1.3.5 Marketing Strategy Flashcards
Niche marketing
Where a business targets a smaller segment of a larger market, where customers have specific needs and wants
Mass marketing
Where a business sells into the largest part of the market, where there are many similar products offered by competitors
Niche market features
- clear focus
- low profit margin
- less competition
- specialist skills and knowledge
Mass market features
- low unit costs
- products have broad appeal
- high profit margin
- allows heavy promotion
- caters for all consumers
What is the marketing strategy for mass market?
- selling to people regardless to any segmentation features
- generic and product marketed in the same way
- large quantities produced mean lower average costs which maximises EOS resulting in high profits
- maximise above the line of promotion
What is the marketing strategy for niche markets?
- caters to a small subset of a market segment and will target consumers in a very specific way
- products have a USP and are designed for a specific purpose
- marketing tends to be quite tailored - market is small scale so businesses rely on high value of sales
- customers are price inelastic demand meaning higher prices can be changed due to products being unique
- media used will be targeted media - specialist magazines, trade fairs, websites
Niche strategies used in marketing
product:
-product differentiation
-value added is important to both, but achieved in different way
price:
-premium or skimming
-Influence price through USP and other distinct features
Promotion:
-may rely on more word of mouth and more targeted promotion
place:
-may sell direct or use traditional method
-value added may be achieved through physical location
Mass strategies used in marketing
product:
-branding helps differentiate within competitive markets
-value added
price:
-competitive, psychological, loss leader
-mass market brands may have a degree of influence depending on the size or popularity of the brand
promotion:
-rely on above the line methods
-sales promotion
Business to business market
where one business sells to another business
Features of B2B
- advertising needs to be informative rather than persuasive or clever
- focus on cost effectiveness
- Involve larger transactions
- suppliers to build up close relationships with customers to try and understand needs
- offering a quality product and service
Business to customer
where a business sells to a consumer
Features of B2C
- consumers need to be convinced that the benefits of a product will meet their needs
- not looking to build up longterm relationships with the supplier
- consumers want a variety of distribution channels;s for convenience
- short message which clearly points out the benefits
- emotional connection with the product or supplier
B2B marketing strategies
- competitive pricing
- marketing mix = promotion
- design mix = function
- marketing mix = product
B2C marketing strategies
- design mix = aesthetics
- psychological pricing
- emotional branding
- product design carefully follows fashion
- price skimming
- use of social media
Product portfolio analysis
assesses the position of each product or brand in a firm’s portfolio to help determine the right marketing strategy for each
Product lifecycle
a theoretical model which describes the stages a product goes through over its life
-measures in terms of sales and cash flows
What are the stages of the product life cycle?
- introduction
- growth
- maturity + saturation
- deline
Why is cash flow the lowest during the introduction stage?
- just spent lots of money researching and developing product and haven’t had time to recoup that investment
- sales are low as product is not very unknown
- lots of money spent on advertising and promotion to try and break into the market
Research and development stage level of sales product promotion distribution price cashflow
- no sales
- Innovative new design
- no promotion
- no distribution
- no price
- negative cashflow
Introduction level of sales product promotion distribution price cashflow
- low sales
- new product launched in market
- heavy promotion to make consumers aware of product
- may be reluctant to take an unproven product
- skimming or penetration pricing
- negative cashflow
Growth level of sales product promotion distribution price cashflow
- fast growing sales
- Improve products and its features
- advertising to promote and increase brand awareness
- Increase distribution outlets
- market penetration or price leader
- positive or negative cash flow
Maturity and saturation level of sales product promotion distribution price cashflow
- slower sales due to increased competition
- develop new uses
- focus on differentiation
- Intensive distribution
- price falls
- positive cash flow
Decline level of sales product promotion distribution price cashflow
- falling sales
- failure to innovate and develop
- aim to retain loyal customers loyalty schemes
- narrowed distribution
- price cutting to remain competitive
- weaker cash flows
Research and development - features
- often complex
- absorbs significant resources
- may not be successful
- may involve long lead time before sales are achieved
Research and development - How is it done?
- time-consuming but CAD is reducing product development times
- cost of development rises as it approaches launch
- market research to reduce risk of product failure
- most new product ideas don’t reach launch phase
Why may new products be scrapped before launch?
- inadequate demand
- production problem
- high costs
- actions of competitors
- change in external environment
- doesn’t fit with product range