Developing a model of factors affecting customers' behavior in buying sportswear from online stores

the purpose of this research was to develop a model of factors affecting customers' behavior in buying sportswear from online stores. The qualitative research method was chosen with the grounded theory approach. The statistical population of the research included two parts of human resources (managers of online stores, online marketers, and expert professors in the field of digital marketing) and information sources (scientific, library, and relevant and reliable media). Sufficient number of interviewees and information sources were selected purposefully and based on reaching theoretical saturation (18 people and 25 documents). The research tool included semi-structured exploratory interviews along with a systematic library study. The validity of the tool was evaluated and confirmed based on the practical and scientific merit of the sample, the opinion of experts and the agreement between the correctors. In order to analyze the findings, a multi-stage conceptual coding method (open, central and selective) was used with the foundation's data theory approach. The final conceptual framework included 59 components, 11 dimensions and 5 themes identified. Its themes and dimensions include addiction to online shopping (dimensions of addictive shopping behavior and pleasurable shopping), quality (dimensions of website quality, product quality and service quality), ease and cost-effectiveness of shopping (dimensions of ease and time saving and ease purchase), advertising (dimensions of product advertising and word-of-mouth advertising) and trust (dimensions of site credibility and sense of security). Based on the findings of the research, it can be said that the tendency of customers to buy sportswear from online stores can be influenced by individual factors, and paying attention to this issue can make sports stores more distinctive in attracting customers and consumers in the virtual space compared to other competitors