Example marketing strategies dissertation topic 3:

Developing new prices strategies for independent retailers in a period of fuel-based inflation.

The ever increasing price of fuel has a knock on effect for all consumers – not only at the petrol pumps but also with regard to the purchasing of all good s that are transported to stores. At the same time, family budget realities in this period of austerity have led to shoppers seeking ever-greater ‘value for money’ with the result that small businesses are facing a further squeeze to their margins. Given that such operators also purchase within an environment in which they do not benefit from the bulk discounts afforded to their larger competitors; this dissertation seeks to devise, with particular reference to independent DIY shops in the Gower peninsula of Wales, a new marketing campaign that will persuade people to pay more so as to be able to buy local. This is a dissertation that can also be seen to tie into movements to save the British high-street and thus combines aspects of marketing with present day socio-political decision making.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Guria, A., Das, B., Mondal, S. and Maiti, M. (2012) ‘Inventory policy for an item with inflation induced purchasing price, selling price and demand with immediate part payment’, Applied Mathematical Modelling, not yet published.
• Head, A., Kumar, A. and Lapham, B. (2010) ‘Market power, price adjustment, and inflation’. International Economic Review, Vol. 51, pp. 73-98.