The Product Life Cycle

A new product progresses through a sequence of stages from introduction to growth, maturity, and decline. This sequence is known as the product life cycle and is associated with changes in the marketing situation, thus impacting the marketing strategy and the marketing mix. The product revenue and profits can be plotted as a function of the life-cycle stages as shown in the graph below:

Product Life Cycle Diagram

Introduction Stage In the introduction stage, the firm seeks to build product awareness and develop a market for the product. The impact on the marketing mix is as follows:

Product branding and quality level is established, and intellectual property protection such as patents and trademarks are obtained.

Pricing may be low penetration pricing to build market share rapidly, or high skim pricing to recover development costs. Distribution is selective until consumers show acceptance of the product. Promotion is aimed at innovators and early adopters. Marketing communications seeks to build product awareness and to educate potential consumers about the product.

Growth Stage In the growth stage, the firm seeks to build brand preference and increase market share.

Product quality is maintained and additional features and support services may be added. Pricing is maintained as the firm enjoys increasing demand with little competition. Distribution channels are added as demand increases and customers accept the product. Promotion is aimed at a broader audience.

Maturity Stage At maturity, the strong growth in sales diminishes. Competition may appear with similar products. The primary objective at this point is to defend market share while maximizing profit.

Product features may be enhanced to differentiate the product from that of competitors. Pricing may be lower because of the new competition. Distribution becomes more intensive and incentives may be offered to encourage preference over competing products. Promotion emphasizes product differentiation.

Decline Stage As sales decline, the firm has several options:

Maintain the product, possibly rejuvenating it by adding new features and finding new uses. Harvest the product - reduce costs and continue to offer it, possibly to a loyal niche segment. Discontinue the product, liquidating remaining inventory or selling it to another firm that is willing to continue the product.

The marketing mix decisions in the decline phase will depend on the selected strategy. For example, the product may be changed if it is being rejuvenated, or left unchanged if it is being harvested or liquidated. The price may be maintained if the product is harvested, or reduced drastically if liquidated

The Product Life Cycle A product's life cycle (PLC) can be divided into several stages characterized by the revenue generated by the product. If a curve is drawn showing product revenue over time, it may take one of many different shapes, an example of which is shown below: Product Life Cycle Curve

The life cycle concept may apply to a brand or to a category of product. Its duration may be as short as a few months for a fad item or a century or more for product categories such as the gasoline-powered automobile. Product development is the incubation stage of the product life cycle. There are no sales and the firm prepares to introduce the product. As the product progresses through its life cycle, changes in the marketing mix usually are required in order to adjust to the evolving challenges and opportunities.

Introduction Stage When the product is introduced, sales will be low until customers become aware of the product and its benefits. Some firms may announce their product before it is introduced, but such announcements also alert competitors and remove the element of surprise. Advertising costs typically are high during this stage in order to rapidly increase customer awareness of the product and to target the early adopters. During the introductory stage the firm is likely to incur additional costs associated with the initial distribution of the product. These higher costs coupled with a low sales volume usually make the introduction stage a period of negative profits. During the introduction stage, the primary goal is to establish a market and build primary demand for the product class. The following are some of the marketing mix implications of the introduction stage:

Product - one or few products, relatively undifferentiated Price - Generally high, assuming a skim pricing strategy for a high profit margin as the early adopters buy the product and the firm seeks to recoup development costs quickly. In some cases a penetration pricing strategy is used and introductory prices are set low to gain market share rapidly. Distribution - Distribution is selective and scattered as the firm commences implementation of the distribution plan. Promotion - Promotion is aimed at building brand awareness. Samples or trial incentives may be directed toward early adopters. The introductory promotion also is intended to convince potential resellers to carry the product.

Growth Stage The growth stage is a period of rapid revenue growth. Sales increase as more customers become aware of the product and its benefits and additional market segments are targeted. Once the product has been proven a success and customers begin asking for it, sales will increase further as more retailers become interested in carrying it. The marketing team may expand the distribution at this point. When competitors enter the market, often during the later part of the growth stage, there may be price competition and/or increased promotional costs in order to convince consumers that the firm's product is better than that of the competition. During the growth stage, the goal is to gain consumer preference and increase sales. The marketing mix may be modified as follows:

Product - New product features and packaging options; improvement of product quality.

Price - Maintained at a high level if demand is high, or reduced to capture additional customers. Distribution - Distribution becomes more intensive. Trade discounts are minimal if resellers show a strong interest in the product. Promotion - Increased advertising to build brand preference.

Maturity Stage The maturity stage is the most profitable. While sales continue to increase into this stage, they do so at a slower pace. Because brand awareness is strong, advertising expenditures will be reduced. Competition may result in decreased market share and/or prices. The competing products may be very similar at this point, increasing the difficulty of differentiating the product. The firm places effort into encouraging competitors' customers to switch, increasing usage per customer, and converting non-users into customers. Sales promotions may be offered to encourage retailers to give the product more shelf space over competing products. During the maturity stage, the primary goal is to maintain market share and extend the product life cycle. Marketing mix decisions may include:

Product - Modifications are made and features are added in order to differentiate the product from competing products that may have been introduced. Price - Possible price reductions in response to competition while avoiding a price war. Distribution - New distribution channels and incentives to resellers in order to avoid losing shelf space. Promotion - Emphasis on differentiation and building of brand loyalty. Incentives to get competitors' customers to switch.

Decline Stage Eventually sales begin to decline as the market becomes saturated, the product becomes technologically obsolete, or customer tastes change. If the product has developed brand loyalty, the profitability may be maintained longer. Unit costs may increase with the declining production volumes and eventually no more profit can be made. During the decline phase, the firm generally has three options:

Maintain the product in hopes that competitors will exit. Reduce costs and find new uses for the product.

Harvest it, reducing marketing support and coasting along until no more profit can be made. Discontinue the product when no more profit can be made or there is a successor product.

The marketing mix may be modified as follows:

Product - The number of products in the product line may be reduced. Rejuvenate surviving products to make them look new again. Price - Prices may be lowered to liquidate inventory of discontinued products. Prices may be maintained for continued products serving a niche market. Distribution - Distribution becomes more selective. Channels that no longer are profitable are phased out. Promotion - Expenditures are lower and aimed at reinforcing the brand image for continued products.

Limitations of the Product Life Cycle Concept The term "life cycle" implies a well-defined life cycle as observed in living organisms, but products do not have such a predictable life and the specific life cycle curves followed by different products vary substantially. Consequently, the life cycle concept is not well-suited for the forecasting of product sales. Furthermore, critics have argued that the product life cycle may become self-fulfilling. For example, if sales peak and then decline, managers may conclude that the product is in the decline phase and therefore cut the advertising budget, thus precipitating a further decline. Nonetheless, the product life cycle concept helps marketing managers to plan alternate marketing strategies to address the challenges that their products are likely to face. It also is useful for monitoring sales results over time and comparing them to those of products having a similar life cycle.

Product Life Cycle Popularized by Theodore Levitt, 1965 PLC can be applied to:

product category (Watch) product style (Digital) a product item/brand (Timex)

Four Stages to the Product Life Cycle: 1. 2. 3. 4. Introduction Growth Maturity Decline

The following material refers to the PLC as far as the product category is concerned unless otherwise stated. Introduction Failure rate for new products can range from 60%-90%, depending on the industry. A product does not have to be an entirely new product, can be a new model (car). Marketing Mix(MM) considerations Need to build channels of distribution/selective distribution Dealers offered promotional assistance to support the product...PUSH strategy. Develop primary demand/pioneering information, communications should stress the benefits of the product to the consumer, as opposed to the brand name of the particular product, since there will be little competition at this stage and you need to educate consumers of the product's benefits. Price skimming...set a high price in order to recover developmental costs as soon as possible. Price penetration...set a low price in order to avoid encouraging competitors to enter the market, also helps increase demand and therefore allows the company to take advantage of economies of scale.

Growth Need to encourage strong brand loyalty, competitors are entering the market place. Profits begin to decline late in the growth stage. May need to pursue further segmentation. MM considerations May need to perform some type of product modification to correct weak or omitted attributes in the product. Need to build brand loyalty (selective demand), communications should stress the brand of the product, since consumers are more aware of the products benefits and there is more competition, must differentiate your offering from your competitors. May begin to move toward intensive distribution-the product is more accepted, therefore intermediaries are more inclined to risk accepting the product. Price dealing/cutting or meeting competition, especially if previously adopted a price skimming strategy. Handout...Coca Cola Launches Fruit-Drink line... Category doubled in size last year to about $300m - $325m Coca Cola's entrant--Fruitopia expect sales this year to reach $400m Fruitopia is in the Introductory stage when the Alternative Beverage market is in the Growth stage. New competitors like Coca Cola will help grow the size of the market.Return to Content List Maturity Sales curve peaks-severe competition, consumers are now experienced specialists. MM Considerations A product may be rejuvenated through a change in the packaging, new models or aesthetic changes. Advertising focuses on differentiating a brand, sales promotion aimed at customer (PULL) and reseller (PUSH). Move to more intense distribution Price dealing/cutting or meeting competition

Provides company with a large, loyal group of stable customers. Generally cash cows that can support other products. Strategies during maturity include:

Modification of product...use line extensions Reposition Product Handout...New Life Savers Ads Grab Hold of Taste Reposition...Taste vs. moment Line extension, gummy savers, breath savers, holes (unsuccessful) Licensing name

Weaker competition will have left the market place. Decline Sales fall off rapidly. Can be caused by new technology or a social trend. Can justify continuing with the product as long as it contributes to profits or enhances the effectiveness of the product mix. Need to decide to eliminate or reposition to extend its life. MM Considerations Some competition drop out Need to time and execute properly the introduction, alteration and termination of a product. Handout...Cannibalism Is a Virtue in Computer Business Problems with high-tech products, relate to Product Adoption Process etc. Need to manage product mix through their respective life-cycles. When to decide to introduce new (modified) products that compete with the current product offering. With high-tech products, need to consider introducing new (and competing) products as the existing product is still in the growth stage of its life cycle.