Involving customers in the development and production of new services becomes a powerful force across many creative industries. Customers can directly supply the firm with innovative ideas, provide skilled labour, and act as a powerful force in marketing. Firms across the world, as they seek to innovate and to better respond to market needs, begin to recognize the benefits stemming from customers' involvement in their operations. Co-creation also becomes more prevalent as customers begin to expect it from firms - seeking to influence their favourite services or products, and to have them...

Taste is a core concept for the social sciences and an orienting notion in everyday practice. It is of equal relevance to academics and laypeople alike. Theorizations of taste are frequently multi- disciplinary, bringing an opportunity to cross-fertilize ideas and concepts. At the same time, a reader, challenged by the diverse body and dispersed nature of theories on taste, needs guidance navigating the literature and framing areas of interest. Until now, those interested in an academic perspective on the concept have had to traverse a wide range of literature. This is the first book that...

Contemporary consumer society is increasingly saturated by digital technology and digital communication. The devices which deliver this has made significant transformations in consumption patterns. Social media, mobile internet, smartphones, mobile apps, virtual fashion and digital retailing are merging with traditional consumption. As a result, we see this whole sphere is itself supported by the new market of digital devices. These "market devices" are significant in that they are not only consumed but are also increasingly used by consumers to consume.

This volume will explore...