'What's so special about family business?' An exploratory study of UK and Irish consumer experiences of family businesses

• Published in: International journal of consumer studies Vol. 32; no. 6; pp. 656 - 666
• Main Authors: Carrigan, Marylyn, Buckley, Joan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.11.2008; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Brand loyalty; Communities; Community; Consumer behavior; Consumer behaviour; Consumers; family business; Family businesses; Family owned businesses; Loyalty; retail; Retailing; Rural areas; Studies; Urban areas; United Kingdom > UK; Ireland

While family-owned businesses are considered to have specific advantages in customer relationships, limited research has been conducted into how these abilities are developed or understood by the public. Consumers may indeed perceive family businesses differently from non-family businesses, but this...