The Business Builder’s Toolkit is not just about the knowledge of business fundamentals but a step-by-step guide of how to implement them. This is the business guru in your pocket; the mentor you wish you had and the handbook that you will refer to again and again.

Including topics like:

• Busting business jargon and exposing business lies
• How to increase sales
• HR basics for when you can’t afford HR yet
• Customer retention tactics and community building
• Mental health management strategies
• Efficient and effective marketing tactics

When Feyi Olubodun, CEO of one of West Africa’s leading creative agencies, witnessed one too many cases of brands failing in the African marketplace he began to ask himself questions:
- Why did brands, both global and local, so often fail to connect with the African consumer?
- What was it about the African market that brand owners were not seeing?

He began to reflect on his own marketing experiences and out of this emerged the framework for The Villager.

In Feyi’s view, the African consumer begins his life’s journey by moving from the village, his rural dwelling, to the city, carrying with him not only his own dreams but also the dreams of his community. He is a highly aspirational consumer, motivated to succeed, and he becomes the economic portal for the rest of his community back home. But although he may be exposed to global influences and technology, his essential identity remains largely intact. This is why Feyi calls the African consumer a Villager. The Village is no longer a physical space; it is a psychological construct that defines him and the filter through which he engages with and consumes brands.

In developing his construct, Feyi posits that if you wish to engage successfully in a market you may not understand, you must have the right ‘lenses’ to view a people. He believes the secret lies in applying these lenses at the confluence of commerce, culture and consumer. Data is not enough to understand the vagaries of a particular market. Drawing on his wide experience and wealth of astute observations, he provides a highly readable and indispensable guide to the mindset of the African consumer today, yet it is true to say that his insights apply, albeit in a more nuanced way, to consumer behaviour across the globe.

The Villager is essential reading for brand owners wishing to conquer new markets.

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.

Marketing Management takes a fresh look at topics such as the architecture of marketing, integrated marketing communication and the identification of target markets. Core topics such as product and services, wholesaling and retailing, distribution, global marketing and pricing strategies are, of course, also dealt with. It includes all-new chapters on customer interface management, branding decisions, digital marketing communications, customer value and retention, and measuring and managing the return on marketing investment.

Marketing Management has been widely prescribed for more than 20 years. This edition – containing the most recent and relevant research – is sure to remain the market leader, particularly within the South African context.

Key Features:

• Well-researched case studies
• Numerous examples to explain marketing theory, many of which are taken from South African companies
• Extended marketing mix is discussed where relevant and not as a separate topic
• Focus on customer satisfaction as well as on accessing and using information in decision making
• Support material for adopting institutions

Organisations that want to continue being successful in today's global competitive market, where customers are more empowered and brand loyalty is eroding, will have to move to Relationship Marketing (RM) with a strong focus on Customer Relationship Management (CRM). CRM enables organisations to provide excellent real-time customer service through the effective use of individual account information. This requires a more complex approach, since organisations need to investigate and satisfy customer needs, and have to build relationships with existing and potential customers. CRM of the future will have to secure state-of-the-art customer management services delivered to customers through the Cloud to establish a convenient, but professional, customer management service. Relationship Marketing and Customer Relationship Management (fourth edition) includes new South African case studies illustrating RM and CRM within South African organisations. The book also focuses on current RM and CRM themes, such as the changing face of the customer, how to deal with positive and negative relationships, poor service experiences and the recovery of customer relationships.

Advertising, Promotion, and Other Aspects of Integrated Marketing Communications, South African Edition provides a contemporary view of the role and importance of marketing communications. Emerging topics such as the enormous popularity of social media outlets, online and digital practices, viral communications, and personal selling - along with all of their effects on traditional marketing - are also discussed in this edition.

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.

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

Sales management is a management function that plays an important role in any marketing and sales organisation. The profitability of the organisation depends on how successfully sales managers lead their salespeople. The sales manager is responsible for the strategic planning of the sales force that includes the management of the selling process and organising the sales activities within the sales department.

Also included in this book are two other functions that are becoming important for sales managers in performing their management tasks, namely sales promotions and sales metrics. Each chapter includes specific outcomes, case studies and discussion questions.

This textbook will be a valuable resource for sales managers who want to improve their knowledge, sales people who want to advance their careers and students studying marketing and sales.

Marketing (5th Edition) covers issues like pricing, product labelling and sponsorship and includes a wealth of examples to guide students through current topics such green marketing and marketing communication.

This new edition is written in a more accessible way to assist students to grasp new concepts.

Features:

• Case studies with questions from a real-world context that bring the theory to life.
• Examples and insights on current issues
• End-of-chapter questions to test the content covered in each chapter
• Website links where students can gather more information on a specific topic or example discussed
• Strategy features to indicate to students how certain company's make certain marketing decisions and what the consequences of those decisions are Broad coverage of topics.

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.

The marketing world is continuously changing and Introduction to marketing addresses these changes by discussing core concepts like understanding the environment that the organisation operates in, analysing their competition, understanding how consumers make decisions, conducting marketing research, applying segmentation, targeting and positioning, the process of developing and making decisions around products, managing services, marketing channels, retailing, pricing, promotions, branding, integrating communication efforts, business-to-business marketing, marketing metrics, international marketing and ethical considerations.

These topics are fundamental to any marketing professional or academic.

The second edition of this textbook provides updated discussions, examples and scenarios that marketers are currently facing.

This revised and updated second edition of Channel Management (previously titled Distribution Management) focuses on the basics of product distribution as part of the marketing mix and explains the choices and strategies involved in choosing distribution channels.

Channel Management 2e clearly describes how distribution strategies need to coordinate the activities and aims of the producer or manufacturer and various intermediaries in order to bring products and services to buyers at the right time, at the right place and in the right quantity.

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.

Marketing Research, now in its fourth edition, provides a methodical introduction to the basic concepts of marketing research.

Marketing research can be a daunting subject if not taught correctly. The mere mention of inferential statistics or statistical significance causes many students to close their minds and develop a mental block towards the topic. This is largely because most texts spend too little time teaching students the basic concepts before ploughing into the analysis of data and associated statistical formulas.

Marketing Research follows a simple layout that is easy to read with text that is written in understandable, plain English. It will equip undergraduate marketing students with the skills necessary to plan and conduct basic marketing research projects in an efficient and effective manner, in a business world which demands more and more information on which to base decisions.

What does it take to be an incredible marketer, creating campaigns that move something from ‘here’ to ‘there’ so that it is noticed, believed, loved, and ultimately (and importantly) bought by customers – whether in business-to-business or business-to-consumer contexts?

How does a marketer devise strategies to fulfil the 360° dreams, aspirations and objectives of an entire business? Is it through brand building, maintaining brand health and reputation, or effective storytelling? Is it about raising product/service awareness, pricing strategies, or the choice of promotional channels – whether above-the-line, below-the-line, or through digital and AI messaging? Or perhaps it’s about delivering a message like, ‘We hear you; let’s build a sustainable future, together.’

And how do you decide which aspect to market? Is it …

The product;
The price;
The place;
The promotion;
The people;
The positioning;
The process;
The parable;
The performance;
The promise?
OR, is it bits and pieces of all, or some, of the above?

This book delves into these questions, providing insights and guidance for creating comprehensive marketing strategies that resonate and drive success. In The Book Every Marketer Should Read our authors examine aspects of the original ‘4Ps of Marketing’ and transform this outdated 1960s framework into a dynamic, contemporary approach suited for the 21st century.

Start reading and make notes on what you can implement today to become a marketing maestro.

Master the art of what to say in your funnels to convert your online visitors into lifelong customers in this updated edition from the $100M entrepreneur and co-founder of the software company ClickFunnels. Your business is a calling. You've been called to serve a group of people with the products, services, and offers that you've created. The impact that the right message can have on someone at the right time in their life is immeasurable. Your message could help to save marriages, repair families, change someone's health, grow a company, or more. . . . But only if you know how to get it into the hands of the people whose lives you have been called to change. By positioning yourself as an expert and telling your story in a way that gets people to move, you will be able to guide people through your value ladder, offer solutions to their problems, and give them the results they are looking for. This is how you change the lives of your customers, and this is how you grow your company. In this updated edition of Expert Secrets, Russell Brunson, CEO and co-founder of the multimillion-dollar software company ClickFunnels, gives you the step-by-step strategies you need to turn your expertise into a carefully crafted sales message that will attract your dream customers. Don't hide inside your business. Implement these story selling techniques now so you can find your voice and gain the confidence to become a leader, build a movement of people whose lives you can change, and make this calling a career.

Persuasiveness. Influence. A certain ‘something’ that makes it impossible for people to say no. Call it what you will, some people have it. DJ Sbu certainly does - it’s the quality that has helped him evolve from an ambitious boy growing up on Tembisa’s rough streets to a DJ, an entrepreneur, an author, a philanthropist and a speaker who graces stages around the world. In this book Sbu shares the secrets to cultivating this irresistible quality. Using events that have shaped his own life, he reveals how a positive outlook, resilience, hard work and determination can help you win in every sphere.

This inspiring read also acts as a practical handbook, showing you how to apply The Art Of Hustling to become a winning salesperson. It is DJ Sbu’s firm belief that, if you know how to sell, you will never go hungry. He also believes that this simple skill holds the key to solving Africa’s considerable unemployment problem.

His passion for youth development comes through loud and clear in this easy-to-read, easy-to-use handbook. Full of practical examples, sound advice and no-nonsense insights, it’s a must-have for every person who wishes to further their lives and their careers, whether in the corporate world or starting out on an entrepreneurial journey.

DJ Sbu’s career is testimony to his strength, resilience and spirit of innovation; the very qualities needed to get ahead in today’s rapidly evolving business environment. In sharing his story, he hopes to ignite others’ success.

Marketing: A Global Perspective is the much-anticipated EMEA edition of Grondslagen van de Marketing, the market leader in the Netherlands for over 25 years. In this bestseller, Dr Bronis Verhage strikes the right balance between marketing theory and practice. The text features perspectives from Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the wider world, embedded in a global context, offering a cutting-edge review of new priorities in marketing, as illustrated by a diverse selection of analyses of world-class companies' customer-focused strategies. This attractively-illustrated, full-colour edition includes a range of case vignettes assessing small and medium-sized enterprises and large global corporations such as L'Oreal, Philips and Google, encompassing the entire field of marketing, including services marketing, B2B and green marketing.

Today's ever-changing marketing environment, accompanied by unpredictable competitive actions, creates uncertainty for enterprises and presents dilemmas, challenges and problem situations that necessitate planning ahead in order to survive. Directional/strategic marketing planning presents a step-by-step approach to developing plans that give direction to future marketing actions. Directional/strategic marketing planning begins with the marketing audit, which provides a clear understanding of the enterprise's current position in the market, the nature of the opportunities and threats in the external environment, and the enterprise's internal strengths and weaknesses. Once the basic directional market options available in the future have been determined, specific decisions that the marketer needs to make given a range of specific plans are discussed. Directional/strategic marketing planning is aimed at third and fourth year marketing students.

Don't Fire Them, Fire Them Up is a real-world story of winning in business by motivating employees in the most positive way possible -- nurturing them, showing that you value their accomplishments, and giving them the skills and the responsibility to become winners. Frank Pacetta, the hard-working man who engineered the drastic performance turnarounds of Xerox's Cleveland and Columbos sales staffs, gives the reader the same techniques he uses to build a winning business team:

* How to develop trust and create loyalty
* How to generate enthusiasm and excitement
* How to establish feedback and accountability
* How to rebuild an organization, and then lead and energize it
* How to put the organization on top and keep it there year after year

This book is check-full of practical, proven tips on leadership and management, everything from motivation to communication to all the nuts and bolts of selling successfully. And Pacetta has included his Top Ten Tips (and created Ten More Top Tips), which were featured in The Wall Street Journal and which have been copied and posted on office bulletin boards across the country.

Disillusionment with globalization, along with a rise in nationalist sentiment, may lead us to ask whether cross-cultural or international research will be necessary in the coming years and, if it is, what form it will take. While all international marketing is cross-cultural, not all cross-cultural marketing is international. Cultures are defined as groups of people who share a common language, set of norms, institutions, beliefs and values. There are many ways such groups can be defined - only one of which is country. Regardless of the definition parameters, one thing remains clear: cross-cultural marketing is a broad topic in today's technological, always-connected world. This Handbook suggests future directions for cross-cultural marketing research in a rapidly evolving global environment. It builds upon existing models and topics, addresses the methodological challenges of cross-cultural research, and provides applied examples spanning various methodologies as well as industry sectors and country settings. In addition, contributors present new paradigms for future research. Cross-cultural marketing research scholars, Ph.D. students and cross-cultural and international marketing practitioners will benefit from this thorough examination of current trends as well as forward thinking concepts from some of the field's foremost experts.