21st article published in HANS INDIA today (1st November 2014) It is titled " Super Markets in USA - Marketing par excellence!"
Super Markets IN USA – Marketing par excellence!
America
is the Mecca of marketing. There are so many things that one can learn from the
American way of marketing. Americans have a flair for dramatization. Donald
Trump the maverick Entrepreneur named his hotel “Taj Mahal” and boasted that it
was as good as the original Taj Mahal! Innovations that Americans have brought
to the retail industry.
1.
American trouser sizes: One thing that all people hate is the dreaded question that
the sales person asks “sir what is your waist size?” Shoppers in USA are in for
a pleasant surprise. The American size is one size less than actual. For
example Indian size 38 would be size 36 in USA. Shopping in USA is a
pleasurable experience as 2 inches are taken of your waist that too instantly!
The only other place that can make you even happier is Ethiopia where one
magically becomes 7 years younger (Ethiopia follows a calendar that is 7 years
behind the Georgian calendar. Ethiopians are right now in 2007!).
2.
Large, extra-large:
America is the country that made inches redundant by getting in a new concept
called small, medium, Large and extra-large. Many people console themselves
saying “well we are large”. But how large, no one really bothers because after
large it is all XL (extra-large and one can go on till 7 XL). Bank on Americans
on taking the guilt out of shopping!
3.
Plus sizes:
Fat is out but fat people are still good for business. In a country that
celebrates thinness paradoxically most of the customers are fat and they have
to be pampered. USA has a very polite name for fat customers. They call these
customers plus size customers and there are shops catering to plus size
customers’ fashion needs.
4.
Zero size:
USA worships thinness. USA has coined a term called zero size. Zero size does
not mean having a waist of zero. It is 22- 24 inches at waist. But the concept
of zero size becomes so popular that a winsome lass like Kareena Kapoor starved
herself to get a zero size. Sanity prevailed and she has returned to her
earlier and normal waist size.
5.
Calling clients as guests: One of the things about USA is the terminology. All other
countries call their customers as customers but USA has taught the world to
call their customers as guests. Guests in the house and they must be treated as
guests are treated at one’s home.
6.
Allowing readers to read to their hearts content: American book shops
have mastered the art of display and enticement. American book shops are so
inviting that readers can go to the book shop pick up a book and read it to
their heart’s content. There is no pressure of buying. One can sample the book
and buy it only if one wants. It works to the advantage of the book shop as the
book shop appears to be crowded. A crowded shop always triggers others to walk
in. It is a win-win for the book shop.
7. The latest in thing USA is
electronic price tags. These are price tags that display change in prices
depending on raw material availability and changes in the dollar rate against
the international currencies. So do not be surprised it some price is displayed
at the time of picking up the product and another price might be displayed at
the time of payment. One might get benefited or might lose out. But isn’t that
what is life all about!
Super Markets:
The best of the marketing in USA can be seen in the super markets. “Have time
will party, shop till you drop, shopping mania, walking in the malls, mall
bashing, window-shopping”. All these thoughts kick in as one wanders through
the super markets in the USA.
Super markets come in all shapes all
sizes and all names. Savor some of them: Target, Dollar tree, Sears, Macy,
Wal-Mart, Safeway, Big Lots, Costco and many more.
The first thing that sets apart the
US super markets is their size and the huge parking lots that come along with
them. The stores have nice displays and automatic doors. One deodorant company
had a picture of many people pasted on the automatic door. As the shopper
approaches, the doors part and the shopper feels as if other shoppers are
moving away from him/her. As the shocked shopper enters inside the shop the
first display is of the deodorant company.
The displays are huge and the aisles
are so huge that two trolleys can be fitted alongside each other. Most of the
products are within reachable height and if they are not signs are posted
asking the customers to request for help. When two shoppers at the opposite
sides of the same aisles bend down to reach merchandise, their booties (bums or
backsides) don’t touch. Why all these precautions? Americans respect their
privacy or private space and would walk way if they think that the aisles are
crowded.
The shopping experience is smooth as
silk and the super market ambience is very nice with piped in music. Dollar Tree stores (everything at a
dollar) are more down to earth. It is refreshing to see the purchasing power of
the dollar. Many budget conscious shoppers buy at Dollar Tree. It is always
worth an experience if only to find out how much the other super market chains
are padding the products.
The real eye openers are at the
checkout counters. Shoppers wait for their turn behind a yellow line. A sign at
a pharmacy counter proclaims, “Wait here to protect the privacy of the
customers before you”. At the checkout counters itself shoppers can distinguish
their products from the shopper earlier with a help of a simple check out
divider (great for product promotion).
The trolleys themselves are state of
the art. They can be motor driven, have space for a small baby, can lock
themselves once they are out of sight of the supermarket and in Dollar Tree
come with a 25 cent charge for usage. Think of innovative ideas.
The customers can opt for a
self-checkout or a clerk assisted check out. Facilities for trading/discount
stamps, cash (paper and coins) are also available. For physically challenged
shoppers counters are set at a lesser heights for easy signing of the credit
card.
One thing unique about super market pricing
in USA is that they are way ahead of anybody else in innovative pricing. Wal-Mart introduced the concept of
everyday low pricing.
Costco the king
of low prices focuses on selling
products at low prices, often at very high volume. These goods are usually
bulk-packaged and marketed primarily to large families and businesses. Costco
does not carry multiple brands or varieties where the item is essentially the
same except when it has a house brand to sell, typically under the Kirkland
Signature label.
This results in a high volume of
sales from a single vendor, allowing further reductions in price, and reducing
marketing costs. If Costco management feels the wholesale price of a product is
too high, they will refuse to stock the product. Costco also saves money by not stocking extra
bags or packing materials. To carry out their goods, customers must bring their
own bags or use the merchandise shipping boxes from the company's outside
vendors.
Lighting costs are reduced on sunny
days, as most Costco locations have several skylights. During the day,
electronic light meters measure how much light is coming in the skylights and
turn off an appropriate percentage of the interior lights. During a typical
sunny day, it is very common for the center section of the warehouse to have no
interior lights powered on.
Most products are delivered to the
warehouse on shipping pallets and these pallets are used to display products
for sale on the warehouse floor. This contrasts with retail stores that break
down pallets and stock individual products on shelves. Costco limits its price
markup on items to 15%.
Typically the decor and the fittings
are utilitarian and the stores are located in places where the real estate
prices are low.
No comments:
Post a Comment