"Marketing is not the art of finding clever ways to dispose of what you make. It is the art of creating genuine customer value."
- Philip Kotler
Have you ever noticed how the most successful Ramadan bazaar
vendors don't just sell food – they create experiences that keep people coming
back year after year? That's exactly what marketing pioneer Philip Kotler was
getting at with this powerful insight about genuine value creation.
Meet Pakcik Ahmad, a legendary murtabak seller at Kampung Baru's Ramadan bazaar.
While others compete by making their murtabaks bigger or cheaper, Pakcik Ahmad does something different. He noticed how families struggle with long bazaar queues during fasting month.
His solution?
He created
a pre-order system via WhatsApp, complete with specific pickup times. He even
remembers his regular customers' preferences – down to who likes extra onions
and who needs their murtabak cut into smaller pieces for children. His murtabak
might not be the cheapest or the biggest, but his stall consistently has the
longest queues because he's not just selling murtabak – he's solving problems
and creating value for fasting families.
This approach mirrors what innovative Malaysian companies
like POS Malaysia did during the pandemic. When they saw small businesses
struggling with deliveries, they didn't just offer standard postal services.
Instead, they created EziPoz, a simplified shipping solution specifically
designed for small online sellers. They weren't just trying to sell more
shipping labels; they were creating genuine value by helping small businesses
survive and thrive during challenging times.
Kotler's message rings especially true in today's Malaysia,
where consumers are bombarded with endless promotions and "hot
deals." Real marketing isn't about pushing products through aggressive
sales or endless discounts. It's about understanding what your customers truly
need and creating solutions that make their lives better. Because at the end of
the day, people don't just buy products or services – they buy better versions
of their daily lives.
Disclaimer: Views are my own. The examples mentioned are based on general market observations and publicly available information. Individual business practices and success stories may vary.
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