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Monday, May 25, 2009

The relation of Marketing in Business Operation

In many cases that I have met most small business starters or even operators, business research, marketing research are being separated from each other or not being practiced despite it is a critical factor.

A most recent case that I was deeply involved is where a millionaire friend of mine is deeply interested investing in fishing business in Aceh, Indonesia. This investment is more on diversification into different business since he is a logger.

After a week of several meeting and discussion, on 12th May 2009, three of us took a flight to Aceh in the intention of an immediate purchase of fish for 3 to 10 tons per day. I proposed that some detail research on the operation, marketing plan and a business model must be developed prior to the investment. The reason is that the business I am involved in Indonesia is Tuna fishing and not the purseiner or trawler fishes.

On reaching Aceh we went to a fishing jetty in Idi which took us at least 7 hours drive and we realize that the fish are mostly Euthynnus affinis or in Indonesian name is Tongkol Como, or the Malaysian name is Tongkol Hitam and Tongkol Putih. There some Albacore available beside Loligo app. Based on my experience I assumed for the unloading at that particular fishing jetty would be at least 50 tones of fish. We felt unhappy since the information provided by the Indonesian Fishery was not accurate. We then left for the next jetty which took us a day of driving.

The next jetty was the small jetties which are distributed unevenly at an area of 50 km radius. This are the type of fish that we are looking but each jetty could only supply us with 100 kg to 200 kg a day. Our intention of having a minimum of 3 ton of fish per day again becomes a dream. We are not able to have the fish needed for the market that we think we had.

Both of my friends then left home for Malaysia the next day and I stay for some research for this particular business. I believe that the challenges that we faced could be resolve with a good research. I stayed for a week and later I came with a good finding and proposal to run such a business.

On my return to Malaysia, we then had 2 meetings and later decided to venture into this particular business. I reminded my partners that a regular research and analysis must be made in ensuring the sustainability and profitability of the business. I also reminded my friends that we are also lacking in having a good market in Malaysia to market out a 3 to 10 ton of fish a day. This venture could be a catastrophic move since my research in Indonesia is only on operational research and marketing research was incomplete.
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Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Marketing research, is it necessary?


In many cases that we have seen or read, business investors are fond of investing into a venture without any research work or analysis prior to their venture. An entrepreneur who has done research or analysis does not include a good marketing research or marketing analysis which could be turn into a good marketing plan.

Marketing research or marketing analysis is a very crucial element in business. The component such as PEST analysis, Competitors pressures, Market competition are among the important analysis to be made prior to the real investment. In my research work with those successful companies, I realized that they even took an effort of testing the sensitivity test for each market that they have segmented. Hence their result on each market would be more accurate.

In my research too, I realize that mistakes were done where companies had a detail research and analysis on operation but leaving marketing not attended effectively. These happened more in production companies or some medium size business, resulting being in a business that they themselves are not clear in which market are they competing, what are the competitive pressure they are facing or even what type of environmental they would be. If competitive market analysis is not done, later it could contribute to a large grey area in product positioning despite a competitive pressure analysis is being made.

On a summary, I would say that marketing research and marketing analysis must be done properly before and in an ongoing business.