Abstract:
The objectives of this research are to study the current management of OTOP product
community entrepreneurs for beverage products and to find ways to upgrade OTOP products
community by using blue water marketing strategy for beverage products. This research is a
qualitative research using descriptive data analysis. Structured interview was used to collect data.
The in-depth interview was conducted with entrepreneurs which the samples were obtained from
the database of entrepreneurs of the Provincial Community Development Offices, Provincial
Commercial Offices, Provincial Public Health Offices and Provincial Industrial Offices in the area 14
of southern provinces, selected by purposive sampling. The 2 OTOP products per province were
selected, using criteria in 3 areas: (1) strengthening communities products, (2) marketing and (3)
product background. Entrepreneurs with a product rating less than 3 stars which was capable of
reaching to 3-star level as well as those with product with a 2-star rating, were selected as a
sample group for in-dept interviews; key informants and casual informants included 42 people in
total.
The results showed that current management of OTOP beverage products was found using
2 methods: 1) management process and 2) organizational environment analysis. In term of using
blue ocean marketing strategies for beverage products, it can be divided into 3 methods:
(1) changing employee attitudes, (2) knowing customer needs, and (3) creating new demands with
innovation.