Part IV
IV–15-4 Perreault, Cannon, & McCarthy
profitability. Further, since many people are interested in the ads, subscriptions and
readership also fall when the advertisers switch.
15–17. The basic concern here is that many short–term promotions (including most trade promotions)
have an effect similar to a short-term price discount. Thus, they are thought to increase price
sensitivity and brand switching rather than contribute to increased brand loyalty and higher
brand equity. There are other negative side effects as well. For example, a buy–one, get–one–
15–18. Many firms are trying to better integrate their sales promotion activities with their advertising
and personal selling activities – to get more “bang for the buck.” One general approach is to
use a direct–response promotion to help identify specific customers who are then targeted with
other promotion. For example, an advertisement might inform customers about a sweepstakes
contest that involves a give–away of the product. People who send in their names and
addresses to enter the contest are probably interested in the product. They’d rather win it free,
but they still are likely to be interested. So, then the company might send them mail
advertisements, price–off coupons, or even have a telemarketer call them. Alternatively, the
name might be passed along to a local retailer who then follows up with more promotion effort.
15–19. (a) if the firm has developed an improved razor blade and obtained distribution, but consumers
are not motivated to buy it, the firm’s promotion objective should probably be to encourage trial.
Once consumers have tried the improved razor then they are likely to purchase it again. Thus,
one feasible approach is to use sampling. Distribution of samples of razor blades might be
expensive if it required developing a special (small quantity) package. And without special
packaging, sampling might be dangerous. Thus, another approach might be to offer
consumers price–off coupons or rebates so that the price actually paid for the new razor is
substantially less than competing brands. This approach relies on the appeal of a lower than
competitive price to encourage consumers to try the product, but then, if they like it, they will
repurchase when there is no coupon.