D.Phil. (Marketing) / Despite the extensive research undertaken in the subject area of services marketing, much is still unknown about services internal marketing, specifically internal marketing mix elements and how they affect brand awareness in services organisations. This study attempted to address this limitation. The study revolved around eleven internal marketing mix elements and their influence on brand awareness dimensions in the South African car rental industry. Services organisations of which car rental companies are an example playa vital role in South Africa's economy, as services organisations contribute 74% to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GOP). Car rental companies like many other services organisations, are operating in a complex and extremely competitive environment. In order to attract and retain external customers, car rental companies need to focus on programmes to enhance their services delivery. Employees are the most valuable asset of an organisation, especially in the services environment. Internal marketing programmes aimed at employees are crucial to motivate them to improve service delivery to external customers. The four traditional internal marketing mix elements, namely internal product, price, promotion and place, as well as the three services internal marketing mix elements, namely internal people, process, and physical evidence are well known in product and services markets. However, this study contributed to the body of knowledge by adding four recent internal marketing mix elements, namely internal personal relationships, packaging, positioning and performance. Brand awareness refers to the strength of a brand's presence in the customer's mind. Awareness is measured according to the different ways in which customers remember a brand, ranging from recognition (exposure to the brand) to recall (What can be recalled about the brand) (Aaker, 2004:10). Brand awareness recall is associated with three dimensions, namely trustworthiness, overall evaluation and loyalty. In order to establish the influence of the eleven internal marketing mix elements on the brand awareness as perceived by the customers of selected car rental companies, an empirical investigation was conducted. The primary objective of this study was to determine the perceived influence of the different elements of internal marketing on the brand awareness as perceived by selected car rental customers in South Africa. Avis First Car Rental and Hertz were prepared to participate in this study. Combined they have a market share of more than 55%, thus it was believed that they were a fair representation of the car rental industry in South Africa. Probability sampling in the form of directly proportional stratified sampling was used in terms of selecting only customers of the three car rental companies, not including employees. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of internal marketing on the brand awareness perceived by customers, therefore, only customers were selected for the purpose of the study. The sample unit included customers who rented cars from the Avis, First Car Rental and Hertz over a period of three months, namely November 2010 untit January 2011. The sampling elements were customers who rented vehicles at airports, nameLy OR Tambo, Cape Town, Durban, Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth, East London, George, Nelspruit, Kimberley and Lanseria and city branches, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth, East London, George, Nelspruit and Kimberley. The required sample size of respondents was between 375 and 750 and the- actue* sample size was 581. The measuring instrument was a questionnaire that included a current and ideal situation. The main technique for analysing data was structural equation modelling and equivalence testing to determine if there was any difference between the status quo and ideal situation as perceived by car rental customers. The empirical investigation conducted among customers of Avis, First Car Rental and Hertz revealed that significant positive relationships existed between the services internal marketing element process and brand recognition, trustworthiness, overall evaluation and loyalty; as well as between the recent internal marketing element internal performance and trustworthiness, overall evaluation and loyalty. These relationships imply that if car rental companies improve their internal process and performance, the brand awareness of the car rental company would improve. Other internal marketing mix elements that positively influenced brand awareness were people (employees), physical evidence, personal relationships, packaging and positioning. Based on the positive relationships described above, as well as the strong influence internal process and performance have had on brand awareness, a model as guideline to car rental companies was developed. The purpose of the model is to emphasise internal marketing elements on which car rental companies should focus to improve brand recognition, trustworthiness, overall evaluation and loyalty amongst their customers. The model was tested and proved to be applicable to both the status quo and ideal situation. In addition to the model, the study indicated that car rental companies should implement strategies to improve their internal marketing programmes. These strategies will contribute to improvement of employees' satisfaction and subsequently customer satisfaction. Satisfied customers will remain customers of their car rental company and ultimately profits and competitiveness of the particular car rental company will prosper. Eventually employees, customers and car rental companies and the whole economy of South Africa will benefit.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Marketing),University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2018 / Generation Y is emerging as an enormous force in the marketplace, with its growing spending power and its members’ unique spending patterns. This research employs the Mehrabian and Russell (1974) S-O-R model to study the impact of experiential marketing on emotions and behavioural intention of Generation Y consumers in the energy drinks category. More than half of the energy drinks market comprises the fickle and disloyal consumption-driven Generation Y consumers. Customers are repeatedly attracted towards a brand based on its sensory experience. Marketing to customers’ taste, smell, touch, sight and sound therefore contributes to creating powerful memories, thereby presenting real opportunities for marketers to develop repeat purchase behaviour. While there are numerous studies investigating the impact of experiential marketing in developed economies such as the USA, the UK, or Australia, there are limited studies on experiential marketing conducted in emerging economies such as Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS). The study proposes a mediation model where customer emotions are hypothesised as a key mediator in the relationship between experiential marketing and consumer buying behaviour. Following a descriptive research design, self-administered questionnaires were distributed to a stratified random sample of 700 students from four Universities in Gauteng, South Africa, 689 of whom responded. Respondents were asked to answer questions about their perceptions of their favourite energy drink brand. For the hypotheses testing, a structural equation modelling approach was used, using AMOS software. Results confirm that experiential marketing positively influences emotions, which in turn, influences consumers’ behavioural intentions. The results also confirmed that taste was the strongest multisensory experience. The results provide an empirical demonstration of the effects of experiential marketing on emotions and the subsequent impact of emotions on behavioural intentions. The findings of this study reinforce the importance of understanding the impact of customers’ emotions on behavioural intentions while enabling managers to develop an experiential branding strategy. / XL2019

Submitted in full fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor Of Philosophy (Marketing), 2017 / There is general global acknowledgement that the consumption of wine brands is on the increase. Several studies on the antecedents of purchase intention of imported wine have been conducted, particularly in western countries. A case in point is a recent surge in the purchase of both local and international wine brands in South Africa. However, it is not yet clear what has motivated the purchase intentions of international wine brands in South Africa – hence this study. Informed by the identified research gap and a dearth of literature that has investigated this subject matter – especially in developing countries such as South Africa, the current study sought to examine the predictors of imported wine purchase intention by South Africans. In particular, the study investigates the influence of brand tribalism, brand love, brand credibility and brand preference as predictors of purchase intention. Hence, it is of particular interest to investigate the factors that influence consumers’ purchase intention of imported wine brands, particularly among Generation Y consumers in South Africa. In order to achieve the study’s objectives, eight hypotheses were postulated – informed by the proposed conceptual model. The predictor variable was brand tribalism, while brand love, brand credibility, brand preference acted as mediating variables, and purchase intention as the outcome variable. In order to test the proposed hypotheses, the study used a sample size of 321 respondents between the ages of 18 and 38, and the online questionnaire was administered using Qualtrics software. The data was analysed using SPSS for descriptive statistics and AMOS 24 for the Structural equation modelling approach. The results indicate that three of the hypotheses were supported and significant. More specifically, brand tribalism has a positive significant relationship with brand love and brand preference, while brand credibility has a positive significant relationship with purchase intention. The findings of the present study have significant contributions to theory, context and practice. Firstly, it adds new literature to the existing body of knowledge, particularly on international wine marketing, consumer behaviour and Generation Y. Secondly, it provides more insights on the application of theories such as social identity, consumer culture theory in the context of the wine industry. Finally, the study has practical implications for international wine firms and marketing practitioners. International wine marketing managers can draw insights into the predictors of consumer purchase intention of imported wine brands amongst Generation Y consumers – and subsequently develop strategies that appeal to Generation Y consumers in South Africa / XL2019

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The mature market is increasing, and has been identified as the fastest growing demographic segment globally. Throughout the world, and even more so in the developing countries, the decline in fertility rates and in the increasing life expectancy rates, means that the proportion of people aged 60 years or older will reach two billion by 2050. In South Africa, one in ten people will be over 65 years old by 2025.The result of the growing ageing population has both social and economic implications and effects businesses, communities, families and individuals: everyone is affected. This market has, however, been neglected by marketers for years, and their needs are therefore increasingly unmet. They are stereotyped as isolated and grumpy, and are generally under-researched, yet they have increasing wealth and are willing to pay premiums. Some research into this market has been conducted in Japan, Europe and the United Kingdom, but no study of this nature in South Africa currently exists. This study seeks to identify the relevance of this market in the Western Cape, South Africa by studying their motivations behind brand choice. The six fast moving consumer goods categories, which were studied are: dishwashing liquid; laundry powder; bar soap; toothpaste; instant coffee and tea. These items were chosen specifically to be gender-neutral and relevant to the South African market. The study was conducted through face-to-face, shopper intercept, survey questionnaires, which consisted of a five-point Likert Scale and categorical questions. The total sample size was 184 respondents, and represents the ethnic composition of the Western Cape. The results of this study reveal that the ageing population purchase household items, such as dishwashing liquid and laundry powder according to quality and product performance. Furthermore, they purchase personal care items such as soap and toothpaste according to brand loyalty or preference, and not price. Lastly, beverages are bought on brand loyalty and quality. Therefore, price is not the main motivation criteria for the ageing consumer for these specific items. Furthermore, the mature market seldom displays interest in promotion, packaging or availability of items. The secondary results delve into the findings per age group and demographic group. A secondary finding of importance is that the older mature consumer, 80-plus, purchase primarily on price, and seldom on brand loyalty, thus the younger mature market tend to display higher brand loyalty purchasing behaviour. Finally, the African ageing consumer cite price more often as a motivational factor, than other ethnic groups, with the exception of coffee purchasing in which the White demographic is more price conscious. This study concludes with recommendations for organisations going forward to capture the mature markets as well as possible future research into the ageing demographic group. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die volwasse mark is voortdurend aan die toeneem en word geidentifiseer as die vinnigste groeiende demografiese segment globaal. Wêreldwyd, veral in ontwikkelende lande is daar 'n afname in aanwas en 'n toename in lewensvewagting. Dit het tot die gevolg dat die aantal mense 60 jaar en ouer, teen die jaar 2050 'n getal van twee biljoen sal bereik. In Suid Afrika sal een uit elke tien mense teen die jaar 2025 ouer as 65 jaar wees. Hierdie groeiende ouer populasie het beide sosiale en ekonomiese implikasies en affekteer besighede, gemeenskappe, gesinne en individue; dus word almal daardeur geraak. Ten spyte van die feite word hierdie mark egter al jare deur bemarkers afgeskeep en hulle markbehoeftes bly toenemend onvervuld. Hierdie groep word gestereotipeer as afgesonderd en nors en ten spyte van die feit dat die groep 'n toenemende aanwas toon en gewillig is om premies te betaal, word daar oor die algemeen min navorsing oor hulle gedoen. Daar is wel studies oor die ouderdomsgroep in Japan, Europa en die Verenigde Koninkryk beskikbaar, maar daar is huidiglik geen navorsing van die aard beskikbaar in Suid-Afrika nie. Hierdie studie het ten doel om die relevansie van hierdie mark in die Weskaap te identifiseer deur vas te stel wat die groep motiveer in terme van handelsnaam keuse. Die studie fokus op die volgende ses vinnig bewegende verbruikersgoedere: skottegoedwaspeep, stafie seep, tandepaste en kitskoffie-en tee. Hierdie items is spesifiek gekies omrede hulle nie geslagsspesifiek is nie en omrede die produkte relevant is tot die Suid-Afrikaanse mark. Die studie is geloods deur klante in die winkel te nader en dan persoonlike onderhoude te voer waartydens 'n vraelys, wat uit 'n vyf-punt Likert-skaal en kategoriese vrae bestaan, te voltooi. Die proefstukgrootte bestaan uit 184 respondente en het die totale etniese samestelling van die Weskaap ingesluit. Die resultaat van die studie het onthul dat die ouer bevolking huishoudelike items soos opwasmiddel en waspoeier aankoop vir kwaliteit en doeltreffendheid van die produk. Produkte vir persoonlike versorging, soos seep en tandepasta word aangekoop na gelang van handelsnaam en nie prys nie. By die aankope van tee en kitskoffie, blyk handelsnaam-lojaliteit en kwaliteit die belangrikste oorwegings te wees. Prys blyk dus nie die hoof motiveringskriteria vir die ouer verbruiker van hierdie spesifieke items te wees nie. Verder demonstreer die ouer mark selde 'n belangstelling in promosies, verpakking of die beskikbaarheid van items. Die sekondêre resultate fokus op bevindinge per ouderdom en demografiese groepering. 'n Sekondêre bevinding van belang is dat die ouer volwasse verbuiker, 80 plus, primêr aankope doen gebasseer op prys en selde op handelsnaam lojalitiet. Die jonger volwasse mark neig egter om 'n hoër handelsnaam lojaliteit te toon in hul aankope. Laastens dui die studie daarop dat vir die ouer Swart verbruiker, prys meer dikwels 'n motiverende factor is, as vir enige ander etniese groep. Die uitsondering is koffie-aankope, waar Blanke verbruikers meer prysbewus is. Die studie sluit af met aanbevelings vir organisasies om die ouer mark so goed as moontlik in die toekoms te begryp asook moontlike toekomstige studies in terme van die ouer volwasse demografiese groep.

This study aimed to provide South African public relations professionals with insights into the use of the Social Media News Release (SMNR) as a PR 2.0 tool that has the potential to elicit consumer-driven dialogue in social media channels about information, a brand, product or service advocated by the particular social media news release. Drawing on literature from fields such as public relations, new media studies, marketing, and consumer studies, an analysis of two South African SMNR case studies was conducted including the Samsung Omnia i900 SMNR and the Standard Bank Pro20 2008 and 2009 SMNRs. An in-depth content analysis applying limited designations analysis and detailed assertions analysis techniques was performed on selected content from the dedicated social media platforms linked to in the SMNRs to determine the origins, tone and thematic nature of communications on the platforms. A total of 2071 messages was analysed by means of content analysis across six social media platforms in the two case studies. In order to triangulate and support data, an online survey was conducted with 43 social media users as respondents in order to determine social media users’ interactions with the social media platforms and SMNRs. The study found that the social media platforms linked to the SMNRs in the two case studies largely successfully elicited and hosted social media user-generated conversations about the themes advocated by the SMNR. The Blog, Facebook and YouTube platforms proved to be most successful in generating social media conversation, while the Flickr, Twitter and Delicious platforms were less effective among South African consumers. It was found that social media news releases are likely to elicit consumer-driven dialogue on the dedicated social media platforms linked to by the SMNRs if the platforms are managed correctly. Factors that were identified as important management considerations include ensuring the relevancy and timeliness of content on the social media platforms, the involvement by the platform creator in stimulating and encouraging participation from social media users where necessary, as well as the swift response to user comments, deleting of spam comments and pro-active management of negative perceptions that may arise from user comments on the platforms.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Marketing)-Dept. of Marketing, Durban University of Technology, 2007 xiv, 129 [19] leaves / This study examined brand awareness after a change in sponsor and audience perceptions about the sponsors and the event before and after the change.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Marketing)-Dept. of Marketing, Durban University of Technology, 2007 xiv, 129 [19] leaves / This study examined brand awareness after a change in sponsor and audience perceptions about the sponsors and the event before and after the change.

Counterfeiting is an illegal activity that continues to boom in the 21st century. Many research studies regarding counterfeiting undertaken in the past have had a strong focus on the supply side of the industry, whereas few studies look to consumer demand and even fewer towards consumer demand for counterfeit products in an emerging African market. The aim of this research study, therefore, was to provide a descriptive analysis of the South African consumers‟ intention to purchase authentic luxury fashion brands versus counterfeit products and secondly, to examine if various demographic groupings differ in their purchase intentions. In order to achieve the research objective, an extensive literary review was conducted on the global counterfeit problem with specific focus on the South African counterfeit industry. The concept and value of branding was highlighted, followed by a discussion on consumer behaviour in conjunction with the decision-making process and the consumers‟ intention to purchase. An empirical study was conducted with UNISA students residing within the areas of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape through a mixed method approach. Qualitative research formed the first leg of the study and assisted in identifying past purchase behaviour of authentic and counterfeit luxury fashion brands. Once identified, these brands were then utilised in a quantitative survey to satisfy the research objectives. The results of this research study indicate that South African consumers‟ have a high intention to purchase authentic luxury fashion brands versus a low intention to purchase counterfeit products. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

Submitted in compliance with the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Business Administration, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / This study explores South African Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) SMME manufacturers’ need for innovation to achieve growth in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). South Africa suffers from a high rate of unemployment, with an official unemployment rate estimate of 24.7% (Statistics South Africa, 2013). This high rate of unemployment in South Africa is partly attributed to the failure rate of SMMEs, which is between seventy and eighty percent. Small enterprises encounter greater barriers than medium-sized and large enterprises in accessing finance for innovation, commercializing new ideas and expanding their businesses. The study was exploratory and quantitative in nature. Questionnaires and interviews were used to gather data. The questionnaires were distributed personally and with the help of a research assistant to the business sites of the respondents. The respondents comprise 120 FMCG SMME manufacturers in KZN, who were selected by means of a non-probability sampling method. The results obtained identified a number of factors influencing innovation for FMCG SMME manufacturers to achieve growth. The influencing factors include a lack of financial skill and knowledge; high cost or complex procedures to register or defend patents; a lack of information on the part of employers on how to satisfy consumers’ interest; a lack of technological know-how and human capital problems; difficulty in accessing finance for research and development; government laws and regulations; new entrant threats and protocols; and a lack of product brand name. / M

Thesis (M.Tech.: Marketing)-Dept. of Marketing, Durban University of Technology, 2007 xvi, 156 leaves / The aim of this research is to evaluate students’ perceptions toward the market orientation of Proudly South Africa companies at Durban University of Technology. The Proudly South African campaign is currently very topical, having become a visible brand in its own right within the period of ten years, with the primary objective of creating job opportunities, supporting local companies by buying products that are produced within the boundaries of South Africa and to initiate nationalism among South Africans.