One Color Fits All: Product Category Color Norms and (A)typical Package Colors

Author(s)
Marion Garaus, Georgios Halkias
Abstract

Despite the growing amount of research on different aspects of product package design, there is lack of empirical evidence with regard to how package color perceptions may influence consumer preferences. Based on categorization theory, the present paper explores responses to package colors that conform or do not conform to product category color norms. Results of two experiments show that atypical package colors implicate negative consequences to the brand. Findings indicate that perceived package color atypicality increases consumers’ skepticism and, contrary to expectations, decreases interest. These affective reactions negatively influence consumers’ product attitude which subsequently translates into lower purchase intention. The results provide important insights for theory and practice.

Organisation(s)
Department of Accounting, Innovation and Strategy
External organisation(s)
MODUL University Vienna
Journal
Review of Managerial Science
Volume
14
Pages
1077–1099
No. of pages
23
ISSN
1863-6683
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11846-018-0325-9
Publication date
09-2017
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
502052 Business administration, 502019 Marketing
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
General Business,Management and Accounting
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/3e39cd29-7762-45ce-96d4-0536111e928c