Designing International Distribution Channels
Designing International Distribution Channels
International marketers face many additional complexities in designing their channels. Each country has its own unique distribution system that has evolved over time and changes very slowly. These channel systems can vary widely from country to country. The relative significance of different members or elements of
a channel system for example, the role of wholesalers versus retailers or shop keepers can vary significantly across countries. For instance, in food and drinks retailing, contract distributors play a far more important role hi the delivery of goods from producer to retailer in the United Kingdom than in other EU countries like Germany, France, Spain and Italy. Also, multiple retailer dominance of the
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grocery market is more pervasive in the United Kingdom than in the latter coun tries. Intercountry variations are partly due to history, tradition, legal conditions find economic reasons behind effectiveness and efficiency. Thus global marketers must usually adapt their channel strategies to the existing structures within each
country.
In some markets, the distribution system is complex and hard lo penetrate, consisting of many layers and large numbers of intermediaries. Consider Japan:
The Japanese distribution system stems from the early seventeenth century when cottage industries and a [quickly growing] urban population spawned a merchant class ... Despite Japan's economic achievements, the distribution system has remained remarkably faithful to its antique pattern ... [It] encompasses a wide range of wholesalers and other agents, brokers and retailers, differing more in number than in function from their European or American counterparts. There arc myriad tiny retail shops. An even greater number of wholesalers supplies goods to them, layered tier upon tier, many more than most executives in other country markets would think necessary. For example, soap may move through three wholesalers plus a sales company after it leaves the manufacturer before it ever reaches the retail outlet. A steak goes from rancher to consumers in a process that often involves a dozen middle agents ... The distribution network ... reflects the traditionally close ties among many Japanese companies ... [and places] much greater emphasis on personal relationships with users ... Although [these channels appear] inefficient and cumbersome, they seem to serve the Japanese customer well ... Lacking much storage space in their small homes, most Japanese
homeoiakers shop several times a week and prefer convenient [and more
personal] neighbourhood shops. 13
Many western firms have had great difficulty breaking into the closely knit, traditionbound Japanese distribution network. Foreign companies have often found this a major barrier lo setting up shop in Japan, although more recently, channel changes within the Japanese market have enabled fastfooted multinationals to secure a foothold in this unwieldy market. Marketing Highlight 21.2 draws atten tion to changes in Japan's LargeScale Retail Store Law, and shows how large western retailers have sought to breaking into Japan's famously restrictive and overregulated retailing industry.
At the other extreme, distribution systems in developing countries may be scattered and inefficient, or altogether lacking. For example. China and India are huge markets, each containing hundreds of millions of people. In reality, however, these markets are much smaller than the population numbers suggest. Because of inadequate distribution systems in both countries, most companies can profitably access only the small portion of the population that is located in each country's most affluent cities.""'
Thus international marketers face a wide range of channel alternatives. Designing efficient and effective channel systems between and within various country markets poses a difficult challenge.
Channel Management Decisions
Channel management calls for selecting and motivating individual channel members and evaluating their performance over time.
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» Analysis of International Market Opportunity Deciding Whether or Not to Go Abroad
» Understanding the Global Environment
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» • Selecting the Message Source
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» Factors in Setting the Promotion Mix
» Integrated Marketing Communications
» Setting the Advertising Budget
» • Selecting Advertising Media
» Standardization or Differentiation
» Media Planning, Buying and Costs
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» 1 PANEUROPEAN CONSUMER GROUPS
» Analyzing Customer Service Needs
» Defining the Channel Objectives and Constraints
» Identifying Major Alternatives
» Designing International Distribution Channels
» Evaluating and Controlling Channel Members
» • Building Channel Partnerships
» The Growth of Direct Marketing
» Customer Databases arid Direct Marketing
» DirectResponse Television Marketing
» Online Marketing and Electronic Commerce
» Germany, the UK and other countries in Europe 1997 to SI.64 billion or 7.5 per cent of global
» • Creating an Electronic Storefront
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» • The Promise and Challenges of Online Marketing
» Roberto Alvarez del Blanco and Jeff Rapaport*
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