What
is a B2C Business?
Business to consumer, or B2C, marketing is a common term company’s use
when referring to the type of business they operate. B2C companies focus on
selling to individuals and market their products for personal use. They also
offer packaging options that are appropriate for individual consumption.
While
many companies sell to both businesses and consumers, the focus of selling to
consumers alone is drastically different than selling to other companies. Let's
look at grocery stores, for instance. You probably go to the grocery store to
stock up on food and items for your house. These stores package food in small
containers that are appropriate to take home. Promotions and sales are targeted
to you, the individual consumer.
For
example: - your local grocery store may offer a small price discount or
free product when several other similar items are purchased. They are acting
like a B2C company.
But
let's say you're not just an individual consumer looking to cook dinner for
your family. Let's say you own your own business, a restaurant, and you want to
purchase food. Going to the grocery store and purchasing four or five small
cans of corn will not go very far to feed your restaurant full of hungry
customers. It wouldn't make sense to purchase all of your food at a regular
grocery store because they don't have the bulk quantities you need to stock
your restaurant. There are stores that focus on business to business sales and
offer food in large quantities, a more appropriate option for purchasing food
for your restaurant.
How
does B2C Marketing Work?
When
a business is focused on B2C marketing, they must keep their customer in mind.
They need to know the needs, wants, problems, and challenges of their
consumers. When they understand their customer, they can create the marketing
messages that answer their customers' needs.
Returning
to the example of the grocery store, the company sends out weekly ads that
highlight the sales and discounts offered to customers. There may be rebates or
refunds available that are explained to consumers. Some grocery stores even
place ads on their receipts and shopping carts. These are all efforts to market
their business to individual consumers.
Strategies
that helpful in B2C Business
When
creating a B2C marketing plan, companies must understand the difference in
marketing to consumers rather than to businesses. Consumers usually buy in a
short period of time. While a business may take weeks or months to make a
buying decision, consumers may buy on the spot. Consumers need to weigh their
options. While price is one factor in purchasing products, consumers also rely
on emotions such as excitement, joy, fulfillment, and ego.
Future about B2C:- The
future of B2C appears to be bright. This type of commerce may still only be in
its infancy and likely to grow simply because it is a convenient form of
purchasing and also because looming storm clouds on the energy horizon may soon
cause a quick trip to the store cost consumers a tidy sum. Leaves in the wind,
suggesting the trend, are provided by the recent history of electronic
retailing, more than half of all B2C.
