Freedom from ownership: An exploration of access-based consumption

Consumers are increasingly attracted to the idea of accessing products instead of owning them. This shift is important to businesses as they pursue the growing market of consumers engaging in alternative forms of consumption. Access-based business models align consumer self-interest with responsible consumption behaviors, enabling consumers, businesses and society to benefit through this unique form of exchange. A multi-method approach examines the perceived motivations that impact consumers' willingness to access products through socially networked short-term rentals. The results suggest that multiple factors drive consumer attitudes. A cluster analysis reveals four distinct groups of consumers with varying dispositions toward access-based consumption: Fickle Floaters, Premium Keepers, Conscious Materialists and Change Seekers. This research provides an actionable segmentation framework for business practice.