The electronic age has brought many changes to the world of marketing and sales. More people are communicating in cyberspace to access more information about products, services and brands. New methods of selling and communicating with customers are invented virtually on a daily basis. And the extended use of social media is placing new demands on marketers, sales managers and sales practitioners around the world.

Despite this upheaval, retailers and marketers believe that personal selling — the age-old art of person-to-person communication between a salesperson and a prospective customer, is here to stay — although it should be adapted to incorporate technological developments.

In this fourth 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 sales people should manage themselves and their time is included.

Distribution management is the first of a quintet of books specially written for South African undergraduate marketing students. The other books in the series deal with marketing research, production management, pricing and integrated marketing communications. The objective of the series is to place specific marketing topics in perspective and it is the indigenous flavour of examples and case studies that localise the content and enhance the discussions. Distribution management was written to fulfil the requirements of the modular system that is used by all the South African universities. The text is easy to read and embraces the full spectrum of distribution topics that are covered in undergraduate studies at tertiary level.

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.

The all-new Applied Marketing Cases is an engaging collection of case studies written by owners, entrepreneurs and corporates (from SMMEs to larger companies). They share their frustrations, successes and challenges on starting and running successful businesses. The stories are unique and inspiring to students, practitioners and would-be entrepreneurs.

Contents Include:

• 1st for Women Insurance
• 8ta2StrokeAfrica Media Online
• Bella Donna Finishing Classes
• Bio-Strath
• Blue Apple
• BulkSMS.com
• Clover Danao
• Clover Tropika
• Engen
• Europcar
• Gary Rom Hairdressing
• Hippo.co.za
• Jenna Clifford Designs (Pty) Ltd
• John Deere
• Ocean Baskey
• Studentnotes.co.za
• Suzuki Auto South Africa
• Vega
• Vital Health Foods

Simple, relevant and practical, Applied Marketing Cases is a must-read for entrepreneurs and business students alike.

With businesses competing globally more than ever before, and with the increased use of social media for marketing, companies are realising that they need to do more to add value to their products and services, and to enhance and manage the customer experience. In order to meet the expectations of today’s demanding and changing consumer, marketers and students of marketing alike need to be aware of the latest trends in marketing methods and technologies and how to use them to attract and keep customers.

With a user-friendly layout highlighting definitions, examples, case studies and websites, this third edition of Marketing Management: A South African Perspective gives undergraduate students a comprehensive understanding of marketing – at a practical and academic level.

Contributions from leaders in the field of marketing in South Africa and from academics at leading universities, locally and internationally, will ensure that this edition becomes as highly regarded as its predecessors.