Examining the Influence of Product Quality on Repurchase Intention: The Mediating Roles of Brand Image and Word of Mouth in the Context of Weber Products

Abstract

This study investigates the structural relationships among Product Quality (PQ), Brand Image (BI), Word of Mouth (WOM), and Repurchase Intention (RI) to empirically understand the sequential mechanisms driving consumer loyalty in a highly competitive market. Grounded conceptually in the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) paradigm, the research posits that PQ acts as an external antecedent influencing RI through the mediating cognitive and behavioural constructs of BI and WOM. Data were collected from a sample of 187 Weber product consumers in Surabaya and analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The empirical results confirm all hypothesized direct and indirect relationships. Specifically, PQ significantly and positively influences both BI (β=0.337, p<0.000) and WOM (β=0.351, p<0.000). Furthermore, both BI and WOM significantly predict RI, with WOM (β=0.498, p<0.000) demonstrating a markedly stronger effect compared to BI (β=0.414, p<0.000). The model successfully explains a moderate 57% of the variance in Repurchase Intention. These findings underscore the strategic imperative for management to prioritize superior product quality, which organically fosters a positive brand perception and stimulates potent word-of-mouth promotion identified as the most critical driver of repeated purchases. Future research is encouraged to integrate additional affective factors, such as customer satisfaction or perceived price fairness, to enhance the explanatory power of the consumer loyalty model.