Chapter 3

Marketing, Competition and the Customer

Why marketing matters, how businesses meet customer needs, and how they compete for market share.

The role of marketing

Marketing is the process of identifying, satisfying and keeping customers while making a profit. Its main aims are to understand customer needs, sell more products, increase market share and build customer loyalty.

Key idea

Market share is the proportion of total sales in a market held by one business, shown as a percentage. A rising market share suggests a business is competing well.

Meeting customer needs

A market-oriented business finds out what customers want before producing goods, using market research. A product-oriented business focuses first on the product itself. Meeting needs closely leads to customer satisfaction and repeat purchases.

  • A mass market is large, with products aimed at most consumers.
  • A niche market is a small, specialised segment with particular needs.

Competition and adding value

Most markets have competition, so businesses try to stand out. Adding value means making a product worth more to the customer than the cost of the inputs, for example through branding, quality or good service.

Remember

  • Markets change as tastes, incomes and technology change.
  • Loyal customers buy again and recommend the business to others.

Effective marketing helps a business survive competition and grow.

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