Case study on
Consumer Markets and Consumer Buyer Behavior of
Harley-Davidson Motorcycles [pic] Prepared for
Course No: ETHM-4007
Course Title: Marketing Fundamentals.
Course Teacher: Kamrul Hassan
Prepared by
• MD. SHAHADAT HOSSAIN MOJUMDER o ID- 71209001 EMBA
Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management
Faculty of Business Studies
University of Dhaka
Objective.1. DEFINE THE CONSUMER MARKET AND CONSTRUCT A SIMPLE MODEL OF CONSUMER BUYER BEHAVIOR.
By the term Consumer Market it means all the individuals and households that buy goods and services for personal consumption. This means the total sum of the
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Brand and company Relationship: Harley-Davidson can be awarded as the most consumer oriented Brand. They created lifestyle, dress codes, trends and many more with dynamic attitude for its customers. Though the company is based in USA it has fan all over the Globe and also a community backed by the company itself. Harley-Davidson is in the midst of transforming its business to be customer-led throughout the company, which includes marketing approaches such as the pioneering use of crowdsourcing.
Objective.2. NAME THE MAJOR FACTORS THAT INFLUENCES CONSUMER BEHAVIOR.
The Major factors that influence consumer behavior are:
SOCIAL: Harley-Davidson is the social image of American Society. Today, just as in the late 1920s, more than 3,400 police departments ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles in the U.S. alone. Harley-Davidson Police motorcycles are also used in 45 countries.
CULTURAL: Harley-Davidson owners are not only buying a motorcycle but earning a lifestyle. As the company says Cage free Men. They have events all over the year and even 350000 rides in a single campaign is the sign of the community it posses. In 2013, Celebrating the 110 years for the company, from Rome to Milwaukee, there will be events such as Royal Rumble.
PERSONAL: Harley-Davidson resembles Uniqueness and self exposed free Americans.
PSYCHOLOGICAL: Harley-Davidson owners are brand loyal and highly attached with
Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE:HOG) was founded in 1903. The home base was originally founded in and even today remains in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Harley-Davidson’s popularity grew significantly during World War I, when the U.S. infantry used 20,000 of the company’s motorcycles in its war effort (Taylor, 2010). Best recognized for its manufacturing of heavyweight motorcycles, Harley-Davidson has captured half the U.S. market and a third of the global market (Wikinvest, 2010). Harley-Davidson motorcycles are noted for their classic lines, custom paint jobs, dependability, fine craftsmanship and the Harley-Davidson signature choppy sounding engine. Most importantly, it has been
Harley-Davidson, Inc. since its inception has specialized in selling dream motorcycles that are of high quality and distinctive in styles. The company in the past have seen turbulent business environment to the extent of leveraged buyout, infiltration of foreign made bikes as well as government regulations. Yet despite these factors, Harley-Davidson continues to reap profits, yield high growth of approximately 15% a year and retain its customer base (Official Website 2004). This position in the market is however limited to the US whereas in other countries of the world Harley-Davidson products remain luxury item requiring emotional attachment with American iconism.
The Harley Owners Group or HOG is a factory sponsored motorcycle enthusiast club established in 1983. Its main aim was to negate the influence of outlaw bike-gangs as the face of the Harley Davidson brand and enhance the lifestyle experience of a Harley Davidson owner. This was the roadmap of the firm’s broad philosophy of getting close to the customer. There was a great need to address two main issues with respect to the brand.
Harley Davidson been in business for over a hundred years. The company operates in several related markets. They sell motorcycles, motorcycle parts and operate a financial component. Additionally the company operates in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Asia. All Harley-Davidson business segments operate internationally.
1) Can you identify examples of decisions about each part of the marketing mix (product, place, promotion, and pricing) that are being made in the cookie program? The Product is Girl Scout cookies as well as the Girl Scouts themselves. Since 1912 Cookie sales have played a major role in supporting the Girl Scouts organization at the council and troop levels. Being able to target certain people can be tricky sometimes specially if you don’t know what you’re doing or what your target is. You have to be able to sell yourself as well as the product and who better to sell Girl Scout cookies then young girls. The Girl Scouts mainly target the middle and upper class
Harley-Davidson treats the dealers not only as partners, but also as customers. Harley has developed a very effective marketing strategy, but it is the responsibility of manufacturing to produce high quality and reliable motorcycles.
Harley managed to remain profitable by introducing larger, more powerful motorcycles, becoming the undisputed leader of the market with over 60% market share. It earned a commanding lead of 50% market share in the United States and 32% globally in the 1950’s. The Harley motorcycle became a part of American iconography and was associated with the U.S. flag and the bald eagle, America’s national symbol. This resulted in unprecedented brand loyalty, especially among U.S. customers, which is prevailing till today.
Harley-Davidson's mission statement is to "fulfill dreams through the experience of motorcycling, by providing to motorcyclists and to the general public an expanding line of motorcycles and branded products and services in selected market segments." (Harley Davidson, 1999). The company's main objective for the entire organization s is to have happy and satisfied stakeholder; this includes their customers, employees, suppliers, investors, and the entire society in general. Harley-Davidson makes the customer's experience with their products the core of their business and every effort is made to make this experience as enjoyable as possible. It is this strategy that has helped Harley Davidson meet its current level of success.
Celebrating their 100th anniversary next year, Harley-Davidson is a true American success story. From their modest beginnings in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to one of the most recognized company names worldwide, they have been passionate about motorcycles. Harley offers an experience like none other with the one of a kind look, feel, and sound only available on a Harley. Besides their main business of building and selling motorcycles, they have began to offer financing and insurance through Harley-Davidson Financial Services, and they also offer a full line of accessories and apparel to make the Harley experience complete.
Historically Harley-Davidson to be a Niche Marketer, which is they had focused in on one particular aspect of the market. Kotler and Keller identified the following characteristics of niche marketing; customers have a distinct set of needs, they are willing to pay more to the firm that best suits their needs, it is not likely to attract competitors, gains economies through specialized products and it has a size, profit and to grow. Almost all of these hold true for the “heavyweight” segment of motor cycles that Harley-Davidson produced.
Harley-Davidson has managed to dominate the U.S. market by investing in research and development, experimenting with its designs and
The strength of Harley Davidson can be seen in its logo and product brand. In the United States, the Harley Davidson is like a cult since it has so many followers, as depicted in the case study whereby in all the rallies, hard core fans of the company, for example the Harley Owners Group was present. This gives the company a competitive advantage since it has a market that is readily available and willing to purchase its products no matter the cost. The other strength of the company as seen in the case study was in the protection by the government since it was a United States company. This helped Harley to recover when the company placed an increase on the tariffs charged on the
Increase of sales and the growth in the industry resulted to creation to motorcycle clubs as well as rallies were established. Unfortunately, lewd behavior exhibited by many people linked to the motorcycle clubs and rallies, had an image of being messy and raucous. This gave the bikers a terrible reputation. The image of Harley-Davidson was negatively affected because of the Hells Angels. All of these factors combined resulted to a sharp decline lead in demand and purchase of the motorcycles throughout the whole industry in the 1970's.The motorcycle industry provides products, which are often viewed as luxuries or desires rather than necessities. In regard to Harley-Davidson many motorcycle owners bought their bikes as a second vehicle, to use often
The success of Harley Davidson (HD) is due to the American motorcycle icon’s effective Strategic Management. HD’s vision, mission, goals and objectives strive to exceed the requirements of its main stakeholders. Although these needs are not always met, the company has unique relationships with is stakeholders. The company stays on course with its strategic plan, despite the economy and the decline of American manufacturing and what might be considered its dwindling U.S. consumer base.
| * Outstanding core competencies in design and racing * Engagement of Yamaha’s employee’s toward the satisfaction of the end consumer