become widely used by the media and by consumers. Business week publishes annually its widely known ranking of the “Best Global Brands” (with Coca-Cola as number 1 in the past years) and consumers on summer vacations purchase brands such as Heineken or Marlboro they are familiar with from their home country. Although media and consumers call these brands “global” and centralized marketing departments manage these brands globally – are these “global brands” really global? Are they really perceived everywhere in the same way by the customers? Can we talk about truly global brand equity? And if there were brand image differences between countries, which factors causes them?

The authors conducted an empirical research during May and June 2009 with similarly aged University students (bachelor students at business school) in Germany (n=426) and Mexico (n=296). The goal was to identify if brand awareness rates differ between Germans and Mexicans, if the brand image of Apple iPod is perceived in the same way in Germany and in Mexico and what influencing factors might have an impact on any brand image discrepancy between the countries. Results prove that brand recall rates differ between the two countries (with higher rates in Mexico) as well as brand image attributes vary significantly (28 out of 34 brand image attributes are significantly different between Germany and Mexico), with Mexico showing higher levels of favorable brand image attributes. Key influencing factors on the different brand image perceptions are perceived quality, satisfaction and the influence of reference groups (such as friends and family). The results suggest that so-called “global brands” are not perceived the same way in Germany and Mexico. As a consequence, brand management using standardized marketing instruments for its presumable “global brands” might be better off with a more differentiated approach that takes account a specific local brand image.

Keywords: Global Marketing, Global Brand, Brand Equity, Brand Image, Brand Awareness, Brand Analysis, Cross-country Comparison

JEL Classification: C21, M31

Suggested Citation

Cleff, Thomas and Fischer, Lena and Sepulveda, Cesar J. and Walter, Nadine, How Global are Global Brands? An Empirical Brand Equity Analysis (January 17, 2010). Pforzheim University Working Paper No. 136, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1554343 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1554343

Thomas Cleff (Contact Author)

Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences ( email )

Tiefenbronner Str. 65
Pforzheim, 75175
Germany

ZEW – Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research ( email )

P.O. Box 10 34 43
L 7,1
D-68034 Mannheim, 68034
Germany

Lena Fischer

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

Cesar J. Sepulveda

Tecnologico de Monterrey ( email )

Eugenio Garza Sada 2501
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon 64849
Mexico
+52 81 8358 2000 (Phone)

Nadine Walter

Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences ( email )

Tiefenbronner Str. 65
Pforzheim, Baden-Württemberg D-75175
Germany

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