This study investigated and clarified the impact of self-image, celebrity endorsement
and social expectation on the consumption of metrosexuals toward male grooming
product.
The findings of the research show that there is a significant and positive relationship
between metrosexuals’ concern toward self-image and their consumption of male
grooming products at p < 0.05 level. Therefore, the first hypothesis (H1) is supported.
This corresponds to the findings of Featherstone (1991) who states that the men’s
desire to create, develop and maintain their self-image will stimulate their consumption
of male grooming products. This indicates that metrosexuals who are concern about
their self-image are more likely to have the intention to consume male grooming
products. This study had revealed an important implication that metrosexuals do
thought about the representativeness of their self-image when consuming male
grooming products. Therefore, it is critical for the male grooming product providers to
associate their product with the ability to enhance self-image. Nizar and Miriam (2009)
suggest marketers to emphasize on how the consumption of the male grooming
products can enhance the values that are important in the eye of men (i.e. self image)
when formulating the advertising message. In addition, with the intention to further
attract metrosexuals’ consumption of male grooming products, marketers can stress the
unique self-image characteristic of the product in comparison to the images held by its
competitors, thus making their products stand out in the crowd (Michelle, Hye-Shin &
Jaehee, 2008).
The study also indicates that there is a significant and positive relationship between
celebrity endorsements and consumption of metrosexuals toward male grooming
products at p < 0.05 level. Thus, the second hypothesis (H2) is supported. This supports
the findings of Cole (2008) in which endorsement of celebrities contributes to positive
change in metrosexuals’ attitude toward the consumption of male grooming products.
This signifies that celebrity endorsement is also evaluated when metrosexuals make the
decision on the consumption of male grooming products. The relevant implication for
this finding is that the role celebrity endorsement is associated with the consumption of
male grooming products. Male grooming product providers should design the store
environment that integrates the association of celebrity endorser to develop positive
purchase intentions and thus the consumption of the male grooming products (Loo-Lee,
Ibrahim & Chong, 2005). Furthermore, with the aim to utilize the influences of celebrity
endorsement, male grooming product providers should employ suitable and matching
celebrities as endorser to the male grooming products, as it will have an effect on the
celebrity and the product he endorses will be an accepted truism to men (Lynn &
Matthew, 1994).