Impact Of Promotion On Consumer Patronage Of Pharmaceutical Companies

INTRODUCTION
Consumers have diverse motivation, taste and preference. They constantly seek solutions to the various state of deprivation (needs) through product offerings and bombardment of promotional messages.
Consumer’s perception of his needs and desired solutions sharpened by his socio – economic and cultural background of the study will determine how he reacts to an element or a mix of the promotional variables.
The challenge of marketing/promotion rests on predicting current and future consumer’s needs and preferring suitable solution to them. accurate prediction of consumer’s variables will ensure consumer’s preference/patronage of one’s brands over competitors.
This research therefore attempts to determine the impact of promotion on consumer patronage using Gabbey pharmacy limited, a pharmaceutical marketing company as a case study.

1.1 BRIEF HISTORY OF THE COMPANY
Gabbey pharmacy limited is a pharmaceutical marketing company with head office located at 8 Awkunanaw street Achara layout Enugu. The firm came into existence in 1972. The company was blessed with supportive customers and committed staff and that helped it handle effectively, its internal and external problems. It was not long before the industry noticed a strong competitor has come on stream.
It was not surprising that five year later January 3, 2000, the co-marketing arrangement broke down and Gabbey pharma ltd was faced with the option of quickly introducing and entrenching new brands. It was therefore a nervous moment when on January 4, 2001, the company took the bull by the horn and introduced a portfolio full of new products.
Critics thought that the company has taken a suicide pill and eagerly waited for the expected to happen. It never did. The staff and management and the company customers rallied round and took a simple commitment. THE COMPANY MUST SUCCEED. The lot fell on the vibrant and lean sales and marketing department to provide the necessary marketing formular that will ensure quick entrenchment of the new products. The department after series of meeting with its ever supportive customers pioneered the motorcycles sales Reps scheme in Nigeria. the essence is to effectively cover the grassroot, reach the area not covered by the competitors and generate the necessary demand – pull. Communication between company and customer was made more effective and company’s reaction to changing market situation was very swift. This ensured grassroot implementation of consumers oriented marketing programmes. By middle of the year, it was obvious that the company has survived the “suicide pill” gaining a very big respect from other key players in the industry.
Today, the company is one of the leading pharmaceutical marketing firm in Nigeria.
Some of the product it sells are:-
1) Septirn 12) Brinderin
2) Actified 13) Tramal
3) Banocide 14) Imodium
4) Dara prim 15) Normoritc
5) Linctified P 16) Halfar 100mg
6) Linctifed P 17) Cenocide
7) Repler 18) Smifed
8) Fevokine 19) Primpex
9) Calpol 20) Novalor
10) Antepar 21) Tussirex P
11) Zinate 22) Metaprim
other lines includes tacorage (flavoured vitamin C) chotrimax cream, deep head, woodward Gripe water.
SALES AND MARKETING STRUCTURE
(GABBEY PHARMACY LIMITED)
GM (Sales and Marketing
1) National Sales Manager (Technology promotion manager)
2) Area sales manager (Medical Reps)
Sales Reps (6)
The lean and flexible structure helps the department to react swiftly to change in the marketing environment.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Consumers have diverse motivations, tastes and preferences. They constantly seek solutions to these various states of deprivation (needs). And, as they do these, they are guided or influenced by certain decisions which could be internal and external. Internally, consumers and influenced by their belief system. And, externally, they are influenced by their socio-economic and cultural background coupled with promotional messages.
Therefore, this work is systematically made towards uncovering the impact of promotional activities of product offering on a consumer as he makes his purchase decisions.
That is to say, the impact of promotion on consumer patronage.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
This research aims at
– Highlight the importance of consumer patronage and the need to monitor it
– And react accordingly to changes in customer motivation, taste and preference
– To relate consumer patronage to brand preferences
– To highlight the need to articulate promotional strategies based on uncovered and anticipated needs of the consumers.
– To highlight the need to consider the socio-economic and cultural background of consumers while articulating promotional strategies to influence consumer patronage.
– Identify relative relevance of promotional mix variables in different buying process, product life cycle of pharmaceuticals.
– Highlight the importance of encouragement consumers suggestions/criticisms as means of uncovering consumer want and thought and tailoring promotions strategies accordingly.

1.4 HYPOTHESIS RESEARCH
The following hypotheses were postulated to guide the research.
Ho: Promotional activities of Gabbey pharmacy do not lead to consumer patronage of their product.
Hi: Promotional activities of Gabbey pharmacy lead to consumer patronage of their product.
Ho: Gabbey do not create awareness of their products.
Hi: Gabbey create awareness of their products.
Ho: Promotional activities of Gabbey pharmacy impact negatively on the profit of the company.
Hi: Promotional activities of Gabbey pharmacy impact positive on the profit of the company.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
In every organisation there is need to plan sales promotion and there is impact which promotion create in a way that it will bring corresponding increase in sales and profit. This can be achieved through creative and innovative marketing activities.
This research will be of paramount importance to Gabbey pharmacy limited Enugu as a cooperate body, salesmen the customers, marketing practitioner and the economy at large.
1) Corporate body: The continued existence of organisation depends on its ability to provide customers with the needed good and services and on a profitable condition. Corporate body like Gabbey pharmacy limited Enugu. Cannot afford to remain in business if sales promotional strategies are not well planned. The researcher believes that this project will serve as a guide for the formulation and implementation of sales promotion strategies.
2) Salesmen: On the part of salesmen, there is need to be adequately equipped in skill and spirit with good working environment and conducive management attitude will not only enhance performance but also create satisfaction. This study will be incalculable to salesmen in that it will them to improve upon their performance in the field. Moreso, the study will reveal their deficiencies and offer appropriate communication tools to arouse customer’s interest and attention.
3) Customers: This research will be invaluable to customers who expect maximum satisfaction from the product of Gabbey pharmacy limited Enugu. It will inform they about sales promotion programmes such as refund offers, price off, give away and so?
4) Marketing parishioners: This research will be of immense value to marketing practioners. By marketing practioners. Other pharmaceutical companies from different part of the Nigeria, more especially in Enugu.
5) Economy: The economy will benefit a lot if sales promotion is practiced the way it should be. Proper implementation of sales promotion strategies will help in directing the creation of wealth by increasing the GNP, Gross National Product.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The scope of this study would be very wide if it were carried out in all pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria.
The study is limited, based on the fact that there is no time and material resources to see to the whole nation.
This study is limited to Enugu metropolis and the finding many not reflect the situation in the whole country.
And this finding may not be valid for the whole pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria, but by and large, what happens in pharmaceutical companies in Enugu metropolis can be said to apply to other pharmaceutical companies.

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
The following terms used in this study should be taken to mean the following: –
1) Patronage: According to Ozor (2002 pg 314) he defined patronage as the impulses desire and consideration within the consumer or customer which induce the purchase of goods from certain outlets or company.
2) Consumer behaviour: Refers to all activities or acts engaged by the consumer in the process of satisfying his need and wants. It is whatever the consumer does overtly (visibly or outside the mind) or overtly (in the mind) in the process of satisfying his need and want. (Ozor 2002: pg 21).
3) Promotional strategy: It controlled integrated programme of communication method and material designed, present a company and it product to prospective customer (Ebue BC 2000 pg 49).
4) Advertising: Is a group of activities aiming at an including dissemination of information in any paid non-personal from concerning an idea product or service to compare action in accordance with the import and an identifiable sponsor (Pitman 1983 pg 140).
5) Direct marketing: It is an interaction marketing system that use one or more advertising media to effect a measure response (Kolter 2000: pg 107).