Industrial Distributor
Wholesale format represented by distributors, carrying either broad or narrow product lines, that primarily distribute to business customers (i.e., businesses use the product) rather than selling to other resellers (i.e., those would resell what is purchased).
Early Majority
The third category within the Diffusion of Innovation consisting of up to one-third of the overall market who represent the beginning of the mass market and who are primarily characterized as liking new products but prefer to wait until they have received positive opinions for other (e.g., Early Adopters) before purchasing.
Contractual Wholesaler
Wholesale format represented by a distributor that brings together and manages many independent retailers within a contractual arrangement.
Backward Pricing
A market pricing method that is not only used to set a product's initial price but also determines whether production is viable since this method begins by first using research to determine what customers are willing to pay and from this working backwards (factoring out costs) to assess production viability.
Research Reliability
A concept in conducting research that is concerned with making sure the method used to gather data leads to consistent results that would be duplicated if others follow the same methods.
Potential Customers
Those who have yet to purchase but possess what the marketer believes are the requirements to eventually become a customer.
Media Planner
Marketing service that aids clients in assessing different media options and providing other promotional assistance.
Inelastic Demand
Refers to market conditions where a certain percentage change (positive or negative) in the price of a product results in a smaller and opposite percentage change in demand (i.e., purchases) of the product.
Elastic Demand
Refers to market conditions where a certain percentage change (positive or negative) in the price of a product results in a larger and opposite percentage change in demand (i.e., purchases) for the product.
Convenience Products
A category of consumer products with characteristics that include: appeals to large market segment, purchase is frequent; pricing is relatively low; and product is widely distributed.
Below Competition Pricing
A competitive pricing method in which initial price is set at levels intended to be below competitors' prices.
Research Validity
A concept related to carrying out research that is concerned with whether the research is really measuring what it claims to be measuring.
Premiums
A form of sales promotion, used in both consumer and business markets, in which free merchandise is given-away, though these products are generally not the actual product but have some connection to the actual product (e.g., free coffee cup imprinted with product logo).
Media Tour
A public relations tool where a company spokesperson travels to key cities to discuss new products through bookings on TV and radio shows and conducting interviews with print and Internet reporters or influencers (e.g., bloggers).
Inferential Data Analysis
Refers to techniques for analyzing research data where advanced statistical techniques are used to make judgments (i.e., inferences) such as comparing one customer group to another group, that are statistically supported.
Elasticity of Demand
Refers to conditions that describe the effect a change in a product's price may have on the target market's demand for a product and includes conditions that are elastic, inelastic or unitary.