Market Structure

Huges, N. (2011). Schools expect to have more iPads than computers in next 5 years. Retrieved

Imagine you are part of a strategic planning group at a large corporation that is considering developing a new proposed product. The marketing director has asked your team to do a competitive market analysis to determine the product’s potential success. The analysis will focus on your primary competitor in the product’s market.

Market structure is the physical characteristics of the market within which companies react. This means that there are different kinds of market structure based on how companies work together within a particular industry. Location and product have the most to do with determining the market structure. There are four defined market types. The first market structure is called the perfectly competitive market. The second market is called a monopoly market structure. The third market is called monopolistic competition market structure. The final market is called oligopoly market structure. Each market structure is different and both benefits and disadvantages

Draw upon market data which is available, to support your conclusions on “Market Structure” with in this industry sector.

Originating as a single Hi-Fi Stereo retail store, financed by personal saving and a second mortgage on a family home, in Midwest America, Mega Buy found early success. By 1967, only one year after opening its doors, Mega Buy began the acquisition of local competitors as it sought to increase its share of a growing industry. That year the company exceeded $1 million in total sales and over $58,000 in profits. By 1969 the operation consisted of three separate stores. That same year the company became publically held on the NASDAQ exchange. Originally named, The Music Place, the company adopted the new name, when in 1981, with a total of nine stores, a tornado ripped the roof off of the largest and most profitable store. Incredibly the vast majority

Whole Foods Market is a superstore chain in Austin Texas that deals in natural and organic food products exclusively. The organization ranks among the most socially responsible organizations in the world, and the fourth placed in the US Environmental Protection Agency list. The trading organization exists within a market crowded with competitors from its area of operations, and those who offer contrary products to what it proposes. Therefore, answer to the question of how it manages to survive within such a competitive environment is only understandable if we evaluate the different types of market structures. The markets have different characteristics, which determine the strategies applied by the various organizations in the continuum (Etro, 2009).

there are a number of different buyers and sellers in the marketplace. This means that we have competition in the market, which allows price to change in response to changes in supply and demand. Furthermore, for almost every product there are substitutes, so if one product becomes too expensive, a buyer can choose a cheaper substitute instead. In a market with many buyers and sellers, both the consumer and the supplier have equal ability to influence price.

The organization and characteristics of a specific market where a company operates is referred to as market structure. While markets can basically be classified by their degree of competitiveness and pricing, there are four types of markets i.e. perfect competition, monopolistic competition, monopoly, and oligopoly. In perfect competition markets, many firms are price takers whereas monopolistic competition markets are characterized by the ability of some firms to have market power. In contrast, oligopoly markets are those in which few firms can be price makers while monopoly market is where one firm can be a price maker.

Any company’s survivability in the market place needs to take into consideration both an effective market strategy and non-market strategy. A company’s method of strategically dealing with its suppliers, customers, and competitors is called their market strategy. Non-markets strategy is all the interactions outside of suppliers, customers, and competitors. These non-market entities include, but are not limited to, activist groups, government agencies, legislators, public opinion, and the media. Therefore, a company can have a competitive\effective marketing strategy that places their products or services in the forefront of the marketplace; however there are forces outside of their market strategy that influence their market share. Thus, a

New entrants in the industry that are battling to have a share of the market

Market structure is when an industry has a number of firms making identical products. An industry’s market structure depends on the how many firms are in that in industry and how they will compete in the market.

The industry in which the company operates can be characterized as monopolistic competition. This is because, since there are no barriers to entry in this industry, threats of entry by potential entrants has made the industry some-what competitive. But the brand loyalty gained by the firms through massive advertising has rendered the firms within

Macy's is one of the premier retailer franchises within the United States. To begin, Macy's Inc. is one of the nation's largest and well known department store chains. Started over 150 years ago, Macy's has continually generated excellent returns for its shareholders and employees. Currently, in the midst of a global recession, Macy's has generated huge profits with same store sales increasing 5.3% year to date. In 2012 same store sales increased 4.6% in the month of February alone (Macy's Inc., 2012). In fact, throughout the duration of 2012, Macy's is projecting even larger profits for its underlying business operations. Even though Macy's has experienced success with both its assortments and brand, its competitors haven't faired so well. Sears, due in part to part to a lackluster holiday season, has been forced to close nearly 120 locations to generate excess liquidity in an effort to shore up its balance sheet (Isadora, 2011).Other competitors who cater specifically to the middle class consumer have also lost significant amounts of market share as consumers trade down due to the economy. Macy's, with its ride array of assortments and products continues to grow as it attempts to capture market share from failing competitors. Macy's is also unique as it operates in a unique market demographic. It is upscale, but not to the extent of Saks Fifth Avenue or a Nordstrom. It is also not as low scale as a JC Penny

This paper will outline an executive summary of a marketing strategy of a new wine brand to a targeted audience that will incorporate the buyers motivation, psychographics, and demographics. A description of the overall marketing strategy will include advertising, customer relationship manager and a Public Relations campaign. Finally, a an overall strategy to position the brand against the competition will be outlined.

Different market structures are basically compared by the number of competing firms and the extent of entry barriers.