A website with a good e-commerce design will positively influence a customer’s attitude, strengthen the trust of the customers towards the organisation, increase the satisfaction of the customer, draw consumers, and bring forth purchases/repeat purchases from them. The purpose of this study was to determine viable e-commerce opportunities for the Ficksburg Cherry Festival website. The study endeavoured to ascertain how the Ficksburg Cherry Festival could improve its website by identifying e-commerce opportunities for the Ficksburg Cherry Festival website. In this study a non-random self-administered survey approach was used where attendees were intercepted at the venue of the Ficksburg Cherry Festival and the exhibitors in their stalls. The existing Ficksburg Cherry Festival website was analysed for e-commerce features that are present and opportunities for further implementation of e-commerce features were identified with help from the attendees and exhibitors. The findings of this study presented a demographic profile and attendance characteristics of both the attendees and exhibitors, which the management team of the Ficksburg Cherry Festival can use to better market the festival using traditional and online communication for both attendees and exhibitors. The recommendations will assist the management of the festival to improve the website and to progress from a straightforward information-only website to a fully-developed e-commerce site, with positive effects for all the stakeholders. Similar South African festivals could find the research findings and recommendations of value for their own website development as well. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

Text in Afrikaans, abstract in Afrikaans and English / Die tradisionele Suid-Afrikaanse kontant-afhaal-groothandelaar het vir meer as twintig jaar in sy bestaande vorm oorleef maar vertoon tans tekens van 'n kragtige innoveringsproses. Aspekte soos kleiner verpakkings, kredietverlening, aflewering en bemarking aan die verbruiker wat teen die grondbeginsels van die tradisionele kontant-afhaal-groothandel indruis, is besig om pos te vat. Die impetus tot innovering is afkomstig van veranderings in die doelmark en spesifiek as gevolg van die insluiting van die spazawinkeldoelmark. Verhoogde groei in die kontant-afhaalgroothandelsektor kan deels toegeskryf word aan die opkoms van die spazawinkel maar ongelukkig is hierdie doelmark nog te klein en versplinter om die voortbestaan van die kontant-afhaal-groothandelaar te waarborg. Die navorsing toon dat die spazawinkel 'n belangrike, toekomstige doelmark van die kontant-afhaal-groothandelaar is. In die navorsing wat gedoen is, is menings van die kontant-afhaal-groothandelaars ingewin oor 'n verskeidenheid aspekte aangaande die plek en funksie van die kontant-afhaal-groothandelaar in die Suid-Afrikaanse distribusiekanaal. Van die bevindings was dat intratipe mededinging toegeneem het en dat dit die voortbestaan van die kleiner kontant-afhaal-groothandelaars bedreig. Die groot kleinhandel is ge'identifiseer as die kontant-afhaal-groothandelaar se grootste mededinger. Strawwe mededinging dwing die kontant-afhaal-groothandelaar om sy bemarkingsfunksies te verander en veranderings is reeds aan die verpakkings-, verkoopsverteenwoordigers-, krediet- en afleweringsfunksies aangebring. Gevolglik verrig die kontant-afhaal-groothandelaar al hoe meer kleinhandels- en aldiensgroothandelsfunksies. Daar is sprake van die ontwikkeling van 'n nuwe tipe kontantafhaal- groothandelaar wat eienskappe van die groot kleinhandel en die aldiensgroothandel besit. Sa.IJ).evattend kan gekonstateer word dat die kontant-afhaal-groothandelaar beslis 'n belangrike plek in die Suid-Afrikaanse distribusiekanaal het. Die voortbestaan van die kontant-afhaal-groothandelaar in die distribusiekanaal is grootliks afhanklik van sy vermoe om aanpassings aan sy bemarkingsfunksies te maak om tred te hou by veranderende doelmarkte. / The traditional South African cash and carry wholesaler survived for more than twenty years in its present form but shows signs of a strong innovative process. Aspects such as smaller packaging, credit, delivery and consumer marketing, which go against the principles of the traditional cash and carry wholesaler, are taking root. The impetus for innovation derives from changes in the target market, specifically as a result of the inclusion of the spaza shop target market. Increased ' growth in the cash and carry wholesale sector can partly be ascribed to the rise of the spaza shop, but this target market is unfortunately still too small and fragmented to guarantee the survival of the cash and carry wholesaler. The research shows that the spaza shop is an important future market of the cash and carry wholesaler. In the research undertaken the opinions of cash and carry wholesalers were gathered on various aspects of the role of the cash and carry wholesaler in the South African distribution channel. The main findings are that mutual competition has increased and this threatens the survival of the smaller cash and carry wholesalers. The large retailer was identified as the main competitor of the cash and carry wholesaler. Intensive competition forces the cash and carry wholesaler to modify its marketing functions. Modifications have already been made to the packaging, sales representative, credit and delivery functions. Consequently, the cash and carry wholesaler performs more functions typical of the large retailer and full-service wholesaler. There are indications that a new type of cash and carry wholesaler is developing with characteristics of both the large retailer and the full-service wholesaler. It can be concluded that the cash and carry wholesaler definitely performs an important role in the South African distribution channel. The existence of the cash and carry wholesaler in the distribution channel depends largely on its ability to adapt its marketing functions to keep abreast with changing target markets. / Business Management / D.Comm. (Sakebestuur)

Credit derivatives played a large role in intensifying losses during the subprime lending crisis, which began in 2007 in the US and spiralled into a financial crisis in 2008. One of the major reasons for this descent into financial crisis was the uncertainty about the exposure of some systemically important financial institutions through their derivative positions, specifically credit derivative instruments such as credit default swaps (CDSs). Using data obtained from the SARB, the study found that prior to the crisis, the size of the South African OTC credit derivatives market was increasing steadily. However, the 2008 financial crisis temporarily stunted this growth, and the size of the market declined. Since 2010, the growth of the market has once again been on an upward trajectory. The study examines recent international and local regulations relating to OTC derivatives and makes policy recommendations for South Africa. / Economics / M. Com. (Economics)

Thesis (MTech (Business Administratiom, Marketing Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2011 / The dynamic nature of modern organisations, characterised by hyper turbulence, necessitates that organisations remain receptive to the plethora of internal and external forces driving changes in strategy. One such organisation is that of Engen Petroleum Limited which operates in an everchanging, highly competitive environment. In order to remain the market leader, Engen needs to revisit its strategy to contend with market forces, bearing in mind that globalisation, as well as international ownership of competitor companies, play a role. In order to maintain a competitive advantage, the role of brands in the context of convenience is important, as brand recognition makes decision-making simpler for consumers who are in a rush. It is hence deemed expedient for forecourt retailers to understand customer satisfaction drivers, such as quality, service and convenience (Molefi, 2007). The current research focuses on the Engen Western Cape Quick Shop network, and in particular, investigates the possible reasons, namely growth rates, product offering, location, and customer service, for performance compared to the national average. A questionnaire/survey was conducted to determine the demographic characteristics of customers as well as the factors that influence their propensity to utilise Engen Quick Shops. This research was intended to provide Engen Petroleum Limited with data and information to enable the Western Cape Convenience dealer network to not only grow at the national average, but also to position itself at the forefront of the Convenience Store market.

Thesis (MTech (Marketing Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2008 / Resident within the context of tourism marketing, this research, following a proposal that marketing the Western Cape Wine Routes, as a destination component, may enrich and strengthen the image and competition of South Africa as a tourist destination in China, has focused on the psychological behaviour of Chinese tourists and their demographic profiles in respect of the Western Cape Wine Routes. Within this research, a mixed research design was adapted, after layered literature studies that comprised tourism and marketing, consumer [tourist] behaviour and wine tourism, while fieldwork involved both qualitative and quantitative approaches, which covered both experienced and non-experienced Chinese tourists with regard to the Western Cape Wine Routes. During the research fieldwork, a tourist investigation included a set of mini-group interviews and an intercept survey [comprising 275 samples], which provided an understanding of Chinese tourists in respect of the Western Cape Wine Routes, as well as South Africa and Cape Town, by both underlying and broad data. As a result of this research, a blueprint to market the Western Cape Wine Routes as a destination component in China, in the form of a formulated framework, some business recommendations at a strategic level, are represented, which include strategic marketing directions, Chinese tourist market analysis, evaluation of current competition, SWOT analysis, strategic objectives and corresponding strategies in the form of the 8Ps of the tourism marketing mix, as well as major complementary strategic resources. Finally, within an academic perspective, future studies are also suggested. Key words: Chinese tourists, South Africa, strategic marketing, tourism, Western Cape, wine tourism, wine routes and wine tourists.

Relationship marketing has grown in importance. This growth affects all industries, including the tourism, hospitality and travel industry. Of particular importance is the bond of relationship marketing between suppliers (principals) and retailers (travel agents) in the distribution channel. The research was undertaken to: determine whether Eastern Cape travel agents perceive relationship marketing as important; establish, what the key elements of relationship marketing strategies are,according to literature; determine what marketing strategies are currently applied by Eastern Cape travel agents; provide guidelines to Eastern Cape travel agents to implement or improve their relationship marketing strategies. Fifty self-administered questionnaires were distributed to the entire population of travel agents in the Eastern Cape. A total of 30 travel agents responded. The empirical findings showed that: Most Eastern Cape travel agents perceived relationship marketing as important; Travel agents realized the importance of the management of such relationship marketing strategies; Most travel agents were aware of or used retention strategies to enhance relationship marketing strategies; Travel agents realized that to survive relationship marketing should be part of their future planning; All respondents believed that to successfully implement relationship marketing, all staff, from front-line to top-management, need to be committed to the programme. In conclusion, relationship marketing is growing in importance and all role players need to acknowledge and manage this trend. However, this research has shown that there is a paradigm shift as more travel agents are moving away from the traditional marketing to relationship marketing.

The research problem addressed in this study was an assessment of the relationship-marketing strategy that Morkels currently has in operation. This strategy focuses on membership of a club that is sold to customers when they open an account. The strategy is to keep in touch with the customer by means of the club magazine, a club card and various special events and offers that are exclusive to club members. The strategy, however, may not be entirely successful in achieving the goals and objectives as envisaged by the senior management of the company. The objective of the research was to establish what exactly relationship marketing is. Once having investigated the theory of relationship marketing, the objective of the research was to establish what the goals of the management at Morkels were and whether or not these goals were met. The methodology of the research was, firstly, to conduct a literature survey on relationship marketing. In particular the study of literature focused on the theory related to the retail market focussing essentially where similar marketing strategies had been investigated. A variety of aspects of relationship marketing and strategies that had previously been implemented were then examined. The literature survey also considered the way in which a successful strategy of relationship-marketing should be motivated, planned, implemented and followed through. Secondly the research established what the goals and objectives of the management of Morkels were by means of an investigation into the policies and manuals of the relationship-marketing department. Finally a questionnaire was disseminated to the senior management of Morkels to establish what they considered to be the needs and opinions of the customers of the Garden Route Area. A second questionnaire with similar questions was also submitted to a sample of club members. This was done to establish the opinions of both groups. The major findings of the research were that Morkels is experiencing a degree of success with its relationship-marketing strategy. The research findings also revealed that opinions of the customers and the management of Morkels do not concur on a number of issues. These differences and the most important factors were discussed and recommendations were made to management.

From Introduction: While companies in their initial stages may well produce only one product, most established companies produce a number of products. Reference can therefore be made to their product mixes which serve as their source of revenues and profits. The product mix must be carefully planned. Inherent in such planning is the monitoring of the mix to determine whether or not it strikes a good balance in terms of factors such as sales growth, sales stability and profitability. The product mix must be optimal vis-a-vis the opportunities and threats present in the external environment at any point in time. Since the latter changes over time, so too should the product mix change in order to maintain the required balance between the environment and the product mix, as well as the required balance in terms of sales growth, sales stability and profitability.

M.Com. (Business Management) / The industrial product manager is responsible for the development and marketing of a product. This includes more than just the properties of the product. To be successful during the process of development and marketing of industrial products, there must be sufficient knowledge about the factors influencing it as well as the relative importance that is placed on it by the target market. The aim of this study was to identify critical factors for the success of new products in the industrial environment. These critical succfess factors were further verified, and their rank of importance determined, in the chemical industry of South Africa. The results of this study can be used by product managers in the industry to improve their new product programs in those areas which are considered as important during and by the development and marketing processes of enterprizes. Thirteen critical success factors, and their rank of importance, were established as th following: 1. A superior product 2. Solid up-front homework prior to development 3. Quality technological actions 4. Quality marketing actions 5. Innovativeness 6. A ttractive markets 7. A quality launch 8. Low-risk, important purchase 9. Familiar, known arenas 10. Sharp and early product definition 11. Cross-functional team approach 12. Non-product advantage 13. High synergy None of these factors can be ignored during the development and marketing...

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.