Assignment: Marketing Plan

This assignment consists of two (2) sections: a marketing plan and sales strategy, and a marketing budget. Note: You must submit both sections as separate files for the completion of this assignment.

For the first six (6) months your company is in business-to give you time to perfect your product and to learn from actual customers-you will start marketing and selling in your own community, a radius of twenty-five (25) miles from where you live.

For most non-alcoholic beverages, marketing (as opposed to the actual product itself) is key to success. Cola drinks, for example, are fairly undifferentiated, as are many energy drinks, juices, bottled water, and the like. Companies producing these types of beverages differentiate themselves and attract market share through marketing and brand awareness-both of which are critical to success.

Section 1: Marketing Plan & Sales Strategy (MS Word or equivalent)

Write 5 page Marketing Plan & Sales Strategy section of your business plan, in which you:

1. Define your company's target market.

a. Analyze the types of consumers who will be drinking your beverage in demographic terms (i.e., age, education level, income, gender, ethnic group, etc.). Support your analysis with actual data on the size of the demographic groups in your local community (nearby zip codes).

b. Outline the demographic information for your company specified on the worksheet in the course text (p. 107 | Demographic Description). Click here for help accessing a specific page number in your eBook.

Hints: At American FactFinder (http://census.gov), you will find demographic information on potential consumers in your area. If you are selling through other businesses (such as grocery stores), indicate the number of those businesses in your local area. You will find information about such businesses in your local area at County Business Patterns (http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/). Check Chapter 2 of Successful Business Plan for more research sources.

2. Assess your company's market competition.

a. Use the factors listed in the course text graphic (p. 123 | Assess the Competition) to assess your company's market competition.

b. Defend your strategy to successfully compete against market leaders in your segment.

c. Defend your plan to differentiate yourself from the competition using the information detailed on the worksheet in the text (p. 131 | Market Share Distribution).

3. Clarify your company's message using the information provided on the worksheet in the text (p. 160 | The Five F's).

4. Identify the marketing vehicles you plan to use to build your company's brand. Justify the key reasons why they will be effective. Provide examples of other non-alcoholic beverage companies that use these tactics effectively.

Section 2: Marketing Budget (MS Excel worksheets template)

Section 2 uses the "Business Plan Financials" MS Excel template (see: Course Required Files in Week 1). Use the "Business Plan Financials Guide" (see: Course Required Files in Week 1) to support your development of the Marketing Budget.

5. Complete the Marketing Budget worksheet for your company.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Recommend effective business strategies based on an analysis of domestic and global operating environments, market dynamics, and internal capabilities.
• Analyze competitive positions including foreign market entry and the resulting impact on business strategy.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in strategic management.
• Write clearly and concisely about strategic management using proper writing mechanics.