3.1.8

Market Segmentation

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Market Segmentation

Market segmentation is the process of dividing potential customers into different groups based on characteristics like age, gender, income and much more. Businesses use market segmentation for a variety of reasons:

Illustrative background for Choosing products for a segment
Illustrative background for Choosing products for a segment
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Choosing products for a segment

  • When choosing the product, geographic, promotional, and price segmentation can help a business understand its customers’ needs and wants.
  • Segmentation can also be based on lifestyle, for example, targeting people who are active and health-conscious with sportswear.
    • Example: Next provides clothing aimed at infants and toddlers using its Next Kids range.
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Choosing promotion

  • Advertising in a newspaper probably is not the best way to target teenage girls, but a teenage magazine like Bliss might be.
  • Segmenting a market can give businesses ideas about how best to promote their products.
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Market mapping

  • Market mapping is a process to identify a gap in the market by looking at what competitors offer.
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Disadvantages of market segmentation

  • Segmentation can be costly because it requires research and tailored marketing.
  • Segments may change over time, so businesses need to continually adapt.
  • Targeting a small segment may limit potential sales if the group is too narrow.

Jump to other topics

1Understanding Business Activity

1.1Business Activity

1.2Classification of Businesses

1.3Enterprise, Business Growth & Size

1.4Types of Business Organisation

1.5Business Objectives & Stakeholder Objectives

2People in Business

3Marketing

3.1Marketing & the Market

3.2Market Research

3.3Marketing Mix

3.4Legal Controls

4Operations Management

5Financial Information & Decisions

6External Influences on Business Activity

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