An Empirical Investigation of Consumer Memory, Attitude, and Perceptions toward Pioneer and Follower Brands

The authors’ study provides the first survey-based approach for examining consumer cognitions, affect, and reported behavior toward pioneer brands. Prior consumer research on pioneers has largely focused on automatic learning effects that are based on order of exposure. An entirely different issue is whether it matters to consumers to know, years after the product's introduction when follower brands are also available, that a particular brand was the product pioneer. The authors test six hypotheses, focusing on this issue as well as on new consumer behavior explanations for pioneer brand advantage. They find consumers to have a positive attitude toward pioneer brands in general, which is partially explained by their favorable perceptions of pioneer brands. In addition, a similarity is found between pioneer brand image and individual ideal self-image, which suggests that an association or desire for consistency between the two may be another explanation for favorable attitude and positive purchase intentions toward pioneer brands. The authors’ findings support the idea that a potentially enduring, relatively inimitable competitive advantage may be created by the act of “pioneership.”