7 - distribution of foreign markets Flashcards
Types of channel decisions
- External decisions
2. Internal decisions
External decisions (channel decisions)
- customer characteristics
- nature of product
- nature of demand
- competition
- legal regulations/local business practices
DIRECT
MANUFACTURER TO FINAL CONSUMER
INDIRECT
ONE LEVEL
manufacturer to retailer to final consumer
TWO LEVEL
manufacturer to wholesaler to retailer to final consumer
THREE LEVEL
manufacturer to agent to wholesaler to retailer to final consumer
Main characteristics of SHORT DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS
- the offering is targeted at business users
- the customers are geographically concentrated
- customers require extensive technical knowledge
- regular servicing is required for the offering to operate
- the order quantity is larger
Main characteristics of LONG DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS
- the offering is targeted to consumers and non-business users
- the customers are geographically dispersed
- customers don’t require extensive technical knowledge
- regular servicing is not required for the offering to operate
- the order quantity is small
product characteristics SHORT CHANNEL
- product is perishable
- product is complex
- product is expensive
product characteristics LONG CHANNEL
- product is durable
- product is standardized
- product is cheap
factors determining the choice of distribution channel
- market characteristics
- product characteristics
- competition characteristics
- company characteristics
competition characteristics SHORT CHANNEL
- the competitor uses the direct channels & the manufacturer is satisfied with its performance
- the competitor uses indirect channels & the manufacturer thinks choosing short channels would be more beneficial
competition characteristics LONG CHANNEL
- the competitor uses indirect channels & the manufacturer is satisfied with its performance
- the competitor uses the direct channel & the manufacturer thinks choosing indirect or long channels would be more beneficial
company characteristics SHORT CHANNEL
- company believes that it’s important to control the channels
- company has a broad product line
- company has adequate resources to perform channel functions
company characteristics LONG CHANNEL
- company believes that channel control isn’t important
- company has a narrow product line
- company lacks adequate resources to perform channel functions
Managing and controlling distribution channels
- select distributors: do not let them select you
- look for distributors capable of developing markets rather than those with a few obvious contacts
- treat the local distributors as long-term partners, not temporary market-entry vehicles
- support market entry with committing money, managers and proven marketing ideas
- from the start, maintain control over marketing strategy
- make sure distributors provide you with detailed market & financial performance date
- build links among national distributors at the earliest opportunity
before designing your channel
- analyze your customer segments
- answer some questions:
✦How much information has to be delivered to the client?
✦Market Size
✦Product characteristics
✦How much control do you need as a company about the process?