This study was established to determine the extent to which Electronic Payment Methods has improved customers’ patronage of shopping malls in Niger Delta, Nigeria. Dimensions of Electronic Payment Methods such as card payment system, electronic funds transfer and e-wallet payment system were employed alongside increase in repeat purchases to measure the extent of customers’ patronage. A descriptive survey research method of co-relational research design was employed in this study to provide detail investigation of the procedure used to establish the relationship between Electronic Payment Methods and improvement in customers’ patronage of shopping malls in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. The population of the study consisting of 77 registered shopping malls in the Niger Delta, Nigeria from which target population 6890 managers and sale persons were drawn. The Taro Yamane’s formula was used to determine a sample size of 378 managers and sales personnel for the study. A purposive sampling technique was adopted using considerable percentage of representation approach to ensure effective selection of the sample elements of the population. A structured instrument for data collection containing fifteen (15) items questions was used for the study. The face and content validation of the instrument was obtained through the judgment of experts. A test-retest method was used to determine the reliability of the instrument and a reliability index of .83 was obtained. The data collected were presented and analyzed using simple percentage and frequency analysis, mean and standard deviation, while the formulated hypotheses were tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation of SPSS software program version 23.0 at .05 level of significance. The findings indicated that card payment system, electronic funds transfer and e-wallet payment system has a very strong positive or significant relationship with improvement in customer patronage of shopping malls in the Niger Delta. Based on these findings, it was concluded that Electronic Payment Methods has significantly improves customer patronage, of shopping malls in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Thus, it was recommended that shopping mall operators in the Niger Delta who are yet to introduce sustainable Electronic Payment Methods should do so immediately to promote customers patronage and improve increase in repeat purchase. Read more

This study was established to determine the extent to which electronic payment system has improved customers’ patronage of shopping malls in South-South zone of Nigeria. A descriptive survey research method of co-relational research design was employed in this study. The population of the study consisting of 77 registered shopping malls in the South-South Zone of Nigeria from which target population 6890 managers and sale persons were drawn. The Taro Yamane’s formula was used to determine a sample size of 378 managers and sales personnel for the study. A purposive sampling technique was adopted using considerable percentage of representation approach to ensure effective selection of the sample elements of the population. A structured instrument for data collection containing fifteen (15) items questions was used for the study. The face and content validation of the instrument was obtained through the judgment of experts. A test-retest method was used to determine the reliability of the instrument and a reliability index of .83 was obtained. The data collected were presented and analyzed using simple percentage and frequency analysis, mean and standard deviation, while the formulated hypotheses were tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation of SPSS software program version 23.0 at .05 level of significance. The findings indicated that card payment system, electronic funds transfer and e-wallet payment system has a significant relationship with improvement in customer patronage of shopping malls in the zone. Based on these findings, it was concluded that electronic payment system has significantly improves customer patronage, of shopping malls in the South-South zone of Nigeria. Thus, it was recommended that shopping mall operators in the South-South zone who are yet to introduce sustainable electronic payment system should do so immediately to promote customers patronage and improve increase in repeat purchase. Read more

In this study, we examined whether after sales services serve as determinants of customers’ patronage among selected satellite products/services companies in South-South Nigeria. To offer a novel view on the research theme, three (3) after sales service dimensions were employed, namely; product warranty, installation and delivery. Questionnaire was the major instrument of data collection, which was administered on four hundred respondents out of which three hundred and seventy-three were completely retrieved. Data obtained in were analysed using descriptive, diagnostic and inferential statistical techniques. Findings indicated that there is a significant relationship between the after sales services dimensions (product delivery, installation and warranty)and customer’s patronage of satellite products. The implication of the finding is that after sales services serve as determinants of customers’ patronage. In view of the findings, it is recommended that management of satellite products and services need to enhance their strategic plans aimed at further improving product delivery, installation and warranty by ensuring that their transmissions are more effective than ever before so as to attract more customers, increase profitability and market share. Again, the study recommends that management of satellite products and services need to improve on their product warranty, delivery and installation policies so as to further assure customers of improved and quality products as well as attracting more customers. Read more

This study investigated whether employee training and service quality influence customers’ patronage of satellite products/services companies in the South-South region of Nigeria. To do this, 400 questionnaires were administered, out of which 373 were completely retrieved and found usable. Data obtained in the survey were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Findings indicated that there is a significant relationship between employee training, service quality and customer patronage of satellite products. The implication is that employee training and service quality serve as means of improving or enhancing the patronage of customers. Given that service quality positively affects customers’ patronage, there is a need for the management of satellite products/services to sustain their service quality mechanisms in order to attract more customers further. As a matter of fact, they should further strengthen their product by seeking more outlets or well-trained individuals who are capable of installing and repairing their products (decoders) when customers seek their attention. This study contributes to knowledge by using hybrid theories to describe employee training and service quality effects on customers’ patronage of satellite products/ services in Nigeria. Read more

This article examines the influence of holistic marketing strategy on organizational performance. Descriptive and analytical research designs were used in this study. Demographic and primary data were obtained through interviews and from questionnaires administered to one hundred and fifty (150) respondents made up of operators, customers and staff of three service sectors through simple random sampling method. Pilot survey and Cronbach’s Alpha were used to confirm the validity and reliability of the study respectively and their variables of measures. Correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis and multicollinearity test were used to analyze the data with the aid of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The results showed that the independent variables (Holistic marketing which consists of Social Responsibility Marketing, Internal Marketing, Relationship Marketing and Integrated Marketing) were significant joint predictors of organizational performance (R2=.630). Subsequently, recommendations were made to organizations, especially the ones in the private sectors that they should adopt holistic marketing strategy concepts in order to satisfy customers and sustain firms’ profitability locally and globally. Read more

The study investigated the effect of Customers Relationship Marketing on Customers’ Loyalty among Solar Power Consumers in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The study employed simple linear regression. The research findings revealed that customer loyalty is being explained by customer relationship marketing dimensions (commitment, trust and Customers’ complaint handling) to the tune of 60%, 68% and 91% respectively. The null hypotheses that relationship marketing components do not significantly affect customers’ loyalty were tested and rejected, their P-Values having been found significant at 0.05 level of significance. Thus, the alternative hypotheses were upheld. The study therefore recommends that solar power firms need to maintain a definite strategic plan to maintain customers’ trust, commitment and company’s customers’ complaint handling system as well as to show more care and concern when relating to their customers as all these give the consumers a sense of assurance and honor as revealed by the study. Read more

E-commerce has continued to evolve since its introduction. E-commerce operates through various platforms and its impact cuts across every aspect of business operations. Business owners/managers seeking to adopt e-commerce platforms for their business transactions need to be abreast of appropriate e-commerce business models that fit into their business operations. The applicability of e-commerce business models was reviewed. The study highlighted the e-commerce business models that exist and the transaction flow within each business model. E-commerce transactions and their applicability to business, customers and society were reviewed. The review revealed that e-commerce has changed the way of delivering products as consumers can transact 24 hours a day, from almost any location. It was concluded that the prospect of e-commerce is very high in emerging economies like Nigeria although its adoption is still at the basic stage. It is recommended that business owners/managers should procure quality devices and gadgets that will enhance efficiency in e-commerce transactions while users of e-commerce platforms are to take necessary precautions when using the platforms. Read more

A business organisation operates towards achieving success by adopting models that align with its values and long term objectives. Models adopted describe the processes and workflows of individual firms for continuous improvement of business operations. Improvement in business operations is achieved through constant reviews and feedback from customers. The study conducted an analytical review of the business process of a selected logistics firm listed on London Stock Exchange. The selected firm was Royal mail Plc. The review focused on the feedback, comments and performance of Royal mail Plc for a period of six (6) years spanning from 2015 to 2020. Voyant tool was employed for text mining the feedback and comments from Royal mail Plc’s customers as posted on its website. The reviewed comment from the customers showed that most of the company’s customers were not satisfied by the services of the company. Also, the z-scores for the frequently used token were computed to show the solvency of the company based on customers’ feedback. The indicated z-score from the customers review showed that the company is not in good shape and would need to urgently address the complaints of its customers to avoid going into liquidation. Read more

This study investigated the perceived influence of entrepreneurial intention on the business success of start-ups in the food and beverage sectors in Rivers State. Two specific objectives, two research questions and two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. A descriptive survey using a quantitative approach was adopted for the study. The population of the study consists of 1,167 small scale businesses across 23 local government areas of Rivers State who are registered with the State Internal Revenue. A sample of 117 small scale business owners in the food and beverage sector of Rivers State was selected using the purposive quota sampling technique. The sample consists of 60 supermarkets and 57 neighbourhood market stores in the business of distributing food and beverages. A self-designed structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The instrument was face validated by the researcher’s peers within Federal College of Education (Tech.), Omoku, Rivers State. The instrument was further subjected to reliability using Cronbach alpha to obtain a reliability index of 0.74 and 0.82 for sections A and B, with an average index of 0.78 which shows that the instrument is reliable based on data collected from 15 food and beverage start-ups supermarkets and neighbourhood stores from Bayelsa State. Data collected for the study were analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean, cluster means and standard deviation to answer research questions. An independent t-test was used to test the hypotheses raised at a 0.05 level of significance. The major findings of the study revealed that supermarket and neighbourhood market stores startups in the food and beverage sector of Rivers State are of the opinion that entrepreneurial attitude and entrepreneurial experiences help to increase sales volume and enhance customers’ retention which was the proxies of business success in this study. The results also show that there is no significant difference in the opinion of the respondents on the perceived influence of entrepreneurial intention on the business success of startups in the food and beverage sector of Rivers State. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that entrepreneurs who want to succeed in the food and beverage sector of Rivers State should endeavour to render voluntary services in order to accumulate entrepreneurial experiences and develop the right entrepreneurial mindset for success. Read more