Retail (Marketing) Mix

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Definition Retail Mix? Meaning.

The Retail Marketing Mix is a marketing term that refers to the variables that a retailer can combine in alternative ways to arrive at a marketing strategy for attracting its consumers. The variables usually include factors such as: merchandise variety and assortment and services offered, pricing, advertising, promotion and layout, store design, store location, and visual merchandising.

It is a specialized form of the Extended Marketing Mix for Retailers. In a typical retail business, the 7^th P (Physical Evidence) is a bit redundant, unless services are a main component of the offering (banks, online retail, mail order).

Types of Retailers

Typically retail is a quick-paced, stimulating environment. Obviously, the retail marketing mix is dependent on the type of retailer:

Department Store: very large stores offering a large variety of categories and has broad assortment at average price. They offer considerable customer service.
Discount Store: offering a wide array of products and services, but competing mainly on price.
General Merchandise Store: a hybrid between a department store and discount store.
Warehouse Store: offering low-cost, typically high-quantity goods piled on pallets or steel shelves.
Mom-And-Pop Store: family-run, small retail outlet, owned and operated by individuals.
Specialty Store: focuses on a particular category and provides high level of service.
Convenience Store: found in residential areas, providing limited merchandise at above average prices with a quick checkout.
Hypermarket: providing large variety and huge volumes of merchandise at low margins.
Supermarket: self service store selling mostly food products and limited non-food items.
Category Specialist: supplying very wide assortment in a single category at low prices.
E-Tailer: offering products through internet. The merchandise is delivered at the customer's address.
Mail Order: offering products through a catalogue. The merchandise is delivered at the customer's address.
Vending Machine

Retail marketing is all about satisfying the customers: What matters is what the customers regard as value and most importantly what they buy. It encompasses a wide range of activities.

Elements of a Retail Marketing Mix

A good retail marketing mix must:

Meet the expectations of target customers
It's elements (see below) must be consistent with each other to create some form of synergy.
Be competitive to offerings from competitors.

The following list of typical elements can be used to develop a strong retail marketing mix:

Product (Merchandise) Product development Product management Product features and benefits Branding Packaging After-sales services	Price Costs Profitability Value for money Competitiveness Incentives Quality Status	Place Target market Channel structure Channel management Retailer image Retail logistics Retail distribution
Promotion Promotional mixes Advertising management Sales promotion Sales management Public relations Direct marketing	People Staff capability Efficiency Availability Effectiveness Customer-staff interaction Internal marketing	Process Order processing Database management Service delivery Queuing system Standardization
Physical Evidence Shops layout, reception, checkout Shopping mall Customer-staff interaction Atmosphere Customer testimonials Cash receipt After sales service

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