Hey brand, let me take a selfie to get you out of the crisis

• Published in: Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights
• Main Author: Raza M.; Khalid R.; Raza H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Emerald Publishing 2024
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85173445141&doi=10.1108%2fJHTI-05-2023-0334&partnerID=40&md5=3948fbb91f2d999c0e28aa1a30cce58f

Purpose: This study investigates the brand selfies that have the capability to help brands thrive through crises. The brand selfies spark a self-inferential process that makes customers feel connected to the brand and makes them biased toward a specific brand during an uncertain situation. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 166 questionnaires were analyzed through structural equation modelling (Smart PLS) and a niche group of young millennials from Thailand was selected based on their luxury items usage, frequency of visits to leisure spas and hotels, expensive car showrooms, branded jewelry stores and luxury watch shops. Findings: The study highlights the emergence of brand selfies during the crisis and the priority given by customers as compared to brand-generated content or promotional campaigns. The results indicated a positive influence of brand selfies on brand preferences directly and through the mediation of brand signature. Research limitations/implications: It is fascinating for brands that customers voluntarily include their products in their carefully crafted and staged selfies that deliver their image and massages as social signifiers during a chaotic situation. Originality/value: The research classifies the impacts of brand selfies in the luxury, leisure and tourism market of Thailand and its assistance in thriving through crises. The study is one of the rare studies that present brand selfies as a hassle-free promotional tool for brand signature and a game-changing strategy to deal with crises. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.