Publicações

Previous investigations in fitness centers have indicated that interaction between customers and staff members play a crucial role in the service delivery process, being a source of value creation that can influence customers perceptions and behavioral intentions. However, despite available research demonstrating the influence of this variable on perceived value and repurchase intention in these facilities. Evidence on how interactions between members and staff influence users’ emotional responses is lacking. For this reason, the purpose of this study was to analyze the relationships among service encounter, consumer trust, and members loyalty in fitness centers. Data were collected by means of an on-line questionnaire surveyed to a total of 235 active users from different fitness centers across Portugal. Data analysis procedures included a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) followed by the development of a structural equation model (SEM). The results of the analysis demonstrated good psychometric properties. In addition, significant relationships were found between service encounter and consumer trust as well as between consumer trust and loyalty. However, service encounters did not influence significantly consumer loyalty. These results provide empirical evidence of the role of customer-employee interactions as a source of intangible value (i.e. emotional and social) creation in fitness centers. These interactions can be a source of value-in-use that can lead to other positive outcomes for managers, customers and staff members in these facilities such as increased members’ sense of community, customer engagement and loyalty.

The fashion industry’s environmental crisis demands urgent shifts toward sustainable consumption models, such as capsule wardrobes. While prior research has examined ethical fashion adoption through conventional behavioral lenses, this study innovatively integrates heterodox economic theories, including the Theory of Subjective Value (TSV) and Bounded Rationality, with the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) to analyze discrepancies between attitudes and actions. Using a sample of 776 Portuguese consumers, we examine a mediation model where attitude links personal shopping values, fashion involvement, and socially responsible behavior to adoption intentions. Results reveal socially responsible behavior’s strong indirect effect via attitude, while personal shopping values and fashion involvement show paradoxical relationships, underscoring cognitive and market barriers. Gender and generational analyses highlight women’s higher sustainability engagement and Generation Z’s intention-action gap. The study advances sustainable fashion literature by exposing how subjective valuations and structural constraints interact, calling for coordinated stakeholder interventions beyond individual behavior change.

Financial management in the context of a start-up has gained prominence in the literature due to entrepreneurs’ insufficient and often incapable analysis. This study examines differences in financial indicators during the initial years of operation between technology start-ups in Portugal that went bankrupt and those that remained active, focusing on the period between 2013–2022. Using a panel data sample of 4,591 companies, hypothesis tests and the Probit regression model were applied. The results reveal statistically significant differences in financial indicators between bankrupt and nonbankrupt start-ups. General liquidity and operating return on assets positively correlate with the likelihood of survival, while immediate liquidity and return on equity have an inverse relationship with nonbankruptcy probability. Consequently, the study identifies a set of average values to monitor, guiding entrepreneurs to avoid bankruptcy. The research provides practical guidelines for financial management in start-ups and aids in analyzing financial indicators to reduce bankruptcy risk.

This study explores the antecedents, decisions and outcomes associated with mumpreneurship. It also reviews the primary theories, contexts and methodologies used in the existing literature on the subject. In addition, this study aims to identify potential future research directions in this field.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 protocol and the ADO-TCM framework. A total of 57 articles from the Scopus and Web of Science databases were analyzed. R software was used for performance analysis and science mapping.

Findings

The antecedents-decisions-outcomes (ADO) framework identified 233 factors grouped into 12 antecedent categories, 2 decisions and 4 outcomes. Antecedents include work-related issues, professional aspects, information and communication technologies, motherhood and childcare, family support, personal aspects, autonomy, independence and flexibility. In addition, financial dimensions, gender issues, societal and community impacts and the identification of entrepreneurial opportunities are integral to the antecedents. Mumpreneurs often start businesses despite challenges. Outcomes include income generation, business expansion, work–family balance and personal well-being. The theory-context-methodology (TCM) framework highlights a reliance on empirical research, especially qualitative studies, mainly in highly developed countries.

Originality/value

This review holds significant theoretical and practical value regarding mumpreneurship. The findings of this research could facilitate the development of programs that aim to foster and promote mumpreneurship through the involvement of various stakeholders, which has noteworthy practical implications for enhancing economic empowerment.