Pricing considerations
Overview
We have reached the stage in our discussion of the development of the marketing mix where we are able to consider the price we want to put on our product. We understand our product, its image, brand and complementary packaging. We know where it fits in our product mix, and where it is in its life-cycle. All these factors will influence the price we select, as will costs of actually producing the product.
Other factors involved in setting prices are the interrelatedness of price with other components of the marketing mix, impact of the external environment on pricing, choices in pricing objectives and the range of pricing policies from which we can choose. We also consider steps involved in the price setting process and different tools which can assist that process.
Topics
The following is the outline of the topics covered in this chapter.
- 7.1 What is the 'price' of a product?
- 7.2 Pricing environments
- 7.3 Pricing objectives
- 7.4 Pricing policies
- 7.5 Price setting
- 7.6 Summary
Learning outcomes
The learning objectives for this chapter have been carefully constructed to reflect the most significant concepts and ideas we are going to cover, and to provide a focus for your work during the chapter. After completing this chapter you should be able to:
- explain the relationship between pricing decisions and other decisions in the marketing mix
- discuss the influence of competitive and legal environments on pricing decisions
- explain alternative pricing objectives and policies available to an organisation
- analyse how geography influences pricing decisions.