The Effects Of Background Music Dimensions On Customer Attitude Towards Retail Store

Abstract

As a key ambient factor in retail environment, music can refresh and create pleasurable memories and experiences for the shoppers. However, bringing up standardized findings in each study is not applicable. It is important to identify which musical characteristics positively affect the customers, allowing them to spend more time and money for shopping in retail stores. The content of those factors and the findings of past studies are emphasized due to national and international literatures. The purpose of this research is to identify the effects of background music dimensions (tempo and loudness) on customer attitude towards small-scale sporting goods retail stores. In accordance with this aim, subsequent to an in depth literature review, a conceptual framework was comprised and tested by means of statistical analysis of primary data collected by a questionnaire from 247 customers, shopping from a sporting goods store at Istanbul city center. Two conditions related tempo (fast / slow) and loudness (loud / soft) were organized as independent variables. A questionnaire respecting attitude towards store was applied to be responded by customers exposed to background music in the store. Experimental groups of 'fast tempo and high loudness' and 'slow tempo and low loudness' do not have a statistically significant effect on attitude towards the store. Hereby, correlation analysis is the major statistical method in the research. The findings define that the effects of tempo and loudness on customer attitude towards small-scale sporting goods store on a busy street are differentiated according to tempo and loudness groups.

Keywords: Background musicattitudetempoloudnessretail

Introduction

Retailers can prefer to take advantage of music to enhance their atmosphere and influence

customer behaviour in the shopping environment. Many store atmosphere variables (such as odour and

colour) that interact with music can dominate consumer perception, attitude, waiting time in the store or

repatronage intentions (De Nisco & Warnaby, 2013). Senses such as vision, hearing and olfaction

stimulate people to understand the world. They also affect a particular consumer behaviour in a positive

or negative way. Thus, sensory appeals that determine human behaviours or attitudes can be addressed

consistently in the different market segments of the retail environment. Target market segments

interacting with consumer senses provide competitive advantage (Farias, Aguiar, & Melo, 2013). There is

a significant effort in the retail sector to identify and use store background music. As a consequence, the

appropriate atmosphere conditions are accommodated to satisfy target customers. At this point, store

service setting can be decisive in the relationship between in-store music and customers' responses

(Roschk, Loureiro, & Breitsohl, 2016).

The physical properties determine the design dimension of the store. Architecture, layout and

display are important factors in terms of the store attractiveness. The social dimension of the store is

related to customers and store personnel. Ambient dimension includes atmospheric variables and defines

background stimuli (Kotler, 1973). Prominent variables are music, lighting and service layout (Blazquez,

2014). The determinants of the store atmosphere can influence customers' behaviours. This discovery led

to drastic changes in sensory marketing techniques. Today, manufacturers and retailers try to develop new

methods to affect the sensory experience of the consumer (Spence, Puccinelli, Grewal, & Roggeveen,

2014).

Literature Review and Theoretical Framework

Research Method

3.1. Sample and Data Collection

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High Loudness Group ; D4:Slow Tempo, Low Loudness Group

The participants finalized shopping intention at Ak-Tac Spor and accepted to respond to survey.

114 participants (46.2 %) of the survey are men and 133 participants (53.8 %) are women. Mean age is

33.5 years. Simple random sampling was chosen as sampling method. Experimental groups have similar

characteristics. Attitude towards store as dependent variable was measured on a five-item, semantic

differential scale with anchors “bad/good”;“unfavourable/favourable”;“negative/positive”; “dislike/like”

and “outdated/modern” (Spangenberg, Crowley, & Henderson, 1996). Cronbach’s Alpha score is 0.811

for ‘attitude towards store’ questions. 7- point tempo scale (1= slow; 7= fast) and 7- point loudness scale

(1=soft; 7= loud) were followed for the evaluations of musical tempo and loudness as independent

variables in the study (Kellaris & Rice, 1993) and cronbach’s alpha was found 0.832. The obtained data

were analysed with SPSS 23.0 and hypotheses were tested with correlation analyses.

Descriptive statistical methods (average, standard deviation, frequency, percent, minimum,

maximum) and correlation analyses were utilized to evaluate research data. Conformity of normal

distribution of quantitative data was tested by Skewness and Kurtosis. Statistical significance was

accepted as p<0.05.

3.2. Compositions

Upbeat electronic music arrangements with vocal are preferable in sporting goods retail stores in

Istanbul. Hence, slow or fast tempo expectations were influenced by favourite upbeat and energetic

sounds. This also ensured that customers in the store were not exposed to irritating repetitions of the same

compositions. Both musical genre and retail store size were influential to set loudness parameters. The

compositions at a variety of tempo and loudness used in this experiment were pretested with 69

participants to classify compositions according to tempo (fast/slow) and loudness (high/low) preferences.

Studio records of original music pieces are important for both dimensions. Especially, loudness of records

may not be standardized. Thus, pretest ensured that loudness and tempo for each music pieces were set

properly and participants were unfamiliar with melodies. These dimensions (tempo and loudness) were

checked by using digital technology periodically whilst stores were crowded in the days of experiments to

avoid confounding results. Table 2 lists the types of background music preferences in sporting goods

retail stores.

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Original background music pieces were calibrated by RTP Media (Corporate Radio

Broadcasting Company).

Findings

Spearman’s rho correlation coefficients of ‘Fast Tempo and Low Loudness Group’ are given

between variables in Table 3.

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The relationship between background music tempo (r=-0,335) and attitude towards store is

statistically significant. Correlation is significant negatively at the 0.05 level. This result supports H2a.

According to the findings, the attitudes of the participants towards the store are are getting stronger as the

background music tempo is getting slower. The relationship between background music loudness (r=-

0,605) and attitude towards store is statistically significant. Correlation is significant negatively at the

0.01 level. The result supports H2b. Accordingly, as the loudness is getting higher the attitude in the store

is affected opposite. Spearman’s rho correlation coefficients of ‘Fast Tempo and High Loudness Group’

are given between variables in Table 5.

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According to the results, the relationship between background music tempo (r=0,110) and attitude

towards store is not significant statistically. It is seen that the result is the same for the relationship

between loudness (r=0,203) and attitude towards store. H3a and H3b are not supported.

Spearman’s rho correlation coefficients of ‘Slow Tempo and Low Loudness Group’ are given between

variables in Table 6.

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According to the results, the relationship between background music tempo (r=-0,080) and attitude

towards store is not significant statistically. Furthermore, statistically significant relation doesn't exist

between loudness (r=0,012) and attitude . H4a and H4b are not supported.

In Figure 1 , ‘Research Model and Correlation Analysis Display’ is attached.

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Conclusion and Discussions

According to the findings obtained from the research that measured the effects of background

music tempo and loudness experimental groups on the attitude of the customers towards the store, the

effects of tempo and loudness are differentiated. Tempo of the background music has a positive effect on the customer's attitude towards the store for ‘Fast Tempo and Low Loudness Group’. Thus, the

customers’ positive attitudes towards the store are strengthened whilst tempo is faster. The majority of

‘Fast Tempo and Slow Loudness Group’ consists of participants between the ages of 25-35 and they

prefer fast tempo throughout shopping process according to the findings. Music is an important element

in brand communication, identity or architecture. Sound and music play a role in understanding the brand

and the message to be given. The relationship between brand characteristics and music is powerful according to the literature. Furthermore, background music dimensions to affect customers’ attitudes and

behaviours are frequently studied. Many studies conducted in different fields report that tempo has a

higher mobilizing effect. Thus, high tempo contributes positively to customers' store evaluation. The

result is consistent with many previous studies. However, it is seen that there is a negative correlation between ‘Slow Tempo, High Loudness Group’ and attitude towards store. The majority of ‘Slow Tempo, High Loudness Group’ consists of participants over 45. Slow tempo and high loudness evoke negative

feelings in this group. Older participants do not appreciate tempo and loudness levels. Music dimensions

have different effects on the experimental groups. Culture and demographic characteristics are the

determinants of the findings.

According to previous studies, the loudness level poses a positive effect when adjusted as

requested. High loudness versions within a band of 60 - 65 dB evoke positive reactions in ‘Slow Tempo,

High Loudness’ group. It is a really striking result. The reactions of the store customer in the ‘Slow

Tempo, High Loudness. Group’ are completely varied. Research findings state that music can be used to

influence customer attitude in practice. Store managers can evaluate tempo and volume levels of

background music in order to strengthen the positive attitudes of customers and increase the number of

customers continuously. The effect of music on potential customers is shaped by the enjoyment of

individuals, social, cultural and economic factors in the society and music familiarity. For example,

customer profile and brand identity will be critical to decide music genre and different music dimensions.

Thus, store managers should analyse atmosphere variables meticulously to make an accurate decision.

Music interacts with other atmospheric components such as lighting, odour, or colour. This

interaction can have a positive or negative effect on the attitudes and behaviours of the customers towards

store. Hereby, fresh studies can contribute to different results. Demographic characteristics of the

participants and the qualifications of the research area can determine the effects of music on sales and

consumer attitude. For example, the choice of sports retailers located in shopping malls can differentiate

the results of the research.

Music studies with different research designs illuminate the effects of music dimensions (tempo,

loudness, rhythm, mode) in store area and customer attitudes, behaviours or perceptions towards store.

Further music studies with different structural variables will contribute to the increase of the qualified

findings related to the reaction of consumers to music.

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