Health for sale: the medicinal plant markets in Trujillo and Chiclayo, Northern Peru

Traditional methods of healing have been beneficial in many countries with or without access to conventional allopathic medicine. In the United States, these traditional practices are increasingly being sought after for illnesses that cannot be easily treated by allopathic medicine. More and more people are becoming interested in the knowledge maintained by traditional healers and in the diversity of medicinal plants that flourish in areas like Northern Peru. While scientific studies of medicinal plants are underway, concern has arisen over the preservation of both the large diversity of medicinal plants and the traditional knowledge of healing methods that accompanies them. To promote further conservation work, this study attempted to document the sources of the most popular and rarest medicinal plants sold in the markets of Trujillo (Mayorista and Hermelinda) and Chiclayo (Modelo and Moshoqueque), as well as to create an inventory of the plants sold in these markets, which will serve as a basis for comparison with future inventories. Individual markets and market stalls were subjected to cluster analysis based on the diversity of the medicinal plants they carry. The results show that markets were grouped based on the presence of: (1) common exotic medicinal plants; (2) plants used by laypeople for self-medication related to common ailments ("everyday remedies"); (3) specialized medicinal plants used by curanderos or traditional healers; and (4) highly "specialized" plants used for magical purposes. The plant trade in the study areas seems to correspond well with the specific health care demands from clientele in those areas. The specific market patterns of plant diversity observed in the present study represent a foundation for comparative market research in Peru and elsewhere

How service companies from emerging markets overcome internationalization barriers: evidence from Chilean services firms

The fact that service companies from emerging countries are capable of international growth has been essentially ignored in the literature. Following several calls for research on services internationalization (e.g., Pauwels and Ruyter, 2005), the objective of this research project is to expand our knowledge on the internationalization process of service firms from emerging markets. This exploratory study draws from the resource based view of the firm (RBV), which is concerned with the influence of firm resources and capabilities in explaining how firms can achieve and sustain competitive advantage (Barney, 1991). Drawing from interviews with relevant managers of two different service industries in Chile (education and tourism), this paper provides unique insights into a previously unexplored sector in the international services field. Results identify the main barriers that services firms from emerging markets face during their internationalization process, and the strategies used by these firms to overcome these barriers and succeed in foreign markets. \ud \u

Internet usage, internet marketing intensity and international marketing growth

This paper examines the role of the Internet in international marketing growth. Evidence of a positive relationship between e-mail, website usage, online marketing and advertising with international market growth was found, in terms of increased sales from new customers in new countries, new customers in existing countries, and existing customers

Importer relationship performance in Latin America: the role of trust and commitment\ud \ud

Firms from emerging markets are increasingly developing relationships with foreign suppliers, although international relationships are difficult to manage due to differences between countries. Relationship marketing research has focused mainly on the export marketing activities of firms and much less attention has been given to the import side of the exchange process. Furthermore, most research has been conducted in developed countries; therefore, more research is needed in emerging markets for a wider generalization of relationship marketing theory. Thus, the objective of this study is to empirically examine the antecedents of importer relationship performance in a Latin American context. A conceptual model that includes the antecedents and outcomes of trust and commitment was developed and tested. The data was collected from a survey of Chilean importers. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to develop the construct measures and structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the model. The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of the driving forces of trust and commitment and their influence on importing firms' performance in a Latin American developing country perspectiv

Antecedents of importer relationship performance in Latin America

Emerging market importers are increasingly engaging in relationships with foreign suppliers. Nevertheless, characteristics of the institutional and cultural environments of countries may affect relationship behavior. Furthermore, research on relationship marketing primarily focuses on the marketing activities of exporters from developed countries and much less attention is paid to the import side of the exchange process. Thus, the objective of this study is to empirically examine importer relationship performance in a Latin American context. This article proposes and tests a conceptual model that includes the antecedents and outcomes of trust and commitment with a survey of Chilean importers. The model uses confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to develop the construct measures and structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the model. The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of the driving forces of trust and commitment and their influence on importing firms' performance in an emerging market context.Importer Relationship marketing Chile Trust Commitment Latin America

American and Australian Women’s Antecedents to Trust, Commitment and Loyalty to Costco

Value retailers such as Costco have created a shopping environment that inspires a “treasure-hunt” from its customers because certain items in their merchandise assortment are available in very limited quantities. The “thrill of the hunt” appeals to certain types of shoppers and can create a fun and exciting experience (Huddleston &amp; Minahan, 2011). We surmise that this type of shopping environment will affect shopping environment satisfaction, which in turn will influence hedonic experience. The hedonic experience might lead to trust, commitment and loyalty to a retailer. With this in mind, our study examine whether shopping environment satisfaction and hedonic shopping value affect female consumer trust, commitment and loyalty to a store across cultures.</p