Maturity Stage of PLC

Stage within the Product Life Cycle which occurs when product growth slows with total sales increasing but at decreasing rates compared to previous periods.

Order Taker

A category within personal selling that includes salespeople who primarily assist customers with a purchase in ways that are much less assertive than salespeople who serve as Order Getters and includes sub-categories Clerks (retail and industrial) and Customer Service Personnel.

Primary Research

An approach to data collection where original data is collected for the marketers own needs or for the needs of a specific client.

Reference Group

Found within the Group Membership component of the external influences on consumer buying behavior, this concept represents people and organizations which a person simultaneously associates or, in some cases, feels the need to disassociate.

Sub-Culture

Found within the Culture component of the external influences on consumer buying behavior, this concept represents smaller groups sharing similar values such as ethnicity, geographic location, and special interests.

Ethnographic Research

A form of Observational Research where researchers follow customers at work, home and when shopping in order to see how they make decisions, use products and learn other information.

Guarantee

Assurance offered by a marketer that the product will perform up to expectations or the marketer will support the customer’s decision to replace, have the product repaired or accept a return for a refund.

Loss Leaders

A form of promotional price adjustment, primarily used by retailers to increase customer traffic, that intentionally prices select products at or below the cost the retailer pays to purchase the product from suppliers.

Media Planner

Marketing service that aids clients in assessing different media options and providing other promotional assistance.

Research

The process of gathering information to learn about something that is not fully known.