International airport influences on impulsive shopping: trait and normative approach

Abstract

Airport shopping is characteristically related to airport environmental conditions. Although consumption‐related emotions have been studied with increasing frequency in consumer behaviour, issues concerning the evaluation of emotions leading to impulse purchasing and airport environment effect remain hidden in academic context. Airport shoppers tend to make impulse purchases, however, previous studies relating to impulse purchases did not have the shopper as an independent variable. This research paper presents conceptual and empirical evidence that airport shoppers’ self‐assessment (judgement) about the appropriateness of engaging in impulse shopping behaviour moderates the relationship between the airport influences on impulse shopping and consumers’ buying behaviours. The study found that the relationship between airport impulsive shopping and the related shopping behaviour is significant only when airport shoppers believe that acting on impulse is appropriate. This finding supports the proposition for moderating airport shoppers’ self‐evaluations.