Marketing channels are channels used by any company to reach their end customers. These channels are generally interdependent on each other and interact with each other so as to ensure that the product reaches from the company to the end customer.
Marketing Channels
Marketing Channels can be defined as the set of people, activities, and the intermediary organizations that play a crucial role in transferring the ownership of the goods from the point of production or manufacturing to the point of consumption. Basically, they are the various channels or platforms through which the products reach to the consumers or the end-users. They are also known as the distribution channels.
Needs for Marketing Channels:
- Information Provider
The first and foremost aspect in the list of the importance of the Marketing Channels is that the middlemen such as agents provide the vital and crucial market information to the manufacturer that helps him to plan his production and other related business strategies accordingly. Developments in the market such as the change in the preferences in the taste of the consumer, entry of new manufactures in the market, shift in the government policies, and the various pricing points of the other manufacturers are given to the manufacturer without any additional cost owing to their relationship and working association with the manufacturer.
- Stability of the Price
Yet another important function that is performed by the middlemen is that they maintain the stability of price by absorbing the increment along with keeping the overheads cost low and charge the consumers with the old price of the products. Their main motive behind this strategy is to have a strong foothold in the market due to the completion from the other middlemen in the market.
- Promotion
Another aspect in the importance of Marketing Channels is that the middlemen perform the function of promoting the goods of the manufacturer by planning and designing their own sales incentive and customer loyalty programs to attain their sales targets and increased market share objectives. This ultimately works for the benefit of the manufacturer and all the parties involved in the process.
- Pricing Strategy
As the middlemen and the agents are at the sales field on a daily basis and have a thorough knowledge about the marketing dynamics and the customer preferences, many manufacturers ask for their suggestion whilst deciding on the pricing of the various products. The pricing and the features of the products are also customized for the different set of target markets and consumers along with the channel of distribution.
- Matching the Demand and Supply of the Products
The main and significant function of the middlemen and commission agents in the Marketing Channels is to match the demand and supply of the products in the target market. They should provide the manufacturers with the crucial information on how to assemble the goods to match the taste and preferences of the targeted consumers that result in the ease of sales and attainment of the sales objectives of the manufacturer.
- Financing
Middlemen finance manufacturers’ operation by providing the necessary working capital in the form of advance payments for goods and services. The payment is in advance even though the manufacturer may extend credit, because it has to be made even before the products are bought, consumed and paid for by the ultimate consumer.
- Title
Most middlemen take the title to the goods, services and trade in their own name. This helps in diffusing the risks between the manufacturer and middlemen. This also enables middlemen to be in physical possession of the goods, which in turn enables them to meet customer demand at very moment it arises.
- Help in Production Function
The producer can concentrate on the production function leaving the marketing problem to middlemen who specialize in the profession. Their services can best utilized for selling the product. The finance, required for organizing marketing can profitably be used in production where the rate of return would be greater.
- Standardizing Transactions
Standardizing transactions is another function of marketing channels. Taking the example of the milk delivery system, the distribution is standardized throughout the marketing channel so that consumers do not need to negotiate with the sellers on any aspect, whether it is price, quantity, method of payment or location of the product.
By standardizing transactions, marketing channels automate most of the stages in the flow of products from the manufacturer to the customers.
- Matching Buyers and Sellers
The most crucial activity of the marketing channel members is to match the needs of buyers and sellers. Normally, most sellers do not know where they can reach potential buyers and similarly, buyers do not know where they can reach potential sellers. From this perspective, the role of the marketing channel to match the buyers’ and sellers’ needs becomes very vital. For example, a painter of modern art may not know where he can reach his potential customers, but an art dealer would surely know.
In case of the large manufacturers of the products, the manufacturers require the well aligned and properly planned Marketing Channels so that the products reach to the end users in a convenient and effortless manner
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