DESIGN: Segmentation

Splitting the market into groups of end-users who are:

1. 2. maximally similar within each group and maximally different between groups

The relevance of segmentation to marketing channel management relates to the development and provision of service outputs.
Table 2.1 on p. 32 demonstrates a the reality of a segmented channel.

Get into your teams and answer the following:

Provide one example (existing companys product or service) that uses at least two different channel distribution approaches to facilitate significantly different needs of two market segments.
Describe how these approaches changes the value structure of the original product.

DESIGN: Positioning
Occurs when the channel manager defines the optimal channel to serve the needs of end-users as segmented by their service output demands.
In your teams:
1. As a channel manger for a new fragrance (Febreeze), describe how you would determine the segmentation based end-user service output demands? How would you define what is the optimal channel (flows, structure, intensity, ABC)? Provide a couple of specific examples to demonstrate your ideas.

2.

DESIGN: Targeting
At this stage of analysis it becomes important to not only determine what segments to target, but which segments to ignore.
(e.g. internal managerial bounds (like?), external environmental and competitive bounds (like?))

Why ignore? Specific examples?

DESIGN: Establish New or Refine Existing

When preexisting channels are in place in the market, it is important to perform a gap analysis. If a new channel is being formed, the goal is to strive for zero-based.
Gap Analysis = of zero-based vs. actual channels on the demand and supply side.

IMPLEMENTATION: Identify Power Sources

The role of the channel manager is to continuously and dynamically manage channel initiatives and relationships via realms of influence over channel power. Listen well, understand, relate:
Get to know the needs of each channel member/segment and the relevant nuances of their interdependent relationships. (mentally walk a mile in their shoes)

IMPLEMENTATION: Identify Channel Conflicts

When one channel members actions prevents the channel from achieving its goals:
Goal conflict (e.g.?) Domain conflict (e.g.?) Perceptual conflict (e.g.?)

IMPLEMENTATION: Goal of Channel Coordination

A channel is coordinated when:
disparate channel members are brought together to advance the goals of a channel in harmony in spite of their independent and likely conflicting goals.

This is the ultimate goal of channel management