Fulcrum Marketing is a creative promotions marketing agency with over 10 years’ combined experience in the FMCG, Insurance, Automotive, Banking, Telecoms, White Goods and Retail sectors.
We create innovative marketing strategies using free-to-consumer rewards that engage and excite – whether that’s tactical promotional activity to boost acquisition or retention or long-term loyalty and engagement programmes.
We offer the widest range of established promotional offers, together with the skills and experience necessary to produce a bespoke solution to drive sales and offer great ROI, whilst using our own loyalty and reward platforms gives us a competitive edge in terms of both costings and response time.
MARKETING SOLUTIONS THAT LOCK BRANDS & CONSUMERS TOGETHER
Fulcrum Marketing is a creative promotions marketing agency where consumer incentive ideas fill our hearts, minds and souls.
We love thinking, learning and driving innovative campaigns for your brand.
We love a challenge.
MARKETING SOLUTIONS THAT LOCK CONSUMERS & BRANDS TOGETHER
Fulcrum Marketing was founded in 2007 to offer innovative marketing strategies that engage and excite consumers. At FulcrumMarketing we understand it is difficult for brands to get stand-out and engage with consumers on an emotional level.
Our role is to continually develop new, innovative promotional solutions that offer high value incentives at a fraction of retail cost. This is as an alternative to heavily discounting.
We offer Marketing solutions that work!
Because we have the widest range of established promotional offers, along with a skilled and experienced team, which is necessary to produce a best marketing solution to drive sales and offer unrivaled ROI.
About Us
Fulcrum is a dynamic, creative agency that partners with leading consumer brands across a spectrum of industries, supporting both their domestic marketing strategies through a wide variety of creative brand solutions and value-added services.
We specialise in developing and delivering engaging solutions for a whole host of global brands, from creative, branded merchandise with inspiring packaging and POS options to tailored print management services.
Our Values
Our growth and continued success is built on core company values such as quality, value, service, passion and innovation.
Our Ethics
Every factory we use is personally assessed by our staff for quality, working conditions and the ethical treatment of workers.
Supply Chain Management
We project manage your product from concept to completion. Relax in the knowledge that your brand is in safe hands.
Accreditations
We are a responsible organisation that implements good processes with a focus on environmental sustainability.
Our Values
Our core values are what guide us as a company and individuals. These values are at the heart of everything we do:
Quality
Deliver excellent standards consistently.
Value
Ensure exceptional value for our customers.
Service
Provide the highest standard of service to our customers.
Innovation
Remain at the forefront of innovation in both design and manufacturing.
Trust
We are the most trusted supplier. The integrity of your brand is in safe hands.
Passion
We are passionate about what we do and strive to exceed customer expectations.
Brand Marketing enterprise | Marketing activation organizations osmanabad
Marketing | Brand Activation |
The Marketing Environment
The Marketing Environment
Scanning and Analysis
Environmental scanning is one technique used by organizations to monitor the environment.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Describe how environmental scanning helps marketers understand the current state of the marketplace
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Key Points
- In a sense, such data collection scanning acts as an early warning system for the organization. It allows marketers to understand the current state of the environment, so that the organization can predict trends.
- A formal but simple strategic information scanning system can enhance the effectiveness of the organization’s environmental scanning efforts. An information system (part of marketing research) organizes the scanning effort so that information related to specific situations can be more readily used.
- The segmentation of the macro environment according to the six presented factors of the PESTEL analysis is the starting point of the global environmental analysis.
Key Terms
- trend: An inclination in a particular direction.
- PESTEL analysis: The PEST analysis is a political, economic, social, and technological analysis that describes the framework of macro-environmental factors used in the environmental scanning component of strategic management. Some analysts added legal and rearranged the mnemonic to SLEPT; inserting environmental factors expanded it to PESTEL or PESTLE, which is popular in the United Kingdom.
Introduction
Marketing managers are confronted with many environmental concerns, such as those posed by technology, customers and competitors, ethics and law, the economy, politics, demographics, and social trends. All organizations should continuously appraise their situation and adjust their strategy to adapt to the environment.
Technology: The commercialization of the Internet has rattled many industries.
One technique used by organizations to monitor the environment is known as environmental scanning. This term refers to activities directed toward obtaining information about events and trends that occur outside the organization and that can influence the organization’s decision making.
In a sense, such data collection scanning acts as an early warning system for the organization. It allows marketers to understand the current state of the environment, so that the organization can predict trends.
Issues are often forerunners of trend breaks. A trend break could be a value shift in society, a technological innovation that might be permanent, or a paradigm change. Issues are less deep-seated and can be “a temporary short-lived reaction to a social phenomenon. ” A trend can be defined as an “environmental phenomenon that has adopted a structural character. ”
A formal but simple strategic information scanning system can enhance the effectiveness of the organization’s environmental scanning efforts. An information system (part of marketing research) organizes the scanning effort so that information related to specific situations can be more readily obtained and used.
The Macro Environment
There are a number of common approaches for how the external factors, which describe the macro environment, can be identified and examined. These factors indirectly affect the organization but cannot be controlled by it. One approach is the PEST analysis.
PEST stands for political, economic, social and technological. Of the four categories explored in the PEST analysis, the company has the least control over economic factors.
Two more factors, the environmental and legal factor, are defined within the PESTEL analysis (or PESTLE analysis).
The segmentation of the macro environment according to the six presented factors of the PESTEL analysis is the starting point of the global environmental analysis.
PESTEL Analysis
The six environmental factors of the PESTEL analysis are the following:
Political factors
- Taxation policy;
- Trade regulations;
- Governmental stability;
- Unemployment policy.
Economical factors
- Inflation rate;
- Growth in spending power;
- Rate of people in a pensionable age;
- Recession or boom;
- Customer liquidations.
Socio-cultural
- Age distribution;
- Education levels;
- Income level;
- Consumerism.
- Diet and nutrition;
- Population growth;
- Life expectancies;
- Religion;
- Social class;
- Expectations of society about the business.
Technological factors
- Internet;
- E-commerce;
- Social media.
- Level of Automation
Environmental factors
- Competitive advantage;
- Waste disposal;
- Energy consumption;
- Pollution monitoring.
Legal factors
- Unemployment law;
- Health and safety;
- Product safety;
- Advertising regulations;
- Product labeling labor laws.
Ecology
- Affects customer’s buying habits;
- Affects the production process of the firm.
Potential supplies
- Labor supply;
- Quantity of labor available;
- Quality of labor available;
- Material suppliers;
- Delivery delay;
- Level of competition to suppliers;
- Service provider;
- Special requirements.
Environmental Management
Companies which have the environmental management perspective take actions to influence their marketing environment.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Give examples of common environmental management tactics
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Key Points
- Some companies treat the external marketing environment as if it were an uncontrollable force and choose to sit on the sidelines and either let it overtake them (and then wonder what happened afterwards) or adapt to the changes it leaves in its wake.
- Companies who manage their external environment may find themselves creating a competitive advantage.
- Companies which follow the environmental maketing approach may hire lobbyist, place advertorials, or file lawsuits to keep the owner on his toes.
Key Terms
- lobbyist: A person remunerated to persuade (to lobby) politicians to vote in a certain way or otherwise use their office to effect a desired result.
- distribution channels: Distribution of products takes place by means of channels. Channels are sets of interdependent organizations (intermediaries) involved in making the product available for consumption.
Environmental Management
There are three types of companies: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened.
Some companies treat the external marketing environment as if it were an uncontrollable force. As there is nothing they can do to change it, their choice is to sit on the sidelines and either let it overtake them (and then wonder what happened afterwards) or adapt to the changes it leaves in its wake. Those who try to adapt will use tools to analyze the changes and then design strategies that will help the companies take advantage of any opportunities that may arise, while avoiding the threats.
Other companies, however, take the reins. They take the environmental management view. Instead of doing nothing or reacting to change, companies with this perspective take actions to influence their marketing environment.
You find these companies:
- Hiring lobbyists to influence legislation that’s related to their industry;
- Putting on media events in an effort to get good press;
- Running advertorials in an effort to shape public opinion;
- Filing lawsuits and complaints to keep competitors in line; and
- Forming contractual agreements in an effort to have better control over their distribution channels.
Cathay Pacific Airlines is an example of a company that chose to manage their external environment even though it seemed to some people that the situation was totally out of their control. Here’s what happened.
Cathay Pacific: Cathay Pacific Airlines successfully managed changes in their external environment.
The airline realized that they were suffering because travelers where making a conscience effort to avoid flying through Hong Kong due to long delays at immigration. Instead of just throwing their hands up and living with the situation, the members of the airline senior staff worked with the Hong Kong government to figure out how to avoid the delays.
The solution? Cathay Pacific agreed to give the government an annual grant-in-aid so that more immigration inspectors could be hired. But these inspectors weren’t to be placed just anywhere. The extras primarily served Cathay Pacific gates. So not only did the airline solve the problem, it also created a competitive advantage.
Responding to the External Environment
Understanding the various external factors in a given competitive environment equips an organization with the information necessary to optimize marketing strategies and tactics.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Leverage external environmental knowledge to create informed marketing tactics and strategies
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Key Points
- Models like Porter’s Five Forces and the PESTEL framework are useful in collecting data on the external environment.
- Utilizing information about the external environment in marketing strategy allows for the development of competitive advantage within a given competitive landscape.
- The Ansoff Matrix is a useful tool in identifying broader strategy based on internal proficiency and external market development.
- Segmentation and positioning based on external information and internal strengths will allow the organization to focus on the consumers who are most likely to make a purchase from the firm.
- The 4 P’s should reflect external knowledge, segmentation, and positioning, allowing the organization to put strategy into action based on external and internal data.
Key Terms
- target segments: Strategic groupings in a market that a firm considers likely to convert to customers.
Understanding The Environment
The first step towards effectively integrating an organization with the external environment is scanning, analyzing, and incorporating external factors into strategic marketing tactics and strategies. Various frameworks such as the PESTEL model, Porter’s 5 forces, and a SWOT analysis are useful in framing the key issues an organization faces alongside the internal capabilities of addressing them. Responding to the external environment revolves largely around avoiding threats and capturing opportunities utilizing (or capturing) competitive advantages.
Marketing Strategy
Responding to the external environment is ultimately a question of strategy. Strategy requires the key input of data and understanding of external factors, which are weighed, measured, and considered by the organization. The organization seeks opportunities to leverage what the firm is good at to identify key segments, differentiate from the competition, and ultimately develop a profitable position within the industry. There are countless ways to address external factors, but the general concept can be captured well in the following models.
The Ansoff Matrix
Depending on the organization’s current capabilities, products and services, and the maturity of the market, a marketing team could derive different generalized strategies to capture value. This is best illustrated by the Ansoff matrix, where new and existing products can be considered in the context of new and existing markets.
Ansoff Matrix: The Ansoff Matrix is a useful frame of reference when considering product type and market type from a marketing strategy point of view.
What this indicates is that new products in new markets is differentiated, new products in existing markets is product development, existing products in new markets is market development, and existing products in existing markets is market penetration. This is largely intuitive, but helps frame the perspective of the senior marketing team when determining how to handle a given market.
Segmentation
The next critical consideration utilizing external environmental information about the market is how to segment the market and position the firm to capture value. This is a process where the firm identifies key target markets, and understands the needs the firm could fill when addressing these target markets. By positioning the firm to match the needs, values, and behaviors of their core target segments, the firm can gain a competitive advantage through a strong market position with key target groups.
The Four P’s
Product, place, price, and promotion. These four aspects of marketing strategy should be a direct reflection of what the external environment demands, and the core target segments require from the firm.
By building up a product that reflects the current needs in the market, distributing that product to target markets at the appropriate price point, and promoting the product for growth, an organization can capture external opportunities and avoid external threats. This is a question of focus, based upon data from the external environment.
Conclusion
When looking at external environmental data, the firm must consider their relative competitive position in the market, and how that impacts the opportunities and threats from the external competitive landscape. By utilizing the external analysis frameworks, the Ansoff Matrix, the 4 P’s, and proper segmentation and positioning, a firm can strategically and tactically utilize external data to develop core competency and competitive advantage in a given market.