%0 Journal Article %T Insights from Brand Associations: Alcohol Brands and Automotive Brands in the Mind of the Consumer %A Kov芍cs %A L芍szl車 %J - %D 2019 %R 10.22598/mt/2019.31.1.97 %X Saˋetak Purpose 每 The purpose of this paper is to show how the analysis of brand associations can help to elaborate the cognitive position of a brand. The paper compares brand associations of Hungarian consumers in two product categories, automobiles and alcoholic drinks, in two datasets. Design/Methodology/Approach 每 To obtain a detailed picture of a brand*s position in the mind of consumers, free brand associations to 10 alcohol and 13 automotive brands were collected, the associations were categorized, and their frequency and distribution analyzed. K-means clustering was used to identify similarities. Associations within and across product categories are compared, and shifts in associative structures are described. Findings and implications 每 The paper shows that associative structures differ across product categories. The two datasets (collected in 2011-2012 and 2015-2016) highlight that brand associations and thus a brand*s image change over time and that change is not only due to marketing communication 每 rather, media news and personal experiences also lead to change. Results confirm that positive and negative associations are likely to be connected to each brand; however, Fetscherin and Henrich*s (2014) matrix is just partly proved by associations. Finally, it is shown that strong associations can be generated by means of marketing communication, and consistent communication over the years is a prerequisite for creating strong associations. Limitations 每 Brand associations are only able to show the current position of brand names in a special cultural/linguistic and temporal context: thus, the present paper describes the associations for brands in Hungary and in Hungarian in the years 2011-2012 and 2015-2016. Originality 每 The paper compares associative structures of Hungarian consumers across and within product categories in two different datasets and shows that associative structures change over time %K brands %K brand associations %K cognitive position %K branding %K automotive brands %K alcohol brands %U https://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=323069