Skip to main content
Log in

Constructing brand value proposition statements: a systematic literature review

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Marketing Analytics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examines the state of communicating the brand value proposition via a systematic literature review from research published in marketing journals from 1996 to 2015. A sample of 56 articles from high-quality marketing journals examines the components of the brand value proposition statement, applicable theories, and descriptive findings. There has been an increased interest in the research on brand value propositions as value creation becomes more customer-focused and value-based selling becomes more pervasive. This exploratory study suggests an ongoing need for examining the effectiveness of types of brand value propositions in terms of both the managerial process in which they are constructed as well as the precision of such brand promises on customer understanding. The paper concludes with a suggestion for more robust empirical research on the construction and deconstruction of brand value propositions, a need for more managerially focused research, and a future research that examines the under-researched area of how value propositions are effectively communicated on branded websites.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aaker, D. 1996. Measuring brand equity across products and markets. California Management Review 38(3): 102–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abdelkafi, N., S. Makhotin, and T. Posselt. 2013. Business model innovations for electric mobility—What can be learned from existing business model patterns? International Journal of Innovation Management 17(1): 1–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adams, J. 1963. Toward an understanding of inequity. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology 67(5): 422–436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alsem, K.J., and E. Kostelijk. 2008. Identity based marketing: A new balanced marketing paradigm. European Journal of Marketing 42(9/10): 907–914.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, J.C., N. Kumar, and J.A. Narus. 2007. Value merchants: Demonstrating and documenting superior value in business markets. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, J.C., and J.A. Narus. 1998. Business marketing: Understand what customers value. Harvard Business Review 76: 53–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, J.C., J.A. Narus, and W. van Rossum. 2006. Customer value propositions in business markets. Harvard Business Review 84: 1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong, G., and P. Kotler. 2017. Marketing: An introduction, 13th ed. London: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnould, E., and C. Thompson. 2005. Consumer culture theory (CCT): Twenty years of research. Journal of Consumer Research 31(4): 868–882.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ballantyne, D., and R. Vavey. 2006. Creating value-in-use through marketing interaction: The exchange logic of relating, communicating and knowing. Marketing Theory 6(3): 335–348.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ballantyne, D., P. Frow, R. Varey, and A. Payne. 2011. Value propositions as communication practice: Taking a wider view. Industrial Marketing Management 40(2): 202–212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bititci, U., V. Martinez, P. Albores, and J. Parund. 2004. Creating and managing value in collaborative networks. International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management 34(3/4): 251–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blau, P. 1964. Exchange and power in social life. Hoboken: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Breur, T. 2006. The importance of focus for generating customer value. Journal of Financial Services Marketing 11(1): 64–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Byrne, N., and O. McCarthy. 2014. Value proposition preferences of credit union members and patronage activity. International Journal of Bank Marketing 32(6): 567–589.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buttle, F. 2009. Relationship Marketing. In Relationship Marketing Theory and Practice, ed. F. Buttle. London: Paul Chapman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chandler, J., and R. Lusch. 2014. Service systems: A broadened framework and research agenda on value propositions, engagement, and service experience. Journal of Service Research 18(1): 6–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cova, B., and R. Salle. 2008. Marketing solutions in accordance with the S-D logic: Co-creating value with customer network actors. Industrial Marketing Management 37(3): 270–277.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cropanzano, R. 2005. Social exchange theory: An interdisciplinary review. Journal of Management 31(6): 874–900.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Chernatony, L., and S. Segal-Horn. 2003. The criteria for successful service brands. European Journal of Marketing 37(7/8): 1095–1118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flint, D.J., and J.T. Mentzer. 2006. Striving for integrated value chain management given a service-dominant logic for marketing. In The Service Dominant Logic of Marketing: Dialog, Debate and Directions, ed. R.F. Lusch, and S.L. Vargo, 139–149. Armonk, NY: M. E. Sharpe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frow, P., and A. Payne. 2011. A stakeholder perspective of the value proposition concept. European Journal of Marketing 45(1/2): 223–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frow, P., J. McCol-Kennedy, T. Hilton, A. Davidson, A. Payne, and D. Brozovic. 2014. Value propositions: A service ecosystems perspective. Marketing Theory 14(3): 327–351.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Green, T., and J. Peloza. 2011. How does corporate social responsibility create value for customers? Journal of Consumer Marketing 28(1): 48–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hallikas, J., M. Immonen, M. Pynnönen, and K. Mikkonen. 2014. Service purchasing and value creation: Toward systemic purchases. International Journal of Production Economics 147: 53–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanan, M. 1970. Consultative selling. New York: AMACOM Division American Management Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanson, D., and M. Grimmer. 2007. The mix of qualitative and quantitative research in major marketing journals, 1993–2002. European Journal of Marketing 41(1/2) 58–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hassan, A. 2012. The value proposition concept in marketing: How customers perceive the value delivered by firms—a study of customer perspectives on supermarkets in Southampton in the United Kingdom. International Journal of Marketing Studies 4(3): 68–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holttinen, H. 2014. Contextualizing value propositions: Examining how consumers experience value propositions in their practices. Australian Marketing Journal 22(2): 103–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hughs, G.D., and D. Chafin. 1996. Turning new product development into a continuous learning process. Journal of Product Innovation Management 13(2): 89–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huppertz, J., S. Arenson, and R. Evans. 1978. An application of equity theory to buyer-seller exchange situations. Journal of Marketing Research 15(2): 250–260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, M.W. 2010. Seizing the White Space. Boston, MA: Harvard Business Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, R., and D. Norton. 1996. Linking the balanced scorecard to strategy. California Management Review 39(1): 53–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, R.S., and D.P. Norton. 2004. Strategy maps: Converting intangible assets into tangible outcomes. Harvard Business Press.

  • Kelly, K., J. Hyde, and J. Bruwer. 2015. U.S. wind consumer preferences for bottle characteristics, back label extrinsic cues and wine composition: A conjoint analysis. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics 27(4): 516–534.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, J., K. Hoon Kim, T. Garrett, and H. Jung. 2014. The contributions of firm innovativeness to customer value in purchasing behavior. Journal of Product Innovation Management 32(2): 201–213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Korkman, O., K. Storbacka, and B. Harald. 2010. Practices as markets: Value co-creation in e-invoicing. Australian Marketing Journal 18(4): 236–247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kotler, P., and K. Keller. 2016. Marketing Management, 15th ed. London: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kowalkowski, Ch., O. Ridell, J. Röndell, and D. Sörhammar. 2012. The co-creative practice of forming a value proposition. Journal of Marketing Management 28(13/14): 1553–1570.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lacey, R., and J. Sneath. 2006. Customer loyalty programs: Are they fair to consumers? Journal of Consumer Marketing 23(7): 458–464.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lanning, M. 2000. Delivering profitable value: A revolutionary framework to accelerate growth, generate wealth, and rediscover the heart of business. Cambridge, MA: Perseus Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lanning, M.J., and Michaels, E. 1988. A business is a value delivery system. McKinsey staff paper, 41(July).

  • Lee, M., Va Jackson, K.A. Miller-Spillman, and E. Ferrell. 2015. Female consumers’ intention to be involved in fair-trade product consumption in the U.S.: The role of previous experience, product features, and perceived benefits. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services 23: 91–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lapierre, J. 2000. Customer-perceived value in industrial contexts. Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing 15(2/3): 122–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lidič, J., and C. Margques da Silva. 2011. Value proposition as a catalyst for a customer focused innovation. Management Decision 49(10): 1694–1708.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ling-yee, L. 2011. Marketing metrics’ usage: Its predictors and implications for customer relationship management. Industrial Marketing Management 40(1): 139–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lusch, R.F., S.L. Vargo, and M. O’Brien. 2007. Competing through service: Insights from service-dominant logic. Journal of Retailing 83(1): 19–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maglio, P., and J. Spohrer. 2013. A service science perspective on business model innovation. Industrial Marketing Management 42(5): 665–670.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maklan, S., and S. Knox. 1997. Reinventing the brand: Bridging the gap between customer and brand value. Journal of Product and Brand Management 6(2): 119–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martinez, V. 2003. Understanding value creation: the value matrix and the value cube. Ph. D. Thesis, Strathclyde University, Glasgow.

  • Mason, C., and J. Simmons. 2014. Are they being served? Linking consumer expectation, evaluation and commitment. Journal of Services Marketing 26(4): 327–337.

    Google Scholar 

  • Melancon, J., D. Griffith, S. Noble, and Q. Chen. 2010. Synergistic effects of operant knowledge resources. Journal of Services Marketing 24(5): 400–411.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mikkola, T., Mahlamaki, T., and Uusitalo, O. 2013. Outlining the concept of customer value proposition as a communication tool. Presented at the 29th IMP-conference in Atlanta, Georgia, pp. 1–18.

  • Nilsson, E., and D. Ballantyne. 2014. Reexamining the place of servicescape in marketing: A service-dominant logic perspective. Journal of Services Marketing 28(5): 374–379.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osterwalder, A. and Pigneur, Y. 2004. The business model ontologya proposition in a design science approach. Dissertation No. 173, University Lausanne, Switzerland.

  • Payne, A., K. Storbacka, and P. Frow. 2008. Managing the co-creation of value. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science 36(1): 83–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Payne, A., and P. Frow. 2014a. Developing superior value propositions: A strategic marketing imperative. Journal of Service Management 25(2): 213–227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Payne, A., and P. Frow. 2014b. Deconstructing the value proposition of an innovation exemplar. European Journal of Marketing 48(1/2): 237–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peloza, J., and J. Shang. 2011. How can corporate social responsibility activities create value for stakeholders? A systematic review. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science 39(1): 117–135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pires, G., A. Dean, and M. Rehman. 2015. Using service logic to redefine exchange in terms of customer and supplier participation. Journal of Business Research 68(5): 925–932.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rintamäki, T., H. Kuusela, and L. Mitronen. 2007. Identifying competitive customer value propositions in retailing. Managing Service Quality: An International Journal 17(6): 621–634.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skålén, P., J. Gummerus, C. von Koskull, and P.R. Magnusson. 2015. Exploring value propositions and service innovations: A service-dominant logic study. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science 43(2): 137–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slater, S. 1997. Developing a customer value-based theory of the firm. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science 25(2): 162–167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steward, M.D., and B. R. Lewis. 2010. A comprehensive analysis of marketing journal rankings. Journal of Marketing Education 32(1): 75–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Storbacka, K. 2012. Strategic account management programs: Alignment of design elements and management practices. Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing 27(4): 259–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tranfield, D., D. Denyer, and P. Smart. 2003. Towards a methodology for developing evidence-informed management knowledge by means of systematic review. British journal of management 14(3): 207–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Truong, Y., G. Simmons, and M. Palmer. 2012. Reciprocal value propositions in practice: Constraints in digital markets. Industrial Marketing Management 41(1): 197–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, T., and J. Shockley. 2014. Creating shopper value: Co-creation roles, in-store self-service technology use, and value differentiation. Journal of Promotion Management 20(3): 311–327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vargo, S.L., and R.F. Lusch 2008. Service-dominant logic: continuing the evolution. Journal of the Academy of marketing Science 36(1): 1–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner, J., & Benoit, S. 2015. Creating value in retail buyer–vendor relationships: A service-centered model. Industrial Marketing Management 44: 166–179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webster Jr., F. 1994. Defining the new marketing concept (Part 1). Marketing Management 2(4): 22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zablah, A.R., B.P. Brown, and N. Donthu. 2010. The relative importance of brands in modified rebuy purchase situations. International Journal of Research in Marketing 27: 248–260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Deborah Goldring.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Goldring, D. Constructing brand value proposition statements: a systematic literature review. J Market Anal 5, 57–67 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41270-017-0014-6

Download citation

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41270-017-0014-6

Keywords

Navigation