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Welcome!

International Distribution

Dr. Satyendra Singh

Professor, Marketing & International Business

University of Winnipeg, CANADA

sites.google.com/view/drsatsingh

s.singh@uwinnipeg.ca

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International distribution

Distribution Structure

Traditional, Modern, Retail Giants, Concession, Informal…

Factors Affecting Choice of Channel

Character, Coverage, Continuity, Control, Cost

Locating and Managing Channel Members

Locating, Selecting, Motivating, Controlling, and Terminating

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International intermediaries

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Africa and Asia

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North American distribution structure (automobile)

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Japanese distribution structure (automobile)

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Retail penetration in selected countries

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Traditional

Import-oriented structure 🡪 prevent in emerging markets

High price, small no of affluent customers

Sellers market 🡪 demand exceed supply

Absence of cars and telephones

Local monopoly of small stores

Buy daily in developing country vs bi-weekly in Canada

Intermediaries do not perform specific activities

Import-wholesalers perform marketing function

Advertising, marketing research, warehousing, financing, storage

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Modern (and Online)

Hypermarkets, shopping malls, catalogue, Internet

Brick-mortar eg. Dell, Brick-click eg Amazon, DHL, UPS

Discount, self-service, mass merchandizing, return policy…

Higher margin in EU than US

Internet-based system for ordering and delivering (low cost, efficient)

Convenience store as a pickup points for web-orders

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Retail Giants

Carrefour (France), Praktikar (Germany), Ikea (Sweden)…

Wal-Mart, McDonald’s, Home Depot take risk in foreign markets

Europeans are quick to enter foreign market, emphasis on being first, retail strategy, local needs and taste

Americans are exploit domestic market first, emphasis on efficiency, standardization and value to customers

International retailers have advantages over local retailers

World-class business processes, Technology, Financing, Organizational capabilities, Greater buying power, Superior service…

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Factors affecting choice of channel (the 5 Cs)…

Objectives

Volume, market share, profit, control, length of channel, terms of sales

① Character of your Company and the market

Perishable items, complexity of sales requires, SAS, value of the product

Own sales force vs. distributor’s, aggressive managers (NY, fast cities)

② Coverage

Distribution intensity, 100%! Has impact on market share/penetration/$

Several channels may be needed (full service vs. no service)

2-3 cities may be enough (Paris 30% of France population vs. NY only 5%)

More distributors needed in US than France to achieve the same market share

③ Continuity

Serious issue if family-owned channel. Coca-cola lured Pepsi’s distributor in Brazil

May not carry the line with less margin

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Factors affecting choice of channel (the 5 Cs)

④ Control

Own/short channel 🡪 more control on price, volume, promotion

Enthusiastic 🡪 invest time to promote your product

⑤ Cost

Developmental and maintenance costs

Transporting and sorting, breaking bulk, provide credit, local advertising,

sales representation, negotiations

If possible, set up your own channel 🡪 own sales force

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Locating and managing channel members

Locating

Tradeshow, governments (DFAIT), third party recommendations, websites

Selecting

Trustworthy, references, finances, size of firm, experience, resources

Go to foreign market and see the channel members

Motivating

Financial, psychological rewards (trip to head office, recognition), communications (newsletter, new product info.), corporate rapport

Controlling

Measurable performance indicators🡪 sales volume, market share, inventory turnover, accounts per area…

Terminating

Easy in US, not in international markets🡪 may claim up to 10% of sales as compensation x no of years served

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Reilly’s law of retail gravitation

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If population of A = 100,000 and B = 900,000 and they are 100 km apart, Breaking point = 25 km from city A

A

B

Point of indifference

25 km

 

Breaking point distance from city A =

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Huff Gravity Model

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A = attractiveness (eg. size etc.) of store. D = distance from city Centre. a= store location. b=store location.

A=5, B=6 (7-pt scale), Da=10km, Db=6 km. Population of the city is one million.

So p(a) = .23. Pb= 1- pa. visitors (a) = .23 x population

A=5

B=6

City center

10 km

6 km

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Questions?�s.singh@uwinnipeg.ca

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