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.

Hoteliers, restaurateurs, licensees and catering managers will, in the course of their work, enter into many legal relationships with other parties whilst at the same time being required to adhere to all of the statutory laws that apply to their business. A sound knowledge of the law is therefore important to the professional owner or manager, as are knowledge of business management and the fundamental skills of the profession.

All organisations - from modest start-ups to multinational corporations - can benefit from an effective marketing strategy, as it serves as a roadmap for the entire business. By formulating a coherent and well-considered marketing strategy, organisations can promote their business, cater to the right types of clients and allocate their resources correctly, all while safeguarding the reputation of the organisation. Strategic Marketing is structured around the four key questions facing organisations and top management when deciding on their strategic direction: Where are we now; where do we want to be; how will we get there; and did we get there?

This new edition of Contemporary Retail and Marketing Case Studies is a collection of 34 studies of retail and marketing operations as told by individual companies.

Small, medium and larger companies relate the challenges they have faced and how they overcame them, and share their successes and frustrations in a frank and open manner. Each case is unique in its own way and addresses issues which are pertinent and relevant to the South African retail and marketing environment.

The value of this collection is that:

• It provides a variety of cases that together offer insight into the marketing challenges faced by local businesses
• It offers a South African perspective on how to overcome these issues
• It is written from the viewpoint of the entrepreneur or business executive
• It provides practical insights which support work-integrated learning.

This book is a must-read for scholars, students and people concerned with the retail and marketing industry.