Describes whether the company adopts the price-flex policy discussed in the (A) case. Price increase in steel strapping raw materials is rescinded by steel industry.
Fortis Industries' packaging division manufactures steel and plastic strapping. In 2007, the company underwent a leveraged buyout. The case focuses on the packaging division's need to maintain high profitability in a declining market for steel strapping. Since 1998, Fortis has been losing 1% per year of the steel strapping market. Since then, there has also been significant erosion of prices. The division president is faced with 1) decreasing price to increase market share, or 2) maintain/increase cash flow. The specific decision revolves around the potential adoption of a price-flex system that is designed to authorize selective discounting by the division's sales personnel.
Presents an urgent order for repair service from an important customer who had purchased an item from a competitor. The item, which TiFab had bid on, went out at a price that TiFab predicted was below the amount necessary to ensure quality manufacture. Now the customer needs to have the unit, part of a much larger production system, repaired and is willing to pay a very high price. The student must choose a price for this order, and decide whether to take it. Should be handed out in class after discussion of the (A) case. A rewritten version of an earlier supplement.
Concerns the selection and scheduling of orders by a small industrial titanium fabricator that in recent months has been plagued by poor deliveries and a lack of capacity. Four orders are offered, from which the student must select one. Each order represents different order-mix/customer situation issues. The case forces the student to choose among the four orders, given conflicting estimates of capacity available, other business likely to come along, and the requirements of each order. A rewritten version of an earlier case.
Deals with the issue of niche marketing in a worldwide market. Barco Projection Systems makes video, data, and graphics projectors for the industrial market. They have traditionally been the performance leader. In August 1989, Sony Corp. introduced a higher performance graphics projector at a considerably lower price than Barco's existing projector. As a result, Barco is faced with being preempted in their fastest growing segment by a competitor with much larger resources. Deals with how a small niche player deals with considerably larger competitors in a global environment.
Companies are creating new hybrid marketing systems that promise to become the dominant marketing design. These systems offer greater coverage and reduced costs, but they are also hard to manage. Managers can make the task easier with a "hybrid grid," a map that illustrates the combination of channels and tasks that will optimize cost and coverage. Another tool, a marketing and sales productivity (MSP) system, can help managers create customized channels and service for specific customer segments.
Forward-looking companies, installing marketing and sales productivity (MSP) systems, are seeing increases of up to 30% in sales and sales force productivity. MSP systems automate routine tasks and gather and interpret data that was either scattered or uncollected before. They not only upgrade sales and marketing efficiency but also improve the timeliness and quality of executives' decision making. Viewed as a corporate strategic investment, companies can exploit the synergies possible from linkages with other parts of the organization.
Intended to demystify the notion of high-tech marketing. Its first objective is to clarify the definition of high-tech marketing. Second, it provides a new framework for evaluating the question: "How is high-tech marketing different from traditional marketing practice?" Third, it discusses the implications of these differences--where they exist--for marketers in high-tech settings. Finally, it identifies some important marketing concepts often overlooked in all the hoopla about high-tech.
Many companies have found that high sales volume does not automatically mean high profits. Among the factors that do affect customer profitability are geography, order size, and extra attention to keep the account. Some customers simply cost more to serve. Others will pay any price to get a certain product. If companies want profits and not just sales, they should start by understanding the differences among their customers. Careful analysis of customers and products will steer sellers into more profitable markets. Sellers should: know the exact amount and origin of costs; understand their profitability dispersion and set prices according to the value customers place on each product; focus strategy according to their knowledge of customers and their own strengths; install information and other systems to support a chosen strategy; and analyze profit dispersion and rethink strategy continually.
The president of Ohmeda, a wholly owned company of the BOC Group, plans to grow the company's medical equipment sales from $95 million in 1985 to $158 million in five years by focusing on the sale of "high-tech" equipment. At the same time, the president expects to sell Ohmeda's medical supplies business ($22 million in sales) and to transfer its medical gases business ($27.2 million in sales) to another business unit of the BOC Group. The changes in Ohmeda's products combined with the planned growth in medical equipment cause the president to reassess Ohmeda's marketing system. The new strategic thrust requires him to review the role of Ohmeda's direct sales and dealer sales coverage. In doing so he evaluates the economics of three options: 1) continuing with Ohmeda's present system, 2) eliminating dealer sales coverage, and 3) specializing salespeople by product group.
Describes whether the company adopts the price-flex policy discussed in the (A) case. Price increase in steel strapping raw materials is rescinded by steel industry.