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This paper examines consumer preferences regarding men’s underwear and aimed to assist the owner of the Skidmark brand with recommendations how to improve existing product and to extend product portfolio. Primary and secondary data was used in this study to overview the industry and to identify market trends and consumers preferences. Two data collection activities are discussed, ten one-on-one interviews and one focus group which revealed consumer’s reactions and feedback regarding Skidmark exciting and proposed products. Recommendations for production, price and promotion are given; limitations of the study discussed. / text

No description available.

No description available.

The paper provides a model that assesses the set of complementary components of varying compatibility and its effect towards consumer adoption decisions. The smartphone market is a system good which utilizes the device and a set of compatible applications (apps). The amount of switching costs may vary depending upon the consumer’s decision to switch devices or across platforms. Analyzing the Android ecosystem, the process of custom ROMs (and rooting) and the large set of games, news, etc. apps justify the existence of device-specific and platform-specific apps. The model reinforces the findings of a survey conducted by UBS suggesting the retention rate (i.e. level of switch costs) of Apple users is higher than Android users. The retention among Android devices is much lower in comparison as well. The model observes that the product fragmentation and the interdependence of apps lead to the noticeably lower retention rates across Android devices and platforms.

Retail sales of container gardens have increased dramatically in the recent past and rose 8% from 2004 to 2005, to $1.295 billion. The objective of this study was to determine consumer preferences for three attributes of container gardens. A Web-based survey was conducted on 18 Oct. 2006 with 985 respondents. Survey participants invited from an independent garden center’s customer e- mail list were asked to complete a series of questions on a seven point Likert scale. Survey participants also answered questions about past experiences and future purchase intentions with container gardens, as well as demographics. A hierarchical set of levels were used to investigate three attributes of container gardens in a 3 X 3 X 3 factorial conjoint analysis including color harmony, price and care information level provided with the purchase. The surveys were analyzed using conjoint analysis which accounted for 99.8% of the variance in container garden preference. Relative importance decreased from price (70.7%), to care information level (22.9%), to color harmony (6.4%). Survey participants preferred a container garden with a price point of $24.99, extensive information and the complementary color harmony. A significant portion (77.5%) of participants in this study indicated that they would be more likely to purchase a container garden if extensive information was included with the purchase and 84.8% of participants said they would be willing to visit a Website that would provide more information on how to care for and maintain a container garden. Results of this study show that there is a potential to increase the value of a container garden through providing educational material with the purchase.

The South African Building Industry or sector is a difficult one in which to operate. At the lower value competition is fierce and at the top value, whilst competition is fierce, so to is the capital and resource requirements to run such a project. To be successful in this market requires that management understand each aspect of the business and has at its disposal the important key success factors such as management, capital and reputation. There is, however, ample opportunity available to the company that is able to deliver to the consumer a value added product that not only includes the building itself, but all the services that accompany the process. The focus of this study is to identify the important influencing factors on a consumer's choice of a building company in the residential alterations and renovations market. Once identified, the object is to use that information to develop a strategic plan that could help provide direction and help gain competitive advantage. The formulation of the strategic plan forms part of this study but is not meant to be so comprehensive as to be a study in strategy. Various important strategic tasks are identified and are used to provide a framework around which to work but the important information and the reason for the study is to identify that which is important to the consumer and to then use that information to build core competencies. To succeed against the competition, SGC will need to develop and train staff, expand quality control mechanisms, ensure tidiness of site and staff, and focus upon being professional. If all of these factors are focused upon and introduced into SGC's product offering, competitive advantage will be gained and profitability improved. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

The main driving force behind the increasing interest in delivering service quality, is the need to keep customers satisfied and loyal. Companies are realizing that it's far more profitable to service existing customers than it is to develop new ones. As a result, they are doing all they can to strengthen and foster customer relationships. This, in turn, has led to the need for more innovative service quality strategies. Knowledge of one's customers is an important factor. The more information a company has, the more targeted their marketing can be and the better able they are to serve their customers' needs. This research dissertation is aimed at identifying the strategies that contribute to delivering quality service that leads to customer satisfaction and eventually client retention. It evaluates the benefits of the human, work process and technological dimensions and determines what actions are required by The Company to improve the levels of customer service. Based on the analysis, the gap between the current service expectation of The Company and service delivery by The Company urgently needs to be reviewed in light of customer satisfaction and customer retention. The guiding principle at most companies today is to develop systems to economically produce goods or services that satisfy customer requirements. To carry this out effectively requires a companywide quality improvement program. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

The paper provides a model that assesses the set of complementary components of varying compatibility and its effect towards consumer adoption decisions. The smartphone market is a system good which utilizes the device and a set of compatible applications (apps). The amount of switching costs may vary depending upon the consumer’s decision to switch devices or across platforms. Analyzing the Android ecosystem, the process of custom ROMs (and rooting) and the large set of games, news, etc. apps justify the existence of device-specific and platform-specific apps. The model reinforces the findings of a survey conducted by UBS suggesting the retention rate (i.e. level of switch costs) of Apple users is higher than Android users. The retention among Android devices is much lower in comparison as well. The model observes that the product fragmentation and the interdependence of apps lead to the noticeably lower retention rates across Android devices and platforms.

<p>Previous studies, as well as market sales data, show some consumers are willing to pay a premium for redundant or superfluous food labels that carry no additional information for the informed consumer. Some advocacy groups have argued that the use of such redundant labels is misleading or unethical. To determine whether premiums for redundant labels stem from misunderstanding or other factors, this study seeks to determine whether greater knowledge of the claims - in the form of expertise in food production and scientific literacy - decreases willingness to pay for redundant labels. We also explore whether de-biasing information influences consumers’ valuations of redundant labels. An online survey of 1,122 U.S. consumers elicits willingness-to-pay premiums for three redundantly labeled products: non-GMO sea salt, gluten-free orange juice, and no-hormone-added chicken breast. Respondents with farm experience report lower premiums for non-GMO salt and no-hormone-added chicken. Those with higher scientific literacy state lower premiums for gluten-free orange juice. However, provided information about the redundancy of the claims, less than half of respondents who were initially willing to pay extra for the label are convinced otherwise. Over 30% of respondents counter-intuitively increase their premiums, behavior that is associated with less <i>a priori</i> scientific knowledge. The likelihood of “overpricing” redundant labels is associated with willingness-to-pay premiums for organic food, suggesting at least some of the premium for organic is a result of misinformation. </p>