Marketing vs Sales: What Every Small and Medium Business Owner Needs to Understand

   15 September 2025  Posted in consumer behavior buying decision brandbuyology hisham kabir influencer marketing neuromarketing
Marketing vs Sales: What Every Small and Medium Business Owner Needs to Understand
Most small and medium businesses (SMEs) are family-run, owner-driven, and focused on one thing: quick turnaround and early cash flow. That’s survival.
But here’s the problem: survival mode doesn’t scale.
For many SMEs, marketing only comes into the picture when the owner realizes:
> “Other than me, my family, and a few close friends, no one actually knows about my products or services.”

And most of the time, when they say marketing, they actually mean sales.

Author: Hisham Kabir
Hisham Kabir Dubai-Based Management Consultant | Specialist in Lean Marketing, Digital Transformation & Family Business Advisory Hisham Kabir is a Dubai-based entrepreneur and senior management consultant with over 20 years of experience in lean marketing, digital transformation, and global e-commerce marketplace expansion. With a proven track record of advising companies across the UAE and India, Hisham helps brands optimize marketing ROI, scale operations, and expand internationally—particularly through platforms like Amazon and Noon. A fourth-generation member of a business family established in 1894, Hisham offers deep insights into the dynamics of multi-generational enterprises. Having witnessed both the successes and setbacks of legacy business models, he now guides family-owned conglomerates through succession planning, organizational restructuring, and sustainable business growth. Previously the Director of Ideal Food and Catering Company in Kochi, he now spearheads initiatives under the Shuraa Synergy LLP umbrella—an enterprise spanning ITES, digital transformation, lean marketing, food, healthcare, and e-commerce marketplace strategy. An alumnus of Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune, with a postgraduate degree in Advertising and Public Relations, and an MBA from Mumbai University, Hisham also serves as Lead Research Scholar at the Boudhik Center for Management Research (BCMR) in Kochi. BCMR is the only Indian business research academy in Kerala, focused exclusively on family business management, in academic affiliation with Symbiosis International (Deemed University). His cross-sectoral expertise and strategic vision make him a trusted advisor for both emerging startups and legacy enterprises navigating transformation in the digital age. A Experienced in recruiting, training and managing F&B teams - Most recently managed a 50+ strong cross-functional team. Proven track record of managing 400+ catering events including numerous high-volume corporate and social events with more than 5000 pax. Further to MBA, completed a Management development programme in sales management from IIM which is among the leading business management school in India. Later ventured into independent entrepreneurial business by launching and retailing a ready-to-cook food gravy paste brand using retort technology called freedom kitchen. With significant insights into front-end retailing and a strong background in the Retail Industry, I shifted to Corporate Path by joining a food-based FMCG company as part of their rural market expansion.  My expertise is in operational excellence, channel sales development, team management, client relationship development, and Event Operations Management. large ticket banquet Management, Menu planning, costing and P&L, and people management. Driven by a passion for advertising have conducted an exhibition titled walk through the history of Volkswagen beetle. where I showcased several print ads released by Volkswagen Beetle in North America from 1958 to 1971. You can follow blogs on www.buyologist.in dealing with trends in marketing and advertising and behavioural economics.