International Marketing Channels

Chapter 14

McGraw-Hill/Irwin © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chapter Learning Objectives

1. The variety of distribution channels and how they affect cost and efficiency in marketing

1. The variety of distribution channels and how they affect cost and efficiency in marketing

2. The Japanese distribution structure and what it means to Japanese customers and to competing importers of goods

2. The Japanese distribution structure and what it means to Japanese customers and to competing importers of goods

3. How distribution patterns affect the various aspects of international marketing

3. How distribution patterns affect the various aspects of international marketing

Chapter Learning Objectives

4. The growing importance of e-commerce as a distribution alternative

4. The growing importance of e-commerce as a distribution alternative

5. The functions, advantages, and disadvantages of various kinds of middlemen

5. The functions, advantages, and disadvantages of various kinds of middlemen

6. The importance of middlemen to a product’s success and the importance of selecting and maintaining middlemen

6. The importance of middlemen to a product’s success and the importance of selecting and maintaining middlemen

Global PerspectiveGlobal Perspective: “500 Million Sticks of Doublemint Today – Billions Tomorrow”

Most challenging aspect of selling the gum for Doublemint is how to get the gum through China’s distribution channels:

• “Mastering the distribution system is the single most important challenge of China’s economic revolution”

• Finding reliable distributors is a challenge– Many are state owned and have little incentive to push

one brand over another• Doublemint gum found a way to distribute their

products effectively thru China– Note: Doublemint has a 91% market share in China

International Channels

Important Points involved in making channel decisions

I. Channel StructureII. Distribution PatternsIII. Alternative Middlemen ChoicesIV. Factors that affect Choice of ChannelV. Locating, Selecting, Motivating and

Terminating Middlemen

I. Channel Structure

Types of Channel Structures:1. Import-oriented (traditional) distribution structure•Strong dependence on imported

manufactured goods–Demand exceeds supply–Chewing gum example in China

I. Channel Structure2. Japanese distribution structure Features:• High density of middlemen • Channel control

– Everyone in channel is tied to manufacturers thru such things as: inventory financing; cumulative rebates, merchandising returns and promotional support

• Business Philosophy• “Large-scale retail store law” and the “Large-scale

Retail Store Location Acts”– Most in Japan and in the U.S. see the Japanese

distribution as a “major non-tariff barrier”Note: the Japanese distribution system is changing because of the

globalization of markets (more competition, more access, lower prices, etc)

Japanese Distribution Structure

1. a structure dominated by many small middlemen dealing with many small retailers—high density of middlemen,

2. channel control by manufacturers, 3. a business philosophy shaped by a

unique culture, and 4. laws that protect the foundation of the

system—the small retailer

• Distribution in Japan has long been considered the most effective non-tariff barrier to the Japanese market The Japanese distribution structure is different enough from its U.S. or European counterparts

• Distribution in Japan has long been considered the most effective non-tariff barrier to the Japanese market The Japanese distribution structure is different enough from its U.S. or European counterparts

It has four distinguishing features:It has four distinguishing features:

Trends: Crossing Borders 14.2 pg. 410Impact of the internet:• 7-11 Japan has a joint venture with

www.7dream.com – When order is placed on the web, customer

then uses 7-11 convenient stores for pick-up points for their orders.

• E-commerce retailers (eBay, e-Toys, Amazon.com)

• Ford, Daimler-Chrysler and GM created a website that allows purchase of automotive parts from suppliers: www.covisint.com

• Sears and Carrefour of France created a retail exchange for retailers and supplier transactions: www.gnx.com

I. Channel Structure

II. Distribution PatternsUnderstanding these general patterns is important:

• Middlemen services• Line Breadth• Costs and margins• Channel length• Non-existent channels• Blocked channels• Stocking• Power and Competition

Retail Patterns• Size patterns• Direct Marketing• Resistance to Change

II. Distribution PatternsRetail Patterns

•Size patterns–Exhibit 14.3 pg. 415

•Direct Marketing–Amway

•Resistance to Change

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Copyright © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

International Channel-of-Distribution Alternatives

Home Country

Domestic producer or marketer sells to or through

Open distribution via domestic wholesale middlemen

Export management company or company sales force

Exporter ImporterForeign agent or merchant wholesalers

Foreign retailers

Foreign consumer

The foreign marketer or producer sells to or through

Foreign Country

Irwin/McGraw-Hill

14-10

III. Alternative Middlemen ChoicesClassification of Middlemen

Agent Middlemen• Do not take title to the goods distributed• Less risk (manufacturer assumes risk)

Merchant Middlemen• Take title of goods being distributed (manufactures have less

control)• Motivated by profit, tend to be less loyal to one brand

3 Alternative Types of Middlemen:1. Home-Country Middlemen

• Types & characteristics – see exhibit 14.6

2. Foreign-Country Middlemen• Types & characteristics

– See exhibit 14.7

3. Government Affiliated Middlemen

IV. Factors that affect choice of Channels

The “6 C’s” need to be considered:1. Cost • Investment cost of developing channel; and

cost of maintaining channel

2. Capital requirements• How much capital is required

3. Control• How much control is desired

– Example: company’s own sales force exerts most control vs. using middlemen

IV. Factors that affect choice of Channels (Cont.)

The “6 C’s” need to be considered (cont):4. Coverage• Full market coverage, or targeted coverage to

densely populated areas…

5. Character• Channel of the distributions system must meet the

“character of the company” seeking to do business

6. Continuity• Will there be longevity issues

– How to build loyalty with middlemen is much more difficult than a company’s own sales force

V. Locating, Selecting, Motivating and Terminating Middlemen

Factors affecting locating middlemen:Things to look for:

• Financial stability, managerial stability, productivity, reputation, etc.

Sources to use:• U.S. Dept. of Commerce, foreign consulates, commercially

published directories

Selecting MiddlemenTwo steps

• 1. Screening• 2. Developing the “Agreement”

V. Locating, Selecting, Motivating and Terminating Middlemen (Cont.)

Motivating MiddlemenCommon methods used to motivate middlemen:

• Financial rewards, psychological rewards, communications, company support and corporate rapport

Terminating MiddlemenMust consider things such as:

• Legal protection• Control over middlemen

Controlling Middlemen• Control over the system (distribution network)• Control over the middlemen

– Volume of sales, market coverage, services offered, pricing, advertisement, payment of bills and profitability.

The Internet How the internet affects distribution of products and services

E-commerce, B2B (most prevalent in the U.S. oldest companies)Lowers distribution costs (middlemen often eliminated)Example:• Crossing Borders 14.4 pg. 429 “No More Roses

for my Miami Broker

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Copyright © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Cost Cutting Using B2B Internet

1. It reduces procurement costs, making it easier

to find the cheapest supplies.

2. It cuts the cost of processing the transactions.

3. It makes possible tighter inventory control.

E-Vendor’s Issues of Concern1. Culture2. Adaptation (Translation)3. Local contact (Buying server space

and create mirror sites creating virtual offices in foreign countries.)

4. Payment (Credit cards)5. Delivery6. Promotion (Promoting on the web

means creating a “retail store” on-line with the same promotional activities (press releases, search engine registration, local news groups and forums))