In Response To Tammy Chou

Do you think multi-segment targeting strategy can have disadvantages? What do you think they are?

With any strategy that a company implements there is always a risk that they are taking, and this risk most definitely includes both advantages and disadvantages. I feel that the multi-segment targeting strategy is no exception to this. Tammy had mentioned that she believes cannibalization is the main disadvantage because it will create competition between the company's own products. However, I feel that when company's have competition in-house compared to with other company's it is actually an advantage. This is because when you compete against yourself it will only make the company stronger, due to the fact that the company only wants to produce the best of the best. When a company is able to stand back and see that one product may be better than the other, it gives the company a chance to improve the lesser product and make it equally as good, providing customers with the best products possible. They would have more control over what is being sold into the market, and still make a profit. The only down side I do see however, is if the company were to focus more on one product and less on the other. If the company is able to keep focus on all their products, the company should be successful.

Is there any specific company that cannibalization played a large role in producing their products?

Gender Specific Products

Gender has always played a role in how companies market or view their selling demographic. Certain products, present and in the past, have been geared towards one gender or another in order to satisfy the most customers possible. However, it most cases it really doesn't matter which gender you are when it comes to purchasing or using the product. There are products such as Dr. Pepper sodas or Keystone Beer that are not necessarily gender specific but yet are sold in such a way. Dr. Pepper had recently developed a soda that was ten calories but the slogan is "Not for women." It feels that Dr. Pepper was trying to appeal more to men and selling the "diet" type of soda, however how can women not drink it to? This is the same for Keystone Beer. The main character presented in the commercials is a around 30-year-old male named Keith Stone and he talks about how when a male drinks the beer, women will come to them. Although these commercials are ridiculous and not completely true, it still gears towards selling to men.

Do you think that it is right or even ethical for companies to sell products to just one gender, when in fact both genders could easily purchase the product as well?