22 August, 2011

Characteristics of Business Markets



       Fewer, larger buyers: The number of the buyers is less but the volume of individual buyer’s purchase is very high. So the ultimate sales volume of seller is very high.
Example: B2B Marketing – Dunlop Tires to Automobile manufacturers, Aircraft Engines to BOEING, or other etc.
       Close supplier-customer relationships: Because of smaller customer base, continuous communication and the importance of the customers; suppliers maintain very close relationship with them. And business buyers often select suppliers who also buy product from them.
Example: Paper manufacturer buys chemicals from a chemical company that buys a considerable amount of its paper (win win situation).
       Professional purchasing: Business goods are often purchased some trained purchasing agents and they must follow purchasing policies and procedures of their principal company.
Example: Like Buying Houses for the Garments Sector. They follow the sequence; 
                                - Request for quotation
                                - Receive proposals
                                - Evaluate offerings
                                - Issue purchase orders
                                - Receive products
       Several buying influences: Buying committees consists of different functional managers, technical experts and even senior management in purchase of major goods. So they try to influence the purchase.
Example: People from different departments try to influence the buying process to serve their interest. And some special interest groups outside the company can also interfere in business buying.
       Multiple sales calls: Several sales calls (offer, communication & influence) and time is needed to satisfy all the possible queries of the business customers from bottom to top level of buyer.
       Derived demand: The demand for business goods is ultimately resulted from the demand of consumer goods. So economic condition, consumer spending, interest rate are important.
Example: TOYOTA buys steel because consumers buy cars.
                If consumer demand for cars drops, so will the demand for steel and all other products used to make cars.
       Inelastic demand: Sometimes demand of some business goods & services are not highly affected by price changes. Consumer will show similar type of demand all most all the time.
Example: Demand for Raw materials of salt and medicine manufacturers. No matter how the final price (Increase/decrease) of products is; Consumer will use these products according to their regular need. So the manufacturers need a consistent level supply all the time.
       Fluctuating demand: Though business buyers demand products according to consumer’s need;  but sometimes the demand for business goods and services tends to become unstable than the demand of consumer goods & services.
Example: A given percentage increase in consumer demand can lead to a much larger percentage increase in the demand for plant and equipment necessary to produce the additional output.
       Geographically concentrated buyers: Sometimes business buyers are located in some selective areas. So it is effective to target those selected areas to sell business products.
Example: Motijheel is prominent for corporate offices; again Dhanmondi & Banani areas are for private universities. So it is profitable for marketers to send their sales representatives to the respective areas.
       Direct purchasing: Usually business customers purchase products directly from manufacturers without using the intermediaries.
Example: Developer Company (Asset, Domino) purchase building materials like steel, cement and others directly from the manufacturer (Basundhara, Abul Khair Co).

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