Building a family firm image: How family firms capitalize on their family ties

We apply organizational identity theory to examine factors that lead family firms to create a family firm image and investigate how a family firm image impacts firm performance. We find that family firm pride, community social ties, and long-term orientation are positively associated with the inclination of a firm to portray itself as a family business to consumers and stakeholders. In turn, we find that a family firm image benefits firm performance. Thus, our study demonstrates that by building a family firm image, the unique family influences on the firm can be leveraged to create a competitive advantage for family firms. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.