A business is an
organisation whose purpose
is to produce goods and
services to meet the needs
of customers
A business might
produce its own
goods or buy them
from a supplier and
sell them to
customers
A market is where buyers
and sellers meet to exchange
goods and services
Understanding customer Needs
Most customer needs are based
on good quality, good product
range, convenient location, good
customer service and a fair price.
The problem is that customers
are all different and have
different needs and expectations
Market research can be
categorised into two sections:
Primary research (Collecting
data that did not exist
before) and Secondary
Research (Collecting data
that already exists) e.g.
Internet Research
Market Mapping
Market mapping helps
businesses to identify
market segments and
position their products
through identifying gaps in
the market
Businesses must research
potential customers' buying
preferences, i.e who the
customers are, what they
want , what they buy and
how often they buy. This
can be done through:
finding information about customers
Using their own experience
Looking at existing businesses and
trying competitors' produts
Observation and Surveys
Competition
A business might use a number
of criteria to analyse and judge
the strengths and weaknesses of
its potential competition in order
to improve its 'business offering'
and differentiate from them
Branding: A brand is a named
product that customers see as
being different from other
products, and that they can
associate or identify with. A
Company or product can develop
a unique brand image that
customers associate them with
Added Value
Added value is the increased
worth that a business
creates for a product; it is
the difference between what
a business pays its suppliers
and the price that it is able
to charge for the product
A
business
can add
value to its
products
by lowering
costs or
adding
something
that will
make
customers
willing to
pay a
higher price
The added value of a product goes
towards paying off a company's
costs. the higher the added value, the
sooner costs can be paid off and the
quicker a business will make a profit.
The more value a business can add
to its products, the more chance of
long term growth and survival
Enterprise
Enterprise is a word often used in
business, which represents the
ideas and initiatives involved in
starting a new business.
Businesses might supply a good
(Physical and tangible product such
as a car) or a service (a non
physical, intangible product
Enterprise - The initial spark
and idea for a business and
the willingness by an individual
to show initiative, take a risk
and undertake a new venture