CB & STP
CB & STP
CB & STP
Module - 3
CONSUMER BEHAVIOR
Sangeeta Sahney
Assistant Professor,
Vinod Gupta School of Management
Indian Institute of Technology
Kharagpur, India
Email. sahney@vgsom.iitkgp.emit.in
MODULE 3
MARKET SEGMENTATION AND POSITIONING
Introduction:
The traditional way of doing business was Mass Marketing which meant offering a standardized
product to all the consumers or the entire market. However, it was increasingly realized that
customers are varied and unique, with different needs, wants and preferences. Marketers
understood that they cannot satisfy the entire range of customers with the same product and
service offering. This led to Target marketing or STP i.e., Segmentation, Targeting and
Positioning. STP involves dividing the potential market into distinct sets and sub-sets of
consumers and then focusing on one or more segments that can be reached with a markerting
mix. The marketer first identifies like-minded clusters of groups that are homogenous within and
heterogeneous with other groups (segmentation); then, he selects the most viable segment(s)
(targeting); finally, a distinctive image of the product/service offering is created in the mind of
the consumer that helps the latter relate to the former (positioning).
LESSON – 5
MARKET SEGMENTATION AND POSITIONING 1
Instructional Objectives
a) Aggregate Marketing: Earlier the assumption was that customers have similar needs
and wants and can be satisfied with a standardized
product/service offering. Thus, a standardized product was
produced and distributed with a single marketing program or the
same marketing mix. This led to a focus on mass production
and distribution, which resulted in lower costs; finally resulting
in lower prices and higher margins. Aggregate marketing is also
termed as mass marketing and undifferentiated marketing.
b) Market Segmentation: The assumption underlying market segmentation is that
customers are unique. They have different needs, wants and
preferences. There do exist diverse customer groups
homogenous on certain bases within, but heterogeneous among
each other. So, instead of a single standardized product offering,
the product and service offerings need to be designed according
to the needs and wants of the segment so as to satisfy them
better. The marketer’s assumption is that because of the
homogeneity that exists within the members of the group, they
would react similarly towards a product and service offering
and behave likewise to a corresponding marketing program.
The traditional way of doing business was Market Aggregation or Mass Marketing. This meant
offering a standardized product to all the consumers or the entire market. However, it was
realized that customers are unique, with different needs, wants and preferences across people as
well as across situations. Marketers understood that they cannot satisfy the customers with the
same product and service offering. Market aggregation gave way to Target marketing and finally
Target marketing is giving way to Customization. The benefits of Target Marketing were
understood by the marketers as they realized that it is not possible to cater to the needs, wants
and preferences of the entire market. So the marketer would target a segment or a few segments,
design the marketing mix accordingly and serves the segment(s) efficiently and effectively. In
this way he could meet customer needs in a better way.
Target marketing or STP i.e., Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning involves a major
exercise for a marketer to start with. Segmentation involves Identifying distinct groups of buyers
who are homogenous within but heterogeneous between each other; Targeting involves
evaluating the viability of each segment, and then selecting one or few market segment (s) to
serve better and in a superior way. Positioning involves creating an image in the minds of the
target market about the product and service offering; this image should relate to the need/want as
well as portray uniqueness and/or superiority than other competitive offerings.
Segments pre-exist a marketer; they already exist. The marketers task is to identify the most
lucrative and profitable one (s) and target them. He has to then create a unique marketing
program that would be most effective for that particular segment.
A ‘market segment’ may be defined as a group of customers who are similar to each
other on certain bases; they are expected to behave in a similar
manner towards a product and service offering and towards a
single marketing program.
OTHER DEFINITIONS:
“A market segment consists of a group of customers who share a similar set of needs and wants”.
-Kotler
“Market segmentation can be defined as the process of dividing a market into distinct subsets of
consumers with common needs or characteristics and selecting one or more segments to target
with a distinct marketing mix”.
- Schiffman and Kanuk
Segmentation could take place for both Consumer markets as well as for Business
markets.
A Consumer Markets is defined as an end user market; the product and service offering
is bought by the consumer for his personal use. This is also called Business to Consumer market,
or B2C market. Examples: i) Bread is bought for end consumption and usage. (ii) Ceiling fan.
A Business Markets is defined as a market that buys, transforms/processes and sells
further, either for further transformation/processing or, for consumer use. This is also called a
Business to Business market, or B2B market. Examples: i) Wheat is bought by a baker from the
farmer (B2B). He transforms it into bread. ii) Copper wires are bought by an electronic company
which uses these in the manufacture of ceiling fans.
Segmentation can take place at various levels; Depending upon the company policy and the
segment attractiveness in terms of growth and profitability, a marketer could choose out of a
variety of options. The various levels/types include single segmentation, differentiated segment
marketing, concentrated marketing and micro marketing. Each of this is explained as follows:
a) Single Segmentation:
This form comprises one segment only. The marketer caters to the entire market with a single
offering and the same marketing mix. This is similar to mass marketing or undifferentiated
marketing. All the consumers are treated the same. Examples: products like salt, sugar and
staples.
b) Differentiated segment marketing:
This implies selection of two or more segments. The marketer approaches these segments with
differentiated offerings and corresponding marketing mixes and programs. Examples: Shampoos
and other toiletries.
c) Concentrated marketing:
The marketer caters to just one segment although the product could appeal to others. This is
generally a sub-group within the whole segment. The process includes targeting a small segment
with a specialized mix meant only for that segment. This form of segmentation is also called
focused or niche marketing. Examples: Sports channels on TV, Religious channels on TV etc.
d) Micro-marketing:
This could assume two forms, viz., local marketing and individual marketing.
- Local marketing: The marketer caters to local customer groups. Example: movies dubbed in
vernaculars or local languages.
- Individual marketing: The marketers caters to the customer individual and personalizes the
marketing mix. So the segment comprises one individual and it is individual to individual
marketing. This is also called customization. Example: Holiday packages designed by travel
agents.
Variable Meaning
i) age -Infants, Kids 3-5, 8-12 Teenagers, Adults (Example: Clothes, Toys)
iii) income - >50000, 50000-1 lac, 1-2 lac, 2-5lac, <5 lakh
(Example: Cars)
vi) family size - Single, Couple, Couple and 2 kids, < 4, < 6
(Example: Large and small packaging: Foods)
vii) family life - Single, Married, Full Nest I, Full Nest II, Empty Nest I, Empty
cycle Nest II, Solitary
( Example: Large and small packaging: Foods; Insurance)
Bases Example
Variable Meaning
Psycho- Identifying segments on the basis of any of the following bases
graphic Bases Example
s i) Needs and Benefits sought:
motivation Basic functional, Safety/security, Affection/Social need,Esteem/Status/ Sense
of Self –worth
(Example: Flats versus Posh villas and Penthouses)
ii) Perception Low risk, Moderate risk, High risk
(Example: Innovators vs. laggards)
Aware or Unaware.
iii) Personality Innovative (High/Low);
(Example: Innovators vs late adopters vs laggards)
Ethnocentrism (High/Low);
(Example: Loyal to “Made in India” products)
Interests: Job, Home, Family, Fashion, Food and culinary, Recreation (Interests: I)
Examples: TV Channels (Star News, Star TV, Star Sports, Star Movies)
Magazines (India Today Group: India Today, Business Today, Men’s Health,
Woman, Cosmopolitan)
Variable Meaning
Beha- Identifying segments on the basis of any of the following bases:
vioral Bases Example
Occasions, Seasons
(Examples: Greeting Cards: all occasions)
Leisure, Urgency
(Example: Mail post versus Courier Service)
vii) Usage rate Heavy half; Light half OR Heavy, Medium, Light, Non-users
(Example: Joint family and nuclear family: Consumption of cooking
oil)
HYBRID SEGMENTATION:
While individual bases for segmentation exist, the market is generally segmented on a
combination of bases. Commonly used bases are combination of (i) psychographic/demographic
(ii) geodemographics and, (iii) VALS: Values and Lifestyles.
b)Segmentation of Business Markets: Business markets are large in nature, with fewer,
yet larger buyers. Purchases are bulky and often high valued. The busying process is complex
and highly professional through proposals, quotations, tenders, contracts, etc. Buying is
influenced by a committee of people referred to as a buying center, which comprises people from
various divisions and departments. The people comprising the buying center have diverse
backgrounds which result in varied perspectives and orientation towards buying. This is because
With characteristics that differentiate a business market from consumer markets, it is logical and
deductive that the bases for segmentation of business markets are different from that of consumer
markets. Business markets could be segmented on basis of demography, geography, purchase
approach and orientation, purchasing orientation, and, personal variables. These are discussed
below:
i) Demographic variables: This implies the
-type of industry;
-the size of the company;
-technology used etc.
ii) Geographic variables: Location.
iii) Purchasing approach and orientation: This basis includes
-consumption and usage rate (i.e is the order size small or bulky);
-buying situations (straight rebuy, modified rebuy, new-task);
-loyalty and partnerships;
-purchasing orientation (i.e. buying/transaction/price orientation; or consultative/solution
orientation; or, procurement/quality orientation; or, strategic value orientation);
-purchasing criteria: Price, Quality, Service
- Also called mass marketing, aggregate - It has various forms: Single Segment,
marketing and undifferentiated marketing. Differentiated segment, Concentrated
segment or Niche, Micro-marketing: local,
individual.
- The process includes targeting a small - The segment comprises one individual; So
segment with a specialized mix meant only it is individual to individual marketing.
for that segment.
Ques 3 What are the various levels at which segmentation can take place.
Ans 3 It take place at the following levels:
a) Single Segmentation:
- One segment only.
- The marketer caters to the entire market with a single offering and the same marketing mix.
-Similar to mass marketing
- Example: for products like salt, sugar and staples.
b) Differentiated segment marketing:
- Selection of two or more segments
- Approach these segments with differentiated offerings and corresponding marketing mixes and
programs.
- Example: Shampoos and toiletries.
Section A True/false:
1. Segments are created by marketers.
2. Concentrated marketing is also called Niche marketing.
KEY
Section A True/false:
1. False
2. True
2. Demographic bases: age, gender, income, education, occupation, family size, family life cycle,
generation, social class, religion, nationality, culture, sub-culture.