South Africa is an exporter of groundnuts (Arachis Hypogaea). The domestic market reaps the spinoff advantage that export quality reaches store shelves, but unfortunately at a price that is directly linked to the price traders achieve on the export market. The local edible groundnut demand is relatively stable, but some processors saw a dramatic decline in the demand for groundnuts within the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry. Businesses in the groundnut industry have a specific objective to create a turnaround strategy for groundnut production in South Africa, in an attempt to increase exports of locally produced groundnuts. This directly results that importance of the domestic market, compared to the export market is secondary. Since retail buyers are the “gatekeepers of consumer choice”, it is important to understand buying behaviour and brand loyalty, as well as the factors that influence buyers’ decisions in a business to business context. Limited literature exists for the domestic South African that highlights or indicates specific buyer preferences towards branded edible groundnuts. Furthermore, a general conceptual model to measure or to provide insight on retailer buyer preferences and buying behaviour lack, or are generally unrelated. An adapted model was used to analyse retail buyer behaviour, perceptions, and brand loyalty influences and data was collected by means of a self administrered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics as well as factor analysis were utilised to identify which factors influence retail buyers’ purchase behaviour and loyalty towards an edible groundnut brand. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy, Bartlett’s test of sphericity and Cronbach Alpha was used to determine whether the collected data was appropriate for factor analysis. Through the factor analysis the following ten factors were identified as having a significant influence on retailers’ buying behaviour as well as brand loyalty towards branded edible groundnuts: * Long-term relationship with a preferred brand. * Brand Loyalty. * Brand trust. * Brand performance. * Satisfaction. * Intentional repurchase. * Brand affect. * Company reputation. * Involvement. * Value for money. More research on this topic is required to develop a single conceptual model in order to measure and analyse retail buyer behaviour and preference for a specific brand on a larger scale within the FMCG industry. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

South Africa is an exporter of groundnuts (Arachis Hypogaea). The domestic market reaps the spinoff advantage that export quality reaches store shelves, but unfortunately at a price that is directly linked to the price traders achieve on the export market. The local edible groundnut demand is relatively stable, but some processors saw a dramatic decline in the demand for groundnuts within the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry. Businesses in the groundnut industry have a specific objective to create a turnaround strategy for groundnut production in South Africa, in an attempt to increase exports of locally produced groundnuts. This directly results that importance of the domestic market, compared to the export market is secondary. Since retail buyers are the “gatekeepers of consumer choice”, it is important to understand buying behaviour and brand loyalty, as well as the factors that influence buyers’ decisions in a business to business context. Limited literature exists for the domestic South African that highlights or indicates specific buyer preferences towards branded edible groundnuts. Furthermore, a general conceptual model to measure or to provide insight on retailer buyer preferences and buying behaviour lack, or are generally unrelated. An adapted model was used to analyse retail buyer behaviour, perceptions, and brand loyalty influences and data was collected by means of a self administrered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics as well as factor analysis were utilised to identify which factors influence retail buyers’ purchase behaviour and loyalty towards an edible groundnut brand. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy, Bartlett’s test of sphericity and Cronbach Alpha was used to determine whether the collected data was appropriate for factor analysis. Through the factor analysis the following ten factors were identified as having a significant influence on retailers’ buying behaviour as well as brand loyalty towards branded edible groundnuts: * Long-term relationship with a preferred brand. * Brand Loyalty. * Brand trust. * Brand performance. * Satisfaction. * Intentional repurchase. * Brand affect. * Company reputation. * Involvement. * Value for money. More research on this topic is required to develop a single conceptual model in order to measure and analyse retail buyer behaviour and preference for a specific brand on a larger scale within the FMCG industry. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

This thesis examines the decision making and information search process of students choosing university courses in Victoria Australia. The position adopted for this study is that of a buyer or consumer behaviour perspective. This is the first study of its kind undertaken in Australia. Much related research been done in the United States and elsewhere. However, the Australian higher education system has unique characteristics. Consequently, while existing student-choice models drawn from elsewhere provide a useful foundation, they are not sufficient to answer the key question: How do students choose universities in Australia? Implicit in this overarching question are several issues examined by this study: how a student makes a choice is related to what choices there are to be made, and why the student makes a choice about a particular institution. (For complete abstract open document)

In this study brand loyalty of pharmaceutical livestock products among commercial farmers was measured. The purpose of the study was to assist agribusinesses to identify the dominant determinant when commercial farmers purchase pharmaceutical livestock products from them. The study analysed two marketing mix elements price and product (specifically brand name) in farmer buying behaviour. A structured questionnaire was used to employ an empirical study in a quantitative style to determine the commercial farmers‟ perceptions and buying behaviour when they buy pharmaceutical livestock products. For agribusinesses the study makes it clear where to focus resources and energy in today‟s dynamic, uncertain and competitive environment that agribusinesses operate in, specifically in the North West Province of South Africa. The literature study addressed the brand loyalty constructs and their application in the agricultural market. Resultantly the contribution to the body of knowledge pertains to brand loyalty‟s influence in the marketing strategy (price and brand name). The study also explored opportunities for the successful distribution of pharmaceutical livestock products through agribusinesses. Management of agribusinesses will have to adopt a market-oriented strategy that will assist agribusinesses on various dimensions of performance and will have a significant positive effect on return on assets, sales growth and sustainability. The inputs and assistance of the suppliers and marketers are of utmost importance and will add value to the execution of agribusinesses‟ marketing strategy. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

In this study brand loyalty of pharmaceutical livestock products among commercial farmers was measured. The purpose of the study was to assist agribusinesses to identify the dominant determinant when commercial farmers purchase pharmaceutical livestock products from them. The study analysed two marketing mix elements price and product (specifically brand name) in farmer buying behaviour. A structured questionnaire was used to employ an empirical study in a quantitative style to determine the commercial farmers‟ perceptions and buying behaviour when they buy pharmaceutical livestock products. For agribusinesses the study makes it clear where to focus resources and energy in today‟s dynamic, uncertain and competitive environment that agribusinesses operate in, specifically in the North West Province of South Africa. The literature study addressed the brand loyalty constructs and their application in the agricultural market. Resultantly the contribution to the body of knowledge pertains to brand loyalty‟s influence in the marketing strategy (price and brand name). The study also explored opportunities for the successful distribution of pharmaceutical livestock products through agribusinesses. Management of agribusinesses will have to adopt a market-oriented strategy that will assist agribusinesses on various dimensions of performance and will have a significant positive effect on return on assets, sales growth and sustainability. The inputs and assistance of the suppliers and marketers are of utmost importance and will add value to the execution of agribusinesses‟ marketing strategy. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Companies face competition that comes at them from different directions in the current environment of globalization, deregulation and the push for greater mass customization of products, which still can be differentiated from other products and services. A large number of companies have outsourced a large percentage of their non-core activities in order to concentrate on their core competencies with transportation of their goods being one of the aspects that they have outsourced. Companies are faced with shorter lead times, inaccurate forecasts, unexpected delays in production and need to seek out alternative transportation modes in order to get their goods to market on time. Transportation by air ends up being the best choice to handle requirements of time sensitivity and the transportation of high value goods. The purpose of this thesis was to investigate how the air freight supply chain and network that is in place in the Jönkoping region is constructed; in addition to seeking out information in regards to the type of air freight goods being transported into and out of the region; along with the buying behavior and promotion strategies utilized in the promotion of air freight within the region of Jonkoping. The conclusions from this thesis show that there are a number of key actors (integrators and freight forwarders) involved in the air freight network within the Jönköping region. A number of them indicated that the actors they mainly interacted with, in terms of activity links and resource ties, were limited to the airports that were outside of the Jönköping region. There were a few of the actors in terms of integrators that did interact with the Jönköping airport in a capacity that was greater than other actors. In terms of the type of air freight goods that were transported into and out of the region spare parts made up a major portion of the goods transported, followed by clothing and textiles, and other mechanical industry products. The promotion of air freight mostly performed by integrators to their customers is done in terms of emphasizing reliability, punctuality, regularity and security to their customers.

The purpose of this study is to assist wire companies to identify buying behaviour amongst consumers of their products. For the purpose of this study the product will be wire products and the specific target market will be farmers in the Eastern Free State. The primary objective of the study is to identify factors that play a role in the buying behaviour of farmers in the Eastern Free State when purchasing wire products. By knowing exactly the buying criteria of wire products amongst farmers and seasonable cycles of purchasing will form the basis of strategic marketing planning. This study was conducted in two phases. Phase one consisted of a literature review and phase two of an empirical research. The empirical research consisted of a quantitative research design; more specifically, descriptive research that employed cross–sectional analysis of the quantitative data collected from a sample by means of a structured questionnaire. The results show that 76% of the respondents are older than 41 years of age. The population for this study is, therefore, a more matured one. Regarding their buying behaviour, the purchase frequency shows that the majority purchase wire products on a monthly basis and 40% on an annual basis. Most of them (78%) purchase their wire products from the co–operative. Wire products are an integral part of farming activities and in general the respondents are very positive about the industry. Most important considerations identified are that the wire industry should keep in touch with its market, never be out of orders, keep up the fast service that is currently provided, and that reputable products should be kept in stock. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The purpose of this study is to assist wire companies to identify buying behaviour amongst consumers of their products. For the purpose of this study the product will be wire products and the specific target market will be farmers in the Eastern Free State. The primary objective of the study is to identify factors that play a role in the buying behaviour of farmers in the Eastern Free State when purchasing wire products. By knowing exactly the buying criteria of wire products amongst farmers and seasonable cycles of purchasing will form the basis of strategic marketing planning. This study was conducted in two phases. Phase one consisted of a literature review and phase two of an empirical research. The empirical research consisted of a quantitative research design; more specifically, descriptive research that employed cross–sectional analysis of the quantitative data collected from a sample by means of a structured questionnaire. The results show that 76% of the respondents are older than 41 years of age. The population for this study is, therefore, a more matured one. Regarding their buying behaviour, the purchase frequency shows that the majority purchase wire products on a monthly basis and 40% on an annual basis. Most of them (78%) purchase their wire products from the co–operative. Wire products are an integral part of farming activities and in general the respondents are very positive about the industry. Most important considerations identified are that the wire industry should keep in touch with its market, never be out of orders, keep up the fast service that is currently provided, and that reputable products should be kept in stock. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

South African companies are said to be mining the so-called "Black Diamond", the emerging middle-class segment that is driving economic growth within the country (Mahajan, 2009:9). The focus on the emerging Middle Class in South Africa (SA) has left a knowledge gap on Low-Income consumers - even though they are still the largest consumer group in SA (Connecting with Survivors, 2014). The Unilever "Connecting with Survivors Report" (2014) highlights the fact that 70% of the SA Market earn less than R6000 per month, while together they have a spending power of R300 Billion per annum. According to Martin (2012:71), 5.8% of Low-Income Consumer Households (HH) spending is prioritised for the purchase of personal care products, while 64.2% of their HH income is prioritised for food and housing expenses. Given the trivial proportion allocated to personal care products, this research has been guided by the problem statement that Low-Income consumers are forced to make trade-offs, when purchasing personal care products, which fall outside their realm of affordability. The primary objective of this study was to investigate Low-Income consumers' buying behaviour in the Personal Care Industry in South Africa. The Theory of Buyer Behaviour was used as a theoretical framework to assist in the understanding of Low-Income consumer behaviour in the Personal Care industry. The phenomenological research paradigm was used in this study, utilising interviews to collect the data from respondents in the Western Cape Province. Inductive reasoning was practised to draw a conclusion on the investigation of Low-Income consumer buying behaviour in the personal care industry in South Africa. The findings from the study indicate that Low-Income consumers do indeed make trade-offs when personal care products fall outside their realm of affordability. The extent to which they do so varies, based on necessity. This research stands to contribute to the body of knowledge by narrowing the knowledge gap on the Low-Income Consumer market in South Africa with the focus on the Personal Care Industry, thereby allowing marketers to develop and implement effective marketing strategies.

The SA government has identified the craft industry as a key focus area contributing to sustainable development, economic growth and employment opportunities. However the industry faces many challenges such as global competition and lack of resources. More importantly, craft producers in SA cannot access the craft retailer market successfully which limit their financial success. The purpose of this study is to investigate the buyer behaviour of craft retailers in SA. The specific focus of the study is to investigate the buying process followed by craft retailers, to determine the importance of supplier selection criteria used to evaluate suppliers, as well as to determine the sources of information that craft retailers use most often when searching for suppliers. A self-administered survey was conducted among craft retailers and a sample of 233 were realised. The descriptive statistics are reported as well as factor analysis, ANOVA and MANOVA results. Findings indicated that the buying process craft retailers go through are extensive and that certain stages are also more often used than others. No statistical significant differences were found between the types of craft retailers or the years of buying experience and the stages of the buying process. „Product quality‟ was considered the most important supplier selection criteria followed by „product is exciting and attractive‟ and „product styling and design‟. Statistical significant differences were found between different types of craft retailers and the importance they attach to selected supplier selection criteria but no significant differences were found for the years of buying experience. - iv - The results also indicated that craft retailers consult certain information sources more often than others. Information sources were grouped into three factors after the factor analysis: internal and personal information, promotional information and print advertising. The statistical significant differences were found between the different types of craft retailers and their use of promotional information sources but no differences were evident for the other two sources, namely internal and personal and print advertising. The study resulted in a proposed marketing strategy for craft producers to enable them to market their craft products more effectively to crafts retailers. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Marketing Management / unrestricted