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Examines the Internet auction phenomenon as it relates to the marketing mix of online auction sellers. The data indicate that, while there is great diversity among businesses that utilize online auctions, distinct cost leadership and differentiation marketing strategies are both evident. These two approaches are further distinguished in terms of the Internet usage strategies employed by each group. (Author/MES)

A study of Internet usage by large, small, and midsized businesses suggests that midsized businesses may be at a competitive disadvantage. Found that small businesses were more likely than midsized or large firms to have home pages and to reveal computer/technology programs as potential Internet services needed to improve current operations. (PEN)

CASE DESCRIPTION The primary subject matter of this case is the formation of a comprehensive wedding center in Kentucky. The case is positioned to present the business formation process and [...]

CASE DESCRIPTION The primary subject matter of this case is the formation of a comprehensive wedding center in Kentucky. The case is positioned to present the business formation process and [...]

ABSTRACT This study makes a contribution to the existing literature on entrepreneurial risk perception. A model is developed and tested to capture how entrepreneurs perceive the risk associated with new [...]

A firm's marketing orientation and entrepreneurial orientation intuitively should relate to organizational performance. Considerable theory can be found concerning the causes and consequences of each orientation as well as their [...]

Byline: Richard C. Becherer, Diane Halstead Internet marketing is a field that is continuing to grow, and the online auction concept may be defining a totally new and unique distribution alternative. Very few studies have examined auction sellers and their internet marketing strategies. This research examines the internet auction phenomenon as it relates to the marketing mix of online auction sellers. The data in this study indicate that, whilst there is great diversity among businesses that utilise online auctions, distinct cost leadership and differentiation marketing strategies are both evident. These two approaches are further distinguished in terms of the internet usage strategies employed by each group.

The article contains a section of abstracts regarding Marketing Mix from various publications. Some of the articles include "Managing Physical Distribution for Profit," by David P. Herran from the publication, the "Harvard Business Review;" "Expanding the Concept of Inventory Management," by Marian Burk Rothman from the publication, "Stores;" and "The Relationship between Price and Quality in Situations of Repeated Trial," by Steven M. Cox from the publication, "University of Michigan Business Review."

The article presents abstracts on the topic of macromarketing. They include "Time and Consumer behavior: An Interdisciplinary Overview," "Catastrophe Theory in Consumer Attitude Studies," "Preference Mapping in Multidimensional Attitude Spaces," and "Use of Customer Analysis for Better Market Penetration."

The article presents abstracts relating to subject of marketing policy decisions. They include "Factors Influencing the Extension of Bank Credit to Small Businesses," by R. D. Michman, "Issues in Designing Consumer Information Environment," by Charles Lamb, and "A World Turing Point and a Better Prospect for the Future," by Peter LaPlaca.

The article presents abstracts on the topic of marketing institutions. They include "Do Retailers Practice Social Responsibility?" by Peter J. LaPlaca, "Annual reports of the Grocery Industry," by Daniel J. McLaughlin, and "Factors Which May Influence Urban Prescription Trading Areas," by Richard C. Becherer.

The article presents abstracts relating to marketing institutions. They include "Retailers' Responses to Consumerism," by Peter LaPlaca, "Identifying Interurban Shoppers: Multiproduct Purchase Patterns and Segmentation Profiles," by Charles Lamb, and "Products, Percentages and Profitability - How Do You Stack Up?" by William S. Penn, Jr.

The article presents abstracts of marketing institutions. They include "Increase Sales Due to In-Store Display," by Charles Lamb, "Half Century of Supermarkets ... And What's Ahead," by Daniel J. McLaughlin, and "Innovations and New Problems in Today's Direct Marketing," by Bruce J. Walker.

The article presents abstracts about research and forecasting in the field of marketing. They include "Market Research," by William S. Penn, "'Paranoia' about Proprietary Information Release Hurting Marketing Research, 'Recycling' Used Data Could Benefit All," By Charles Lamb, and "An Experiment in Delphi Estimation in Marketing Decision Making," by M. A. Jolson.

Marketing is critical for small companies, but conventional marketing practices are not always available or appropriate. A nascent business venture is more likely to face uncertain market conditions and limited resources and the entrepreneur must use innovative approaches. This research links entrepreneurial marketing practices with changes in market share in small businesses. The findings indicate much support for the small businesses who face greater external or macro-environmental challenges utilizing more entrepreneurial marketing than small businesses that do not face external environmental challenges. Relative to internal resource challenges, however, entrepreneurial marketing is utilized by firms with more resources. Similarly, entrepreneurial marketing is associated with improved market share, particularly with less challenging internal or external environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Green" environmental goals play a role in a firm's decision making and goal setting. Large firms typically consider being socially responsible or more environmentally oriented as part of their mission, but are these initiatives the same for small businesses? Surveying a U.S. small business sample, this exploratory study finds firm size and industry type are the two demographic variables related to the importance of environmental business issues in small business decision-making processes. Company "Expertise," an internal resource advantage, and the external factors of "Competitiveness" and 'Environmental Hostility," were found to influence small firms' environmental goals. When examining business outcomes and small firms' satisfaction with achievement of their environmental goals, all measures studied (cash flow, market share, sales, and earnings) were related to having such goals. This study extends the dearth of literature studying small firms and the role of environmentally friendly strategies in these ventures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Customer orientation is considered to be an essential element for small firm success despite relatively little empirical evidence to support such a claim. This research examines the customer orientation-performance relationship among 180 small firms, and the moderating influence of risk-taking, innovativeness, and opportunity focus on that relationship. Results support the overall positive influence of customer orientation on performance and indicate that the influence is stronger as risk-taking, innovativeness, and opportunity focus increase. Interestingly, customer orientation does not positively influence small firm performance under low levels of risk-taking, innovativeness, and opportunity focus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Writing business plans is often the first step for entrepreneurs in developing new venture ideas. Trade press publications support their value and include templates or even software for crafting the business plan. However, the academic literature supporting the value of a business plan is limited, particularly on how the plan directly affects entrepreneurs and their standard of living. This study polls a national cross section of owner/operators of small to mid-sized business start-ups in operation less than ten years to determine the value of the business plan for the business, its success and longevity, and even its value, separately, for the founding entrepreneur. Results indicate a relationship between the use of a business plan in start up and the age of the business, its financial success, strong company success, and the achievement of financial return goals. Findings support the link between a business plan and the achievement of an "excellent" overall organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY The impact of person and situation on the influence of informal reference groups on consumer behavior is discussed The social psychological construct of self-monitoring was utilized to examine the person factor, while the social-nonsocial nature of products represented the situation factor. The study employed 141 male and female undergraduates who responded to two measures of co-orientation with informal reference groups and three measures of consumer behavior: information seeking, information source credibility, and group influence on product choice. Results indicate that informal group influence on consumer behavior was significantly greater for high self-monitors as compared with low self-monitors. Situational variations were minimal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of critical questions have arisen surrounding the value of using empirical data and analytical procedures in the formation of social and/or public policy. This exploratory study illustrates how multivariate analyses can contribute to an objective formulation of compromise positions on a complex public policy issue. Both multidimensional sealing and analysis of variance were used to study how the perceptions of three divergent key influential groups could be integrated into a final legislative package. This research-based methodology provides a more logical approach to public policy formulation than that typically offered by political compromise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite legislative support and considerable publicity, the predicted boom in health maintenance organizations (HMOs) has not materialized. This has been due, in part, to an absence of marketing-oriented planning in designing such programs. This paper presents a consumer-oriented approach utilizing conjoint segmentation methodology which can be used to develop HMO plans that stand a better chance of consumer acceptance and marketing success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Looks at the concept of option pricing in exploring the pricing strategy for perishable services. Focus of traditional services; Characteristics associated with services; Discussion on option pricing theory.

The article presents several marketing abstracts relative to planning and strategy. They include "Evaluating HMO Policies with a Computer Simulation Model," "Making Markets: A Numbers Game," by J. Rex Douglas, published in the Summer, 1974 edition of "Marquette Business Review," and "Marketing Tactics in a Time of Shortages," by Theodore Levitt.