Boone /Kurtz/MacKenzie/Snow ~ Contemporary Marketing, First Canadian Edition

Part Two of the Marketing Plan

Contemporary Marketing, First Canadian Edition

Boone/Kurtz/MacKenzie/Snow

PART TWO OF THE MARKETING PLAN

Market Analysis

In this section of the marketing plan, your objective is to communicate to the reader a general understanding of the environment in which your product will be sold, and those forces outside of your organization that will have an effect on the development and execution of your strategies. The key points to address include: the definition of the market space in which you operate; your competitors; trends that will affect your market; and how the

consumersaresegmented.

1.1.Market Definition

Define the market in which your product will be sold. It is best to start with a broad description of the potential market, so as to include the most likely current consumer segments who purchase your type of products, as well as potential untapped market segments (i.e., that have a need/want your product can fulfill) who may want to buy your type of product if targeted accordingly. In addition, this broad classification will help to identify more organizations/products that will compete for your share of the market. Be sure to include substitute products (i.e., those that are not exactly the same type of product, but consumers may consider as a means to fulfill the same need/want as your product) and potential new entrants into the market. As you work your way through this process, you can then narrow the definition of the market as necessary to make it more and more relevant, measurable, and manageable. The importance of this section is to identify the external opportunities and threats in which your organization will be confronted. Listed immediately below are some questions to consider for this section. (Keep in mind that you can include other information you deem relevant and beneficial for the reader.)

  • How would you describe the market in which your product exists?
  • What are the basic needs/wants the market’s consumers want fulfilled?
  • In which NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) category is your product?
  • What is the description of products classified in this category?
  • What is the size (total sales $ and number of units) of the market?
  • What is your market share of this market?
  • What is the recent, current and projected rate of growth in this market?
  • What products (direct and indirect/substitutes) do the market’s consumers consider to fulfill their needs/wants?
  • Who are the key suppliers in the industry?
  • What type of power and/or threats of forward integration, if any, do they possess that will make it difficult or easy for you to compete and execute your marketing plans?

1.2.Competitors

List and describe the organizations that will compete in your market for a share of the consumer’s purchasing dollar that could be spent on your product. The description should address the types of products the competitors sell, sales revenues, key features and positioning characteristics (note: To begin with, these description may be general in nature and for many or all of the competitors; however, as you address your marketing strategies in the next section of this framework outline, you may need to revisit this section to modify your description in more detail for your main competitors, depending on the implications of the selected marketing strategies for your product). In addition, you should also prioritize the main competitors (i.e., those that will pose the most threat to your market share). Listed immediately below are some questions to consider for this section. (Keep in mind that you can include other information you deem relevant and beneficial for the reader.)

  • Which companies sell products in your market?
  • What are their sales revenues?
  • What are the unique features of their products?
  • What competitive advantages do they possess?
  • Why do they have this competitive advantage?
  • What conditions would have to change that would enhance or eliminate these advantages? How likely are these changes?
  • How would you compare your product to their? How do consumers view them as compared to yours (include market research data if available)?
  • Discuss any significant information about your competitors that may impact how they operate now and in the near future.

1.3.Environmental Forces

The environment in which your product is sold can have a major effect on how you develop and execute your marketing strategies. The process begins by scanning the political, economic, social, and technological environments for current and future trends that will affect the marketplace, both yours and your competitors’ strategies. Listed immediately below are some questions to consider for this section. (Keep in mind that you can include other information you deem relevant and beneficial for the reader.)

  • Political Environment
  • Are there current policies, laws and regulations effecting the supply, demand, design, promotion and distribution of your product?
  • What current or future political/legal trends will likely have a positive or negative effect on the marketing of your product?
  • Economic Environment
  • What are the current conditions of the economy that effect the supply, demand, design, promotion and distribution of your product?
  • What current or future economic trends will likely have a positive or negative effect on the marketing of your product?
  • Include any relevant economic statistics that might potentially affect the ability of the market place to support the sale of your product (e.g., GDP, Per

capita income, savings rates, exchange rates, tax policies, inflation rates, credit/borrowing rates).

  • Social Environment
  • What current demographic statistics and cultural mores have an effect on the attitudes and lifestyles of consumers in your market?
  • What demographic and cultural changes will likely occur that could have a positive or negative effect on the marketing of your product?

1.4.Segmentation

The process of segmenting your market has two goals: 1) identify homogenous groups of consumers that think, feel, and/or act in a similar manner, with respect to the purchasing of your type of product, and are significantly different from other groups; and 2) identify groups of consumers that are large enough to justify a separate marketing approach. While these groups can be characterized by a variety of dimensions, the main goal here is to provide the reader with an understanding of the consumers in the market via profiles that depict who they are, and why and how they buy your type of product. Listed immediately below are some questions to consider for this section. (Keep in mind that you can include other information you deem relevant and beneficial for the reader.):

  • How can you best describe the consumers that buy this type of product?
  • Demographics
  • Behaviours
  • Benefits sought
  • Psychographics
  • Attitudes
  • Lifestyles
  • Other characteristics
  • How can these consumers be categorized into groups with similar characteristics such that it would be beneficial to construct different market strategies to get their attention, generate interest, and motivate them to buy your product? Whenever possible, use research data to support these distinctions.
  • Create a profile of each segment by giving each one a descriptive label and then listing the main characteristics that distinguish it from the other segments?
  • What are the population sizes of these segments? At what rate are they growing?

Marketing Plan Worksheets

A.Target Market

1.Who is your target market and why?

2.What are the basic wants/needs your consumers want fulfilled?

3.In which NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) category is your product?

  1. What is the description of products classified in this category?
  1. What is the size (total sales $ and number of units) of the market?
  1. What is your market share of this market?
  1. What are the recent, current, and projected rates of growth for this market?
  1. What products (direct and indirect/substitutes) do the market’s consumers look for to fulfill their needs/wants?
  1. Who are the key suppliers in the industry?

4.What type of power and/or threats of forward integration, if any, do they possess that will make it difficult or easy for you to compete and execute your marketing plans?

B. Competitive Analysis

1. The Competition

Who are the key competitors in your industry?

Identify companies working in the same market as yours:

2. SWOT Analysis

Will you hire an outside consultant for SWOT analysis? YesNo
Identify the strengths of your business offering:
List keys to success:

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Describe the competitive advantage(s) of your business offering:
Identify weaknesses of your business offering:
List potential red flag issues:
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Identify opportunities in your target market and with your business offering:
List ways of leveraging these opportunities:
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Identify threats to your business offering:

List potential threats that may become important in the future:

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3. Is the Internet important to your company and its objectives?

Yes No

Size of Internet reachability

Usage rate of Internet in your market

Identify segments of your market wherein Internet usage is growing the fastest:

List emerging technologies affecting your business offering:

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List laws regulating your business offering:

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C.Environment

1. Political Environment

  • Are there current policies, laws and regulations effecting the supply, demand, design, promotion and distribution of your product?
  • What current or future political/legal trends will likely have a positive or negative effect on the marketing of your product?
  1. Economic Environment
  2. What current economic conditionsmight affect the supply, demand, design, promotion and distribution of your product?
  • What current or future economic trends will likely have a positive or negative effect on the marketing of your product?

Include any relevant economic statistics that might potentially affect the ability of the market place to support the sale of your product (e.g., GDP, per capita income, savings rates, exchange rates, tax policies, inflation rates, credit/borrowing rates, etc.).

3. Social Environment

  • What current demographic statistics and cultural mores have an effect on the attitudes and lifestyles of consumers in your market?
  • What demographic and cultural changes will likely occur that can have a positive or negative effect on the marketing of your product?

D.Market Segmentation

1.What are the demographics of your target market?(Circle all that apply.):

FemaleMale

AdultChild

MarriedSingle

Divorced Widowed

College-degreeHigh school diploma

Business ProfessionalBlue-Collar Worker

Belong to a Social ClubBelong to an Athletic organization Own home Rent home or apartment

2.Other Demographic Information:

Ethnicity of Potential Target Market:

Economic Situation of Target Market:

Legislative or Political Issues to Contend with:

E.Product Offering

Product Name:

Product Logo:

Primary Points of Differentiation:

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