Distribution

Distribution of ideas, goods, and services—more popularly known as "Place" in the five P's of Marketing.  In putting a successful marketing strategy, you must put emphasis on how you are going to get your product or service to your customers. Some of the most direct methods are through retail outlets, by mail order, direct mail, the internet, and through face-to-face meetings between clients and sales staff. You can also sell to other retailers or sell wholesale in fairs and exhibitions. Your options will depend on the price of your product, its nature, and the profile and number of your customers.

Since profits do not have to be shared with intermediaries or agents in the distribution chain, direct methods generally yield greater profits. Products can be established with credibility more quickly by selling them at retail, through well-known outlets. It is important to strike an appropriate balance between the distribution method that is most suitable to your product or service, the available resources you have and the activities of your competitors do. This is your chance to innovate—how you plan to bring your product or service to your customers. Often times, companies that make it big introduce a new method of selling or delivering a product or service. There is no clear solution on how to address the issue of placing your products in the market, what is needed is a good mix of different distribution types to meet the needs of varying customers.