Distribution channels are the most complex element of the marketing mix to fully grasp and to profitably manage. In this Handbook the authors present cutting-edge research on channel management and design from analytical, conceptual, and empirical perspectives. The breadth of this Handbook makes it appropriate for use in a doctoral course on distribution channels, or as a knowledge-broadening resource for faculty and researchers who wish to understand types of channels research that are outside the scope of their own approach to distribution.

Game theory has been applied to a growing list of practical problems, from antitrust analysis to monetary policy; from the design of auction institutions to the structuring of incentives within firms; from patent races to dispute resolution. The purpose of Game Theory and Business Applications is to show how game theory can be used to model and analyze business decisions. The contents of this revised edition contain a wide variety of business functions – from accounting to operations, from marketing to strategy to organizational design. In addition, specific application areas include market competition, law and economics, bargaining and dispute resolution, and competitive bidding. All of these applications involve competitive decision settings, specifically situations where a number of economic agents in pursuit of their own self-interests and in accordance with the institutional “rules of the game” take actions that together affect all of their fortunes. As this volume demonstrates, game theory provides a compelling guide for analyzing business decisions and strategies.

This book introduces readers to the concept and implementation of positioning techniques in the context of the wine industry. Featuring 30 case studies on brands and wine regions around the world - all based on the same principles - it presents a successful, cutting-edge strategy for the marketing of wine. Rather than focusing on a small group of elitist appellations, the Grand Crus universe and a handful of star brands, the book addresses the real, day-to-day wine world. In light of globalization, it introduces state-of-the-art wine positioning techniques, with an emphasis on the identity, segmentation and positioning of wine appellations and wine brands. In its analysis of wine appellation models, the book examines local parameters like geology, history and wine growing techniques; compares facts, figures and actors; analyzes the signals that are being sent to the market and presents a range of key factors for success. Similarly, the wine brands models are analyzed on the basis of their respective brand identity and apparent marketing policy. In the book’s final part, it summarizes recent developments in wine marketing, including the growing importance of wine brands as new territories in the global vineyard, and the role of appellations as the essence of cultural diversity.

This text provides a comprehensive view of the challenges in managing the development of new products from well-known and leading contributors in the field.