Online Book on Marketing in India

The initial idea behind writing the blog was to specifically look at issues which are relevant to marketing in India and act as an window to current issues of importance in Indian markets. I have personally believed that Marketing is context specific and one needs to be able to specify the context well enough to actually make sense. Though the basic conceptual issues might remain the same.

I have decided to take the next logical step of trying to write a online book on Marketing in India, as there are very few of them written specifically for Indian market . The idea is to write regular posts which would go into the book.

The advantage of using this forum would be it can incorporate feedback and insights from people interested in marketing and can be kept updated on a continuous basis as should happen with any book on marketing..

I would like to invite suggestions on my proposed list of topics which should be covered in a online book on marketing in India...

1. Understanding the Heterogeneity of Indian market.
- Urban and Rural India
- Regional Differences
- Differences based on Religion , Caste and other
- Demographic Changes and linked differences
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2. Indian Consumer
- The cultural moorings of the Indian consumer and impact on buying
- Influences of festivals and other religious events
- Value system of Indian consumers
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3. Retail Structure and Challenges
- Traditional Mass and Wholesale Retail Versus Mass Retail
- Emergence of Organized retail
- Rural Retail

4. Search for the Right Price Value Equation
- To understand pricing in terms of VFM philosophy
- Trading up and Down among Indian Consumers

5. Sales and Distribution Management in India
- Sales force management issues
- Channel partners selection retention and growth
- Strong presence of wholesale

6. Changes in the Indian Economy
- High growth market
- Increasing penetration of internet and other technologies
- Influence of globalization
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This is the first idea of the kind of topics which should be covered in the book, and look forward to more suggestions ....................