The Fate of Gender-Affiliated Products in Mass Merchandising

Stephen C. Jones
Department of Business & Economics, Arkansas Tech University

Tami L. Knotts
Department of Management, Bridgewater State College

Gerald Udell
Center for Business & Economic Development, Missouri State University

Abstract
This paper examined the factors that are critical for small health and beauty aid (HBA) manufacturers to become Wal-Mart suppliers.  The sample firms for this study were small HBA manufacturers who participated in a mass merchandising screening program.  Participating firms submitted their product for external evaluation, and each product was either rejected or sent on to the mass merchandiser for buyer review.  Exploratory factor analysis was used to determine the factors that were critical in deciding which products were suitable for Wal-Mart’s buyers to examine.  Owner gender and product gender were also examined using chi-square analysis and independent t-tests.  We found that mass retailers wanted HBA products that have demand stability and low risk potential, and male-owned firms seemed to have better success in the mass merchandising marketplace because of the type of product that they submitted.  Only 31 percent of male-owned firms submitted gender-affiliated products compared to fifty percent of female-owned firms.  In our study, gender-affiliated products were found to be less successful than unisex products at getting forwarded onto Wal-Mart for buyer review and at receiving actual shelf space.

Determinants of Grocery Store Loyalty of Consumers in Bangladesh

Dr Palto R.Datta and Dr Bonya R. Chakraborty
London College of Management Studies, London, UK

Retailing in India from a Consumer’s  Perspective

Jogendra Kumar Nayak
KIIT School of Management, Bhubaneswar, India

Abstract
In India, as well as many other countries, retailing is often looked upon as a petty merchant activity and a low priority area on policy circles. Organized retailing is looked as a consumerist luxury. But the truth is that retail not only has an economic affect but also a social one.
The retail revolution has set its foot on the Indian soil. It has created serious excitement among the Indian consumers and the entrepreneurs. Statistics reveal that the amount of FDI into the retail sector is huge and is expected to increase more. Every other day there is news of a new company investing in the retail sector in India. The retail stocks have become the darling of the stock market.

            This paper reviewed various literatures to understand the factors affecting shopping behavior in organized retail outlets. It investigates the reasons for growth in the organized retail sector. Here an attempt has been made to find the important variables, which affect the consumer’s mindset while choosing a retail outlet. There would be several factors but which of these are the most important ones are to be decided. Again the reasons for growth of organized retailing in India have been studied. A comparative analysis has been made between different age groups. It has been done to study the behavior of these groups and their reaction patterns to a set of similar variables.

Consumer Preferences Towards Retail Medical Outlets in a Private University in Vellor, Inida

A Vasumathi(Mrs.)  & T Muthupalaniappan
VIT Business School, VIT University, Vellore , India

Abstract
Retail medical outlets are considered as one of the most profitable business in today’s world. This is an industry with consistent demand and least affected by recessionary trends. But, the competition existing in this field is considered to be a greatest challenge for the retailers. In order to overcome this competition, it is necessary to attract the consumers through knowing their needs and thereby meet the needs and satisfy them to the full extent. This paper, focused on the preferences of university students towards retail medical outlets, aims at providing suggestions to attain a competitive position for a medical outlet.

Customer Services Quality and Customer Satisfaction in the Retail Banking Industry in Gahan

Yvonne Nimoh-Brema
Breyer State University, USA

Abstract
            This study seeks to examine the quality of service delivery of retail banks in Ghana using the five SERVQUAL dimensions by Parasuraman et al 1990. It also ascertains the perception of quality service held by customers of these banks and their opinion of the level of quality of service they receive from their banks using the SERVQUAL instrument. The study focuses on service quality but also looks at customer satisfaction at the same time using the same dimensions of the SERVQUAL model. An exploratory approach and a random sampling method are used to select 200 customers of four banks in Ghana. The results indicate that service quality in the retail banks used for this study is altogether good. Among the five dimensions tested, Reliability scored the lowest for ‘Perception’ and ‘Tangibles’, the highest. Also, on the average, around 60 % of customers are satisfied with the quality of service they receive from their banks and around 36% are very satisfied.

An Exploratory Investigation into the Interpretation
And Perceived Importance of Internal Marketing,from the Perspective of  Employees

Mbago Ndifuna Hamza
Breyer State University, USA

Abstract
Internal marketing has been present as a concept in business literature for many decades, yet there appears to be no clear definition as to its actual purpose, its benefits, or who should implement such an initiative, if at all.

The objective of this research was to take an exploratory investigation into internal marketing from the perspective of the employee, in order to ascertain their interpretation of internal marketing and its perceived level of importance within an organisation.

Through the process of interviews and a focus group, the thoughts and beliefs of employees were extracted and analysed in relation to current literature.  Interestingly, the apparent confusion as to an actual definition of internal marketing was present throughout the research, as was the failure to find agreement on who should implement such an initiative.  The research also highlighted the different benefits that employees believed internal marketing could produce, from shared knowledge and commitment, to actual product sales.  However, internal marketing was unanimously seen as important and the input of senior management critical to its success.

Marketing management and strategies

S. S. Aggarwal
Professor, Bihani S. D. P. G. College, Sri Ganganagar (Rajasthan) Indi  

Abstract
            Marketing management strategy is focused on the practical application of marketing techniques and the management of a firm's marketing resources and activities. Consumers claim to hate marketing - mostly, because they get too much unwanted marketing. In response, regulators develop medium-by-medium marketing suppression regulations. Unfortunately, these ad hoc solutions do little to satisfy consumers, and dynamic technologies and business practices quickly render them moot. Instead of continuing this cycle, there would be some benefit to developing a cross-media marketing regulatory scheme. However, any holistic solution must be predicated on a clear rationale for regulating marketing.

            Marketing departments are addressing these imperatives by instituting an Enterprise Marketing Management strategy that aligns marketing staff, marketing process and marketing automation with the goals of the company. This paper reviews the applicability of marketing management to teen driving safety. It draws on a wide range of information, including evaluation studies of specific programs as well as standards of practice within these two professions. The paper attempts to distinguish it from the practice of commercial marketing management, whose goal is profit.

Small-Scale Independent Water Providers: The Informal Private Sector - Ghana

Dr Benjamin Kingsley Panyin Acquah
Investment Strategy, Asset Management Department
Thames Water UK

Abstract
            In developing countries, including Ghana, the water sector faces tremendous challenges in attracting investment into the sector. Moreover, attempts to introduce private sector participation have always attracted great resistance. In Ghana the water shortage problem has compounded over the ages due to a mixture of population growth, rapid expansion of the urban cities amidst poor regional planning. Private water suppliers (water vendors) have been brought in by the government as a short term measure for solving the urban water supply problems. These private suppliers charge exorbitant amounts to provide water to households irrespective of their social status. By using a preliminary field survey of the informal water sector in Accra and Tema metropolitan areas in Ghana, this study demonstrate that consumers are already paying very high amounts between GH¢2.00 - GH¢6.50 ($1.35 USD – 4.39 USD) per m3 of water compared to the GH¢0.66 ($0.45 USD) per m3 being charged by the official water company and therefore are able to pay for a reasonable tariff if the official services are improved and expanded to include all.