Ind. 4.05 Position venture/product to acquire desired business image.

Ind. 4.05 Position venture/product to acquire desired business image.ENTREPRENEURSHIP I What is a Competitive Advantage?A competitive advantage is an advantage over competitors gained by offering consumers greater value, either by means of lower prices or by providing greater benefits and service that justifies higher prices.

What is Positioning?Positioning is how your target market defines you in relation to your competitors.

The Purpose of PositioningTo make your product stand out in a crowdYou are competing with all the noise out their competing for your potential customers attentionIf you can stand out with a unique benefit, you have a chance at getting their attention.

Think about this..Positioning is how products are perceived in the minds of consumers

How a company sees itself and sees it products are not always the way that customers and potential customers view the products.

Relationship between the target market and positioningWhen positioning your product, it is important to focus on how your target market perceives you. After all they are the consumers most likely to purchase your product

Key tip: you can never make everyone happy, but you MUST make your target market happy in order to SURVIVE!

Relationship between the competition and positioningIs our product the first in its market? If not, how are our competitors positioned?Do we have enough money to position our products similarly to the market leader & thus take over as the market leader?If not, we must find an unoccupied position in the market out target market currently cares about.7 Types of Positioning StrategiesProduct AttributesBenefitsUsage OccasionsUsersAgainst a CompetitorAway from a Competitor (Quality)Product Classes

The 4Ps can affect a products positioning.For example, Krispy Kreme doughnuts were originally available to consumers only at Krispy Kreme bakeries. In the early 2000s, the company decided to alter its distribution (Place) strategy to include supermarkets and gas stations. While that decision radically increased sales potential by making the product available to more consumers, it also changed how the target market perceived the Krispy Kreme brand. Think about it: do you view a sandwich that you buy at a gas station differently from a sandwich that you purchase at a casual dining restaurant?

The 4Ps can affect a products positioning.ProductWhat does the customer want from the product/service? What needs does it satisfy?How and where will the customer use it?How is it differentiated versus your competitors products/services?

The 4Ps can affect a products positioning.PlaceWhere do buyers look for your product or service? If they look in a store, what kind? A specialist boutique or in a supermarket, or both? Or online? Or direct, via a catalogue? How can you access the right distribution channels? Do you need to use a sales force? Or attend trade fairs? Or make online submissions? Or send samples to catalogue companies?What do your competitors do, and how can you learn from that and/or differentiate what you do from them?

The 4Ps can affect a products positioning.PriceWhat is the value of the product or service to the buyer?Are there established price points for products or services in this area?Is the customer price sensitive? Will a small decrease in price gain you extra market share? Or will a small increase be indiscernible, and so gain you extra profit margin? What discounts should be offered to trade customers, or to other specific segments of your market?How will your price compare with your competitors?

The 4Ps can affect a products positioning.PromotionWhere and when can you get across your marketing messages to your target market? Will you reach your audience by advertising in the press, or on TV, or radio, or on billboards? By using direct mail? Through PR? On the Internet?When is the best time to promote? Is there seasonality in the market? Are there any wider environmental issues that suggest or dictate the timing of your market launch, or the timing of subsequent promotions?How do your competitors do their promotions? And how does that influence your choice of promotional activity?

Positioning ActivityEver wonder about the laundry detergent product category? Why do several companies produce the majority of laundry brands? For example, Procter & Gamble markets Tide, Gain, Era, Cheer, Ivory, and Bold. . . among others. How does P&G differentiate these brands? How many different messages can you develop about laundry detergent?

Using the Web and a little research at a retail outlet that sells laundry detergent, conduct an analysis of the P&G brands of laundry detergent. What are the distinguishing features of each brand -- and are they clearly communicated to the consumer? What are the target markets for each brand? Are the positions different enough to avoid cannibalization?