Scarcity signaling in sales promotion: An evolutionary perspective of food choice and weight status

Obesity rates are increasing worldwide, with an alarming number of associated co-morbidities and deaths. Evolutionary psychology explains this development with an inherent preference for fatty and sweet foods. Recent evidence shows that consumers with a low socioeconomic status are more prone to being obese, but also that consumers with few resources respond more to scarcity signals. Based on this background, this paper investigates whether overweight individuals with a low income respond more to scarcity signaling in terms of sales promotions than others.To this end, a large-scale online survey was conducted across four food product categories in the setting of an online supermarket. Results show that overweight or obese individuals with low income levels responded more strongly to scarcity signaling. The findings inform researchers in terms of explaining different responses to sales promotions and support practitioners in aligning sales promotions to target group-specific behavior.     

The perception of discount sales promotions – A utilitarian and hedonic perspective

This paper explores the effects of utilitarian and hedonic benefits perceptions of discount sales promotions on consumer purchase decisions (attitude and behavioral intention). A closed-ended survey, as well as a partial least squares structural equation modeling of consumers sampling who had used discount sales promotions in their recent purchases, was utilized in this study. The findings suggest that utilitarian benefits perceptions derived from price-quality perception and hedonic benefits perceptions derived from smart shopper self-perception of using discount sales promotions positively affect consumer purchase decisions. Both utilitarian and hedonic benefits perceptions of discount sales promotions can henceforth be used to produce the desired effects on purchase decisions. Hence, this paper sheds light on the effects of utilitarian and hedonic benefits perception of discount sales promotions on purchase decisions. Though the findings are limited to discount sales promotions alone and two types of purchase decisions outcomes (attitude and behavioral intentions), this paper identified multiple avenues to extend its findings. This encourages further exploration of such promotion topics, particularly on the various perceptions of discount sales promotions as well as other sales promotion techniques among marketing academics and practitioners.     

An Instructional Case Comparing the Accounting Policies and Financial Results of Online Retailers

In the role of financial analyst for a venture capital firm, you are assigned the responsibility of evaluating two online retailers who have applied for financing to build a distribution center in western Canada. Based on your developing knowledge of Canadian accounting standards for private enterprises (ASPE), you evaluate the financial reporting policies and financial results of the two companies to identify the company that is best suited for your firm's support. Through this case, you will refine your understanding of ASPE and you will exercise your reasoning and analytical skills.     

基于非线性规划的企业销售利润优化模型

针对企业销售利润最优化问题,分析了相关概念和相互之间的关系,以企业销售利润为目标函数,建立了非线性规划模型,说明了约束条件的构成,最后以实例对提出的模型进行了详细说明,有助于企业销售管理决策,具有一定的应用价值。     

试论我国保险教育培训市场的培育

保险业的快速发展带动了保险教育培训市场的发展。要增强全民保险意识,加大保险教育投入,加强教学资源共享,不断完善保险教育培训体系,合理选择保险教育培训市场的销售模式,优化保险教育培训产品线组合策略并科学实施。     

买卖的法律结构探讨

采用历史与比较方法分析买卖所涉及的两个问题。其一，买卖契约仅产生债的效力，抑或还直接产生物权效力；其二，物权变动是“要因”还是“无因”。罗马法及中世纪上，就合意性的买卖契约而言，它仅产生债的效力，所有权的移转须以交付为要件，这·点被以后的大多数国家所承继。而在同一时期，由于观念交付的出现，以及人文主义法学派的影响，买卖契约的物权性品格也有所体现。物权变动“要因主义”与“无因主义”在罗马文献上都得到印证。     

论证销售量动与利润变动的关系

章通过论证，揭示出销售量变动与利润变动的关系是：在其它因素不变的情况下，利润的变动率总是大于产销量的变动率。     

Should you set up your own sales force or should you outsource it? Pitfalls in the standard analysis

Should you set up your own sales force or should you outsource it? The standard analysis is cost based and assumes that the direct sales force is a fixed cost and that the outsourced sales force's cost varies with sales. The standard analysis then calculates the sales volume at which the direct sales force's costs equal the outsourced sales force's costs and suggests that for sales volume above that quantity, firms should use a direct sales force. This analysis has two problems. First, several other cost factors are not considered in the standard analysis. Second, the standard analysis considers only cost, ignoring coverage efficiency and selling effectiveness differences between the two sales forces. Both problems will be detailed and developed in this paper.     

The development of consulting in goods-based companies

The article focuses on the developments in several B2B companies which traditionally produce goods and based on this experience are trying to enter the business of management consulting. It is the aim of the paper to identify the specific challenges that these companies are facing regarding marketing and selling their management consulting services. Furthermore hypotheses are developed that should give direction how to overcome those challenges successfully. Due to the lack of current research results, an explorative case study approach is chosen referring to two companies from the IT industry having gained relevant experience in this business area. In addition, theoretical frameworks demonstrate the plausibility of the hypotheses developed. If further research supports these hypotheses, it will have significant impact on the market strategy, marketing communication and sales organization of companies going to increase their consulting services.     

My deal expires soon: Can time restriction and exclusivity induce clickthrough in hospitality promotional offers?

The high penetration level of information and communication technology presents challenges for hospitality marketers in designing a promotional offer that stands out from the plethora of social media posts and mobile text messages received by potential customers. Without users’ clickthrough on the posts or hyperlinks, purchases will not occur. This study explored time restriction as a determinant and offer exclusivity as a moderator of clickthrough. Drawing from a scenario-based experiment, the results showed that a time-restricted offer, but not an exclusive offer, induced clickthrough intention through positive offer evaluation. A convergent result was revealed in the field experiment that examined actual clickthrough. Moreover, the time restriction effect was contingent on offer exclusivity. Their dynamics add knowledge to the advertising and hospitality marketing literature. It is recommended that hospitality marketers impose time restrictions to increase clickthrough rate and it is not advisable to incorporate exclusivity messages in their promotional offers.