<![CDATA[Purpose: This study examines how consumer participation in co-creation influences the brand image of Teh Botol Sosro within a participatory marketing context. Recent research has increasingly shifted from firm-centered branding toward consumer involvement in co-creating brand value and meaning through digital and social media interactions. However, prior studies have often focused on consumers with established brand relationships, leaving limited understanding of how non-loyal consumers experience open co-creation initiatives. This study addresses this gap by examining how both loyal and non-loyal consumers construct brand meaning through participation in the 2025 Teh Botol Sosro Packaging Design Competition. Methods: A descriptive qualitative approach with a phenomenological method was employed. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with six purposively selected participants, comprising loyal and non-loyal consumers as well as winners and non-winners. Data were analyzed through data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. Findings: Consumer participation functioned as an experiential mechanism that strengthened brand image through cognitive, emotional, and creative engagement. Access and risk-benefit considerations were more prominent than dialogue and transparency. Participation generated stronger, more favorable, and distinctive brand associations, while non-loyal consumers also contributed to brand meaning through creative participation. Originality: This study extends co-creation research by positioning loyal and non-loyal consumers as active meaning-makers in participatory brand image formation, offering empirical insight into how open creative participation can reshape brand perceptions beyond pre-existing brand loyalty.]]>
