INTRODUCTION
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1.1 Background
This is a marketing plan for the course MKT 201: Principles of Marketing and this report is to
introduce Solio™ charger in Bangladesh, a solar-based mobile phone charger. Therefore, this
report shows the detail of marketing strategy, analysis and other relative research for an
appropriate Marketing Plan.
1.2 Objectives
The entire report is carried out through many steps. Methodology exposes all those steps that
have been taken to finish the report effectively. Following methodology has been accepted to
complete the report.
The data/ information have been collected from basically two sources. Those are: Primary and
Secondary sources. Details of the sources are given in form of bibliography.
Source of Information
Secondary Source of Information
x Course lectures (MKT 201) Different websites:
x Principles of Marketing x www.solio.com
(Philip Kotler, Armstrong)
x www.solar-energy-scene.com
x www.dhgate.com
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1.4 Limitation
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PART 2:
SITUATION ANALYSIS
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2.1 “Solio ™” a solar based charger
This Solar technology typically used in the aerospace, bicycle, alternative energy and automotive
industries. The design of a solar mobile charger is severely limited by the energy input into the
mobile (batteries and power from the sun).
The new great investment to make is solar mobile phone chargers. With their ability to eliminate
the need of standard chargers and wall outlets, along with preserving the environment, picking
one of these devices up can be of huge value and use. The Solar-powered Charger is a new
concept of the 21st Century. It utilizes abundant natural energy and hence is environmentally
friendly. This is a portable solar charger. You can get your mobile phone, digital camera, PDA,
MP3 and MP4 charged up any time in the daytime. It is of stylish design and convenient to use.
The portable solar charger has a built-in Li-battery, which can support your mobile phone with
hours of talk time depending on the capacity of built-in battery and model of your mobile phone.
The simplicity of this product and incredible benefit, it provides for people in charging a cell
phone anywhere is priceless. Whether someone is stranded, camping, or out of wall outlets, a
solar cell phone charger can make all the difference.
Until the past few years, the sun has been overlooked in the ability to produce energy for devices
and anything requiring electricity. However, with the invention of solar panels and other solar
devices, solar chargers have joined the group also. The process in which these solar phone
chargers produce and transfer energy is very simple. These devices absorb sunlight which makes
energy, which is transferred to cell phones and other compatible electronic devices. For those
requiring a cell phone charge at nighttime, there are storage units available that can hold deposits
of energy until they are needed. Producing kilowatts through electricity costs money, and by
eliminating electricity usage, there is money to be saved. This is where solar cell phone chargers
come into the picture. With the average charge of a Razr cell phone that requires two hours of
charging at 0.06 kilowatts per hour, the cost is very small. Unfortunately, people tend to leave
their chargers plugged into the outlet throughout the day and night, sometimes never taking time
to unplug the electricity draining charger.
By utilizing solar cell phone chargers, the potential of wasting electricity and money is
eliminated because the standard chargers can be stored away.
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Depending on the wattage of the solar cell phone charger, to fully charge a cell phone can take
anywhere from thirty minutes to three hours.
Product description
Our product is a solar-based mobile phone charger which is for the outdoors adventurer or workers
who still need to keep in touch with the people back in home or office. We are not talking some
giant solar panel here. Rather, the compact (approx. 4.7 inches by 2.5 inches by 1.4 inches; 5.8
ounces), oval-shaped device fans open to include three small panels, each 3 inches long like in
case of Solio Classic™. The Solio™ will fit easily in a bag, and it comes with many color of
your choice.
The mechanism of the product is very simple and easy to use. You just have to connect to your
device, turn on the device and face it towards the sun. The charge will begin instantly. The
chargers are designed for most of the famous mobile phone brands like Motorola, Nokia, Sony
Ericsson, Black Berry, iPhone and Samsung phones. Even many supported MP3/MP4 players,
iPod and cameras can be charged with our device.
The SOLIO has an internal battery that can be charged via a conventional wall charger, computer
via USB or directly from the sun. The internal charger can be used as a backup charger for
mobile phones or other electronic gadgets.
That is a great thing because we won’t have to depend on the domestic electricity in our house.
Even, you can travel with the charger and visit amazing places without electricity and, anyway,
you will be able to use your gadgets. You only will just need solar light.
The Solio™ have three different types of solar-based mobile phone charger has been design
according to user need and requirement.
1. Rocsta™ H1000
2. Mono™
3. Classic™
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The entire above product come with different colors and design. The technical features and
play/talk times are listed below.
Phone/PDA 3.6 Talk time Hrs. 3.6 Talk time Hrs. 6 Talk time Hrs
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2.2 Market Description
With a solar cell phone charger you can always stay in touch when your phone is about to die,
whether you are on the road traveling or out on an adventure in the outdoors. The solar energy
panel on the phone charger converts the free sunlight into electricity that is stored in the device
and is there when you need it to charge your cell phone.
Many of the solar cell phone chargers, but not all can be charged through your regular electrical
outlet at home, or when you don’t have access to an outlet, then you can add power to the
charger through its built in solar energy panel. A traveling business person will find having a
solar cell phone charger to be indispensable as they can make sure they are never out of touch by
being caught with a dead battery. If you are traveling in your car, you can lay the solar cell phone
charger on the dash or other area of the car where the sunlight is flowing in and keep a full
charge on your phone at all times. Business person, student, or outdoor adventurer can all benefit
from keeping a solar charger with them. They are lightweight and small enough to keep in your
purse, backpack or briefcase, and some in your pocket.
Market research often refers to either primary or secondary research. Secondary research
involves a company using information compiled from various sources, which is about a new or
existing product. Primary market research involves qualitative research (such as focus groups or
one-on-one interviews) and quantitative research (such as surveys) as well as field tests or
observations conducted for or tailored specifically to that product. Primary research, which is
also called field research or original research, is useful for finding new information and getting
customers' views on products.
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2.3 Current Market Situation
There are different companies in Bangladeshi market providing customers with varieties of cell
phone chargers. Amongst them we have selected some as our competitors. They have a huge
market share and will surely create barriers in entering the market for our new product. These
competitors are offering chargers of different types, prices and qualities. Here we’ve stated some
of our market competitor’s offerings to their customers,
· Producer consumer
· Producer retailer consumer
· Producer wholesaler retailer consumer
· Producer agent retailer consumer
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· Producer agent wholesaler retailer consumer
We will be targeting all segments of the people, by providing them all kinds of services
according to their need or wants. For example, the demographics of our customers are given
below,
Nationality Bangladeshi
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2.6 Target Market
We have broadly segmented our market in demographic and psychographic segments. Under
demographic, we have chosen the segment of occupation and income. Under psychographic,
social class and lifestyle, segments were chosen.
Our ideal customers are the persons who have the occupation related to traveling and tourism
and use mobile phone and portable gizmo like IPod, Mp3 player often during their work.
Example of this group of persons can be NGO workers, tourism business or interested in
traveling a lot. Customers are typically working people with an income above Tk. 25,000 and
have a wide range of disposable income.
To gain a competitive advantage we have positioned our product by product differentiation. Our
products are differentiated on consistency, durability, reliability and reparability.
Positioning statement
To the outdoor adventurers, who require charging electronic gadgets during travelling, Solio
Charger is the solar-based charger that allow you to charge your mobile phones, cameras, MP3
players and many other device easily and reliably than other competitor’s product.
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PART 3:
SWOT ANALYSIS
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3.1 Strengths
The product is design in such a way, that any user with little technical knowledge can operate it
with ease. An external battery is included with the device, could be use as to charge mobile
phone easily. The device is small, easy to carry and eco-friendly. This device not only charge
mobile phone but also cameras, MP3/MP4 player as well.
x Meet an emergency when you go outside or power out, you can also use your mobile
phone with solar energy.
x Easily portable modern design, stainless steel case, small size, convenient to take with
x Fits Mobile phone, digital camera, PDA, MP3 and MP4 whenever and wherever you are,
you can charge your mobile phone in time, and you could talk on the phone when
charging.
x High efficiency charging 60 minutes, the charger could transfer the energy from the built
in battery into your mobile phone battery, and could give you 100-150 minutes' talk time
x Environment friendly it is not harmful for the environment.
x Also save energy when no sunlight available these cells also save energy for charging
cell phones at night time.
x Convenience to use
3.2 Weaknesses
The SOLIO charger is expensive than conventional wall charger. The price of conventional wall
charger is usually from Tk. 80 to Tk. 150 whereas, this particular charger is priced Tk. 600 with
warranty and accessories.
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3.3 Opportunities
These above problems can be overcome once the technologies of the solar cell are improved.
According, to researchers at Idaho National Laboratory, along with partners at Micro continuum
Inc. in Cambridge, MA, electricity can be produce from infrared ray (i.e. electricity could be
produce at dark also). This technology will decrease the dependency on conventional wall
charger and increase the use of more solar powered device. The other opportunities are,
x Few competitors initially
x Can get high market share very soon
x Energy efficient
x Having built in battery which store energy
x Available in different colors and accessories
3.4 Threats
Main threat of the device is solar-based charger take more time to charge than conventional wall
charger. Where electricity is abundant, SOLIO charger is useless. These types of chargers are
usually used in case of emergency. The charging also depends on the intensity of sunlight, higher
intensity faster charging. At dark, charging cannot be done at all.
x More competitors can come easily
x Electricity problem can be solved in future & that will be the end of our business
x In beginning we may earn low profit margin
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PART 4:
OBJECTIVES AND ISSUES
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Our mission is to amass our country’s recourses by replacing the electric mobile charger by
promoting and developing solar energy mobile charger in Bangladesh. To attain the mission we
need to fulfill two major objectives. They are,
1. Financial Objectives
2. Marketing objectives
Financial objectives:
x Customer sales
By volume and growth percentage: we will increase our sales by at least 3000 units per year.
By segments: we are concentrating more on the urban & rural areas than the semi-urban
areas as geographic segmentation. By demographic segment, we will more emphasis on the
people whose income is more than TK.20000
x From the income statement we can say that our company is having loss for the first two
years, but after reaching to the break even we are having huge profit. So we can assume
that in near future our company can enjoy profitable sales.
x Become the market leader in that particular segment within the forecasted sales figures.
Marketing Objectives
Marketing success can be measured on several non-financial market metrics. These measure are
important since these often shed light on underlying conditions and circumstances facing the
company that are not easily seen within financial measures.
x Create strong consumer awareness towards a completely new solar-based mobile phone
charger among the target audience by 30 percent in one year.
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x Inform target audience about features and benefits of our product and its competitive
advantage, leading to a 10 percent increase in sales in one year.
x Establish wide brand recognition through the capture of market shares in the functional
mobile charger segment of the market.
x Create a website that will help our customer to give them the best solution of their
problems related to the product.
Issues
Issues related to the objective can occur any time in this dynamic market. The issues can be
worse to worst and contingency plan should create to face these issues. This is also known as
“Back-up- plans”, “Worst-case scenario plans” or “Plan B”.
1. “Buy and win iPhone” or “Win a ticket to Malayasia” or “Discount” such attractive and
lucrative offers can be given to the consumer.
2. Some external factors are out of control. But as a preparation, necessary steps can be
taken. On the other hand, sudden economic change will not only affect Solio Bangladesh
but also the competitors as well.
3. For avoiding such unusual hamper, a certain amount of inventory can be reserved.
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PART 4:
MARKETING STRATEGY
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4.1 Product
x Easy to use – The product has been design in such a way, that any user with little
technical knowledge can operate it with ease.
x Eco-friendly energy – Solar energy is totally environmental friendly.
x Convenience – The product is convenient for the user of all ages.
x Reliable – The product is consistence and does not fail the user.
x Packaging and labeling: Stylish, colorful, hard cover, user manual, accessories,
warranty card. See image below.
x Branding: colorful, aspect of play, oval shape border, use always prominent Solio logo
written in modern font, catchphrases such as “plug into the sun”
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x Trade name: Solio™, a Better Energy Systems product
x Brand personality: Eco-friendly, easy to use, reliable.
x Brand equity: Solio™ provides a quality, consistent, innovative and accessible solar-
based charging reputation.
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4.2 Price
The most important of the 4Ps is the price. Price is the value that would be generated in
exchange of the benefit provided to the consumers. Appropriate pricing would bring revenue.
Therefore, it is very important to co-integrate the pricing strategy with the other strategies &
comply it with our marketing objective.
There are two types of factors that can effect pricing decision. Those are:
a) Internal Factors
b) External Factors
Among major pricing methods SOLIO would set the price based on the cost of purchase.
•Unit Cost = (VC+FC)/Quantity
Then there will be added certain profit with the price. It is also known as Mark-up or profit
pricing.
•Mark-up/ Profit Pricing = {Unit Cost / (1-Desire rate of return)}
The pricing strategy o f S o l a r i s would be cost based. Here, the main focus would be on
calculating the incurred cost and then selecting an appropriate markup so that the price
generates a profit.
Premium pricing: Use a high price where there is uniqueness about the product or service. The
approach is used where there is a substantial competitive advantage exists. Such high prices are
charge for luxuries or if the product is totally new in the market.
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Penetration Pricing: The price is charged for the products and service is set artificially low in
order to gain market share.
Economy pricing: This is no frills low price. The cost of marketing and manufacture are kept at
a minimum. Supermarkets often have economy brands for soups, shampoo and so on.
Price skimming: Charge a high price because you have a substantial competitive advantage.
However, the advantage is not sustainable. The high price tends to attract new competitors into
the market and the price inevitable falls due to increased supply or competitors. For example:
Manufacturers of digital watches used a skimming approach in the 1970s. Once other
manufacturers were tempted into the market and the watches were produced at a lower unit
cost, other marketing strategies and pricing approaches are implemented.
In terms of pricing strategy, Solaris has o n l y o n e option according to its objective i.e.
Penetration Pricing. SOLIO will go for Penetration Pricing strategies because of the
competitors are already there in the market (Solar Bangla, Energy Bangla). ANIK charger can
be the potential competitors who usually sell conventional wall charger. Therefore, it will be
wise to keep price low to enter in the market and gain market share as much as possible.
According to the market analysis, other competitors have priced the solar-based device in
between Tk. 1000 to Tk. 1400 with warranty. We have priced our product low to gain the
market as well as get profit. Initially, the price has been fixed at rate of Tk. 600 per unit.
Various steps have taken to cut the cost to make the device low priced. Cost cutting features are
listed below:
1. Using 3rd Generation photovoltaic cell or low-cost photovoltaic cell
2. No LCD display for the base model
3. Batteries, solar panel are build in, cannot be replaced.
4. Main product only comes with white color cover. However, color cover can be bought.
5. Only one charging connector is given as per the user choice. Other charging connectors
need to be purchase separately.
6. USB connector (charge via laptop) needs to be bought separately.
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4.3 Promotion
Our objectives
1. Create strong consumer awareness towards a completely new solar-based mobile phone
charger.
2. Establish wide brand recognition through the capture of market shares in the functional
mobile charger segment of the market.
To create a strong consumer awareness towards our product is one very important promotional
strategy. As we have targeted our consumer to be the person related travelling and tourism then
we have to do direct to sell. Using small outlet or mobile shop near tourist spot or tourism office
can be effective way of distribution.
Advertising
Output Examples
Television All national TV channel.
Radio All national radio media
News paper & Magazines Renowned newspaper and magazines like Prothom-alo,
PC world,
Internet Banners on select websites (CellBazar, Click BD)
Official promotional website: www.solaris.com
Outdoors Billboards and prints in select areas including:
1. Campuses, transportation (bus, metro,
stations)
2. Tourist areas in high seasonal periods
3. Outskirts of key cities in geographical
reach
Personal selling Direct contact with retailers, consumers
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Public relations Stands or special displays and events in schools, malls,
sports events, tourist spot, tourism, sponsorship
activities.
Publicity Conferences, press releases (print and online), concert,
buzz marketing through Internet.
Promotional Mix
x Contests: “Win a lavish mobile phone or laptop”, “Scratch the card and get exciting prizes”,
“Win a trip to Malaysia”.
Arguments: It will increase consumer purchases and encourage consumer involvement with
the product.
x Samples: Initially booth or outlet can placed in various tourist spot, shopping mall, railway
station and universities for sample use of the product. This also can be used as a distribution
channel as well as awareness of the product towards the consumers.
Arguments: It will encourage new product purchases and it represents low risk for consumers
since they get it for free. They have nothing to loose by trying it.
x Point-of-purchase: shopping mall, tourist spot, railway station, and tourism office can be
used for point-of-purchase to reach the consumer of the target market. Arguments: It is also a
mean to increase product trail, purchase and provides a good product visibility.
x Others: In subsequent years, engage in product placement in TV shows or movies.
x Direct-to-sell: Directly selling to the consumer by person will be used.
x Allowances and discounts: Allowance and discount to the retailer and consumer in various
occasions like Eid, New Year, during fair.
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4.4 Place (Distribution Strategy)
Solio ™ Bangladesh is a merchandising company and it will import solar-based mobile charger
from the manufacturer known as Better Energy Systems Ltd. which is situated in London, UK
and distribute it all over Bangladesh with proper customer service.
Depending on the type of product being distributed there are three common distribution
strategies available:
1. Intensive distribution: Used commonly to distribute low priced or impulse purchase products
example: chocolates, soft drinks, FMCG.
2. Exclusive distribution: Involves limiting distribution to a single outlet. The product is usually
highly priced, and requires the intermediary to place much detail in its sell. An example of would
be the sale of vehicles through exclusive dealers.
3. Selective Distribution: A small number of retail outlets are chosen to distribute the product.
Selective distribution is common with products such as computers, televisions household
appliances, where consumers are willing to shop around and where manufacturers want a large
geographical spread.
Another distribution channel, e-marketing will be used. Consumer can buy or order product
through our website: www.solio.com. Detailed information about the product, accessories,
locations, user manual and discussion forum will be provided in the websites.
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At the beginning, direct sales will be used to sell the product to the consumer who works outdoor
and travel lots like NGO workers, tourist and people related to tourism. During the direct selling,
various promotional items like caps, umbrella, T-shirts will be given with the product.
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PART 5:
ACTION PROGRAMS
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After all the analysis of different Marketing Tools now Solaris will be focusing on the action
programs for implementing above strategies. For example, this action programs will
develop a very detailed promotions “to do” list. It’s a task list that will describe what will
be done, when it will begin, who will accomplish the task and so on.
Three promotion mixes has been decided to be used in order to promote Solaris in
Bangladesh. The implementation of these programs are described below,
Promotional Mix
1. Advertising
2. Sales Promotion
3. Public Relation
To accomplish these promotional activities these will be break down into specific task. For
instance,
Executive of Solaris
Press Release Prior to the opening
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Task Time Person
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Controls
The final stage of any marketing planning process is to establish targets (or standards) so that
progress can be monitored. Accordingly, it is important to put both quantities and timescales into
the marketing objectives and into the corresponding strategies.
The most important elements of marketing performance, which are normally tracked, are:
x Sales analysis - investigates the individual elements (individual products, sales territories,
customers and so on) which are failing to meet targets.
x Market share analysis - organizations track market share though it is often an important
metric. Though absolute sales might grow in an expanding market, a firm's share of the
market can decrease which bodes ill for future sales when the market starts to drop.
Where such market share is tracked, there may be a number of aspects which will be
followed:
x Expense analysis - key ratio to watch in this area is usually the `marketing expense to
sales ratio'; although this may be broken down into other elements (advertising to sales,
sales administration to sales, and so on).
x Financial analysis - There are a number of separate performance figures and key ratios
which need to be tracked:
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There can be considerable benefit in comparing these figures with those achieved by other
organizations (especially those in the same industry).
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BIBILOGRAPHY
1. Solio Charger. (2007, March 17). Charger: Solio Ltd. Retrieved July 5, 2010, from
Solio Web site: http://www.solio.com/charger/
2. Solio Charger. (2008, March 10). Solio Charger Comparion Chart. Retrieved July 13,
2010, from Solio Web site: http://www.solio.com/charger/solio-charger-comparison-
chart.html
3. Kotler, P., & Armstrong, G. (2008). Principles of Marketing. Delhi: Asoke K. Ghosh,
Prentice-Hall of India Private Limited.
5. cnet. (2009, June 10). cnet reviews. Retrieved July 22, 2010, from cnet web site:
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-11288_7-6427792-3.html
6. Energy Bangla. (2009, December 17). Green Page. Retrieved July 20, 2010, from
Energy Bangla Web site:
http://www.energybangla.com/index.php?mod=article&cat=GreenPage&article=2198
7. Solar Energy Businesses in Bangladesh. (2008, December 12). Retrieved July 25,
2010, from Source Guide Web site:
http://energy.sourceguides.com/businesses/byGeo/byC/Bangladesh/byP/solar/solar.sh
tml
8. Wikipedia. (2010, January 18). Marketing Plan. Retrieved July 26, 2010, from
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketing_Plan
9. Wikipedia. (2009, January 1). Marketing Strategy. Retrieved July 15, 2010, from
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketing_Strategy
10. Wikipedia. (2008, April 1). Pricing strategies. Retrieved July 20, 2010, from
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pricing_strategies
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