Chapter 5: Global Customers
Learning Objectives
•Summarize the characteristics of the world’s major regional markets
•Discuss marketing challenges and opportunities in low-income countries
•Explain the significance of customer value in global marketing
•Describe the three key concepts of diffusion theory
Chapter Overview
The entire world is growing. Every world region, including Africa, will continue to grow,
and developing countries will grow faster than the rich countries. The shortage of goods
and services is the central problem of transitioning economies and low-income countries.
While these countries may pose certain challenges for marketers, they represent
potentially attractive markets for many consumer product companies. Marketers should
apply basic marketing concepts to ensure that products are designed that fit the needs and
incomes of these markets. All buyers go through a similar process in making a purchase
decision; however, they will make different purchases since they will respond to the
unique economic, social and cultural, political and governmental, environmental,
competitive, and personal factors that influence buyer decisions. The process that buyers
go through is summarized in diffusion theory, a marketing universal.
Lecture Outline
I. The Global Marketing Plan (p. 138)
II. Regional Market Characteristics (p. 138)
a. European Union
b. Russia
c. North America
d. Asia-Pacific