Title: The affects of GDPR on companies: a study about the impact of GDPR on the collection of personal data for target marketing and data mining.  Keywords: GDPR, target marketing, data mining Subject: Bachelor's thesis, International Marketing, 15hp. Author: Denise Loponen Mejia & Viktoria Mirkovic Problem: How has GDPR affected companies when collecting personal data for target marketing and data mining? Purpose: The purpose of this study is to clarify the affects that GDPR has had on companies and what alterations the companies have had to make since the enforcement of the regulation regarding target marketing and data mining. Method: In this study a deductive method has been applied. Primary data has been obtained through qualitative semi-structured interviews, which were transcribed and analyzed in order to find a conclusion. Conclusion: The conclusion of this study shows that GDPR has had an impact on companies regarding their collection of personal data. The companies have had to change the way they have handled this in comparison to before. Furthermore, implementation of new strategies in order to be able to identify customer groups and lawfully be able to use data mining has had to be established. Moreover, the study shows that companies have had to introduce changes in order to comply with the regulation, as well as the fact that the change has been successful. / Titel: Påverkan av GDPR på företag: en studie om betydelsen av GDPR för insamling av personliga uppgifter till target marketing och data mining. Nyckelord: GDPR, target marketing, data mining.  Ämne: Kandidatuppsats i företagsekonomi, inriktning internationell marknadsföring, 15 hp Författare: Denise Loponen Mejia & Viktoria Mirkovic Problemformulering: Hur har GDPR påverkat företag vid insamling av personlig data till target marketing och data mining?  Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att klargöra hur införandet av GDPR har påverkat företag och vilka ändringar de har varit tvungna till att införa vid  insamling av personliga uppgifter till target marketing och data mining. Metod: I denna studie har en deduktiv metod tillämpats. Primärdata har nhämtats genom kvalitativa semi-strukturerade intervjuer, vilka sedan transkriberat och analyseras i syfte att finna ett svar på frågeställningen.  Slutsats: Resultatet av denna studie påvisar att GDPR har haft en påverkan på hur företag hanterar insamling och hantering av personlig data. De har blivit tvungna till att förändra sättet de hanterar detta på. Även implementering av nya strategier för att kunna identifiera kundgrupper och lagligt använda data mining har krävts. Vidare visar resultatet att samtliga företag har fått införa förändringar för att efterfölja den nya regleringen, samt att den har varit framgångsrik.

Although growth in the Hispanic population and its buying power has outpaced by far non-Hispanic U.S. growth in the last decade, only a limited amount of attention has been given to study consumer acculturation among Hispanic subcultures. That lack of research represents one of the biggest gaps in the ethnic marketing literature. Previous research has shown that leveln of acculturation is one of the best ways to segment markets, yet key concepts in the acculturation literature have been used interchangeably (Wallendorf & Reilly, 1983 ; Metha & Belk, 1991 ; Hui, Laroche and Kim, 1998 ; Webster, 1994 ; Penaloza, 1994 ; Laroche, Kim, Hui, and Tomiuk, 1998 ; Ogden, Ogden & Schau, 2004). This research clarifies such concepts and studies the effects of level of acculturation on attitudes toward money among Mexican Americans. Findings suggest that one of the sub-processes of acculturation, integration, can be effectively used to predict Mexican American attitudes toward money. Results address the need of a better understanding of consumption among Hispanic Americans. The importance of research in this area is underlined for public administrators, marketing managers and scholars alike. / by Luis Eduardo Torres. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: When it comes to getting people to spend money on consumer goods, Madison Avenue have trust in the power of a whining child. The very young are more and more becoming the target of the advertising industry. As more and more companies are turning to child psychologists to help fine tune their messages, some specialists in child development are disturbed by the trend. As marketers are pitching to younger audiences, the question arises if children are being robbed of their innocence and childhood. Children are very naïve about advertising and can easily be manipulated and exploited. The general belief in the industry is that marketers can shape these children into lifelong customers with brand loyalties. Estimates have shown that children's aggregate spending has roughly doubled during the 1960's, 1970's, 1980's and almost tripled in the 1990's (Zoll, 2000). Why is this the case? What are the big corporations really up to: recruiting children to promote products on the playground, acting as their friends on social networks, repackaging junk food as a new health alternative and blurring the lines between what is advertising and what is not. Marketing that targets children are virtually everywhere - television, the internet, the playground and even the classroom. Product placements and other innovations have introduced more subtle ways of conveying their message. All this have created "commercialised children". The debate regarding the ethics of marketing to children is not a new development. Over the last three decades there were some fundamental questions asked about the fairness of marketing to children. Most of these questions are still unresolved. As the consumers started to understand their rights better over the last few years, this debate has started to move to the fore. While parents at home are struggling to set limits, marketing executives are working just as hard to undermine these efforts with irresistible offers. We need ask ourselves if too much marketing leads to unhappy families or will all these products lead to a more happy life. Because of the difficulty of gaining access to the child as a research subject, for the purpose of this thesis the focus was on secondary data available. This thesis is therefore a work of investigation, bringing research together from studies conducted in the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom and other European countries. The starting point was to gain knowledge of the cognitive development of a child. Using the work of Piaget as a basis and working with the developmental blind sports developed by Acuff and Reiher, vulnerabilities where identified for each of the developmental stages. Studies where then conducted into how the marketing industry targets each of those groupings and the products sold to them. In the end the products can be classified as: Inherently dangerous, safe and neutral. The classification of these products is an important aspect of the moral value of the companies selling them. It was necessary to look at the current legislation that is protecting the child and how the industry is finding their way around these. Finally, an ethical framework was designed that was used to look at the marketing industry's actions in each of the developmental phases and the products they sell. Because this thesis looks at the development of the child and the way that marketers target the child by focusing on the developmental blind spots, the feminine is also included when the masculine is used unless specifically stated that there is an important difference. In the end, it is clear that it is the ones who are in the daily "trenches" of homes everywhere who are under the most pressure. It is the parents and caretakers who are purposefully trying to design a healthy and enriching environment for their kids to grow up in who needs to be applauded. They are encouraging these children to have the courage to say no to the negative influences of materialism and irresponsible marketing. Although legislation does exist, it is in most cases not nearly strong enough to have a significant impact. In most cases the industry is left to regulate itself and the flow of money has the strongest pull. All over the world, parents are starting to form a united front against the irresponsible marketers and are forcing new laws and legislation to be implemented to help regulate the industry better. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wanneer dit kom by die motivering vir mense om geld uit te gee op verbruiksgoedere, het Madison Avenue baie vertroue in die krag van 'n kermende kind. Die jong kind word al meer en meer geteiken deur die advertensie industrie. Meer en meer ondernemings gaan na kindersielkundiges toe om hulle te help om hul boodskap te verfyn. Sommige spesialiste in die ontwikkeling van die kind is baie bekommerd oor hierdie tendens. Soos wat bemarkers al meer na jonger markte neig, het die vraag begin ontstaan of hulle nie besig is om die jeug te beroof van hul onskuld nie. Sover dit die bemarkingsboodskap aangaan, is kinders baie naïef en kan hulle maklik gemanipuleer en uitgebuit word. Die algemene gevoel in die industrie is dat bemarkers hierdie kinders kan omskep in lewenslange kliënte deur gebruik te maak van handelsmerk lojalitiet. Skattings toon dat die kinders se gemiddelde spandering rofweg verdubbel het gedurende die 1960's 1970 en 1980's en amper verdriedubbel het in die 1990's (Zoll, 2000). Die vraag is nou, waarom is dit die geval? Waarmee is die groot maatskappye werklik besig wanneer hulle kinders werf om hul produkte op die speelgronde te bemark, of voorgee dat hulle vriende is op die sosiale netwerke, of kitskos herverpak asof dit gesond is en die lyne tussen realiteit en advertensie laat verdof. Bemaring wat kinders teiken kom amper orals voor - televisie, die internet, die speelgrond en selfs in die klas. Die plasing van produkte en ander innoverings maak die oordra van die boodskap baie meer subtiel. Dit alles is besig om 'n gekommersialiseerde kind te skep. Die debat oor die etiek van bemarking na kinders is nie 'n nuwe ontwikkeling nie. Oor die laaste drie dekades was daar reeds fundamentele vrae gevra oor die regverdigheid van bemarking na kinders toe. Die meeste van die vrae is steeds onbeantwoord. Soos wat verbruikers hulle regte oor die laaste paar jaar beter begin verstaan het, het dit die debat opnuut na die voorgrond gebring. Terwyl ouers tuis sukkel om grense te bepaal, werk die bemarkingsbestuurders net so hard daaraan om hierdie reëls te ondermyn met baie aantreklike en onweerstaanbare aanbiedings. Dit gee aanleiding tot die vraag vra of te veel bemarking kan aanleiding gee tot ongelukkige gesinne en of al hierdie produkte werklik sal lei tot 'n beter lewe. As gevolg van die beperkinge op die toegang tot kinders in navorsing, is daar vir die doel van die tesis gebruik gemaak van sekondêre data bronne. Die tesis is dus 'n ondersoek na bestaande navorsing gedoen in die Verenigde State van Amerika, Kanada, die Verenigde Koninkryke en ander Europese lande. Die begin punt van die studie was om kennis op te bou oor die kognitiewe ontwikkeling van 'n kind. Deur die werk van Piaget te gebruik en te werk met die ontwikkelingsblindekolle wat ontwikkel is deur Acuff en Reiher, is kwesbare areas geïdentifiseer vir elke stadium van die ontwikkelingsproses. 'n Studie is gedoen om te bepaal hoe die bemarkingsindustrie elk van hierdie groepe teiken en watter tipe produkte op elke vlak verkoop word. Die produkte is in drie kategorieë geklasifiseer: gevaarlik, veilig en neutraal. Die klassifikasie van die produkte is 'n belangrike aspek in die morele waarde van die onderneming wat dit verkoop. Dit was ook nodig om na die huidige wetgewing te kyk wat die kind beskerm en hoe die industrie rondom hierdie wette beweeg. Laastens is 'n etiese raamwerk opgestel waarteen die bemarkingsindustrie se aksies in elke ontwikkelingsfase gemeet word. Omdat hierdie tesis fokus op die kind en die wyse wat bemarkers die kind teiken deur te fokus op die ontwikkelingsblindekolle word die vroulik ingesluit elke keer waneer die manlike aanspreek vorm gebruik word, tensy daar spesifiek verwys na die feit dat daar 'n verskil is in die optrede. Op die uiteinde is dit duidelik dat die wat in die loopgrawe op die tuisfront is, is die wat onder die meeste druk verkeer. Dit is die ouers en die versorgers wat doelbewus probeer om 'n gesonde en verreikende omgewing te skep vir die kinders wat lof en waardeering verdien. Dit is hulle wat poog om die kinders te ondersteun en aan te moedig om nee te se vir die negatiewe invloede afkomstig van die materialistiese en onverantwoordelike bemarking. Alhoewel wetgewing wel bestaan, het dit in die meeste gevalle nie 'n sterk genoeg impak om die kind se belange te besterm nie. In die meeste gevalle is die industrie ook oorgelewer aan self-regulering en het die vloei van geld die sterkste aantrekking. Reg oor die wêreld is ouers besig om saam te staan teen die onverantwoordelike bemarkers en begin hulle druk uitoefen om die huidige wetgewing te verander en nuwe wette ingestel te kry om die industrie beter te reguleer.

This research presents a new approach to derive recommendations for segment-specific, targeted marketing campaigns on the product category level. The proposed methodological framework serves as a decision support tool for customer relationship managers or direct marketers to select attractive product categories for their target marketing efforts, such as segment-specific rewards in loyalty programs, cross-merchandising activities, targeted direct mailings, customized supplements in catalogues, or customized promotions. The proposed methodology requires cus- tomers' multi-category purchase histories as input data and proceeds in a stepwise manner. It combines various data compression techniques and integrates an opti- mization approach which suggests candidate product categories for segment-specific targeted marketing such that cross-category spillover effects for non-promoted categories are maximized. To demonstrate the empirical performance of our pro- posed procedure, we examine the transactions from a real-world loyalty program of a major grocery retailer. A simple scenario-based analysis using promotion responsiveness reported in previous empirical studies and prior experience by domain experts suggests that targeted promotions might boost profitability between 15 % and 128 % relative to an undifferentiated standard campaign.

The aim of this Master's Thesis is to reveal and describe segments within a group of university students. The first part includes the theory of market segmentation, including the market research theory and description of the technique of cluster analysis. The second part contains the exploration of secondary data - identifying characteristics of the target group and searching for ideas for own research. The third part describes preparation for primary research, collecting of the data and their analysis. At the end I reveal segments with the help of cluster analysis and describe all uncovered segments.

Bus stops are interwoven into the urban landscape, providing direct access to the transit system and offering upfront information to users. This contact creates an ever-present opportunity for transit agencies to market their services to the public and attract ridership. The purpose of this thesis is to help transit agencies exploit this opportunity through the development and deployment of user information. The thesis examines how agencies are leveraging bus stop infrastructure in the United States and Canada. Site visits were conducted at twenty-nine transit agencies across the continent with observations photographed and processed into matrices. The photographs provide examples of innovative ways in which agencies have employed elements, while the matrices reveal the current state of the practice. The thesis concludes with recommendations for the conceptualization and development of bus stop signage that integrate many of these innovative elements as well as ADA regulations to improve user information at transit agencies. The findings of this thesis may be of interest to transit agencies that are seeking to construct a new or improve upon an existing user information system as well as to those interested in or studying public transit, wayfinding, or environmental graphic design. While there exists a large degree of difference as to the level of information that is made available to users in different transit agencies, all agencies have room to improve.

To date, the collection of comprehensive household travel data has been a challenge for most metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and state departments of transportation (DOTs) due mainly to high costs. Urban population growth, the expansion of metropolitan regions, and the general unwillingness of the public to complete surveys conflict with limited public funds. The purpose of this research is to leverage targeted marketing data, sometimes referred to as consumer data or just simply marketing data, for travel demand modeling applications. This research reveals a first step in exploring the use of targeted marketing data for representing population characteristics of a region. Four studies were completed: an aggregate validation, a household-level validation for hard-to-reach population groups, an airport passenger model, and a residential location choice model. The two validation studies of this work suggest that targeted marketing data are similar to U.S. Census data at small geographic levels for basic demographic and socioeconomic information. The studies also suggest that the existing coverage errors are at least similar, if not lower than, the levels of those in household travel surveys used today to build travel demand models. The two application studies of this work highlight the benefits of the targeted marketing data over traditional household travel surveys and U.S. Census data particularly well, including the additional behavioral information available at the household-level and the very large sample sizes. These results suggest that the combination of targeted marketing data with other third-party and non-traditional data could be particularly powerful. It offers tremendous opportunities to enhance, or even transform, existing travel demand modeling systems and data collection practices. Inexpensive, up-to-date, and detailed data would allow researchers and decision-makers alike to better understand travel behavior and to be more equipped to make important transportation-related decisions that affect our lives each day.

The South African spa market is booming and strong growth rates have been recorded for both revenue and visits between 2002 and 2008. As a result of these growth rates, competition among spas is increasing; spa managers and spa marketers therefore have to ensure that their businesses have marketing plans that have sufficiently detailed consumer information in order to allow these businesses to remain competitive in the growing spa industry. Satisfied consumers are probably one of the most important aspects to consider when planning strategies aimed at achieving a competitive advantage in an industry. When consumers are satisfied, they will return and also recommend services to friends and family. In order to ensure consumer satisfaction in the spa industry, spa managers and their marketers should ensure they have sufficient knowledge regarding the descriptive characteristics of their consumers in terms of their demographic and geographic backgrounds, as well as their specific needs regarding spas and spa visits. The method used by businesses to collect the sufficient information regarding their consumers is known as market segmentation. The study followed a descriptive research design, which was supported by a quantitative method of collecting data. The data collection instrument used was a structured self-administered questionnaire. For the purpose of selecting respondents a non-probability sampling procedure was followed and 98 respondents participated in the study. The main aim of this study was to obtain the information necessary for developing personas as basis for market segmentation in Pretoria spas. Quantitative information was therefore collected, which was used to compile the following profile of a typical study population respondent: * The typical study population respondent can be described as a White Generation Y female who is either single or married/living together without any children. She speaks Afrikaans or English and is a full-time employed professional living with between 1 and three family members. She leads a healthy lifestyle, has a high living standard and is willing to travel up to 30km to a spa. Her actual spa visits are less than twice a year, twice a year or once every three months. However, she would like to visit a spa more frequently, such as monthly or weekly. The reason she cannot visit more often is because spa visits are expensive and she does not have time to visit more often. Her major reasons for visiting a spa are to relief/reduce stress, to feel better about herself, for overall wellness or for special occasions such as birthdays, holidays or when she receives a gift card. When visiting a spa she would prefer to go alone, with one or two good friends or with her husband/life partner. Her perception of spa visits is positive for the relieving of stress and the soothing of sore joints and muscles. The buying behaviour of the typical study population respondent will be affected by aspects such as recession or financial difficulty, the reference of a good friend, the recommendation of a family member and friend, information on a website, the professionalism and friendliness of the spa therapists and the types of services a spa offer. The recommendations that can be made to marketers regarding the results of this study are the following: * Spa managers and marketers can use the profile as starting point for the qualitative research that has to follow the quantitative research when developing personas. * The current profile may be used to for developing marketing strategies until personas have been developed. * The collected data may be used to compile profiles to be used as input for further research on other potential markets such as male spa users. / Thesis (M.Com. (Marketing Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The South African spa market is booming and strong growth rates have been recorded for both revenue and visits between 2002 and 2008. As a result of these growth rates, competition among spas is increasing; spa managers and spa marketers therefore have to ensure that their businesses have marketing plans that have sufficiently detailed consumer information in order to allow these businesses to remain competitive in the growing spa industry. Satisfied consumers are probably one of the most important aspects to consider when planning strategies aimed at achieving a competitive advantage in an industry. When consumers are satisfied, they will return and also recommend services to friends and family. In order to ensure consumer satisfaction in the spa industry, spa managers and their marketers should ensure they have sufficient knowledge regarding the descriptive characteristics of their consumers in terms of their demographic and geographic backgrounds, as well as their specific needs regarding spas and spa visits. The method used by businesses to collect the sufficient information regarding their consumers is known as market segmentation. The study followed a descriptive research design, which was supported by a quantitative method of collecting data. The data collection instrument used was a structured self-administered questionnaire. For the purpose of selecting respondents a non-probability sampling procedure was followed and 98 respondents participated in the study. The main aim of this study was to obtain the information necessary for developing personas as basis for market segmentation in Pretoria spas. Quantitative information was therefore collected, which was used to compile the following profile of a typical study population respondent: * The typical study population respondent can be described as a White Generation Y female who is either single or married/living together without any children. She speaks Afrikaans or English and is a full-time employed professional living with between 1 and three family members. She leads a healthy lifestyle, has a high living standard and is willing to travel up to 30km to a spa. Her actual spa visits are less than twice a year, twice a year or once every three months. However, she would like to visit a spa more frequently, such as monthly or weekly. The reason she cannot visit more often is because spa visits are expensive and she does not have time to visit more often. Her major reasons for visiting a spa are to relief/reduce stress, to feel better about herself, for overall wellness or for special occasions such as birthdays, holidays or when she receives a gift card. When visiting a spa she would prefer to go alone, with one or two good friends or with her husband/life partner. Her perception of spa visits is positive for the relieving of stress and the soothing of sore joints and muscles. The buying behaviour of the typical study population respondent will be affected by aspects such as recession or financial difficulty, the reference of a good friend, the recommendation of a family member and friend, information on a website, the professionalism and friendliness of the spa therapists and the types of services a spa offer. The recommendations that can be made to marketers regarding the results of this study are the following: * Spa managers and marketers can use the profile as starting point for the qualitative research that has to follow the quantitative research when developing personas. * The current profile may be used to for developing marketing strategies until personas have been developed. * The collected data may be used to compile profiles to be used as input for further research on other potential markets such as male spa users. / Thesis (M.Com. (Marketing Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

This project dealt with the teenage market in France and in the United States. Its aim was to provide the readers with an overview of this market and outline distribution and communication strategies that manufacturers and retailers can use to attract this market to make their business grow. Until a few years ago, the fashion industry did not pursue this market. In stores, most brands were dividing their clothing range into three catagories, women, men, and children. As a growing market with over 23 million teens in the U.S. and over 5.4 million in France, teenagers have an incredible spending power with 100 billion dollars spent in 2000 in the United States and 2.54 billion dollars spent in France. Now marketers are recognizing the teenage market as a huge potential for the future of their brands.