Purchase Motives, Use of Information Sources, and Decision Making Styles of Online Clothing Shoppers

Abstract

An overflow of information leads consumers to be easily distracted and to neglect the information being provided to them. E-tailers have to select types of information sources and provide their consumers with the most appropriate information. This study was done to specifically contribute to the research in proposing strategies of providing information of the Internet merchant to the e-shoppers through the analysis of relationships among the online purchase motives of consumers, the use of information sources, and decision making styles. This research categorizes the use of information sources into information sources concerning online stores and information sources concerning products. The uses of information sources relative to online stores are classified into the neutral, human, and marketer-oriented sources. The uses of information sources concerning the products are classified into the online and offline source. This study provides important suggestions for e-tailers to provide information about stores as well as products to the consumers with adaptable strategies.