This morning I was read the interesting article about – a sacrifice for Good positioning.
Said positioning its make choices. When we determined the position then we chose whatever that entered and whatever that went out. We made people know what was we done and for who we did it and this meant we also made the person know what we were not done and to who we did not give value for money.
The example Mount Blanc, the positioning put (in the target market ) people that regarded the pen as reflection fashion and the symbol of status more than only a stationery. This position expelled the masses, including also that was rich that did not want paid more than $ 100 only for a pen.
So Positioning in other words, sacrificed some portions of the market so as we could focus in the portion that was most valuable for us. Evidently made a sacrifice was so difficult. Financially and emotionally. Because most we wanted all of them to be taken (greedy yes).
The fact is in Indonesia like that – Many that did not want to make a sacrifice and the wish all was eaten. Moreover had the client asked who was their target market and they always answered everyone. It seems was difficult to concentrate on in the most valuable portion. Moreover if the product like peppermints, snack, and what was very light things alias very low involvement. Definitely if being asked by them every one of targets everyone.
So, basically the writer said better concentration in marketplace that could get benefit most from your product and as voluntary released (or most only did not give attention as necessary) the marketplace that will get at least the benefit from your products. That’ s what positioning is all about.
But it was certain, the quotation above must be remembered again that positioning not only the matter of fashion moreover as amazing things, it was important like the quotation above to know who that would being target and of course who will not being target.
However, we finally back again to how did the segmentation, targeting and finally positioning, like that often was taught by kotler that indeed really affected also by Michael porter. Michael Porter always said the strategy not only the matter what you should do but also what you should not do, and repeatedly Porter also spoke about positioning although he more headed in corporate (that his acknowledgment) although various articles always spoke about the consumer, consumer and consumer. so once more, marketing Is about choosing customer, choosing competitors and choosing your own destiny.
Wanted chose so rambo that his rifle the origin to shoot, did not know whichever life or died and whichever was shot. Or wanted chose the sniper, not the origin to shot, explained the target that wanted to be shot and clear to know whether his shooting exact the target and really in accordance with what wanted to be reached. So the analogy positioning that used segmentation and targeting, so, wanted rambo or sniper? Or was the peppermints trade person ?
To product low involvement that highly clutter in fact the producer has realised if could not be the one for everybody… for example soap, this the slippery industry, low tech and targeting its so grey. several brand of big owner usually has realised by sorting the target market:
Unilever had 3 brands, Lifebuoy (health the Soap of family, the target market the housewife as purchase decision maker), Lux (beauty Soap with the target market female 20 – 30) above that had Dove for the brave consumer paid expensive (This market was small, only good to increased the image brand or even the corporate image).
Wings more extreme, had 5 brands, GIV (positioning was same as Lux , the segment it’s a little), Priti (Segmentnya same or a little on Lux), Fres & Natural (the Adolescent 16 – 22 years), Nuvo Family (like Lifebuoy), Nuvo Premium (health soap of the lover of sport).
So indeed to get good results, must have the focus and different treatment to every brand, and in the long run we must choose to make this product for who and their enemy whichever. But not by one positioning, it was not impossible to continue to have the strategy for appeal- the others target group ?
For example although positioning Mount Blanc and all of their communication kinds were aimed at in the class A++ above but not communication and their product had not appeal in the target class group beneath it.
Be the same as the product fashion, for them who had a young spirit (not the young man) will continue to had appeal to them actual outside positioning their product. So as sacrificing and this banishment in fact not exclusive happened.
There were 2 alternatives to the strategy that could be considered here:
- Focus with your attention (the marketing strategy and marketing communication) exclusive in marketplace that we were chosen and in no way gave attention in marketplace that we were not chosen .
- The focus of main attention in marketplace that we were chosen , other marketplace was regarded as secondary by us and was given by attention as necessary (meaning that the main weight not here). Of course although efforts exclusive was aimed in marketplace the choice, marketplace other would if wanted bought was not refused (meaning that is spill over – our attitude: bought thank heavens, did not buy it’s alright).
the illustration I tried to be depicted as follow. Pareto 20% vs 80% were important. Wanted could all important but if could be able to 80% result from the activity 20%, so why must seek in another place. People say clever, there was the theory of constraint, when we tried to reach 90% or 100% effort him could increase drastic became 50% or 60% instead 30% or 40%. Anyway 100% result so also OK, during cost from 50% – also acceptable. Let us hope not time result 100% evidently the profit dropped.
The conclusion: good positioning Is a sacrifice to get better result.
So, basically for me was personal better the concentration in marketplace that could get benefit most from your product and willingly released (or most only did not give attention as necessary) marketplace that will get at least the benefit from your product. That’ s what positioning is all about.
That’s name the peppermints were consumed by all the circles, indeed had the trend more often was consumed by that was young (children), but if all of them focus in the segment of children, definitely all will be allotted the very small cake, as then this market size. The answer possibly, very clever us in order to place A peppermints to the X segment, B peppermints to the Y segment, etc….
If about attention to market place, definitely had the scale priority. Its better wholesaler + fast their sale + the people its OK must be we support more than the quiet wholesaler + person not OK… equally also for places of the sale… certain places we were given the focus more… said like peppermints, we more often played in the wet market, because indeed most of our businesses their source from there.
To positioning, we seen the gap:
- functional benefit: the specification of our product (said peppermints mint more to the adult, meanwhile that fruity flavour for children) –> peppermints with the taste of liquorice for the smoker.
- emotional benefit: where we will play on the consumer’s marrow: mentos freshmaker; relaxa fragrant peppermints; hexos the comfort throat… the real example lotte black that positioned themself as peppermints although not sleeping.
If having the gap that still was empty, there we entered (definitely must be seen first whether market was arousing or not). like previously kopiko could enter the first time peppermints anti drowsiness…
The example Lotte black that I was thought unsuccessful because not in line between positioning and delivery, not to mention on the consumer’s marrow has been that his name kopiko as peppermints anti drowsiness…
How many peppermints that if being seen by the foundation of his advertisement of only merchandise: the small child, in a crowd, singing and so on… for merchandise the advertisement like this its so enough, but to building brand, needs further effort…
Possibly the mass market was in children, but its not necessarily if your advertised for the adolescent, that children will not consume also if these peppermints were available in front of them.
And for this case Mount blanc, I seen they were cleverer, they made showroom in the place that in accordance with postioning him (PS, MTA, PI etc… ) but had also the person had money many but rarely there (the city community), they in served by the shop in the area hayam wuruk plaza with smuggling Mount blanc.. I did not know whether this happen or not but this is the good step, could positioning, still could merchandise in another place.
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