Abstract:
The purpose of the research was to analyze cause-related, value creation, and the decision to purchase environmental products in the lower Northeastern region of Thailand. The quantitative research consists of the following objectives: 1) to study the personal factors of consumers in deciding to buy environmental products; 2) to study the opinion levels of the cause-related model, value creation, and the decision to purchase environmental products; 3) to analyze the cause-related marketing model that affects value creation and the decision to purchase environmental products; and 4) to seek a cause-related marketing model that has value creation and influences the sales of environmentally friendly products. The data used in this research was collected from customers who have experience buying environmental products. Data analysis used the structural equation model analysis statistics (SEM-Structural Equation Modeling) with a sample size of 1,000 people in the lower Northeastern region (Southern Isaan), Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Buriram, Surin, Sisaket and Ubon Ratchathani.
The results of the research found that personal factors showed the majority of samples were female, 692 people, 69.2 percent; aged between 18 38 years was 68.5 percent. The highest level of education a bachelors degree was 55.6 percent. Monthly income was 10,000 to 20,000 baht or less made up 49.3 percent. College students were 42.9 percent. Customers who have had experience using environmental products for 1-3 years were 56.7 percent. Lastly, consumers who decided to buy cosmetic products that were made from natural raw materials was 49.0 percent. Consumers have the highest level of opinion on environmental products because of environmental issues.
2) The most important customer opinion on marketing is environmental issues (deterioration of soil, water, air, forests, and minerals) had the highest mean (x̄ = 4.17) followed by risks to life and property (riot, murder, theft, and epidemics) (x̄ = 4.1). Natural environment (animals, floods, storms, earthquakes/landslides drought, and cold) followed by (x̄ = 4.08). The opinion level of creating value regarding quality value is that environmental products have a production process that meets the highest standards (x̄ = 4.13), followed by environmental products that can create satisfaction for consumers to accept (x̄ = 4.12 )and environmental products must have properties as claimed in advertising/packaging (x̄ = 4.11), respectively.
3) The analysis of cause related that affects the marketing value and the decision to purchase environmental products found that 3.1) The cause related model has factors (Factor loading) of all 2 indicators: similarity and the difference between environmental products and social problems (CRM2) (Factor Loading=0.701) has the most common variance with cause related marketing at 83.7 percent and social issues (CRM1) are the least indicators (Factor Loading=0.644), having 80.3 percent of the same variance as cause related. 3.2) The marketing value creation model has a total of 4 factors (Factor loading). Social contribution (MVC2) (Factor Loading=0.876) has the most common variance with creating marketing value at 76.7 percent. Quality of the product (MVC4) (Factor Loading=0.811) has co-variation with marketing value creation at 65.8 percent. Emotional value (MVC1) is the least indicator of marketing value creation (Factor Loading=0.803) with 64.5 percent variation with marketing value creation.3.3) The buyers purchase decision has a total of 3 factors (Factor loading). Determination (DEC1) (Factor Loading=0.735) accounts for the most common variance with purchasing decisions, 85.7 percent. The next is repeating purchase decisions (DEC2) (Factor Loading=0.640), having co-variation with the decision to purchase environmental products at 80.0 percent. The last factor is the decision to purchase by spreading the word about environmental products (DEC3) (Factor Loading=0.624) has the same variance as the decision to purchase environmental products at 79.0 percent.
4) Overall, the relationship study results found that good cause related for consumers is related to creating marketing value. Cause related marketing can explain 90.1% of marketing value creation, and marketing value creation is related to purchasing decisions and can explain 99.0% of marketing value creation.
The correlation between cosmetics made from natural ingredients found that good cause related marketing for consumers is related to creating marketing value. cause related marketing can explain the creation of 79.3% of marketing value and the creation of economic value. In addition, marketing is related to purchase decisions and can explain 69.3% of marketing value creation.
Relationship to household cleaning products saw that good cause related marketing for consumers is related to creating market value. Cause related marketing can explain 92.1% of marketing value creation and is related to purchasing decisions which explains 96.2 percent of increase in market value.
Relationship to laundry products found that good cause related marketing for consumers is based on creating marketing value. Cause related marketing can explain 66.6% of marketing value creation which is related to purchasing decisions and can explain 72.8 percent of market value created.
Suggestions from the study can be used to plan activities to create a cause related marketing strategy appropriate for environmental products. By emphasizing quality products to stimulate purchasing behavior. Because it is considered an important element that influences the emergence of the best cause related marketing