Firm-established brand communities enable companies to increase the brand loyalty and word-of-mouth communication of their customers. Furthermore they represent an adequate organizational form for companies to integrate consumers into their innovation processes. Philipp Wiegandt empirically analyzes the effects the creation of a firm-established brand community has on the brand loyalty and word-of-mouth communication of its members over time. He finds that establishing a firm-established brand community creates value for both - the company and their customers.