Marketing 1 Flashcards
What is Marketing?
Management process of finding out what customers want, making a product that will satisfy their needs and persuading them to buy it. Identifying and anticipating what consumers want today and will want in the future
What is Market research?
The systematic collection, analysis and reporting of information about marketing issues to enable managers to make effective marketing decisions. Helps in identifying and anticipating what consumers want today and will want in the future
What are the two ways to do market research?
Field Research
Desk Research
Explain field research
Primary research - Involves business going out into the marketplace and collecting information from consumers. Obtaining the answers first-hand from consumers
Name 3 methods of field research
Observation
focus groups
surveys
Explain Observation as a method of field research with example
Researchers watch customers in action and learn from how they behave and react in situations
Usually researchers do not tell consumers they are watching as they may behave differently if they knew
Supervalu has improved the layout of their stores to maximize sales when researchers watched consumers to fin what prompted them to buy a product
Explain Focus groups as a method of field research with example
Small group of consumers brought together to discuss their opinions on the business and their products.
Aims to capture feedback
Moderator starts discussion gets others to offer opinions
Nature of group, one contribution sparks another is effective in gaining helpful insightsfor business
Ex: Vodafone hold groups where it listens to volunteered consumers who share how they think they could served better
Explain surveys as a method of field research
Researchers interview a sample of customers directly asking questions and recording the answers given
Aim to find what people think and how many share that same opinion
Can be done by phone, face-to-face or on internet
ex: Lily o Brien’s chocolates include a survey in each box of chocolates asking consumers to rate each box on a scale of average to I love it
Explain the advantages of field research
Specific to business / product- precisely relevant. Business gets answers it need to q’s it wants answered from target market specifically
Business owns information- does not have to share and gives Competitive advantage.
Control over research process- assured that research will be done correct and info will be accurate. Reliable
Immediate up to date info- Info about what is happening right now. Provides recent up to date data of market
Explain the disadvantages of field research
Expensive-involves high cost. Surveys to be compiled, distributed. Interviewers to be paid.
Can take a long time- Requires development and execution of research plan. from decision to enter project to end point with answers is longer time.
Explain desk research
Using information that someone has already gathered-secondary research. Information already exists so business does it have to collect it first hand
Name three forms of desk research
internal reports
government publications
internet
Explain Internal reports as a method of desk research
Reviewing information from previous sales and financial reports produced by company
Can show what popular products were, most successful shops
ex: Brian lee of “freshly chopped” looks at daily sales to establish how each outlet is performing and the popularity of each product
Explain government publications as a method of desk research
Businesses can use publications produced by government bodies (e.g CSO) for info about a market
Government produce range of info that people can buy or obtain free ex: census, household budget survey
EX: Enterprise Ireland has database containing export trade info. Helps Irish business to identify opportunities to export its products
Explain Internet as a method of desk research
Freely available information from the web on any topic
Type topic into search engine to find info/research
Websites or discussion groups/forums are important sources of information for market researchers
ex: Cadburys wanted to know how people liked their creme eggs, they could look on threads on websites such as boards.ie under creme eggs
Explain the advantages of desk research
Cheaper than field- many sources free, keeps costs down
Quick and easy- quicker mean business address marketing issues faster- Internet particularly quick
Variety of information- lots of data to make effective decisions. Internet/extensive government reports
A good starting point for market research
Starting point for Primary research- ex: manager doing analysis of competition could access internet to locate a list of potential competitors
Explain the disadvantages of desk research
May be inaccurate- no control over accuracy. conductor my have made mistakes. less accurate/reliable
Information may be out of date- Market could change drastically since research- little use in decision making
Competitors can also access information- freely available. no particular competitive advantage
What is the importance of market research for a business
Can save the business money in the long run
Reduces the risk of failure for product and the business
Helps identify new markets
Helps to identify threats
Explain market segmentation with example
Dividing the overall market for a product into distinct groups of consumers
Consumers within segments have similar needs and common characteristics different from other segments
Ex clothing market can be divided into male and female segments
Explain Geographic segmentation with an example
Market is divided into different geographical areas Business makes money satisfying local needs
e.g county radio stations, stations are no. 1 in their region as people listen to news on their community that national stations cannot do
Explain demographic segmentation
Market is divided into different characteristics of the population e.g gender - ‘Nivea for Men’ and NIVEA range for women
What are the advantages of market segmentation
Allows business to get established in a market
Helps increase sales
Lowers marketing costs
Explain target market with example
A precise description of the types of customer a business aims its product at
The specific segment within market for a product that a business wishes to target
Ex: Penneys target market is budget-conscious consumers
Explain with example niche market
A small group of potential customers within a market segment for a product
They have more specialised needs to the rest of the market
Willing to pay dearer price
Ex: A niche market within the female shoes segment would be bridal shoes
What are the advantages of niche marketing - explain
Less competition- highly specific product means there will be less businesses out there with the same offering. reduced competition allows for higher prices
Lower marketing costs- business only has to develop one campaign to appeal to the particular niche market ex: bridal shoe maker only advertises in bridal magazines and wedding fairs
What is the marketing concept with example
The marketing concept states that the customer is the most important person to the business.
Keeping the customer happy is the way to make money.
The business must make products that satisfy the needs of the customers.
ex: Brown Thomas offer excellent products and service including personal shopper. They enjoy high sales
Explain the Benefits of satisfied customers to the business
Increased profits- customers are happy and buy more
Good reputation-tell friends about hos business is good, free form of advertising
Reduced business costs- no reason for complaints so fewer returns and repairs reducing business costs
Explain marketing plan
It takes the stated aims and objectives from the business plan and puts in place marketing activities to ensure those objectives are met Ex: coca cola sugary soft drinks in decline so they worked on developing more no sugar drinks coke zero
Explain the four steps of a marketing plan
1: Investigate market to develop business opportunities-SWOT analysis, find gap to fill in market to make money
2: Select a target market- split into segments and target one/few of these
3: Research target market- find what consumers want and need
4: Develop a marketing mix- develop four strategies. Good product at the right price on sale in all the places the target market shops. Must promote it in a way that appeals to them
Explain the benefits of a marketing plan
Sets out strategies - Acts as map guiding business to increased sales and profits
Helps to control progress - allows business measure actual performance against the goals set in plan. can get back on target
Helps raise finance - show investors the business has done its research. Persuade investment
Explain marketing strategy
A marketing strategy is a written plan that sets out the business’s marketing objectives and the means by which it will achieve these
What is the marketing mix
Consists of four tools that a business can use to persuade customers to buy its products
Product, place, price, promotion
Define a product
A bundle of benefits that satisfies the needs or wants of consumers
Physical good or services