Mixed Feelings Enhance the Effectiveness of Luxury Advertising

The complexity of luxury brand imagery creates challenges for managers when selecting appeals for luxury branding strategies. Against this backdrop, the present research studies the potential of mixed emotional appeals in enhancing the persuasiveness of luxury advertising. Across two experimental studies, this research shows that luxury brand advertising featuring mixed emotional appeals of happiness and sadness (vs. happiness alone) will enhance higher levels of purchase intentions. Furthermore, this effect is driven by narrative transportation. In doing so, this research offers an innovative theoretical viewpoint on the effect of mixed emotional appeals on consumer selection. Managerially, these findings provide implications for marketing practitioners and industry professionals in developing effective marketing communication strategies for luxury brands.