Assessing Market Potential
Understanding Your Market Potential
Before diving into a new market, a company needs to understand the size, growth rate, and competitiveness of the target market. They must also evaluate how aware potential customers are of their products or services and how easy it is for these customers to access them.
lets understand each concept using examples to understand the concepts in a better way.
Example: If you're launching a new fitness app, you'd want to know how many people are interested in fitness tech, how quickly this interest is growing, and how many other fitness apps are out there.
Evaluating Potential Markets for Going Global
When a company considers expanding globally, several factors come into play to assess whether a market is attractive and viable.
Market Size and Growth
This involves looking at the current size of the market and its potential to grow, indicating the possibility for scaling the business.
Example: A small fashion brand might look at the rising middle-class population in Brazil as a potential market for its products, given the increasing demand for fashion items.
Market Segmentation and Targeting
Here, the focus is on identifying subsets within the market that are most likely to be interested in the company's offerings.
Example: A gaming console company might target urban areas where there's a higher concentration of young adults and teenagers.
Competitive Landscape
Understanding who the competitors are, their market share, and their strengths and weaknesses helps in finding opportunities for differentiation.
Example: An organic skincare brand might examine how it can stand out in a crowded market by emphasizing its unique ingredients and environmental ethos.
Economic and Regulatory Factors
Economic factors such as income levels and consumer spending patterns are crucial in understanding the purchasing power of a market. Regulatory factors involve trade policies and legal requirements that could affect market entry and operations.
Example: A craft beer brewery looking to expand to Europe would need to understand the European Union's regulations on alcohol content and labeling.
Cultural Factors
These refer to the shared beliefs, customs, behaviors, and values in a market. Understanding these can determine how well a product or service will be received.
Example: A fast-food chain entering India might add more vegetarian options to its menu to cater to local dietary habits.
Infrastructure and Logistics
Assessing the infrastructure involves looking at the physical systems that support economic activity, such as transportation and distribution networks.
Example: An e-commerce company would consider the prevalence of reliable internet access and delivery systems before entering a Southeast Asian market.
Risk Assessment
Identifying potential risks, such as political instability or economic fluctuations, is critical to determine the security and predictability of the market environment.
Example: A renewable energy company might be cautious about investing in a region with a history of political unrest.
Market Research and Feasibility Studies
Conducting thorough research and studies to collect data and insights about the market's readiness and receptivity to the product or service.
Example: A toy manufacturer may conduct focus groups with parents and children in Mexico to gauge interest in its educational toys.
Partnerships and Local Support
Evaluating the availability and advantages of working with local partners, suppliers, and networks that understand the market.
Example: A mobile phone manufacturer could partner with local retailers in Indonesia to leverage their distribution networks and customer base.