Getting Multi-Channel Distribution Right
KusumL.Ailawadi
PaulW.Farris
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LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData:
Names:Ailawadi,KusumL.,author.|Farris,PaulW.,author.
Title:Gettingmulti-channeldistributionright/KusumL.Ailawadi,Paul W.Farris.
Description:Firstedition.|Hoboken,NewJersey:JohnWiley&Sons, 2020.|Includesindex.
Identifiers:LCCN2019056782(print)|LCCN2019056783(ebook)|ISBN 9781119632887(hardback)|ISBN9781119632900(adobepdf)|ISBN 9781119632917(epub)
Subjects:LCSH:Marketingchannels.
Classification:LCCHF5415.129.A452020(print)|LCCHF5415.129(ebook) |DDC658.8/7—dc23
LCrecordavailableathttps://lccn.loc.gov/2019056782
LCebookrecordavailableathttps://lccn.loc.gov/2019056783
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CoverImages:Topviewofaninfinity©SahachaNilkumhang/GettyImages,Binary code©nadla/GettyImages
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
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Wededicatethisbooktoourparents, NirmalandRajKumarAilawadi
FrancesandPaulFarris
AbouttheAuthorsxxi
Acknowledgmentsxxiii
Prefacexxv
Chapter1DistributionChannelsToday1
1.1Introduction1
1.2WhatIsNew:RadicalChangesintheNavigationof DistributionChannels4
1.2.1ChangingBusinessModels5
1.2.2Omni-ChannelRetailing6
1.2.3Data7
1.2.4Regulation9
1.3TheRoadAhead10
PartITheBedrockofChannelFunctions,Power,and Conflict ....................................................... 13
Chapter2Push,Pull,andTotalChannelPerformance15
2.1Introduction15
2.2AnOrganizingFrameworkIllustratedwithNatura’s DistributionChannel16
2.2.1Push16
2.2.2Pull17
2.2.3SupplierInputs,DownstreamEffects,and ChannelPerformance17
2.3Push-PullInputsandDownstreamEffectsin PepsiCo’sChannel20
2.4PushandPullforServicesandDigitalChannels21
2.5BeneficialandHarmfulFeedbackLoopsinthe Push-PullSystem23
2.6Conclusion26
Chapter3RootCausesofChannelConflict29
3.1Introduction29
3.1.1ExamplesofChannelConflict31
3.1.2MyopiaandFourRootCausesofConflict thatStrainthePartnership32
3.2UncoordinatedPricingandSellingEffort33
3.2.1Double,Triple,andQuadruple Marginalization33
3.2.2LossLeadersHaveTheirOwnProblems37
3.3Over-andUnder-Distribution40
3.3.1Under-Distribution40
3.3.2Over-Distribution42
3.3.3CompetingwithYourCustomers44
3.3.4UnauthorizedDistribution45
3.4DivisionofWorkandPay:WhoSoldThat?46
3.4.1TheCaseofLeatherItalia:Functions PerformedandMarginEarned46
3.4.2FreeRidingonShowrooms,Webrooms, andBillboards49
3.5AdaptingtoChange:WhereDoestheFutureLie?51
3.6Conclusion52
Chapter4MiddlemeninToday’sChannelEcosystemand TheirFunctions57
4.1Introduction57
4.2Brick-and-MortarIntermediaries60
4.3NewDigitalIntermediaries64
4.4SupportServiceProviders67
4.5What’sDifferentaboutToday’sChannelFunctions69
4.5.1TheCriticalNatureofDeliveryandReturns69
4.5.2IncreasinglyTargetedSellingandPeer Persuasion71
4.5.3LocationMeansMore,NotLess72
4.5.4AgglomerationIsAliveandWell74
4.6Conclusion74
Chapter5TheSourcesandIndicatorsofPowerinthe Channel79
5.1Introduction79
5.2PowerintheChannelandItsSources81
5.2.1HowSocialPsychologistsandEconomists ThinkaboutPower81
5.2.2SourcesofPowerintheDistribution Channel83
5.3ConsumerSearchLoyalty:TheUltimateSourceof Power85
5.3.1LoyaltytotheBrandortotheChannel?86
5.3.2SearchLoyalty:HardtoGet,Harderto MeasureinthePhysicalWorld87
5.3.3FakeItTillYouMakeIt?89
5.3.4IsLoyaltyaDinosaurintheDigitalWorld?89
5.4EconomicIndicatorsofPower91
5.4.1MonopolyPower:TheLernerIndexand PriceElasticity91
5.4.2ManufacturerversusRetailerPrice ElasticityandHowItCanDistortPower Assessment93
5.4.3ProfitabilityasaSignofPower94
5.5Conclusion96
Chapter6UsingPowerWithoutUsingItUp99
6.1Introduction99
6.2ApplyingPowerinChannelRelationships100
6.3InvestmentsandSafeguards:EfficientPartnership orPowerStruggle?103
6.3.1MakePartner-SpecificInvestmentswith OpenEyes103
6.3.2SafeguardsProtectEachParty’sInterests104
6.3.3SafeguardsCanOutliveTheirUsefulness105
6.3.4HowAutomobileDealerSafeguardsCame toBe106
6.4TheChallengeofPreservingPower107
6.4.1UsingUpPower:The“Objectification”of LeatherItaliaUSA108
6.4.2PushingPowerTooFarorGivingItUp: RetailersandTheirPrivateLabels110
6.4.3ShouldNationalBrandManufacturers ProducePrivateLabels?111
6.5VerticalRestraints:WelfareEnhancingor Anticompetitive?112
6.6Conclusion116
PartIIMetrics,Tools,andFrameworksforGetting theRightDistribution ....................................... 121
Chapter7MetricsforIntensityandDepthofDistribution Coverage123
7.1Introduction123
7.2AFrameworkforMeasuringDistributionand MatchingIttoDemand124
7.3MeasuringStockingOutletFindability:Metricsfor IntensityofDistributionCoverage127
7.3.1ImportanceofOutletsCanBeMeasuredby TheirACV,PCV,andGMV128
7.3.2TrafficandSearchAreImportant,Perhaps EvenMoreThanSalesVolume131
7.3.3OnlineorOffline,StockingOutletsHaveto BeFindable133
7.3.4TheDouble-EdgedSwordofIncreasing ImportanceofaChannelMember136
7.3.5IntegrateMetricsAcrossOfflineandOnline Channels137
7.4MetricsforDistributionDepth138
7.4.1TotalDistributionProvidesMore InformationThanBrandDistribution139
7.4.2AggregateOtherDepthMetricsOnly AcrossStockingOutlets140
7.4.3GettingtheDatatoMonitorTheseMetrics141
7.5Conclusion142
Appendix:AnExampletoCalculateBasic DistributionMetrics143
Chapter8WhatAreYouManagingTowards?147
8.1Introduction147
8.2AHierarchyofPerformanceMetrics149
8.2.1ComplianceMetricsCanCatchProblems Early150
8.2.2Cross-andOmni-ChannelMetricsAre IncreasinginImportance152
8.2.3BothPartiesCareaboutSales,Share,and SalesVelocitybutinSlightlyDifferent Forms154
8.2.4GrossandNetMargins,Category,and CustomerProfitability156
8.3Conclusion160
Chapter9TheChallengeofOptimizingDistribution Breadth163
9.1Introduction163
9.2ClassicCategorizationsofProductsandDistribution Coverage165
9.3ConsumerSearchLoyaltyandDistributionElasticity167
9.3.1HowConsumerSearchLoyaltyReduces DistributionElasticity169
9.3.2EmpiricalEvidenceofDistribution170
9.3.3FeedbackEffectsandLonger-Term DistributionElasticity172
9.4TheDifficultiesofOptimizingDistributionCoverage172
9.4.1TheComplexityofDistributionCosts173
9.4.2DiscontinuitiesArisingfromRetail Structure175
9.4.3DistributionIsNotundertheComplete ControloftheSupplier175
9.5Conclusion176
Chapter10UsingVelocityGraphstoGuideSustainable DistributionCoverage179
10.1Introduction179
10.2TheConceptofaVelocityGraph180
10.2.1SustainablePositionsLikelyLieCloseto theVelocityGraph181
10.2.2SpecialLogisticsCanAllowaBrandto Persist“Off”theGraph182
10.2.3ThreeMainVariantsofVelocityGraphs182
10.3InsightsfromVelocityGraphs:AnIllustrationwith LaundryDetergents183
10.3.1BrandDistributionVelocityGraphs183
10.3.2TotalDistributionVelocityGraphs186
10.4VelocityGraphs,StateFranchiseLaws,and OverdistributionofU.S.AutoMakers188
Chapter11AugmentingtheDistributionMix:Digital ChannelsandOwnBricksandClicks193
11.1Introduction193
11.2AVarietyofOwn-StorestoAugmentDistribution byIndependentResellers194
11.2.1Store-Within-a-StoretoImprove DistributionDepth194
11.2.2FlagshipStoresandOutletsStoresAreat TwoExtremesoftheBrandingSpectrum196
11.2.3LookBeforeYouLeapwithRegular PhysicalandWebStores198
11.2.4ShowroomsAreaLittleLikeFlagship Stores200
11.3TheInevitabilityandChallengeofOnline Distribution201
11.3.1WhethertoBeOnlineIsNoLonger Debatable201
11.3.2CoverageVersusControlIsaSteeper Trade-offOnline202
11.3.3HowViableIstheOnlineChannel’s RevenueandProfitModel?205
11.4BeClearabout“Why”toDecide“How”to DistributeOnline205
11.4.1WhichSegmentsAreYouTryingtoReach andWhyDoTheyGoOnline?206
11.4.2OwnWebsiteIsUsuallyNotEnoughand Omni-ChannelRetailersWillExpecttoSell Online208
11.4.3ThinkHardAbouttheFunctionsThatPure PlayWebIntermediariesPerform209
11.4.4WhetherandHowtoDoBusinesswith TechBehemothsIsaStrategicQuestionAll ItsOwn209
Chapter12ThreeCasesonOnlineDistribution215
12.1Introduction215
12.2TheSagaofBrooksRunningandAmazon.com215
12.2.1WhatDoSegmentsofRunnersSearchfor OnlineandWhere?216
12.2.2CoveragewithoutSacrificingControl218
12.3Aggregation:WorkWorththePayintheOnline TravelChannel?220
12.3.1WhyOnlineTravelIntermediariesThrive221
12.3.2PowerfromConsolidationandPull Marketing223
12.3.3LimitstoPowerfromRegulationand Competition224
12.3.4WhatIsSustainable?228
12.4BuildingaViableRevenueModelOnline:News, Music,andTV229
12.4.1OnlineErosionofaTwo-SidedPlatform’s BusinessModel230
12.4.2MusicandPay-TVTreadMoreCarefully231 12.5Conclusion235
PartIIIAligningtheMarketingMixtoManage
Distribution .................................................. 239
Chapter13UsingtheProductLinetoManageMultiple Channels241
13.1Introduction241
13.2Channel-MotivatedExpansionofSKUs,Brands, andCategories243
13.3PortfoliosofSKUsforaPortfolioofChannels245
13.3.1ProductLineLengthIsTiedtoMarketing andDistributionStructure245
13.3.2ProductLineGuidancefromTotal DistributionandSKUDistributionVelocity Graphs246
13.3.3UsetheOpportunitytoBea“Category Captain”Judiciously248
13.3.4BeClearAboutWhyandHowSKUsAre AlignedwithChannels250
13.4PortfoliosofBrandstoProtectEquityandMitigate ChannelConflict252
13.4.1GetClarityonYourBrandPortfolio StrategyandBrandArchitecture252
13.4.2RealDifferentiationIsHarderthanItLooks254
13.5ExpandingtoSupportanExclusiveorDirect Channel255
13.5.1EnticingConsumerstotheDirectChannel RequiresGreaterScaleandScope255
13.5.2SometimesItMakesSensetoSacrifice ProfitstoSupporttheChannel257
13.5.3ButMakeSuretheLongTailIsNot WaggingtheStrategyDog258
13.6CautionsatAllThreeLevelsofProductLine Expansion259
13.6.1Preempt,Monitor,andControl UnauthorizedDistribution259
13.6.2CurationIsMoreImportantthanEver260 13.7Conclusion261
Chapter14HarnessingthePowerofPriceandPrice Promotions267
14.1Introduction267
14.2WhyOne“Everyday”PricetoResellersIsUsually NotaSmartIdea268
14.2.1VariableSupplierPricesCanAlleviate DoubleMarginalization268
14.2.2TradePromotionsFundRetailPromotions toConsumers271
14.3TheManyVarietiesofTradePromotions272
14.3.1TradePromotionGoalsEvolveOverthe ProductLifeCycle274
14.3.2Pay-for-PerformanceTradePromotionsTie FundingtoResellerActions275
14.4TheChallengeofAssessingtheCostsand ProfitabilityofTradePromotions276
14.4.1WhatIstheCostofaTradePromotion?277
14.4.2HowMuchoftheSales(andProfit)Bump IsIncrementalforWhom?278
14.4.3AdditionalMetricsforKeyValueItemsand Loss-Leaders281
14.4.4BaselineSalesEvolveOverTime282 Appendix:TradePromotion,RetailPrice Discrimination,andPromotion“Cost”:ANumerical Example284
Chapter15ManagingPricesandIncentivesAcross Channels287
15.1Introduction287
15.2TheGoalsandChallengesofChannelIncentives288
15.2.1SalesandChannelManagementGoals288
15.2.2ChallengesinImplementingIncentives288
15.2.3ConditioningIncentivesonResellerEfforts orPerformance291
15.3HowtoMaintainResellerPrices293
15.3.1IncentivestoKeepResellerPricesfrom BeingTooLow293
15.3.2ControlInventorytoControlPrice294
15.4DecideWhethertoDifferentiateorHarmonize AcrossMultipleChannels296
15.4.1DifferentProducts,RetailPrices,andRetail ServicesAcrossChannels296
15.4.2HarmonizedRetailPricesAcrossChannels CanReduceShowrooming297
15.4.3MinimumAdvertisedPrice(MAP)Policies CanHelp298
15.4.4DifferentialIncentivesforValuable ChannelsthatServeasShowrooms299
15.4.5UseTargetingtoReduceChannel Conflict301
15.5ChallengesEvenWhenYouControlRetailPrice Directly303
15.5.1Don’tErodeYourOwnPricetoGetthe BuyBox304
15.5.2Paywalls:WhenInformationWantstoBe FreebutTwo-SidedMarketsFallApart305
15.6Conclusion307
Appendix:ExcerptsfromMizuno’sMAPPolicy309
Chapter16Summary:DashboardsandPrinciplesfor ManagingNewDirectionsinDistribution313
16.1Pulling(andPushing)ItallTogether313
16.1.1AnExpandedViewofthePush-Pull System314
16.1.2ANoteAboutPull316
16.1.3WhatDoesItMeantoCoordinatePulland Push?318
16.1.4Measure,Match,andManagetoNurture BeneficialFeedbackLoops320
16.2DistributionDashboards321
16.2.1ASimpleIllustrationoftheInsightfrom Push-PullDashboards322
16.2.2ADistributionDashboardforPeteand Gerry’sOrganicEggs323
16.2.3AMoreComplicatedDistribution DashboardforHotelCompanies326
16.3TheMagicalNumberSevenPlusorMinusTwo NuggetsofWisdom330
16.3.1ConsumerSearchLoyaltyBestowsPower andCanCreateConflict330
16.3.2PreventPowerOutages:PowerIsPrecious andIt’sEasytoUseItUp331
16.3.3BetheExpertonWhereandWhyYour TargetConsumerVisits,(Re)Searches,and Buys331
16.3.4FormShouldFollowFunctionwith ChannelPayandIncentives332
16.3.5TheDirectApproachCanWork,butYou ReallyHavetoKnowWhatYou’reDoing332
16.3.6TheDevilIsintheDetails,andSoIsthe Profit333
16.3.7AvoidFutureShockbyPlanningand ManagingtheRateofChange333
16.4Conclusion:WhoWillBetheMastersof Multi-ChannelDistribution?334
AuthorIndex337
SubjectIndex343
Acknowledgments
Overthepastmanyyears,thetwoofushaveworkedonanumber ofresearcharticles,industryassignments,casestudies,andteaching materialsrelatedtothemeasurementandmanagementofdistribution channelperformance.Someofthisworkwastogetherandmuchwas withothercolleaguesfromindustryandacademia.Forthisbook,the challengethatwesetourselveswastoquilttogetherourownandothers’writingandourexperiencesinteractingwithexecutivesfroma varietyofcompaniesanddistillwhatwebelievethoughtfulmanagers wouldfinduseful.
JimWeber,presidentandCEOofBrooksRunning,shareddetails oftherevivaloftheBrooksbrandandthecompany’sstrategyandhas beensogenerouswithhisinsightsandhistimeinmeetingsandconversationsoveralmostadecade.Jim,weappreciateitmorethanwe cansay!
JesseLaFlamme,CEO,andPaulTurbeville,VicePresidentofMarketing,atPeteandGerry’sOrganicEggsofferedaninsidelookattheir distributionexpansionandtheirdataandpatientlyansweredallof ourmanyquestions.RobertMcDowell,ChiefCommercialOfficerof ChoiceHotels,madetime,multipletimes,todiscussthetravelindustrywithusandgiveushisinsights.MichaelCampbell,CEOofLeather Italia,allowedustotellthestoryofhiscompany’searlyyears.Youall havemadethisbookpossible.
Manyotherfriendsfromindustrymadetimeforconversationsand interviews–ElyseKane,JamieRusso,DougLaue,AniruddhPandit, ErikKiewietdeJonge,SarahSearls,JamesBlack,BillBean,Charlene Eisenberg,RickPaschal,JimLecinski,andJimWalker.Thenuggetsof informationandinsightyousharedhavebeensohelpful.
OurcolleaguesErvShames,ScottNeslin,andDavidMillsreadthe firstfewchaptersandprovidedbothencouragementandcritiquesin equalmeasure,forwhichwecouldnotbemoregrateful.BillBranch andLeandroGuissonihelpeduswithhard-to-getdataforseveral examples.TheverysamewastrueofWaltSalmon,lateProfessorat theHarvardBusinessSchoolandworldfamousretailingexpert.His encouragementhelpedoneofusgetaresearchfootholdindistribution.LeighMcAlister,JohnQuelch,EarlTaylor,ElyseKane,Jan Heide,RobertSpekman,JBSteenkamp,RajVenkatesan,andSandy Japgaveusthepsychologicalboostweneededtocrossthefinishline.
DikshaGautham,KesavVasudevan,GeorgiosMexis,RongGuo, BobBurnham,AjayKumar,andespeciallyAnneGivens,helpedwith industrybackgroundresearchandthedatacompilationforseveral charts.Anne,thankyousomuchforyourpatienthelpthroughthe manyiterationsofsomeoftheFigures.JeanneLevinehelpedus navigatetheprocessofselectingourpublisher.
KirkKardashianworkedtirelesslywithustoeditthechaptersmore thanonce,askingusquestionsalongthewaythathelpedusmake ourpointsclearerandourwritingcrisper.Kirk,thankyouforalways meetingthedeadlinesweimposed,forthefunpicturesandnewspieces youoftensentus,andforyourvaluableediting.
Weowethankstoourrespectiveschools,theTuckSchoolatDartmouthandtheDardenSchoolatUVA,forsupportingandappreciatingourresearchthroughtheyearsandforprovidingtheintellectual environmentwithoutwhichwewouldnothavebeenabletoembark onthisendeavor.Ourstudentshavemotivatedandshapedthisbook withtheirclassdiscussionsandprojects,andwiththeirquestionsover theyears.AspecialthankstothestudentsinKusum’sMulti-Channel Route-to-Marketcoursewhoservedasatestmarketforearlyversions ofmanychaptersandwereinstrumentalinmakingimprovements.
Itisaloteasiertostartabookthanitistofinishone.Ourspouses, AnandNatrajanandKateFarris,havenotonlytoleratedusbeingon Skypeandonthephoneonevenings,nights,andweekendsforlonger thanwecaretoadmitbuthavealsobeenourbiggestsupporters.What wouldwedowithouttheirloveandtheirpatience?
Theresearchandwritinghavebeenrewarding,andoftenevenfun! Inthesamewaythatweenjoyworkingtogetherandlearningfrom eachother,wehopereadersofthisbookwillfindtheirtimewellspent.
Preface
Wehavewrittenthisbooktoprovideguidanceonhowasupplier canmanagethemultipledistributionchannels—physicalanddigital, independentandcompany-owned—throughwhichitsproductsreach endconsumerstoday.Multi-channeldistributionissometimesconflatedwithomni-channelmarketingbutthetwoareverydifferent. Omni-channelisprimarilyaretailconcept.Itrepresentseffortsbya retailertointegrateitsdifferenttouchpointswithconsumerssothatthe consumer’soverallexperiencewiththeretaileris “seamless.”Aconsumermightwanttogetadvicefromasalespersonintheretailer’s brick-and-mortarstore,orderaparticularcolorandsizeforsame-or next-daydeliveryontheretailer’sapp,andperhapsexchangeorreturn partoftheorderbackinthestore.Theretailer,whoownsallofthese interfaces,triestocoordinatethewholeseriesoftransactionsandthe relationshipwiththeconsumer—thesameasyouwouldexperience ifyouwereconversingwithafriendinperson,overemail,onthe phone,orbytext.Thememories,therelationship,andtheflowoftopicsofconversationallremainuninterrupted.Omni-channelisharder toexecutethanitappearsatthesurface,andmostretailersarestill strugglingtoperfectit.
Nowconsideranupstreamsupplierwhosellsitsproductlineto andthroughdifferenttypesofretailers(evenifitalsohasadirect-toconsumerretailoperation).Theretailersareindependentfirmsthat competewithoneanother,andthesupplierdoesnothaveownership controloverthem.Canthesuppliercreateaseamlessomni-channel experienceforconsumersacrossallthoseretailers?Browsingatone retailer,purchasesatanotherretailer,returnsatathird?Mostlikely not.Shouldthesupplierevenmakethatanobjective?Thesameproducts,thesameservices,thesamepriceseverywhere?Insomeinstances, perhaps.Inmanyothers,probablynot.Thesupplier’sperspective,certainlybynecessityandoftenbychoice,isoneofmultiplechannelsand multiplechannelpartners.Ofcourse,thesupplier’smulti-channeldistributionisdrivenbywhere,why,andhowconsumersegmentsshop, anditrequirescoordination.Butthecoordinationisfocusedonthe supplier’svariousindependentchannelsasitstrivestooptimizemarket coverageandsellingeffortwhileminimizingconflictsamongchannel partners.Satisfyingtherequirementsofomni-channelresellersneeds tobepartofasupplier’stoolkit,butthatisonlyoneofmanyimportant considerationsinmulti-channeldistribution.
ConsiderBrooksRunning,acompanywewillcomebacktofrequentlyinthisbook.Asaperformancerunningshoemanufacturer,it wantstomeetrunnerswheretheysearchandwheretheybuy,soit distributesitsfullproductlinethroughmultiplechannels,fromspecialtyrunningstorestoomni-channelgeneralsportinggoodschains andsomepure-playonlineretailers,andithasitsowndirectdigital channel.CompanieslikeBrooksmustdevelopasetofmetricsbywhich tomeasuredistributioncoverageandchannelpartnereffortsandconsiderwhethertheyshouldrewardsomechannelsforbeingusedas showrooms,evenifpurchases,especiallyrepeatones,aremadeelsewhere.Incontrast,manyothersuppliersdon’twanttosellthesame productsatthesamepricesinallchannels,especiallyonline.Burberry decidedtosellafewproductsthrough Amazon.com inexchangefor Amazon’scooperationinweedingoutunauthorizedsellersbutitkeeps mostofitsproductlineforitsownstoresandforselectedretailpartners.Inbothcasesthegoalsarethesame—toreducechannelconflict andpreservetheequityoftheirflagshipbrandswhilestillhavingsufficientdistributioncoverage—eveniftheapproachesaredifferent.
Thewebandmobilehaveoccupiedcenterstageinmostdescriptionsofhowdistributionchannelsareevolving,butthisisfarfromthe wholestory.Evencompaniesthatwere“borndigital”havediscovered thattheyneedtobepresentin,ifnotmaster,traditionaldistribution channels.Walmart-ownedclothingmarketerBonobosnotonlyhasits ownwebandbrick-and-mortar“guideshops”butisalsousingindependentretailerNordstrom.JessicaAlbafoundedtheHonestCompany asane-commercebusiness(proclaimingthatsupermarketsarenot whereconsumersshouldhavetoshopfordiapers,detergents,andthe like)butthecompanyisnowworkinghardtogetitsproductsonthe shelfinthegrocerychannel.Likebrandsthatarerootedinphysical distributionandarenownavigatingdigitalchannels,thesesuppliers toomustfigureoutwhichchannelstheyneedtobeinandwhy,how muchcoverageisright,andhowtoattainandkeepit.
Technologyandtheprospectofgreaterprofitshaveencouraged moresupplierswhotraditionallyreliedonthird-partychannelsnotjust toopenupbutincreasinglyemphasizethedirect-to-consumerroute. Nikehasclearlystateditsgoalofacceleratingitsdirect-to-consumer businessandbecoming“morepersonalatscale.”Competingwiththeir customerscreatestheobviousbutdifficultproblemofchannelconflict.But,inaddition,somesuppliersfindtheyneedothermiddlemen toprovidespecialservicesormustinvestinthoseservicesthemselves, whilealsohavingtoexpandtheirproductlineandmarketingbudgetstoattractconsumertraffictothedirectchannel.HotelcompanieslikeHiltonandChoiceHotelshaveinvestedheavilyinloyalty
programsandadvertisingcampaigns,buttheyalsoneedmeta-search platformslikeTripAdvisortoroutetraffictoBrand.com.Meanwhile, theMarriott-Starwoodmergerwasmotivatedatleastpartlybywantingthescaletobuildupthedirectchannel.SowasAT&T’sacquisition ofTimeWarner.Thesecompaniesmust(a)considerthefullsetofcosts, notjustthebenefitsofgoingdirect,(b)ensurethattheconsumerstill receivesalltheservicessheexpectsalongthepath-to-purchaseand beyond,and(c)figureoutthelong-termstrategicroleoftheirindependentanddirectchannels.
Theconsequencesofmanyofthesemulti-channeldistribution decisionsarehardtoforesee.Withtheplethoraofchoicesavailable today,itisevenmoreimportanttoselectandorganizechannelsina waythatdeliverstheexperienceshoppersdemand,whilegenerating thevolumeandmarginsforeveryoneinthechannelthatareneeded tosustainthebusiness.Keepingthebreadthanddepthofdistribution inlinewiththeevolvingnatureandlocationofdemandisnotonlya questionofhavingaclearstrategy,butalsooneofcarefulmeasurementandmonitoring.Alongwithdistributionchannels,productlines, pricing,andchannelincentivesalsotrendtowardmorecomplexity. Wishingitcouldbesimplerdoesnotmakeitso.Instead,webelieve thatmanagersmustacceptthechallengeofmanagingtheincreasing channelcomplexitywithclearobjectives,goodframeworks,andthe rightmetrics.Ourgoalwiththisbookistohelpmanagers,MBA studentswhowillsoonstepintothoseroles,andtheprofessorswho trainthem,meetthatchallenge.
—KusumL.AilawadiandPaulW.Farris