ABSTRACT

This work is based on finding out the impact of marketing research on the marketing of soft drink in 7 up bottling company. Chapter one which is the introduction revealed the background of the study, statement of the problems objectives of the study and some of theses objectives were to determine whether marketing research is a better way of satisfying the customer needs to ascertain if research study is necessary for marketing of the soft drink in 7 up company etc. abia research questions statement of hypothesis significant of study were stated in this chapter. Chapter two discusses literature review which showed the definition of marketing and customer needs marketing concept, importance of marketing research. Chapter three discusses the research methodology which showed the methods and procedures used in the gathering information for the study. The following element were shown which include research, design area of study population of the study, determination of sample size sampling techniques the data was collected using questionnaire which were distributed to the respondents. The collected data was analyzed using the sample percentage method. The formulated research hypothesis was tested using chi- square statistical techniques. Chapter four is the data presentation and analysis, the collected questionnaire which was completing filled by the respondents was analysis to determine the expressed that 73% of the respondents revealed  that the effective marketing research has an effect to the company’s product quality. Again 86% of the respondent showed that customers do not complain about the  company’s product 96% of the respondents showed that marketing research help the company in achieving its goals and objectives.

From the two hypothesis tested the result showed that:

1. There is a significant relationship between marketing research and company goals and objectives.
2. chapter five showed the summary, conclusion and recommendation. The company should continue with its effective marketing. Resrach since it enable them in achieving its goals and objectives. The company should carry out marketing survey in order to discover any change in customer needs and wants.

CHAPTER ONE

• INTRODUCTION

From the definition of marketing which says that marketing the performance of business activities that direct the flow of goods and services from the point of production to the point of consumption with combination of the definition that says it is the identification, anticipation and at a profit to the firm.

To achieve the above stated objectives and goals of marketing, there must be effective marketing research to enable the marketing  to actualize his/her objectives.

Therefore, our concern in this chapter is to known what marketing research is how to actualize sales, to know whom our market target is, what they want and when they want and make it available for them at the appropriate time.

• BACKGROUP OF THE STUDY

Marketing is said to be the performance of business activities that direct the  flow of goods and services from the point of production to the point of consumption. It is the identification, anticipation and efficient satisfaction of consumer at a profit to the firm. In the achievement of the above stated objectives and goals of marketing. Marketing can not be achieved without marketing research.

Therefore, what is marketing research? Before answering the question let me first state that the success of any given firm in the saturated market depends to  a large extend on the ability to provide want satisfying product. The extent to which a product satisfies a consume is based on the ability of the producer to understand what the consumer actually needs.

Marketing research therefore provides the avenues through which the needs and satisfied. Marketing research gives the information on what to produce as well as the best segment of the market that offers the best opportunity. Hence through research firms identify visible segments that can profitable cultivate. Onuoha. J. Kelechi.

Marketing management  (2007:109).

Rehaps a better understanding of the measuring of marketing research should start with a proper appreciation of the words, marketing and  research. Marketing has been defined above as a student of marketing; we know that market has to do with the production, pricing, distribution and promotion of goods and services in such a way that the interest of both the producer and consumer are satisfied. The longman’s dictionary of contemporary English gives the following meaning to research.

1. service study of a subject that is interested to discover new facts or test new ideals.
2. the activity of finding information about something that you are interest in or need to know about.
3. to study the subject in detail especially in order to discover new facts or test new ideas.
4. to supply all the necessary fact and information about something.

The marriage of the meaning of two words gives a clear and better understanding of the term marketing research. Ezirim Aloy Chinedu 2004:12).

Marketing research is finding out who the customers are and what they want (modern A R 1987:35) from the definition one can observe that the aim of the market research is to identify the customers and what they likely want in future. The function of conducting marketing research is that of the marketing department to organization to avoid bias firm are asked to employ the service of independent marketing consultants or jointly carry it out the information gathered through market research can be useful in taking informed decision.

The areas where (Okafor 1998: 32-33) felt that information from market research can be applied include the following:

1. who and where are the customers located and what are they like?
2. who are the organization non –buyers and what are their reasons for not buying?
3. how many producers are in the particular industry?
4. what is the size of the market?
5. How viable is the market?

A number definition have been put for ward on this concept. According to Paterson R.A (1982:47) marketing research is an objective formal process for systematically obtaining analysis and interpreting data for the purpose of providing actionable information for marketing decision making. To onuoha J. kelechi and bassi BP (2004:16) marketing research is the systematic acquisition of data and its analysis for the purpose of solving marketing problems.

Perhaps the simplest way of explaining the chitterence between marketing research and marketing research could be seen form their coverage as shown below wilmishurst  John (1978:123) indicated that profit oriented firms conduct marketing research in the following areas:

Product research: new product screening, product acceptance, packaging, pricing.

Sales operation research: sales forces effectiveness, sales territories, channel of distribution, oracle attitude, sales statistics sales forecasting

user market research: size of market, market potential trends within market, market share analysis

economic and Business research: economic trends and forecast, business trends and forecast political trends and forecast social trends and forecast competitive intelligences, inter company/ inter industry comparisons. Onuoha J Kelechi (2007: 112). The American marketing Association defines marketing research as the systematic gathering, recording and analyzing  of data about problems relating to the marketing of goods and services” this is a broad definition starting, in effects, that marketing research includes investigation of market segments, product differentiation, channel relationship, effectiveness of salesmen and advertising, pricing product and so forth. The point to emphasize is that marketing research is not restricted to research the major  type of marketing  problem but applies to every phase of marketing.

The essential purpose of any marketing research is to provide data which well facilitate the identification of marketing problem for solution to be proffered.

• STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS

Naturally, every business exist to achieve its objectives which is principally making profit but before such profit could be made the organization have to run into problems that may hinder effectiveness of such company.

Therefore, the research is in doubt whether poor research work has any effect to the product quality.

It is also unclear to the research if the use of marketing research is the better way of satisfying the customer needs.

Further more, it is also doubtful to the research whether the research study is necessary for marketing of the soft drink using 7 up bottling company as a case study.

• OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

1. To determine whether poor research work has any effect to the product quality.
2. To fond out if the use of marketing research is the better way off satisfying the customers needs
3. To ascertain if research study is necessary for marketing of soft drink
4. To determine whether marketing research has any marketing implication to the soft drink.
5. To find out whether marketing research increase sales volume of the company product.
6. To know whether marketing research help to achieve the firms goals and objectives.
7. To find out the types of marketing research budget they set whether is in line with the firm objectives.

• RESARCH QUESTIONS

The research during his study asked some questions that is to say in the course of this research, the following questions would be address:

1. Is there any useful contribution which the 7 up bottling company in particular and the soft drink in general made in the development Nigeria economy?
2. Does poor research work have effect to the product quality?
3. Is the use of marketing research a better way of satisfying the customers needs?
4. Does research study necessary for marketing of soft drink?
5. Does marketing research have any marketing implication to the soft drink?
6. Does marketing research help the company in achieving its goals and objectives?

1.5 STATEMENT OF HYPOTHESIS

The following hypothesis are formulated

HYPOTHESIS I

Ho: there is no significant relationship between effective marketing research and increased sales volume

Hi: there is a significant relationship between effective marketing research and increased sales volume

HYPOTHESIS II

Ho: there is no significant relationship between marketing research and the company’s goals and objectives.

Hi: there is a significant relationship between marketing research and the company’s goals and objectives.

• SIGNIFICANT OF THE STUDY

The research study would be of benefit to 7 up bottling company  in particular and to other soft drink  in  general who are in the same line of product. This study is important to the researcher that it will enable him acquire more knowledge in the area of marketing research.  It arts as a guide to the case study and other firms in carrying out marketing research for their products.

To the research, it is the requirement for the award of Higher National Diploma certificate. Also other scholars and students will use this research work for conducting research in similar topics.

The study is important because it will increases  the body of academic knowledge available as a research study.

It is also relevant in the sense that it will serve as reference a problems. It will also benefit the investors in their area of business, government will benefit from this study.

1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUIDY

 The emphasis of this study is the impact of marketing research on marketing of soft drink in 7 up plc Aba. And information is  gotten from the staff of the 7 up bottling company Aba. This research work shall be limited to 7 up plc in Aba personal interviews shall be conducted with senior staff of the company. Also actual and potential customer shall be interview in relation of his topic.

1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

In the course of carry out this research work the researcher encountered some constraints which include

1. financial constraint
2. time constraints
3. non-research etc.

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS

1. IDENTIFICATION: the process of showing proving or recognizing who or what some only or something is
2. ANITCIPATION: the fact of seeming that something bad happening in future and control it now.

3 SATISFACTTION: the good feeling that you have achieved  what you want to achieve

1. SATURATED: to full somebody completely with to add any more.
2. SEGMENT: a process of separating something from each other.
3. NEEDS: this is the inner most desire of a human
4. WANT: this is things human being desire to have when the opportunities call.
5. VIABLE: that can be done, that will be successful.
6. BIAS: a strong feeling in favour of or against one group of people
7. ACQUISITION: the act of getting something especially knowledge of skin
8. DIVERSIFICATION: to develop a wider range of products interest skill in order to be more successful or reduce risk.
9. FORECAST: a statement about what will happen in future base on information that is available now.
10. PROFFERED: a solution or advice offered to somebody.

14.SYSTEMATIC: done according to a plan through determined way.