Brainstorming Ideas: Final Customer Purchasing from an Intermediary of the Product

A Final customer buying from an Intermediary. Each of these costs represent steps an Final or end user customer must take in connection with the product purchased from an Intermediary supplier.

2. Use Steps: Use steps include all the Final customer's activities to find the appropriate product category at the Intermediary, to choose among the alternatives to the product and to take delivery of the product.

1. Knowledge: Add knowledge

2. Resources: Reduce resources required for the use of the product

   1. Money – Reduce the money the customer uses with the product

   2. Time – Reduce the time the customer must spend with the product

      1. REDUCE STEPS THE CUSTOMER MUST USE WITH THE PRODUCT

         1. Warnings and advice Examples>>

         2. Bring products closer to the customer

            1. Place current products closer to current customer's location of purchase or use

               1. Locate closer to current customer location Examples>>

            2. Increase number of channels used to serve current customers

               1. Increase sales channels serving current customers Examples>>

               2. Increase service channels serving current customers Examples>>

            3. Offer current products to current customers in non-traditional purchase locations

               1. Allow purchase of products from home or office Examples>>

               2. Add products to locations customers visit Examples>>

               3. Add products where customers purchase other products Examples>>

            4. Arrange for customer transportation to product Examples>>

            5. Bring current products closer to new customers

               1. Cover a broader geographic market with current products Examples>>

               2. Serve new customers with a new channel of distribution Examples>>

            6. Serve current customers with new products, saving customer purchase time

               1. Help customers use suppliers of other produts used with your product Examples>>

               2. Add products customers use in similar facilities or on the same shopping trip Examples>>

               3. Add products introduced by competition Examples>>

               4. Add products that use the main product more intensively Examples>>

               5. Increase the depth and breadth of choices within existing product category Examples>>

               6. Add products not carried by local competition

                  1. Products appealing to a niche of existing customers Examples>>

                  2. Establish a service organization Examples>>

                  3. Offer additional price points Examples>>

                  4. Other Examples>>

               7. Target your products on markets with limited competition from the leading industry competitors

                  1. Target locations with low populations Examples>>

                  2. Target customers who purchase in small quantities Examples>>

         3. Reduce customer steps in the product process

            1. Complete some of the customer's steps with the product

               1. Installation steps Examples>>

               2. Preparation steps Examples>>

               3. Other Examples>>

            2. Reduce customer choices

               1. Customer decisions in purchasing Examples>>

               2. Other choices Examples>>

            3. Move information electronically

               1. Add electronic communication to ordering system Examples>>

               2. Move other process information electronically Examples>>

               3. Move information used in product electronically Examples>>

            4. Simplify installation or set up Examples>>

            5. Modify product to reduce maintenance Examples>>

<<Return to Use Steps