The Conference theme for 2009 is ‘Putting Marketing in its Place’.

This reflects the Conference’s setting – civic pride, regional development and the role of professional marketing and marketing education in an increasingly ‘flat’ world (Friedman, 2007).

Large multi-national businesses involved in inward investment have global brands, global sourcing and global distribution.  This challenges less powerful local supply (for example the entry of international banking brands into the UK financial services market).  Marketing is also a critical success factor in the development of small and medium-sized enterprise and business creation at regional or local level.

Local government and Regional Development Agencies, Chambers of Commerce, local universities and business schools face a complex and challenging agenda to provide the right support, often in collaboration with each other.  Place marketing has become an increasingly important aspect of marketing activity, particularly for public sector organisations.  Local education authorities and health boards are introducing strong market-focused strategies to continue to meet challenging expectations from a range of stakeholders.

This agenda is played out in an international setting which has become increasingly local, where change has become increasingly rapid.  Marketing now takes place in a word of instant communication, flexible high volume production and simultaneous consumption of ideas, products and services.

The AM 2009 Conference Committee invites submission of competitive papers, working papers and posters for the 2009 Conference.  All papers and proposals should attempt to link to one or more of the topics identified above under the overall theme of Putting Marketing in its Place.

All papers must be submitted electronically via the online submissions facility, before the extended deadline of Monday, 16th February 2009.

Before submitting papers, please check you have complied with the submission guidelines