Consumption Markets and Society

The Consumption, Markets and Society research cluster is an internationally renowned leader in interdisciplinary marketing research. We have found it productive to draw on concepts from anthropology, cultural studies, gender studies, geographic area concentrations, history, media studies, philosophy, politics, political economy, psychoanalysis, rhetoric, sociology in addition to the business, organisational and consumer research literature. We contend that engagement with social and critical perspectives produces original and valuable knowledge for businesses and society.

Our approach

Our interdisciplinary approach creates insights relevant to marketing managers, citizens, workers, the third sector, government and society, and results in significant enterprise and grant activity. Members of the group have been awarded Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, EU funding and grants from the AHRC, ESRC, ERDF, SAMS, BA/Leverhulme and Defra; as well as funds from a large number of agencies and enterprise partnerships such as the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Our expertise

The cluster includes experts in critical marketing, historical marketing, political marketing, relationship marketing, social marketing, strategic marketing, sustainability marketing and non-profit marketing, as well as consumer culture, consumer attitudes and behaviours, and the philosophy and sociology of consumption. Staff are currently engaged in projects related to art, consumer protection, corporate social responsibility, digital technology, disability, diverse cultures, ethics, fashion, financial services, fitness, gender, healthcare, identity, literary texts, luxuries, music, natural resources, personal finance, politics, propaganda, sexuality, social mobility, sustainability and tourism.

Our publications

Evidence of our pioneering status can be found in the research and leadership outputs of our members. Staff members serve as editorial staff, authors, and trusted reviewers for leading publications such as Marketing Theory; Journal of Marketing Management; Journal of Macromarketing; Consumption, Markets, and Culture; Journal of Business Ethics; Journal of Retailing; Journal of Advertising Research; Journal of Consumer Research; European Journal of Marketing; Journal of Consumer Culture;  Journal of Consumer Behaviour; Journal of Business Research; Industrial Marketing Management; Psychology and Marketing; International Marketing Review; Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing; the Journal of Management Studies; Journal of Product and Brand Marketing; Business Strategy and the Environment; British Journal of Management; Service Industries Journal; Environment and Planning A; Environment and Planning D; the Annals of Tourism Research; and Ephemera. Put simply, we produce high quality outputs and also foster the development of publication venues for most rigorous research on the subject.

We embrace research-led teaching to enhance the student experience. In particular, we have major initiatives to integrate our expertise to provide students with the best educational experience, based on a well-rounded academic and practical understanding of marketing phenomena.

Research events

Find out about our forthcoming events and seminars

Member news

  • Mihalis Kavaratzis - Journal TEGS devoted a TESG Discussion Forum on 15 years since the publication of one of his articles (Kavaratzis and Ashworth, 2005).  The Forum was published in May 2020 and consists of four articles written by distinguished scholars in the field of place branding that discusses the contributions made by the 2005 article and the reasons it has become the most-cited article in the history of the journal.  They also invited Mihalis' commentary. In August 2020, his work exceeded 9,000 Google Scholar citations and 2,000 Scopus citations.
  • Cristina Galalae - The female part of her main research team has been nominated for the Women in Marketing Awards 2020 - Category: The Marketing Scientist Award (awaiting decision).

Members

Details about the particular interests and current projects of individual group members can be found on their staff profile pages.

Cluster Director: Dr Georgiana Grigore