Which of the following statements is true of the growth stage in the industry life cycle?

The product life cycle contains four distinct stages: introduction, growth, maturity and decline. Each stage is associated with changes in the product's marketing position. You can use various marketing strategies in each stage to try to prolong the life cycle of your products.

Product introduction strategies

Marketing strategies used in the introduction stages include:

• rapid skimming - launching the product at a high price and high promotional level
• slow skimming - launching the product at a high price and low promotional level
• rapid penetration - launching the product at a low price with significant promotion
• slow penetration - launching the product at a low price and minimal promotion

During the introduction stage, you should aim to:

• establish a clear brand identity
• connect with the right partners to promote your product
• set up consumer tests, or provide samples or trials to key target markets
• price the product or service as high as you believe you can sell it, and to reflect the quality level you are providing

You could also try to limit the product or service to a specific type of consumer - being selective can boost demand. Read more about the introduction stage of a product life cycle.

Product growth strategies

Marketing strategies used in the growth stage mainly aim to increase profits. Some of the common strategies to try are:

• improving product quality
• adding new product features or support services to grow your market share
• entering new markets segments
• keeping pricing as high as is reasonable to keep demand and profits high
• increasing distribution channels to cope with growing demand
• shifting marketing messages from product awareness to product preference
• skimming product prices if your profits are too low

The growth stage is when you should see rapidly rising sales, profits and your market share. Your strategies should seek to maximise these opportunities.

Product maturity strategies

When your sales peak, your product will enter the maturity stage. This often means that your market will be saturated and you may find that you need to change your marketing tactics to prolong the life cycle of your product. Common strategies that can help during this stage fall under one of two categories:

• market modification - this includes entering new market segments, redefining target markets, winning over competitor's customers, converting non-users
• product modification - for example, adjusting or improving your product's features, quality, pricing and differentiating it from other products in the marking

Read more about the growth and maturity stage of a product life cycle.

Product decline strategies

During the end stages of your product, you will see declining sales and profits. This can be caused by changes in consumer preferences, technological advances and alternatives on the market. At this stage, you will have to decide what strategies to take. If you want to save money, you can:

• reduce your promotional expenditure on the products
• reduce the number of distribution outlets that sell them
• implement price cuts to get the customers to buy the product
• find another use for the product
• maintain the product and wait for competitors to withdraw from the market first
• harvest the product or service before discontinuing it

Another option is for your business to discontinue the product from your offering. You may choose to:

• sell the brand to another business
• significantly reduce the price to get rid of all the inventory

Many businesses find that the best strategy is to modify their product in the maturity stage to avoid entering the decline stage. Find out more about product life cycle - decline stage.

In which of the following stages of product life cycle a company reduces sales promotion to take advantage of heavy consumer demand?

1. Introduction
2. Growth
3. Maturity
4. Decline

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 2 : Growth

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Teaching Aptitude Mock Test

10 Questions 20 Marks 12 Mins

Product Life Cycle:

1. The term product life cycle refers to the length of time a product is introduced to consumers into the market until it's removed from the shelves.
2. The life cycle of a product is broken into four stages—introduction, growth, maturity, and decline.
3. This concept is used by management and by marketing professionals as a factor in deciding when it is appropriate to increase advertising, reduce prices, expand to new markets, or redesign packaging.
4. The process of strategizing ways to continuously support and maintain a product is called product life cycle management.

1. Introduction Stage:
   • The introduction stage shows low sales numbers as the product is being introduced in the market.
   • Profit is zero or negative in this stage because of the heavy expenses of product introduction. 
   • Sales Promotion Strategy: Use heavy sales promotion to entice trial.
2. Growth Stage:
   • With proper marketing, a product can go into the growth stage.
   • During the growth stage, sales rise rapidly as consumers begin to accept the product.
   • The production runs become longer, and economies of scale are achieved, reducing per-unit cost, and also helping profits to increase rapidly. 
   • Sales Promotion Strategy: Reduce to take advantage of heavy consumer demand.
3. Maturity Stage:
   • During the maturity stage of the product life cycle, the sharp growth in sales begins to slow, and profits at the beginning of this stage decline. 
   • The most notable characteristic of this stage is the peaking of the product’s sales and profit curves.
   • At the beginning of the maturity stage, sales continue to grow but at a much slower rate.
   • Towards the end of this stage, sales and profits will start to fall fairly rapidly.
   • This stage is characterized by severe competition as many brands enter the market.
   • To combat competition, marketing costs increase substantially results in a reduction in profits. 
   • Sales Promotion Strategy: Increase to encourage brand switching.

For any product, it’s PLC will go to the decline stage, where the product’s sales and profits fall very quickly, and most competitors leave the market. Sales Promotion Strategy: Reduce to a minimal level.

Thus, option 2 is the correct answer.

Last updated on Nov 25, 2022

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