Providing superior customer value is the starting point in the horizontal customerprofitability chain (Figure 1). It is based on a sound mix of quality, service and price (QSP) and the image, innovation and intangibles (the three Is). These elements enable organisations to attract and keep customers. Companies should segment markets via demographic, psychographic and usage approaches to locate new customers that find the firm’s value proposition appealing. Business firms typically use account size and industry as a basis for identifying and targeting markets. While these data are readily accessible, they often provide little insight about how specific goods and services are actually used by the customer. Therefore, product applicationsegmentation should be considered as a value-generating tool. The marine market is a case in point. A fabric manufacturer may provide basic acrylic fabrics for power and sailboat covers aswell as higher-value, custom-designed seat covers for inside the boat.18 A one-time buyer is really a try-er, rather than a customer. To move beyond the transaction stage, organisationalexperiences must meet or, preferably exceed the buyer’s expectations. Repeated incidents of high satisfaction are sought through the effective utilisation of relationship marketing strategies, leading to higher customer loyalty. According to Fredericks, Hurd and Salter, there is asignificant difference between customer satisfaction and loyalty. They view the former as a largely passive customer condition while the latter requires an active or proactive relationship