Eric Mann

  • Discounts

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    Every store advertises sales and discounts in today’s market.  But how much value does a discount or clearance rack actually have? I currently work in a store that sells luxury goods.  Our clearance items are 40-60% off and, for the next few days, we give an additional 20% off.  The big numbers and “Save Now”

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  • Preview

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    A little while ago, I mentioned a new perspective I had on product categorization and marketing as it applies to retail.  This is a brief summary of the new ideas I have to build anticipation for a soon-to-come series on the same topic. Divide products into two categories: luxury goods and necessities.  I define necessities

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  • House of Brands

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    Sometimes there just isn’t anyone you can acquire to extend your coverage of the market.  Either your competition is entirely incompatible with your organization or it would just be cheaper to start from scratch than incorporate another entity.  In this case, it is easiest to establish an entirely new brand for the new segment of

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  • Acquisitions

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    Corporate acquisitions, a phenomenon that is increasingly prevelent in today’s news media.  Companies will buy up smaller competitors.  Others will buy related businesses to leverage the competitive advantages of each.  In a heavily saturated market, acquisitions are one way to get ahead, but only if pursued correctly. Buying a competitor just to reduce competition is

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  • Red Ocean Islands

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    If a move into a new blue ocean is impossible, consider setting yourself up as an island in your red ocean.  There are techniques you can use to establish yourself as the market leader and provide a level of insolation from attack. Never be satisfied with your current products – Always fight for new product

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  • Blue Ocean Strategy

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    My first article was a recycled business strategy essay on Blue Oceans.  I wanted to recap on that by explaining once again what they are and how they can be useful to businesses in existing markets. I competitive market saturated with successful companies is best compared to an ocean heavily populated with sharks.  After a

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  • Telling Your Own Story: Part II

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    On Monday, I proposed we analyze a market entry situation.  We have three market segments to consider and must determine who our perfect customer (story teller) would be: Dock Dwellers, City Slickers, or Locals. Considering that fishing is a seasonal activity, we need to focus on customers who will be around year-round: the Dock Dwellers

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  • Telling Your Own Story

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    We have discussed story tellers at length, but most of that discussion applies to established business and not to entering a new market.  The concept, however, applies to both.  To understand this, it is easiest to refer back to our tackle shop example from before. Rather than already owning the tackle shop, assume we want

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  • Comparative Advantage

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    If your market is saturated, it might be difficult to find a competitive advantage over others.  Your products are likely identical, and your prices very much the same.  Production is as optimized as it can be, and there are few to no differences between your and your competitions’ company structure. What you need is a

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  • Staggered Entry

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    Any entry into a new market needs to be taken in steps – the first of which is brand advertising.  You need to build brand awareness and demand for your products long before you make your first sale.  This can be costly, but not nearly as much as a premature product launch. Previously, I talked about

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