Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer:
Paper Instructions:

Part 1 - Briefly described your product/service and associated business idea.

My product is beauty soap targeting young women. Beauty soaps are commonly used by women to enhance their skin texture. My product will come with variety of fragrance and sizes to be used at different times. My product choice is based on the fact that it is one of the products that are frequently used in the market that one can use simple distribution channels like home delivery, phone s and even garage for selling. Since it is a new business I will also take advantage of incubator programs as one of the strategy get expert advice and support from like minded people to enable the business to grow.

Part 2

1. Clearly describe what channels you would use for distribution and why (support your decisions with specific explanations about why you did and did not select various channels)

The most preferable channel for distribution will be online. Using online distribution is the current trends in marketing. Online provide several benefits to both consumers and the seller. Compared to retailing that requires large business with good physical location and distribution strategy. Retailing also requires physical space compared to online services. Since the business will start on a small scale having a home office will be the better option because of the advantages that one can get compared to using co working spaces.

2. If you had an unlimited budget, what specific strategies would you use for marketing and promoting your product or service and why? (again provide an explanation of why you would and would not utilize various strategies)

With unlimited budget the best strategy to use in marketing is by acquiring a good physical location in which the building is visible to make customers reach instead of advertising. Therefore a prime location is the best strategy in marketing.  Considering the fact like the target population, taxes, technology and available resources.

3. If you had a limited marketing budget of $250 dollars per week, what specific strategies would you use for marketing and promoting your product or service and why?

With a marketing budget of $ 250 per week, the best strategy for marketing would be to use the existing business networks that you have built. This includes meeting people to expand the business. Get contacts and meeting potential clients face to face to discuss. Another creative way will be to maintain good relationships with clients. This can be done through online forums, social networks and blogs. Keeping the traditional form of communication is also important as it portrays a good public relation.

I NEED YOU TO ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS FOR ME:

Thank you for addressing each of the discussion questions this week and adding an interesting idea to the forum. I think online distribution is a very reasonable strategy. However, what would be your specific online channel(s)? Your own e-commerce website? Existing web retailers (e.g. Birchbox)? Or existing online marketplaces (e.g. Amazon, Ebay)? Or a combination of these online sales channels? 

I'm not sure I quite understand your first marketing suggestion here, why would you even need a location if your product is being sold via online channels? Would you be able to stock the location with only beauty soap? Certainly a location can be part of a marketing mix but generally it is not used as the only marketing strategy because it will only impact a very limited geographic area of customers and you probably want others. Why not invest in a great e-commerce website and sophisticated online and email marketing program?