Sales drive the business world and the economy. However, sales in any business need to be managed to ensure that the business achieves its objectives. This is where the function of sales management comes into the business structure: it plays the key role of ensuring that salespeople succeed at selling. The profitability of the organisation depends on how successfully sales managers lead their sales force.

The sales manager is responsible for the strategic planning of the sales force, which includes the management of the selling process and organising the sales activities within the sales department. With the third edition of this textbook, the authors hope that both industry and academia will be able to use the information to better understand and implement the different functions of sales management. Concepts are presented in such a manner that a student new to the field will easily grasp them.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is indispensable in the spheres of business, government, education, and entertainment. It makes Internet marketing, e-government, elearning and online chat services possible, as well as e-commerce. With the radical impact of Covid-19 on consumer behaviour and buying patterns, it is now more crucial than ever for business training to cover at least the basics of e-commerce.

E-Commerce in South Africa explores the ways in which entrepreneurs and managers can make use of e-commerce to improve their contact with their customers and enhance their business and marketing strategies.

This multipurpose book will be invaluable to people involved in any form of business or government institution that relies on ICT. Those who will benefit from this book include students of business, business analysts, web page designers and webmasters, entrepreneurs and CEOs, risk managers, marketers, advertising specialists, logistics managers, strategic planning specialists and trainers in the business and ICT fields.

A thorough understanding of the basics of marketing is essential for any marketing practitioner and student of marketing. Marketing: An Introduction is a valuable tool which describes the foundational aspects of marketing and enables a basic understanding of this field. This book has a strong focus on the principles of marketing, the importance and use of social media, and the integration of marketing principles with other business functions.

Marketing: An introduction builds on the huge popularity of the first three editions - all of which have been widely accepted and adopted in the business and academic community. This addition is once again written in a way that is easy to understand by students and focuses on the latest trends in marketing.

The book has been written with the aim of providing students and practitioners with a thorough understanding of marketing, as well as how the theory is applied in a practical sense. Once again it is made clear that for a business to survive the various functions should work closely together in order to meet the demands of the market and that all are working together towards the overall profitability of the organization.

This fourth edition of Strategic Marketing has been revised and updated to include the latest trends and examples in business. This edition provides a concise and thorough look at the strategic business issues todays managers must cope with.

The focus is on how organisations need to adapt and cope with the demands from the global and local business environment, and in the process better understand their responsibilities their own organisations needs and their own products and other offerings.

Over the years and with all the new developments in the world and technological advances, the four key questions all organisations must answer still remain as follows:

• Where are we now?
• Where do we want to be?
• How will we get there?
• Did we get there?

These questions sound easy and straight forward but it is not as simple as it sounds. It requires a thorough understanding of the organisation and all the elements in the business environment that can and will impact on the business. This edition addresses these questions in an easy to understand and practical manner and covers a range of topics including an analysis of the external business environment, a detailed analysis of customers and competitors, market analysis, analysing the internal environment. There after the focus moves to marketing strategy and metrics which is applicable to organisations and the importance thereof, and added to this is the management of customer experiences and market strategies, and a global view of strategic marketing from the organisation’s perspective.

The world of integrated marketing communication (IMC) has changed dramatically over the last 10 years, due in large part to the expansion and advances in digital media technology. These changes have affected clients, consumers and advertisers alike.

Marketing Communication: An integrated approach 2nd edition deals with the past, present and future of IMC and the impact this has had on the pace and demands of effective persuasive communication in the current digital age. It is also the first IMC textbook to cover in detail alternative communication strategies and how their unconventional and disruptive tactics have been integrated into our daily lives. Self-study questions per chapter have also been included in this edition.

The Fifth edition of Marketing Management: A South African Perspective, the leading marketing textbook in Southern Africa, adopts a new perspective on the business environment and the way in which businesses can deal with changes in that environment.

Services, whether online or offline, are important in modern economies in which the understanding is that we ‘are all in services’. Services Marketing, a subset of the field of Marketing, has evolved and developed a range of theories and models, all focused on providing superior service offerings to today’s market and the growing expectations of service delivery. New research provides additional contemporary insights into this dynamic and developing area. This text seeks to address the current research and its managerial implications in both online and offline services. It includes new case studies, integrating new research and new perspectives on the various aspects of services.

The book covers important topics in providing services, including:

• Technology and its role in service marketing
• Customer expectations and perceptions
• Creating customer value
• Services architecture
• Pricing decision-making
• Demand management
• Building customer relationships and loyalty
• Integrated service marketing communication
• Service recovery strategies

The third edition of Communication: A Hands-on Approach focuses on different forms of communication, emphasizing writing as a communication tool, particularly within the business environment. To support this, each chapter contains numerous exercises to enable the student to practice the skills learnt in that chapter and to assist lecturers in reinforcing content covered in class. The evolution of technology and its use in the business environment has been taken into account and for this edition the chapter on digital media has been expanded and updated to take into account the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and disruptive approaches to education. A new chapter on intercultural communication has been included to prepare students to communicate for diversity.

In our interconnected world, mastering global branding is essential for success. International Brand Management is your comprehensive guide, covering key aspects of international branding to help you navigate the complex global marketplace.

Beginning with brand identity and positioning, the book emphasizes the importance of cultural sensitivity, market research, and strategic alignment in crafting a compelling brand narrative that resonates across diverse cultures. From there, it explores brand architecture, demonstrating how to manage complex brand portfolios while maintaining coherence and synergy.

Brand equity and its value chain are examined, providing insights into measuring brand equity and evaluating the impact of branding investments on financial performance and consumer perceptions. The text also covers brand communication strategies, showcasing how effective communication can amplify brand resonance and foster meaningful engagement with global audiences

Relationship Marketing and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) have become important tools in securing the survival of businesses in the new millennium by considering both external customers and employees (internal customers). CRM enables businesses to provide excellent realtime customer service through the eff ective use of digital technologies. CRM will evolve to become more aligned to customer management practices both internal and external to the business as well as to embrace Industry 5.0.

Both internal and external customers are increasingly using smart phone devices to engage with organisations, highlighting the importance of digital relationships and technologies. Relationship marketing acknowledges the importance of other stakeholders and the building of relationships with these groups. Relationship Marketing and CRM will therefore have to secure state-of-the-art customer and relationships management strategies delivered to all its customers through the development and implementation of these CRM strategies.

Key topics covered in this book:

• The nature of Relationship Marketing and Customer Relationship Management
• Building relationships, including online relationships
• Service issues in Relationship Marketing and Customer Relationship Management
• Internal marketing
• Business-to-business marketing relationships
• Stakeholders in Relationship Marketing
• Planning and organising a CRM strategy
• Implementing Customer Relationship Management (CRM) in an organisation

  This newly updated South African book was written to compliment students at both undergraduate and postgraduate level and is therefore both highly informative and practical in its approach. It will also further inform practising marketers about the complex world of RM and CRM and new developments in the field.

Introduction to Communication Studies is an introductory textbook on the theories of and approaches to communication studies for first -year students. It reflects the dynamic evolution of communication studies in the recent past, introducing new insights and approaches to communication media and digital communication.

Acknowledging the unique requirements of the African communication environment, the text is illuminated with a range of uniquely South and southern African examples to contextualise the theory, with chapters written by leading academic authors from East and Southern Africa.

Teaching you how to use online tools to reach your customers. In today's increasingly digital world, marketing is going online. From companies to individuals, people are seeking new and creative ways to promote their products and themselves in the virtual realm. Websites, email and social media are reaching out to customers at home, in the office or on the move, and finding ways to engage with them. The virtual world has many benefits, but not everyone is familiar enough with digital channels to use them to maximum potential. This is where e-Marketing in the South African context comes into play. This comprehensive book focuses on the critical issues associated with e-marketing in the South African context. It is written in an easy-to-read and practical fashion that will help readers grasp the relevant technologies and concepts presented in the book. And it provides a strategic perspective as well as metrics to help achieve the goal of successful e-marketing.

In today’s competitive retail environment, where new products are being introduced daily, how do you attract customer attention to your new product, and how do you manage its success? But equally important is the price. Just what is the science of pricing?

Product and Price Management recognises that a product manager needs to maximise the value of a product, oversee all aspects of a product line in order to deliver superior customer satisfaction, and coordinate production with an understanding of the market’s and customers’ needs, while simultaneously providing a long-term competitive advantage for the company. It also focuses on the basics of pricing and conveys the choices and strategies surrounding price in a concise and practical manner. South African examples help illustrate the discussions, and the topics have been updated to reflect the current realities of the markets.

The pandemic that hit the world in 2020 has brought about many changes around the world. This has led to numerous changes in the world of business and new trends have emerged in the world of sales. Artificial intelligence became more prominent, the impact of videos increased and automation of sales processes became the order of the day.

One of the more noticeable sales trends that emerged in the past years is creativity. The business world changed and salespeople had to work harder to meet targets. This also led to more intense competition, which in turn, resulted in more innovative ways of doing business. Salespeople were forced to work smarter and not harder during these trying times. One of the cyber-age strategies focused on was the use of the Internet to drive sales. This, however, quickly became annoying to customers. To prevent this type of strategy from becoming an also-ran, it needs to be adjusted and adapted to be one step ahead. Creativity is called for in sales – not silliness!

It is clear that customer expectations of personal selling are constantly changing and that businesses must adapt to these changes. The days are gone where a business can tell customers what they want to hear; or will close a deal fast; or talk a lot to influence customers. Customers expect businesses to change the way they approach them.

In this edition of Personal Selling, the authors outline the key steps in the selling process that lead to a successful sale, from prospecting for a sale to the follow-up once the sale has been completed. In addition, it explains the role and place of personal selling, the impact it has on the economy and how it ties in with and supports marketing. The importance of communication in the act of selling, as well as different approaches and sales presentation methods, are explained and clarified, and a comprehensive discussion on how salespeople should manage themselves and their time is included.

In the developed world, which is a mature market, many businesses are finding that opportunities for growth have declined. As a result, they are seeking growth opportunities in developing economies. Africa is an emerging market, with some countries outpacing developed nations in economic growth. It has the fastest–growing population and an exploding middle class with more disposable income. The continent is open for business and has become an investment destination of choice.

Marketing in Africa covers the key aspects of marketing in non–traditional markets and explains important marketing concepts. The book is about understanding the lucrative African markets, including informal markets, and how to market to them.

Marketing in Africa is intended for undergraduate and postgraduate Marketing students, and students in other programmes such as Business Management, Supply Chain Management and Human Resources.

As an introduction to branding, Fundamentals of branding provides students with an overview of the building blocks of branding, which include: the influence of branding on marketing decisions; the role and place of branding in the organisation; the various elements of branding; packaging the brand; positioning the brand; planning, leveraging and extending the brand; evaluating the brand. The book contains a chapter with real-life branding case studies which illustrates the practical application of the topics discussed in this book. This is a very useful resource for students who struggle to apply theory learned to real-life situations.

Advances in technology and the change in customer profiles have changed advertising and sales as they have traditionally been conceived, forever. Marketers need to adapt their advertising and sales approaches in order to reach their rapidly changing market and keep up with their clients and customers. Advertising and sales promotion focuses on the main advertising media and sales approaches and the impact these have on the demands and pace of effective, persuasive communication in the current digital age.

What is the role off marketing in the business? How is value created in the marketing process? How can I develop a marketing plan? How do I conduct market research? Is the internet the best way to help me market my product or service, or are a multichannel approach the best solution as a distribution channel option?

This completely updated sixth edition of Introduction to marketing that started out in 1998 comprises twelve chapters that focuses on recent developments in the South African marketing environment. The business setting has changed drastically in the Post-Covid-19 environment. These changes are reflected in all the chapters of the textbook.

Of special interest are the new chapters that were introduced on sustainability, social responsibility and ethical decision-making in marketing, developing the marketing plan and how marketing is dealing with changes brought by Industry 4.0.

South Africa is regularly in the international spotlight for several reasons, some of which are negative, which poses challenges to PR companies.

Businesses are increasingly realising the importance of a good reputation and the value of publicising their positive achievements.

Public Relations: Theory and Practice 3e focuses on what Public Relations is about, its role in the total marketing effort.

Marketing is not a function by itself or a task for just one person – its success depends on several activities in the marketing value chain.

Understanding this value chain is important for companies to stay relevant, and crucial for seeing a return on their investment in marketing. Companies employ and interact with many members of the marketing value chain, and therefore need to be familiar with the relationships between each link in this chain.

Marketing Value Chain is about understanding this value chain, where marketing fits into the chain, and what role marketers play within it.

Key concepts are:

• the nature of distribution and its role in the supply chain and marketing
• the concept of value chain marketing
• distribution channels in South Africa
• understanding channel design and channel selection
• functions in the value chain
• behavioural processes in the value chain
• trends in value chain development and online channels
• the supply chain and logistics industry in South Africa
• buyer -supplier relationships

Customer service is not a new topic in marketing. Although most marketing texts cover customer service in some form or another, the topic is generally not given the attention it deserves. In a society where customers are becoming more informed, more protected and more demanding than in the past, it makes good business sense to ensure that your customers receive a high level of customer service. After all, a happy customer is a satisfied customer, and a satisfied customer will remember the experience and purchase from you again and again.

Customer Service draws together the important issues regarding customer service. It addresses all the key elements which need to be considered when developing a service strategy for a business. The text is not only written with undergraduate students in mind, but also for the entire spectrum of businesses – both large and small – and for employees at all levels.

This book:

• Considers the topic of customer service within the context of its role in marketing strategy
• Stresses the importance and role of verbal and non-verbal communication
• Highlights the role that physical evidence plays in supporting a service strategy
• Addresses the causes of service failures and how to fix them
• Provides guidance on how to develop a service system
• Shows how technology can be used to enhance customer service
• Gives advice on how to develop and train staff to deliver exceptional customer service
• Addresses the important issues of quality, value, expectations and satisfaction and why they form the foundation of a service strategy
• Outlines the concept of customer experience management and how to apply it to a business

Consumer Behaviour 5e focuses on consumer needs, buying behaviour, and the art of customer satisfaction. It provides invaluable insight into the psychology behind consumer thinking, emotions, experiences and reasoning, as well as how choices between products/services, suppliers and product brands are made.

A unique South perspective on consumer information-processing, decision-making and buying patterns is emphasised through the lens of culture, family, media and values. This perspective will inform academics in the marketing field as well as industry practitioners on how customised marketing strategies can be developed to effectively reach each consumer. The significant impact of the growth of the millennial market segment, the use of digital technology, and access to shared experiences through social media and other online channels, is also explored.

This fifth edition of Consumer Behaviour covers traditional and contemporary issues such as:

• Consumer decision-making and influencing factors
• Why customers behave the way they do
• Market segmentation and how to target a specific market
• Consumer information-processing
• Brand loyalty and how to retain customers
• Customer relationship marketing
• Cross-cultural influences on consumer behaviour
• E-commerce and its effect on consumer behaviour.

Contract: General Principles examines the concepts, principles and rules relating to contracts, and considers the jurisprudential, constitutional, and social context in which contract law operates. The authors’ expert analysis and exposition of the legislative and common-law principles underlying the law of contract provides a rich, illuminating reading experience for legal practitioners, law students, and members of the general public interested in the subject. The authors explore the theoretical basis and structure of the South African law of contract and discuss the role played by the courts – which includes discussions of the latest court decisions and other sources of reference – in the interpretation and application of these rules and principles. Where the law is not settled, divergent opinions are considered and solutions offered, often referring to foreign jurisdictions.

The sixth edition of Contract: General Principles highlights the importance of the Consumer Protection Act in relation to the construction and conclusion of contracts, and includes a discussion of new developments in the electronic age, including the use of smart contracts and their application to various aspects of contracting. Close attention is paid to the influence of constitutional jurisprudence and the role of good faith and ubuntu in the formation and enforcement of legal agreements, or as informing the application of the public policy standard. The treatment of the practical application of this standard in the context of agreements in restraint of trade has also been significantly expanded.

While the book’s basic approach has been retained, the chapters have been substantially refined and reworked with a sharper focus on the applicable principles and rules.