Assignment:
PART I: Groupon
As part of your lecture notes in this model, you read an article about Groupon published on www.sparksheet.com‘s website (How Groupon Changed Online Marketing). Utilizing this information, as well as other research you conduct on your own (you may use LIRN - please visit the Academic Resource Center for a guide on how to utilize LIRN), discuss in a one to two page paper that answer the following questions:
1. How does Groupon make its money?
2. Is there a specific business the Groupon model is best suited for?
3. What are the major risks of utilizing Groupon as a retailer or business?
4. What are the benefits of utilizing Groupon as a retailer or business?
5. In your opinion, is Groupon a good retail marketing strategy for businesses?
6. Why or why not?
Be sure to cite at least two additional sources or references as part of your paper.
PART II: Marketing Plan Development (Continued)
This assignment requires that you submit a Turnitin Originality Report with your assignment. Please follow the instructions listed on your homework assignment in iBoard. Your assignment may be returned without a passing grade if you do not include the Turnitin Originality Report along with your assignment submission.
For this course, you will be developing a marketing plan for a new product (or service). Each week, you will develop a different part of the marketing plan. The marketing plan will become your final project.
Continue analyzing and developing a marketing plan for the same product that you selected in Module 1. For this module's assignment, discuss the following items in a two (2) page essay. Please ensure that you have at least 2 references to the textbook. You may also use other reference materials from LIRN (visit the Academic Resource Center for instructions on how to use LIRN).
Please ensure that your paper includes the following topics.
• Discuss the marketing channel you have selected for the product. Describe the marketing intermediaries and why those are the best ones for your product distribution.
• Discuss the supply chain management for your product. How does the implementation of supply chain management result in enhanced customer value?
• Describe the retail marketing strategy for the product (or service). Explain why you chose that strategy. Ensure that you discuss new developments in retailing.
Part 2:
Directions: Please answer each of the following questions and provide examples from the text, if applicable. Each response should be written in complete sentences and be at least 1-2 paragraphs in length.
1. Describe the most likely marketing channel structure for each of these consumer products: candy bars, Tupperware products, nonfiction books, new automobiles, farmers' market produce, stereo equipment, and rolls of steel. Then construct alternative channels for these same products.
2. Discuss the impact of just-in-time production on the entire supply chain. Specifically, how does JIT affect supplies, procurement planning, inventory levels, modes of transportation selected, and warehousing? What are the benefits of JIT to the end customer?
3. Identify the type of retail operation that the following stores represent:
• JC Penneys
• Sams Club
• Petco
• Food Lion/Vons
• Seven-Eleven
• Toys-R-Us
• Wal-Mart
• Dollar General/Dollar Tree
Part 3:
Discussion questions
1. Explain what a marketing channel is and why intermediaries are needed
2. Discuss the issues that influence channel strategy
3. Describe the logistical components of the supply chain
4. Discuss the importance of retailing in the U.S. economy
5. Define franchising and describe its two basic forms