Marketing and Branding Research

This study investigates the relationship between the development of the air transport and the economic development of the Bulgarian regions and the improvement of its competitiveness over the period of 2000–2016. The timeliness of the problem is related to the contradictory impact of the air transport on the economic effects of aviation development and related socio-economic effects at local and global level. The purpose of the report was to identify the impact of the air transport on the economic development of the region. In this connection, the following tasks have been set: to monitor trends in the development of the air passenger transport sector; to determine the impact of the average annual income per capita on the passenger flow; to establish the impact of passenger flows on the average annual income of the population as an indicator of the sustainable development of the region. The aim of the article was to establish the link between the passenger flow and the gross domestic product of the region. Economic data processing methods for the 10-year period were used through the Gretl program. The data obtained is evidence of the positive impact of air transport development on the competitiveness of the region and its steady social-economic growth.

This study employs DeLone and McLean’s information
system success model to measure the effect of service quality, system quality, information quality on repurchase intention of the
smartphone-based ride hailing service in Vietnam. Data were gathered by
surveying 427 customers using Grab and Uber services. PLS
was employed to analyze the measurement and structural model. The statistical
results supported all five proposed hypotheses. The study confirmed that
electronic service quality of information system were significant predictors of
overall perceived service quality. Additionally, this
study reported a significant positive effect of perceived service quality
and customer satisfaction on repurchase intention. The
study also confirmed the relationships of the three variables representing the
electronic service quality on the overall service quality, which directly
effects customer satisfaction, considering a more comprehensive model for
service in m-commerce context. This paper extends the knowledge on the service
factors and customer satisfaction of repurchase intention.

In todays highly competitive markets, keeping customers and retaining their loyalty is considered crucial in maintaining business. Companies and retailers also need to look for various marketing strategies in order to improve their customers’ loyalty. Having knowledge and skills about marketing is one of the capabilities which is required for success in the competition. In consumable markets, brands are the main points of differentiation between the competitive presentations, thus, they are crucial for the success of the companies. The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of marketing mix elements on brand loyalty. The present study is applicable in terms of objective and descriptive survey in terms of data collection. To evaluate the model and hypotheses, data collection was carried out through surveying 384 mobile phone users. For data analysis and verification of the model, structural equation modeling approach (SEM) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used and based on the results of the path analysis, the relationship between the variables in the model is investigated. Results indicated the positive impact of products elements, distribution channels, and promotional activities on brand loyalty. Also, the findings showed that indexes of satisfaction and trust which are considered as mediating variables between marketing mix and brand loyalty had positive and significant impact on brand loyalty in the mobile phone industry.

This paper reports a study that identified the underlying key dimensions of service quality and its impact on consumers’ satisfaction and loyalty within the restaurant context in Sudan using Dineserv model. The study is quantitative and descriptive in nature. Data was collected through self-administered questionnaires from 4 restaurants in Sudan. Based on the analyses, four factors including assurance, empathy, tangibility, and reliability were the most significant dimensions of service quality that had positive influence on customer satisfaction while assurance, empathy, and tangibility were the most significant dimensions that had positive influence on customers’ loyalty. The results also confirmed the links between service quality dimensions, satisfaction, and loyalty, respectively. The findings of study could be employed by the restaurant managers to improve their marketing strategies.

The aim of this study is to compare and determine the effective factors of traditional archers’ bow brands preferences from the multicultural perspective. In depth-interviews and focus group studies were conducted with senior and experienced traditional archers from different countries in order to collect the data. Content analysis technique was used to analyze the data and the proposed model was created accordingly. Traditional archers from Turkey and some European countries were participated in this research. According to the results of the analysis; perceived price of brand, customer relationships, product characteristics, and product availability were found as determiners of traditional archers’ bow brand preferences.

This research aims to test whether product’s packaging color influences customers’ purchasing preferences or not and does time pressure moderates this relationship? It studied the importance of color in determining customers’ buying preferences when they have limited time to do shopping. This study revealed that buying preference of a customer is relatively more dependent on the color scheme than on time constraint. However, time pressure was an important moderating factor which influenced the effect of packaging colors on customers’ purchasing preferences. This study emphasized that companies cannot afford to ignore the significance of time constraints and color scheme of the products on customers’ buying behavior.

The purpose of this conceptual study is the identification of value co-creation drivers and components and the emphasis of the necessity of value co-creation in today’s dynamic business environments. According to Bingham, Furr, and Eisenhardt (2014), these environments are built on dynamic markets which require interaction and experimentation between strategic focus and flexibility. “Outside the box thinking” or “thinking with no boxes” is vitally important for the value creation process in global markets (Lewis, Andriopoulos, & Smith, 2014). In this article, the role of customers in value co-creation processes and systems will be highlighted. The co-creation of value with customers’ involvement shapes and redefines existing markets and helps to create new market spaces based on the customers’ needs and demands which result in boundless opportunities in a globalized world of ever-changing markets (Bettencourt, Lusch, & Vargo, 2014). This qualitative study is based on content analysis of distinctive value co-creation management studies streams in scientific literaturefrom related research concepts such as consumer service management and innovation management research for ensuring superior customer responsiveness in dynamic markets by embedding the service-dominant logic (SDL) and the job-to-be-done thinking logic (JTBD). The article gives an overview over perspectives, conceptualizations, and application approaches of value co-creation with customers. In addition, multidimensional approaches of value co-creation are discussed and spheres of value co-creation are formulated. At last, critical drivers for delivering value co-creation are highlighted.

A brand is a name, a symbol, a term or a design which identifies an organizations goods and services as distinct from those of other organizations. Brands support customers in their decision making processes and add to an organization’s reputation. Branding is the process of providing goods and services with the power of a brand. It is the communication of values, attributes, and characteristics of goods and services, clarifying what a particular brand is. In this study a multidimensional brand dashboard was developed and implemented in a company operating the plastics industry in Europe, focusing on three main markets, namely packaging, automotive, and building and construction, launching one master brand and three sub brands on the different markets. Objectives of the project were to deliver better brand briefs, get a greater visibility of projects in the pipeline and improve the master brand / sub brand management portfolio, with a series of indicators which are applied such as accuracy of branded materials, on time delivery, preservation of brand values, and equity. The results of the study revealed that within the one year pilot phase, the values of the main indicators including brand development index and brand equity improved significantly. Newly implemented indicators such as brand influence rate, brand cross index and brand penetration index have all values within predefined ranges. Generally, the brand management portfolio could be improved in terms of master brand /sub brand matrix levels and accuracy of brand materials.

The current study focuses on the necessity of using strategic planning in supply chain management of an organization in order to apply the opportunities and face the threats through formulating the appropriate strategy by means of game theory and system dynamics. It also studies the Automotive Industry in Iran from four main aspects to implement different strategies. At first, the main variables of supply chain are identified, then causal diagrams are created in the form of feedback relationships. In the next stage, the variables of surface and rate are identified to draw the model of surface and flow; finally, simulation equations for 10 years are presented. Selecting the best mixed strategy as a game with four players has been considered and each player (aspect) can select three strategies. At the end, through the concept of Shapley, the effectiveness of each player in providing utility is measured and by means of decision tree, the best mixed strategy is selected. The results indicated that manufacturers will play the greatest role in the future of Automotive Industry in Iran.

Defining the training needs in organizations is the most important factor in human capital development. The aim of this study was to provide the applicable model of training needs assessment in organizations. The population of the study consisted of 460 employees in some organizations. Simple random sampling was used and the sample size was estimated 210 people using Morgan table. Based on the literature, research, ISO 10015 standard and applicable experience in this area, key indicators of training needs assessment in four dimensions, namely job competencies, organizational objectives, problem solving, and developmental gaps were identified. Using the experts’ opinion, a researcher-made questionnaire consisted of 12 items was developed as the instrument for data collection and the data were analyzed by SPSS. The results of the analysis indicated that all the research objectives were supported. As observed, among the dimensions of model, job competencies and organizational objectives had the highest and the lowest mean, respectively. Also, the findings of the paper indicated how to define the training needs according to this model with practical examples. In addition, defining the training needs according to this model can be used in organizations, industries, and different business to empower the human capitals.