Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 1986. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 435-441). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center.

Building customer-based brand equity is of crucial importance to marketers, especially with regards to efficiencies in marketing spend in an increasingly competitive global environment. Marketers require engaging marketing communication tools that are able to influence customers’ attitudes and behaviours, thereby increasing future sales and brand loyalty. This research evaluated the relationship between customer-based brand equity dimensions and custom publishing as a communication tool, wherein the primary aim was to measure if custom publishing is associated with an increase in customer-based brand equity. Quantitative research was conducted, using a descriptive method wherein 117 University of the Witwatersrand graduates responded to a web-based questionnaire. The questionnaire was formulated based on the various brand dimensions highlighted in the literature review. The test group consisted of 79 respondents that had received the WitsReview custom publication and the control group consisted of 38 respondents that had not received WitsReview. This research has shown that there is an association between custom publishing, in the form of a magazine brand, and an increase in customer-based brand equity in the product brand and therefore custom publishing is a communication tool that marketers should explore to increase customer-based brand equity. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Global consumer spending trends indicate a growth in the popularity of premium products. Organisations with traditional consumer commodity products are faced with the challenge of how to profit from this trend through successfully delivering premium products to the consumer.The objective of the research was to develop a method to enable organisations to conceptualise and employ product differentiation to augment the brand building process for an existing consumer commodity product. The research was conducted at South African Breweries Ltd with beer as the consumer commodity product under review. A two phase qualitative research paradigm was used to address the research. Data collection comprised a combination of 5 technical focus groups, a technical expert discussion forum and 9 marketing and technical semi-structured interviews. Content analysis was then used to identify the key patterns or themes which emerged.The research established that the continued commoditisation of the local beer industry is as a result of several contributing factors not only related to product differentiation limitations. To ensure successful brand building of a consumer commodity product, an overall method is proposed which considers both product differentiation and the key organisation, industry and product category drivers. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

The structural research framework of the effects of marketing mix elements on brand equity and customer response is defined with the existing theoretical findings. Research hypotheses are defined according to the identified structural research framework. A householder appliance brand, Hisense, is taken as a demonstrative brand. In order to test the defined structural research framework and research hypotheses empirical research was conducted on the sample of Hisense consumers in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) and the multiple regression statistical method with the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS 11.0) are used to analyze the data. Research results indicate that the structural research framework has an acceptable level of fit to the empirical data. Finally, implications of the research results for the theory and practice of brand management are analyzed and discussed. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

Thesis (Master)--İzmir Institute of Technology, İzmir, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 113).

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references.

Purchasing is an important concept in the life of students. The decision whether to purchase branded apparel is hence a very important one. The 21st century student is less loyal and more demanding when choosing branded apparel. Marketers should understand how students evaluate celebrity endorsers when they appear in printed advertising and respond accordingly. The objective of the research is to find out how celebrity endorsed print advertisements affect Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) students’ purchase behaviour. The results of this study could assist marketers in improving the quality of their advertising and to more accurately meet the needs of this dynamic student market. A literature review was conducted to provide an understanding of the consumer purchasing behaviour and the role celebrity endorser played in printed advertisements. The empirical study was designed to assess the impact of the use of celebrity endorsements of printed advertisements targeted at NMMU students. The empirical findings showed that both male and female students indicated that the use of celebrity endorsers get their attention and created interest, and make advertisements more memorable. Males were more influenced than ii females. Moreover, both groups indicated that for a desired or familiar product, celebrity endorsers did not easily change their purchase decisions. It was also found that the use of pictures, colours and wording featured in the advertisements are important to students. The study proposes that marketers should continue to focus on effective marketing communications and establish whether a celebrity should be used. The correct selection of a celebrity endorser can help to create greater consumer persuasion.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, December 1998. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Open University. BLDSC no. DX219765.