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Lubomir Lubenov
COMMUNICATION POLICIES OF BEEKEEPING FARMS IN BULGARIA WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY OF THE EU
Abstract:
The substantial export potential of Bulgarian beekeeping requires that any national programme on beekeeping include promotion measures about third countries and EU member-states. Those measures should primarily refer to high-quality bee products that are organic, with protected geographical indication (PGI), with protected designation of origin (PDO), etc. The share of promotional budgets for Bulgarian beekeeping in the national beekeeping programmes must be increased since promotional EU budgets have been rising steadily. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the EU has established the infrastructure and the environment, in which beekeeping farms should employ communication instruments more comprehensively and conduct more extensive communication policies. Although the CAP finances and subsidises the advertising of Bulgarian bee products at higher meso, macro and mega levels, it requires horizontal integration. PR and direct marketing have been identified as some of the most appropriate communication instruments for Bulgarian beekeeping farms. PR integrates into a single cause all marketing communications, while direct marketing may be employed as a strategic instrument for accomplishing long-term goals and improving the management of customer relations.
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Lubomir Lubenov
ONLINE RETAIL CHANNELS FOR ORGANIC BEE PRODUCTS
Abstract:
The focus of the research is on online retail channels for organic bee products. They create short supply chains and ensure access to local and global markets and new market segments, which do not exist on offline markets. Creating one’s own online channel for organic bee products or using an intermediary one implies the development of one’s own retail platforms and social networks or the use of intermediary ones. Designing and maintaining one’s own online retail channel for organic bee products requires substantial investments, therefore such channels are mainly built by large agricultural and non-agricultural entities with high horizontal and vertical integration and ensured access to capital and markets. The high level of integration of different systems, technologies and innovations such as CRM and ERP in online platforms makes it possible to collect, systematize and analyse large volumes of data base – the so-called Big Data and analyse the online behaviour of customers in order to implement precise and targeted marketing.
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Lubomir Lubenov
THE DEVELOPMENT AND STATE
OF CONTEMPORARY AGRICULTURAL MARKETS
Abstract:
The aim of this research is to outline some key trends in the development and state of contemporary global and Bulgarian agricultural markets. The research comprises the occurring changes in agricultural markets. The analysis of on-going transformations includes the state and dynamics of their global dimensions, and the influence of social, technological and other factors. We have analysed the GMO, organic and online markets of agricultural products in relation to their prospects for development on a global scale and at a regional level – in Bulgaria. We have ascertained tha,t as a whole, the trends of expanding agricultural markets – conventional, organic, genetically modified foods and online - are the result of social transformations and technological development. We have observed a significant delay in Bulgarian agricultural markets compared to the trends and development of world agricultural markets. We have ascertained a strong discrepancy – bearing in mind the development of agricultural business in Bulgaria throughout the last decade and a significantly slower development of national agricultural markets, infrastructure and market relations. Particular difficulties exist related to the realization of agricultural produce created in Bulgaria.
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Lubomir Lubenov
STRATEGIC MARKETING RELATIONS IN THE BEEKEEPING SECTOR IN RUSE DISTRICT
Abstract:
Farms are facing a marketing problem (difficult realization and low competitiveness), which requires strategic relationship marketing at sectoral (beekeeping, etc.) and regional level - Ruse district, etc. The aim is to study the role and importance of vertical relationships for developing the beekeeping sector in Ruse district. The grounds for the formation of relationships in the beekeeping sector in Ruse district and the opportunities for their vertical development through B2C (business client) and B2B (business business) relationships are analyzed. The strategic relations at sectoral (beekeeping) and regional level (Ruse district) open access to markets, resources, know-how, etc., creating preconditions for increasing the national and international competitiveness and profitability of the sector and the region, as well as overcoming regional and sectoral problems. Beekeeping farms in Ruse region can be equal partners, incl. leaders in vertical marketing systems (VMS) of bee and other products, mainly through sectoral and regional relationships, which will provide them with stronger positions compared to other members of the distribution channels - suppliers, intermediaries, traders and others. They need to switch to vertical relationships for more profitable sales of their products, focusing on direct sales to end users and participation in VMS.
