Segmentation and The Global Marketplace Essay

Theodore Levitt is often considered to be the first to recognize the trend towards globalization and states that: “companies must learn to operate as if the world were one large market – ignoring superficial regional and national differences…” In addition, he argues that the companies that do not adapt to the new global realities will become the victims of those that do.

According to Horner and Swarbrooke (2005: 39), Segmentation may be defined as the process of dividing a whole market into subgroups or segments for marketing management purposes. Market segmentation is the division of the overall market for a service into various categories with common characteristics. In response to different segments, organisations facilitate the available resources to achieve greater efficiency, in order to satisfy specific needs of customers.

Organizations usually employ market segmentation in competitive markets for appropriate targeting of customers. This paper provides an analysis of how market segmentation can be utilized for competitive advantage as well as the need for ensuring diversification for sustainable growth.

They have a very clear strategy for the pursuit of their goal and vision. The market segmentation as well as the identification of target markets is the important element of each marketing strategy at which they are the basis for determining any particular of the marketing mix, which is product, pricing, place and promotion. Market segmentation reveals the company's market segment opportunities. The company has to evaluate the various segments and decide how many and which segments it can serve the best. In evaluating different market segments, a company must consider of three factors, that is, segment size and growth, segment structural attractiveness and also company’s objectives and resources. (Armstrong & Kotler, 2005)

In order to market the product into the market successfully, marketers need to have some marketing strategy to enter the desired market and make profit. Market segmentation is the process of dividing a market into subsets of consumers with common needs or characteristics (Schiffman et al., 2011). Understanding the market size and segmentation is valuable, but the keys to effective targeting is to know just how valuable specific consumer groups are, and being able to quantify the impact of consumer trends ( Berry, 1999).

Market segmentation is a marketing strategy that involves dividing a broad target market into subsets of consumers who have common needs and applications

- Marketing Segmentation: is the process that companies use to divide large heterogeneous markets into small markets that can be reached more efficiently and effectively with products and services that match

What is Market Segmentation? According to Investopedia (n.d), market segmentation is a term used in marketing that refers to the aggregating of a potential buyer into groups, or segments, that share common needs and would respond similarly to a particular action in marketing. By utilizing market segmentation it enables Victoria’s Secret to target different categories of consumers who recognize the full value of certain products and services differently from one another. Furthermore, market segmentation is an extension of market research for the purposes of identifying targeted groups of consumers in order to tailor products and branding in a way that it is attractive to that group. There are three general criteria used to identify different market segments: homogeneity, distinction and reaction (Investopedia, n.d).

The segmentation has been done on the basis of buying behavior of the customers. Knowledge of segment buying behavior can help redirect marketing resources for profit gain.

Market segmentation is a process of segregating the market into different smaller groups. A market comprises of large number of heterogeneous customer base with distinct tastes and preferences. A marketer needs to classify and segment people into smaller homogeneous groups basis similar characteristics, tastes, preferences, likes, etc. so that they will respond in a similar fashion to a particular product launched for that segment. Thus, market segmentation can be defined as, “the sub-dividing of a market into homogeneous subsets of customers from the

As every customer has unique needs and expectations towards certain products, the ultimate goal of market segmentation is to organize customers into groups which allows targeting of customers with similar needs of and response to the products. The key is to minimize differentiation within each segment

The Company has set a goal of delivering more than $1 billion in cost savings over the next five years through global supply chain initiatives designed to achieve economies of scale and reduce costs by leveraging people, process, and technology (H.J. Heinz Annual Report and 10k, 2010). Multinational Market Regions and Market Groups Throughout the varying entities of the Heinz Corporation at least one thing remains constant, high expectations pertaining to corporate and social responsibility.

Market segmentation is an approach used by a company to select their target market and provide data for a marketing plan. “Market segmentation consist of a two-step process; naming broad product markets and segmenting these broad products-markets in order to select target markets and develop suitable marketing mixes” (Perreault, Cannon, & McCarthy, 2014, p.97). There are 4 categories pertaining to market segmentation; behavioral, geographic, demographic, and behavioral.

‘Market segmentation represents an effort to identify and catergorise groups of customers and countries according to common characteristics’ (Keegan and Green 2016, p.228). For any business, it is crucial that they segment their market accordingly or they will risk forgoing sales opportunities. Fahy and Jobber (2015) identify the objective of market segmentation as distinguishing groups of customers with similar requirements so

“A task force concluded, the past segmentation did not fully address the emerging shift in customer needs” “(Xiameter Case Study). Dow Corning had to thus try different segmentation variables, alone and in combination to find the best way to view the market structure. (Kotler et al, 2008).