Search results

Today marketers operate in globalised markets, planning new ways to engage with domestic and foreign customers alike. While there is a greater need to understand these two customer groups, few studies examine the impact of customer engagement tactics on the two customer groups, focusing on their perceptual differences. Even less attention is given to customer engagement tactics in a cross-cultural framework. In this research, the authors investigate customers in China and UK, aiming to compare their perceptual differences on the impact of multiple customer engagement tactics.

Using a quantitative approach with 286 usable responses from China and the UK obtained through a combination of person-administered survey and computer-based survey screening process, the authors test a series of hypotheses to distinguish across-cultural differences.

Findings show that the collectivists (Chinese customers) perceive customer engagement tactics differently than the individualists (UK customers). The Chinese customers are more sensitive to price and reputation, whereas the UK customers respond more strongly to service, communication and customisation. Chinese customers’ concerns with extensive price and reputation comparisons may be explained by their awareness towards face (status), increased self-expression and equality.

The findings challenge the conventional practice of using similar customer engagement tactics for a specific market place with little concern for multiple cultural backgrounds. The paper proposes strategies for marketers facing challenges in this globalised context.

Several contributions have been made to the literatures. First, the study showed the effects of culture on the customers’ perceptual differences. Second, the study provided more information to clarify customers’ different reactions towards customer engagement tactics, highlighted by concerns towards face and status. Third, the study provided empirical evidence to support the use of multiple customer engagement tactics to the across cultural studies.

This paper aims to explore how segmentation is often undertaken in practice, highlighting problems commonly encountered. It is based on the deregulated and highly competitive UK market for energy, namely gas and electricity supply. The case is appropriate for modules in marketing strategy, target marketing and marketing management, at MBA, MSc or advanced UG levels.

The case highlights why this organisation opted for segmentation, how it conducted this project, and the problems faced. These insights are referenced with the segmentation literature.

With little product differentiation possible, gas and electricity tend to be price‐driven purchases, which increases the importance of effective segmentation and shrewd target segment selection. Both consumer and business segments are cited, but the case focuses more on the business‐to‐business outcomes. The approach adopted for selecting which segments to target is also featured. This case explores the use of market segmentation and the practical difficulties encountered. The solutions to these difficulties are highlighted.

The case could not disclose the company's identity, but provides an insightful explanation of how segmentation may be conducted and the problems encountered. There is bias towards business segments, rather than consumer ones.

Readers will be made aware of the impediments facing effective execution of market segmentation and be well prepared to spot such difficulties in any such projects that they might undertake.

Few cases explore the practical issues encountered during segmentation or the creation of a new target market strategy. These difficulties are addressable, but only if they are anticipated or identified expediently. This paper provides such warnings and guidance.

Numerous experts believe that in practice the much‐vaunted benefits of formalized marketing planning as extolled by Jain or McDonald often fail to materialize. Experience with many business‐to‐business organizations has shown that this does not have to be so: if managed and planned, marketing planning can indeed bring forth its well‐publicized virtues. In addition, if the process is well conceived as well as carefully executed, there are significant benefits to be had in terms of relationships and communications, as described in this paper. Understanding the prerequisites of the marketing planning programme prior to initiation is essential.

Most marketing managers are now convinced about the benefits that businesses gain from marketing planning. In the UK, research indicates that the majority of businesses are involved in some kind of planning activity. In Portugal, where the marketing function is less well established, marketing planning is not so developed. Presents the results of a comparative study which examines the level and nature of marketing activity in Portuguese and UK firms and considers the impact upon marketing planning activity. The study is based on a sample of firms drawn from the top 1,000 businesses (by turnover) in the UK and Portugal. Illustrates stark contrasts in the characteristics of marketing planning in each country, although there are signs of increasing marketing and planning activity in Portugal.

The textbooks are full of explanations of why businesses must understand their competitive arena. There are numerous conceptual frameworks and checklists to assist in this endeavour. Perhaps not too surprisingly, many businesses exhibit only a superficial knowledge of their competitors’ strategies and actions, taking little account of their rivals when formulating their own marketing plans. The electronics industry, already the fourth most important industrial sector in the world, is tipped to become the principal growth sector in the next century. A recent survey reveals that in this important industry, companies’ attempts to understand their competitors do not always live up to the models of Michael Porter or Philip Kotler.

Customers have unique requirements, aspirations and satisfaction levels. Some customers, though, are “similar”: they have common requirements for goods, services and ideas. If these customers′ needs can be clearly identified and those with similar needs grouped in quantities of sufficient sizes, market segments have been determined. Each customer group – or market segment – has specific expectations and retail marketers must develop retail brands and concepts which cater for the needs of the segment targeted. Having decided on which segment (or segments) to target, retailers position their brands with an image with which the targeted customers identify. Market segmentation, targeting and positioning is a fundamental process in modern retail marketing strategy. The key decisions and the steps necessary for successful implementation are examined.

In a recent article advertising agency boss Stephen King suggested that now is the time to revitalize the marketing of brands for the 1990s, and in particular to develop branding and positioning in services marketing. Argues that King′s comments do not do justice to the majority of marketing departments, especially the growing ranks of services marketers, and that current practice in this area is already well established in its own right. Draws on evidence from services marketing theory and practice to consider whether this area of marketing is any less developed than the marketing of manufactured goods. The initial focus is on the particular characteristics of the services sector and the resulting extension of the traditional marketing mix. For the practitioner, branding and positioning are at the forefront of the consumer offering. The role of branding and positioning in services marketing is, therefore, a key element of the discussion. Is the marketing of services a lower form of the discipline than the marketing of consumer goods or industrial products? Is it reasonable to generalize across all areas of services – a plethora of subsectors?

CRM treats various profiles of customers or individual customers differently, purposively favoring certain customers while deliberately disadvantaging others. This research aims to provide insights into how advantaged (favored) and (non-favored) disadvantaged customers perceive fairness in retailers’ marketing tactics.

A multiple study approach has been adopted, influenced by a three-stage process, which involved exploratory interviews, pilot tests, and the main survey.

The results have provided marketers with a perspective on maintaining and enhancing relationships. Service and marketing communications concern the advantaged customers most, while pricing is the most important aspect for the disadvantaged customers.

In terms of handling customers, there are important implications from recognizing how those who are favored and those who are not so advantaged perceive their treatment. Failure to appreciate the pitfalls for visibly treating certain customers more favorably and others demonstrably less so, will have stark consequences for retail management and consumer marketing.

Contributions are made to the literatures on CRM and on unfairness, particularly in terms of how to address the inevitable inequities inherent in retailers’ CRM offerings. Identification of the advantaged and disadvantaged customers and their respective views allows marketers to develop more appropriate approaches for handling customers who are sensitive to perceived unfairness.

The purpose of this study is to (a) develop a conceptual framework exploring the relationships between perceived negative firm customization, unfairness perceptions, and customer loyalty intentions, and (b) investigate the moderating effects of trust in these relationships. The study explores how customizing offers to match customers’ individual needs and how treating customers differentially provoke unfairness perceptions among those not being considered most important. While the literature discusses unfairness perceptions of pricing, promotion, and service, less is known about unfairness in customization practices.

Using a survey approach, 443 completed questionnaires we collected. Following validation of our item measures, a hierarchical linear regression analysis was conducted to test the conceptual model and hypothesized linkages between our constructs.

The results demonstrate that customers’ negative perceptions of customization increase their unfairness perceptions. Unfairness perceptions drastically reduce customer loyalty intentions with trust acting as a significant moderator. Trust increases loyalty intentions even when unfairness perceptions are present. Our findings provide a foundation for understanding how firms may improve their perceived fairness. This increase in perceived fairness creates positive attributions, reduces negative customer experience perceptions and increases loyalty intentions.

Key contribution is the development and validation of a conceptual model explaining the linkages between firm customization and unfairness perceptions, firm customization and customer loyalty intentions and the moderating role of trust between these relationships. This study extends the understanding of how customization practices impact unfairness perceptions and, subsequently, influence consumers’ perceptions, intentions and behavior.

Organizations wishing to apply the principles of market segmentation often face problems putting the theory into practice. All too often the required background analysis is inadequate or poorly structured or the translation of segmentation strategy into marketing programs is impeded. To be successful, segmentation must lead an organization through a process which undertakes background analysis, determines strategy and develops marketing programs. However, there are a number of points at which the process can break down. Shows how the segmentation program described has tackled these difficulties, leading several management teams through the analysis, strategy and program elements of the market segmentation process. A range of benefits arise from the program. Primary benefits are that the process puts the customer first, maximizes resources and emphasizes strengths over competitors. Secondary benefits relate to the development of a more market‐focussed company culture and the building of inter‐ and intra‐organizational relationships.