Marketing_Strategies

Marketing Strategies Business 620 May 02, 2010 Abstract Deciding what store or venue one should write on, one decided that having some knowledge of the Marketing strategies where one works would be the best. Meijer’s has taken control of the grocery stores here in Michigan. Kroger’s stores is the only real competition that Meijer’s competes against, there is also Wal-Mart’s but they have few and far between locations. Marketing has been around from the start, the difference now from then, is the way information is received or given. Marketing Strategies Understanding marketing strategies, one needs to understand the history behind the operation of the venue. One decided since one works there, was talked to about the marketing concept recently, knowing one was transferring to another location. So upon leaving one was talked to about the strategies, and arriving at the new location as this paper was the discussion of the week report. Mark assistant store director at the previous location, went over the company plan of action for improving sales. It was stated the concept Meijer’s has planned is to get back great customer service, say hello to everyone and ask if they found what they need. Of course, they still want to be known for “Higher Standards Lower Prices”, mentioned the store I was at is known as a looser store, and all chains have a few of them. When I arrived at the new location last week, was welcomed by Barry the grocery line manager and Tom store director. I asked them both about the marketing concept, explaining that one is taking a class. Both explained, Meijer’s policy on Marketing, at store level, display merchandise to draw attention to the customer, designing of signs that is easily readable, to do in store sampling. Corporate does the mass marketing of weekly emails, radio and television ads, designing of pharmacy bags with logos and prescription information. Other ways of marketing, Meijer’s has painted there trucks with the Meijer’s logo, when customer’s check out, may receive coupons for their next shopping trip, giving great customer service and hoping the customer will let others know this. Understanding, how Meijer’s became as big as they are and how the marketing concept has changed over the years, let’s get a brief history on how Meijer’s started. Meijer’s grocery stores have been around for over 75 years, once known as Meijer’s Thrifty Acres. Hank Meijer opened a store front store, in front of his barber shop, when he could not find any one to rent out the store front, in 1934, offering fruits and vegetables and a few other items. Competing with other grocers in the area, would try and make the best possible deal to keep pricing lower. Most stores had a stamp program at the time offering incentives to buy from that store. Fred Meijer’s cancelled the program after he could not get the venders to agree on pricing, other stores soon ended the program. Meijer also had deli and meat counters, so one did not need to go to another store. From 1960 to 1980, Meijer’s started the concept of one stop shopping, offering not only grocery items, but gardening, pharmacy, and furniture. Expanding to sell others items as well, adding gas stations where cities allowed it and selling of liquor. In 1988, they decided to be a twenty-four hour operation, by this time they had eighty-eight stores in operations, most of them in Michigan and Ohio, and expanding 1998 to Kentucky, Indiana in recently to Illinois, and owning ten distribution centers. Changing management in the early 1990’s Fred Meijer retired, new management decide it was time for marketing change and decided with a firm out of Detroit, to focus more on advertisement. Meijer’s tries to buy from local farmers and vendors, and tries and educate the consumer on environment issues. Meijer’s also has programs to help the needy, give gift certificates to local schools to purchase items of needs. Summary of this article is there are many ways to Market an item, or venue, one of the best way which is known to many is advertisement. Advertisement can be down many ways, one is sure there are others ways not included. MARKETING ADVERTISING 1) Television and Radio Ads 2) Signs on Fronts, Bill Boards, Truck Trailers, Grocery Bags 3) Mass weekly emails, Ad papers 4) Coupons given at check out 5) Sale signs, floor sale signs 6) Word of mouth This is the basic forms of what many venues use to draw customers to their place, but to keep customers coming back, one should have great customer service, clean store and barrier free. At Meijer’s their concept is to make it a one shop stop, and belief that “Higher Standards/Lower Price”. Reference: Mullins. Custom book for Ashford: Marketing Management A Strategic Decision Making Approach. McGraw-Hill Primis Custom Publishing,). Gale, Cengage Learning 2008 www.fundingunniverse.com www.meijer.com/history/timeline Meijer’s Management: Mark D. Barry and Tom " [pic] [pic]