In the marketing literature it is often argued that corporations should pay attention to the needs and wants not only of their own customers, but also to those of their customers'…
Abstract
Purpose
In the marketing literature it is often argued that corporations should pay attention to the needs and wants not only of their own customers, but also to those of their customers' customers. This is often referred to as “the marketing concept”. The objective is to revitalize the marketing concept beyond the traditional levels of manufacturers, suppliers, wholesalers, retailers, customers and consumers in marketing channels.
Design/methodology/approach
Conceptual discussion and approach are undertaken.
Findings
The term “spherical marketing concept” is coined. This term connects the distinct upstream and downstream levels of marketing channels, as well as reconnecting their indistinct subsequent and preceding levels.
Research limitations/implications
The dilemma with the common use of the marketing concept in the literature is that it fails to acknowledge the simultaneous connection of the components and interfaces between the upstream and downstream distinct levels from the start to the end of the marketing channels with the reconnection of the components and interfaces from the subsequent and preceding indistinct levels of the marketing channels. Further research efforts should be dedicated to bridge the start and end of distinct levels of marketing channels by way of the indistinct preceding and subsequent ones. Economic, social and ecological factors should be included.
Practical implications
It is not enough simply to match the supply and demand between the start and the end of marketing channels – a revitalization of the boundaries of the marketing concept towards a total circulation approach is necessary. Best practice tends to be more and more aware and skilful in this respect.
Originality/value
The spherical marketing concept contributes to pin‐point the importance of the seamlessness, sustainability and total circulation of components and interfaces in marketing channels. It also contributes to place current theories and practices in perspective for the future.
Details
Keywords
A reconciliation of channel theory with the observed practice of one sector of UK industry
Matheus Alberto Cônsoli and Marcos Fava Neves
The aim is to describe the analysis conducted by a leading company in the dairy (yogurt and fermented milk) sector in Brazil regarding the decision to implement a door‐to‐door…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim is to describe the analysis conducted by a leading company in the dairy (yogurt and fermented milk) sector in Brazil regarding the decision to implement a door‐to‐door distribution channel, in which one of the authors was involved.
Design/methodology/approach
A brief overview of the marketing channels is presented and the descriptive case study method was used to present the main company information.
Findings
The paper describes the decision‐making process that was used to define how basic services like breaking bulks, product variety, special convenience and wait time should be performed in this case. It also emphasizes the main channel decisions, the channel objectives and the chosen door‐to‐door structure for the company described in the case study.
Research limitations/implications
Even though case analysis has a theoretical background, the decision process used here cannot be generalized, being only a guide for academics and practitioners about how company A addressed the direct marketing issue.
Originality/value
The paper presents specific analysis of the Brazilian yogurt market and use as theoretical background the strategic environmental analysis. As a real case, it can be useful for practitioners as reference for decision making, as well for teaching purposes for case studies with college and MBA students. Finally, the paper presents as main contribution a “method for developing new marketing channels”.
Details
Keywords
Chuleshwar Naik and Bijuna C. Mohan
This study aims to examine the factors that impact the choice of paddy marketing channels in India at the farm level and household contingencies.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the factors that impact the choice of paddy marketing channels in India at the farm level and household contingencies.
Design/methodology/approach
Employing multinomial logistic regression, the analysis utilizes the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) 77th round Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) data from the 2018 to 2019 period, specifically for the paddy Kharif season, to determine the factors determining the choice of marketing channels. The significant independent variables include minimum support price (MSP) awareness, access to and adoption of technical advice, input agency, social group, farm size of farmers, region, age and education of the household head.
Findings
Awareness of MSP and adoption of technical advice from experts can enhance the probability of selecting government channels for paddy. The reliance on government input agencies has a favourable impact on the choice of government channels. Government channels are more likely preferred by higher social groups and those with higher land-holdings. There has been a state-wise variation in access to regulated marketing channels for paddy.
Research limitations/implications
Transaction cost associated with marketing channel choice is an important factor, not incorporated in this study due to the unavailability in the NSS data.
Originality/value
The research uses the latest unit-level data of the NSSO 77th round, published by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), the Government of India.
Details
Keywords
Adeolu Olukorede Dairo and Krisztián Szűcs
This paper aims to develop and implement a machine learning recommendation engine – an adaptive learning engine that drives business revenue through the ranking and recommendation…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to develop and implement a machine learning recommendation engine – an adaptive learning engine that drives business revenue through the ranking and recommendation of offers at a granular customer level across the inbound marketing channels.
Design/methodology/approach
A data set of over 300,000 unique sample of mobile customers was extracted and prepared. The gradient boosting machine (GBM) algorithm was developed, consolidated, deployed and experimented on two inbound marketing channels.
Findings
Research examining machine learning implementation and operationalisation within the large consumer base is seemingly silent. This paper bridges this gap by developing and implementing a machine learning adaptive engine across two inbound marketing channels. The performance of the inbound channels revealed the significant importance of digital campaigns that are driven by machine learning algorithms. Machine learning techniques can be well positioned as an integral part of a large consumer base marketing operations with real-time one-to-one marketing capability.
Research limitations/implications
The study explores the use of machine learning, a cutting-edge subset of artificial intelligence (AI), to drive consumer business revenue across different marketing channels. Further research should explore these marketing channels in greater depth by considering other branches of AI in driving consumer business revenue.
Practical implications
This study demonstrates the value, ease and application of a machine learning deployment in a consumer business with a large customer base in driving business revenue. It also shows customers' practical response to offerings across channels and the importance of the digital channel to firms with a large customer base.
Originality/value
The paper defines how machine learning extracts can be deployed and operationalised by marketers to drive business revenue. This approach is unique, realistic, easy to deploy and will guide future research in this space.
Details
Keywords
Orla Hayes and Felicity Kelliher
This paper explores the role of social media data in enhancing business-to-business (B2B) omni-channel marketing (OCM) efforts in small businesses. B2B marketing strategy is…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper explores the role of social media data in enhancing business-to-business (B2B) omni-channel marketing (OCM) efforts in small businesses. B2B marketing strategy is explored through the lens of each business’s marketing manager’s insights. A novel social media data visualisation tool for B2B marketing campaign development is presented, adding contextualisation to OCM activities.
Design/methodology/approach
This exploratory study uses the qualitative interview method to consider the research question: what role does social media data play in enhancing B2B marketing efforts across the omni-channel in small businesses? The paper presents the findings of 25 in-depth interviews with small business marketing managers from a range of B2B industries, guided by a literature-informed interview template. Insights are developed using an open coding approach via traditional pen and paper methods, underpinned by thematic analysis.
Findings
Small business marketing managers recognise the importance of social media data in enhancing B2B OCM efforts in their organisations. They acknowledge online marketing channels as paths to enhanced brand awareness and relationship building and recognise social media’s growing influence on B2B customers’ decision-making processes. There is a dichotomy between the professed importance of social media data and its use among some small business marketing managers in their B2B OCM efforts. Others are capturing these data and integrating it with other data resources, thereby embedding social media data as a strategic resource within their business. Findings indicate that it is only in these small businesses that OCM strategy is evolving to meet B2B customer expectations of an integrated OCM experience, informed by social media data, across all channels and touchpoints.
Research limitations/implications
This work is of particular interest to marketing managers within small businesses seeking to improve their B2B marketing efforts across the omni-channel. It is of value to all B2B enterprises, given the rate of advancement of the B2B social media marketing landscape.
Originality/value
Recognised as an emerging area, research relating to B2B OCM is limited. This paper provides empirical data on OCM efforts in small businesses from a B2B perspective and considers the role of social media data in enhancing marketing efforts across the omni-channel. Underpinned by social network theory and based on insights gleaned from fieldwork, a social media data visualisation tool is presented, the first of its kind in this sphere.
Details
Keywords
Besides having an important place in the daily lives of today’s consumers, technology impacts consumer behavior in variety of ways such as giving direction to their buying…
Abstract
Besides having an important place in the daily lives of today’s consumers, technology impacts consumer behavior in variety of ways such as giving direction to their buying behavior, changing the characteristics that they expect from a product and the value they perceive, and influencing their satisfaction about the product. When omnichannel marketing is analyzed in this respect, it is an important issue that should be considered for the success of the marketing activities of the enterprises. This chapter will explain the single channel first and then multichannel marketing and omnichannel marketing concepts. The potential effects of omnichannel usage on issues about consumer behavior such as brand loyalty, customer satisfaction, perceived brand value, and buying behavior will be explained in detail. Then, the characteristics of the consumers using omnichannel and the factors affecting the success of these continents in terms of both consumers and businesses will be discussed. In this chapter, omnichannel marketing application examples will also be discussed in detail.
Details
Keywords
Ben B. Beck, J. Andrew Petersen and Rajkumar Venkatesan
Allocating budget optimally to marketing channels is an increasingly difficult venture. This difficulty is compounded by an increase in the number of marketing channels, a rise in…
Abstract
Allocating budget optimally to marketing channels is an increasingly difficult venture. This difficulty is compounded by an increase in the number of marketing channels, a rise in siloed data between marketing technologies, and a decrease in individually identifiable data due to legislated privacy policies. The authors explore the rich attribution modeling literature and discuss the different model types and approaches previously used by practitioners and researchers. They also investigate the changing landscape of marketing attribution, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different data handling approaches (i.e., aggregate vs. individualistic data), and present a research agenda for future attribution research.
Details
Keywords
Qiongwei Ye and Baojun Ma
Internet + and Electronic Business in China is a comprehensive resource that provides insight and analysis into E-commerce in China and how it has revolutionized and continues to…
Abstract
Internet + and Electronic Business in China is a comprehensive resource that provides insight and analysis into E-commerce in China and how it has revolutionized and continues to revolutionize business and society. Split into four distinct sections, the book first lays out the theoretical foundations and fundamental concepts of E-Business before moving on to look at internet+ innovation models and their applications in different industries such as agriculture, finance and commerce. The book then provides a comprehensive analysis of E-business platforms and their applications in China before finishing with four comprehensive case studies of major E-business projects, providing readers with successful examples of implementing E-Business entrepreneurship projects.
Internet + and Electronic Business in China is a comprehensive resource that provides insights and analysis into how E-commerce has revolutionized and continues to revolutionize business and society in China.
Jason Scott Entsminger and Lucy McGowan
This paper aims to investigate associations between firm resources and reliance on entrepreneurial marketing (EM) channels among agrofood ventures. It accounts for agropreneur…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate associations between firm resources and reliance on entrepreneurial marketing (EM) channels among agrofood ventures. It accounts for agropreneur gender and racial/ethnic status in the context of marketing channel portfolio composition. The authors examine the established assumption that resource limitations drive EM and whether socially disadvantaged status of agropreneurs is associated with marketing strategy beyond standard resourcing measures.
Design/methodology/approach
Using 2015 Local Foods Marketing Practices Survey data, the authors apply linear regression to investigate differences in the use of EM channels, accounting for resources, social status and other factors.
Findings
Limited-resource ventures rely more on consumer-oriented channels that require EM practices. Socially disadvantaged entrepreneurs favor these channels, even when accounting for resources. Notably, ventures headed by men of color rely more on the most customer-centric local foods marketing channel.
Research limitations/implications
Future research should investigate how social and human capital influences the use of EM.
Practical implications
Entrepreneurial support policy and practice for agropreneurs should be cautious about the “double-burden” folk theorem of intersectional disadvantage and review how to best direct resources on EM to groups most likely to benefit.
Originality/value
This paper uses a unique, restricted, nation-wide, federal data set to examine relationships between resource endowments, social status and the composition of agrofood enterprises’ marketing channel portfolios. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first to include racial- and ethnic-minority status of agropreneurs and to account for intersectionality with gender.