Abstract:
The purpose of this research was to study the marketing strategies and branding strategies of the family business: Somjai Biz Group Co., Ltd. case study (hereinafter referred to as Somjai Shop). Qualitative research was employed by using document analysis and in-depth interviews with 15 informants; the store's executives, salespeople and customers from November 2024 to January 2025. The research results found that, for implementing marketing strategies in the beginning, Somjai and Niyom Phedimchit, the Somjai Shops founders, started the business by using geographical market segmentation, which focused on the shopping store location. At first, Somjai Shop sold encyclopedias and books and its target was readers. However, students and artists studied or worked in the areas nearby the shop came to inquire about stationeries and art supplies, the founders sought out such products to sell them. The business of Somjai Shop was successful after operating for a while, and then opened 4 more branches by using market segmentation based on customer behaviors, including the shop location and its rental fees. Shop executives, the 3rd generation, employed market segmentation based on customers demographics, considering the area for opening branches from the growth rate of the target group. Although the shops executives, the 1st and 2nd generation, had not formally defined the product/brand position, they listened to their customers needs to provide a complete range of products and sell them at affordable prices. Additionally, the salesman staff of the shop had product knowledge and suggested the products to customers. Such operations have been developed into Somjai Shops work culture and become the shops tagline Somjai Tee Somjai in the 3rd generation executives later. This meant that if you come to Somjai Shop, you will get any products you want with the reasonable price. In addition, the shops executives all three generations have designed marketing mix strategies in all 4 areas: products, prices, places, and promotions, to serve customer needs. In Somjai Shops branding strategy analysis, the 1st and 2nd generation executives did not build brand seriously, because of less branding knowledge in that era. Somjai Shop, by traditional business trend, emphasized on having the shops name and logo. Interestingly, the cultivation of the Somjai Shop brand spirit resulted from the customer-focused operations of the 1st and 2nd generation executives who committed to meet their customer needs as much as possible. The shop founders, the 1st generation, set the business guideline of having a complete range of products, good quality, with a reasonable price for their target group, and having salesman staff to provide services like the customers relatives and friends. This was Somjai Shops brand value deliver to customers. Later, the management of the 3rd generation brought the brand value to be the company's tagline, systematically defined the shop's brand identities, and disseminated them to the public both offline and online media. The 1st generation executives committed to do their family business benefit society and then becoming the roots and legacy of Somjai Shop family business, passed down from generation to generation. It also became Somjai Shops brand value, vision and working and management processes from the 1st to 3rd generations executives and employees. New technologies and digital communications have been used in various operations under the 3rd generation executives management. Furthermore, Somjai Shop has expanded the product line, called as the Somjai Selected brand, to solve customers pain points in using the products. Somjai Shop also set up an art lover community through holding various workshop activities to reinforce its brand's image as an expert in art, including collaborated with the popular brands for youngers to increase Somjais brand awareness and raise Somjais brand image more contemporary.