Impact of Branding on Consumers Preference for Distilled Liquor in Abeokuta (Published)
Expansion in the Nigerian liquor market gives consumers the opportunity to choose from among competing brands. In spite of this freedom, consumers buy at least a brand while firm work assiduously to ensure their brand is preferred over competitors’.The research investigated the impact of branding on preference for distilled liquor products in Abeokuta metropolis. The aim is to determine how brand name and image affect consumers’ choice of a brand of distilled liquor. The research is a descriptive survey. It obtained a sample of 200 consumers of distilled liquor across twenty (20) alcoholic consuming spots in Abeokuta. A multistage sampling was adopted in the selection of respondents and Ordinary Least Square Regression as the analytical technique. It is found that demographic factors such as age, educational qualifications and occupation are statistically significant to determine consumption of alcoholic liquor (p-value < 0.05). It is also found that brand name and image significantly enhance consumer preference for distilled liquors in Abeokuta (p-value < 0.05). Brand name is however considered to be a paramount reason for consumption of these liquors. The study then recommends that since consumer cannot measure the differences among variety of liquors in term of value, distilling firms should build its strength around the name of the product to suit consumer orientation.
Keywords: Brand Image, Brand name, Consumer preference, distilled products
An Investigation of Factors Affecting Customers’ Satisfaction in the Supermarket Sector In Ho Chi Minh City (Hcmc) – Vietnam (Published)
This empirical study was conducted to find out the relationship among four factors such as brand image, service quality, product quality, and price toward customer’s satisfaction in supermarket in HCMC. The qualitative approach was applied to point out the measurement of the scales of factors and the quantitative approach was to test whether these observed variables contributing to these factors or not. After that, the author conducted a survey to customers who go shopping in Co.op Mart and Vinmart. After checking and selecting the suitable samples, the author collected 221 samples to analyze for this study. There was the test for the reliable theoretical framework that was conducted to test whether the hypothesis was supported or not. As a result, based on multiple regression analysis, the theoretical framework was significant and all the hypotheses were accepted. The factor affecting most to customer’s satisfaction was Price, the second one was Service Quality, the third one was Product Quality, and finally one was Brand Image. In general, this research model was conducted properly and valued to study. Supermarkets in HCMC can apply this empirical study to set up their business strategies and improve their customers’ satisfaction in order to enhance competitive competence as well as attract more new customers in the new era.
Keywords: Brand Image, Customer Satisfaction, Service Quality, Vietnam, product .quality
Marketing Strategy and Innovation at Michelin (Published)
The great management guru, Peter F. Drucker, once made a very profound observation that, “Because the purpose of business is to create customers, a business enterprise has two and only two basic functions – marketing and innovation. Marketing and innovation produce results; all the rest are costs” (Drucker, 1995). In this paper, we focus on the marketing strategies and innovation strengths at the France based company, Michelin. The company simply produces tires made of rubber, but still has a multi-billion dollar empire and is a leader in the tire industry, and continues to generate new plans for advancing its business. Indeed, Michelin has one of the most recognizable logo in the world (see above). We delve into the history of Michelin, its association with French culture, and seek to deduce what are the factors resulting in its marketing and innovation models that contribute to its huge success over the last 125+ years. The central scope of the paper is to understand the marketing strategy of Michelin in the global marketplace, and, at the same time, to analyze how Michelin has been successful in being able to innovate and maintain a stronghold in this sector in terms of market share. With respect to innovation, we note key disruptions that Michelin has been producing in its research labs and with respect to its marketing. We dig deeply into the strategic-branding approach at Michelin and analyze topics such as brand positioning, brand image and equity, advertising, market segmentation, and targeting, all in the aforementioned global setting.
Keywords: Advertising, Brand Image, Innovation, Marketing, Michelin, Strategy
AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF FACTORS AFFECTING CUSTOMER LOYALTY OF TELECOMMUNICATION INDUSTRY IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA (Published)
This research aims to evaluate the effect of the variables; namely, price, service quality, brand image and trends on customer loyalty of service providers of mobile phones in Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to a convenient sample throughout the major cities of Saudi Arabia. A total of 775 were returned representing a response rate of 89.6%. The study showed that the majority of respondents had prescribed to more than one service provider at the same time. Additionally, it was revealed that all the variables tested; price, service quality, brand image and trends, had a direct effect on customer loyalty of service provider. Results obtained from this research will offer necessary feedback for improving a company’s strategy, marketing mix, services, and product offerings, thereby, achieve customer satisfaction and improve their customer loyalty while attracting new ones.
Keywords: Brand Image, Customer loyalty, Price, Saudi Arabia, Service Quality, Trends, mobile phones
THE INFLUENCE OF BRAND IMAGE AND PROMOTIONAL MIX ON CONSUMER BUYING DECISION- A STUDY OF BEVERAGE CONSUMERS IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA (Published)
The objective of the study was to evaluate the influence of brand image and promotional mix on consumer buying decision. Descriptive survey research design was adopted as the study guide. Judgemental and purposive sampling techniques were used in which four hundred (400) copies of the research instrument were administered to beverage consumers in Lagos State, Nigeria, out of which three hundred and eighty four (384) copies of the questionnaire were filled and returned. Pearson Product Moment correlation was used to analyse the data generated from the respondents. The findings revealed that brand image, advertising, sales promotion and personal selling have significant influence on consumer buying decision at .01 level (2-tailed). The study concluded that the way a product is promoted coupled with the brand integrity of such product encourages consumers to purchase it and make repeat purchase of it, and as well enhances the referral of such product to other prospects. The study therefore recommended to the organizations, especially those that engage in the marketing of the fast-moving consumer goods, to focus on distinct promotional mix, as the study empirically proved that perception of brand image is capable of influencing consumer buying decision on sustainable basis. It is also recommended that each marketing company should adopt a combination of promotional mix that can bring about distinct outcomes in terms of turnover, improved market share, customer retention, profitability, and productivity among others.
Keywords: Advertising, Brand Image, Consumer Buying Decision, Personal Selling, Sales Promotion.