...Issues Virgin, a U.K.-based company is one of the top three most recognized brands in Britain. Virgin’s cellular operations in the U.K. had signed up approximately 2.5 million customers in just three years. The company had a history of brand extensions and one of these extensions is the launch of their wireless phone services in the USA called "Virgin Mobile". The key issue for Virgin Mobile is to select a pricing strategy that will both attract and retain subscribers. There are three options for pricing that are under consideration. Dan Schulman, CEO of the Virgin Mobile USA is trying to determine which pricing strategy would be most efficient in attracting and sustaining youth market in the USA. Other factors such as unique features that Virgin Mobile can offer in order to differentiate from the competitors, their marketing strategy and Life Time value (LTV) of the customers and customer retention also need to be part of the decision making criteria. SWOT Analysis Virgin Mobile draws its strengths from the vast experience that the parent company has in the UK market. With a 50-50 joint venture with Sprint, Virgin Mobile has setup MVNO model which has low fixed costs as well as low operation and maintenance requirements. Virgin Xtras is a value added proposition that would appeal to the young customers. The strategic agreement with MTV to deliver entertainment functions as well as the cooperation with Target, Sam Goody music stores and Best Buy, will help Virgin Mobile in marketing...
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...Study:-Virgin Mobile USA: Pricing for the very first time Introduction: Virgin Mobile Company led by Branson, is a British-base company. Dan Schulman was chosen as CEO in 2001. He was trying to find a niche market in US for virgin mobile. US market was under-served and dissatisfy with existing Carriers. Youth were ignored and no carrier had capitalized on this segment. The company entered in a 50-50 joint venture with US-based Sprint in which Virgin will use Sprint network for US services. The goal of the US Virgin mobile was to have one million subscribers by 2002 and 3 million by year four. Virgin mobile was planning to adopt pre-paid system instead of contract. It was intended to serve those that are unable to have credit cards yet. Virgin mobile had to fight many shortcomings that were endemic in the industry. They preferred to introduce new features that will attract youth to use their services. Therefore, they were worried about pricing their services that should be attractive for the consumers, profitable for the company itself, and not rise the reaction of the rivals. 1. Do you agree with Virgin Mobiles target market selection? What are the risks associated with targeting this segment? Indeed yes, the saturated nature of the wireless communication industry in U.S. made it very difficult for the new brands to enter the market. However the (15-29) market segment is yet remained untouched by the big players. If the youth segment remains the main focus for Virgin, the15-29...
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...Virgin Mobile 1. Given Virgin Mobile’s target market (14 to 24-yeard-olds, how should it structure its pricing? The case lays out three pricing options. Which option would you choose and why? In designing your pricing plan, be as specific as possible with respect to the various elements under considerations (e.g. contracts, the size of the subsidies, hidden fees, average per-minute charges, etc.) 2. How confident are you that the plan you have designed will be profitable? Provide evidence of the financial viability of your pricing strategy. 3. the cellular industry is notorious for high customer dissatisfaction. Despite the existence of service contracts, the big carriers churn roughly 24% of their customers each year. Clearly, there is very little loyalty in this market. What is the source of all of this dissatisfaction? How have the various pricing variables (contracts, pricing buckets, hidden fees, off-peak hours, etc.) affected the consumer experience? Why haven’t the big carriers responded more aggressively to customer satisfaction? 4. How do the major carriers make money in this industry? Is there a financial logic underlying their pricing approach? 5. What do you think of virgin Mobile’s value proposition (the VirginXtras, etc.)? What do you think of its channel and merchandising strategy? 6. Do you agree with virgin Mobile’s target market selection? What are the risks associated with targeting this segment? Why have the major carriers been slow...
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...Virgin Mobile USA: Pricing for the Very First Time - CASE STUDY Kiran Chimmiri Virgin is a U.K-based company led by Sir Richard Branson and is one of the three most recognized brands in Britain. Dan Schulman has been appointed CEO of the Virgin Mobile USA and is now trying to determine what pricing strategy would be most efficient in attracting and sustaining customers in the USA. There are several other decisions which also need to be made, such as unique features Virgin mobile can offer to differentiate from their competition, channels to use in order to sell their product and advertising strategy to market the product most efficiently. The company had couple of failures in the past in MVNO and so is more keen in building a robust strategy to venture into the US market. The key issue for Virgin Mobile USA is to select a pricing strategy for market penetration. There are 3 alternatives provided in regards to the key decision: Clone Industry Prices, Price below the Competition & A Whole New Plan. Analysis and Evaluation: The Company decided to target the market which is underserved i.e., in the 15 to 29 age group. For this the company analyzed the strategic issues such as a)Develop value proposition that will appeal the youth market b)Maintain customer loyalty & Life time Value c)Address the unmet needs of the target market d)Make the venture a profitable one e)Don’t want to trigger off competitive reaction The Mobile communication industry in 2001 was highly...
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...Virgin Mobile USA is a brand extension of Virgin, a U.K.-based company founded by Sir Richard Branson. The company led by CEO Dan Schulman was founded under Virgin's mission statement which stated "we believe in making a difference. In our customer's eyes, Virgin stands for value, for money, quality, innovation, fun and a sense of competitive challenge... we look for opportunities where we can offer something better, fresher, and more valuable, and we seize them. We often move into areas where the competition is complacent... We are pro-active and quick to act, often leaving bigger and more cumbersome organizations in our wake." (1) Virgin Mobile USA had a number of things going for them despite a crowded cellular marketplace. For starters, they had a CEO who had experience in telecom as he was formerly an executive with AT&T. Schulman also had experience with successful pricing strategies and technology as former CEO of Priceline.com. The biggest plus for the startup was the support and backing by its management and stakeholders who genuinely wanted to garner success against the perception of another market saturated run poorly with complacency and poor customer service. The bar was set high for success, as Schulman's goal was to have acquired 3 million customers by their fourth year of operation. I believe that Virgin Mobile USA took a big gamble in targeting a niche that was essentially written off by the other players in the industry as being largely unprofitable. Perhaps...
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...PRICING FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME History The brand name "Virgin" arose when Branson and a partner were starting their first business, a record shop. They considered themselves virgins in business. The current Virgin logo was originally sketched on a paper napkin and remains largely unchanged since 1979 Background Differentiation is the key They focus on what they can do best Understanding and meeting customer needs Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson Branson is also known for his adventurous spirit and sporting achievements such as crossing oceans in a hotair-balloon Branson made several world record-breaking attempts “My ability to listen to other people and accept it when their suggestions are better than mine has been useful during my 40 years in business” Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson Richard Branson ,as an entrepreneur, is always on the lookout for new opportunities and ideas that will enable him to gain an advantage over his competitors. Dan schulman Dan schulman was appointed CEO in the summer of 2001 Schulman had 18 years of telecommunications experience with AT&T and was the CEO of priceline.com His goal was to achieve a run rate ;1 million subscribers by the end of the first year and 3 million by year four He established his team and Virgin branded service launched in 2002 Virgin Group Limited Virgin Group Limited is a British branded venture capital conglomerate organisation founded by Sir Richard...
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...Problem Statement Virgin Mobil is venturing into the US market and their launch date is July 2002. The company’s goal is to have one million total subscribers by the end of the first year and three million by year four. In order to achieve their goals, the company has to come up with a competitive pricing strategy to attract and retain customers in an already mature market. Recommended course of action Despite a mature US market, the cellular service industry has a market penetration of only about 15% in the segment comprising of users aged between 15 and 19 years. This segment is characterized by inconsistent cell phone usage, low credit ratings and usage pattern different from the typical businessperson. Hence, Virgin Mobile USA is looking to penetrate this segment and create brand loyalty through attractive pricing and additional feature in mobile entertainment. Based on our analysis, we recommend the following: 1. Aim for the non-contractual prepaid segment with a new pricing structure: Virgin Mobile USA should look to price at 20-30 cents per minute. 2. Increase the off peak hours: The company could extend the off-peak hours by 2 hours, starting at 7pm instead of 9pm. 3. Lowering of Acquisition Cost (AC): Virgin Mobile USA should keep its AC around $130 by passing on a part of the handset cost to the customers. Rationale for Recommendation We can see from Exhibits 1 & 2 that if Virgin Mobile opted for a contractual service plan with rates at par with industry...
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...Virgin Mobile USA: Pricing for the Very First Time Company Background Introduction Case Background Issue of Concern Market Research Analysis All Options Theory Application Calculation Virgin Response Conclusion Recommendations Inviting Questions 2 Introduction Analysis Conclusion Company Background • Virgin, a leading branded venture capital organization, is one of the world's most recognized and respected brands. • Conceived in 1970 by Sir Richard Branson, the Virgin Group has gone on to grow very successful business in sectors ranging from mobile telephony, to transportation, travel, financial services, leisure, music, holidays, publishing and retailing. • Virgin has created more than 200 branded companies worldwide, employing approximately 50,000 people, in 29 countries. Case Background Issue of Concern [Source: company website Available from: http://www.virgin.com/AboutVirgin/WhatWeAreAbout/WhatWeAreAbout.aspx] 3 Introduction Analysis Conclusion Company Background Case Background Issue of Concern 4 Introduction Analysis Conclusion Company Background Case Background Issue of Concern Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson (born 18 July 1950), is an English entrepreneur, best known for his Virgin brand, a banner that encompasses a variety of business organizations. The name Virgin was chosen because a female friend involved in setting down the initial record shop commented that there...
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...Case Analysis “Virgin Mobile USA: Pricing for the Very First Time” Marketing II – BUSI2202U Group 40, Tuesday Session Word Count: Paper 2,912, Appendix 345 Problem Definition The unimpressive performance numbers in the market belonging to Virgin Mobile are mainly due to the lack of an attractive pricing strategy that would appeal to the target market group. The target market group (consumers aged 19 to 25) have different characteristics than other market groups and Virgin Mobile’s current pricing strategy is clearly not complementing those characteristics. As a result, a re-evaluation of the target market group is required in order to choose a better and more correct pricing strategy to appeal to the majority. The re-evaluation should result in a more successful pricing strategy as well as a solid entrance strategy to get the largest amount of exposure. Situation Analysis External Variables The American cellular market was not an easy market to penetrate as it was already overcrowded. Adding another service provider would not be an easy feat for Virgin Mobile. By 2001, there were already six national carriers and many regional players as well. Based on market share there were only four main industry players; Verizon, Cingular, AT&T, and Sprint. These companies controlled over 60% of the market along with VoiceStream, Alltel, US Cellular, Leap and number of smaller carriers. On top of there being many competitors, it was also believed that the cellular market...
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...Virgin Mobile USA : Pricing for the Very First Time 1) Virgin Mobile targets the 14 to 24-year olds market. The case lays out three pricing options. Which option woul you choose and why ? All three options are very interesting for Virgin Mobile to introduce the American market. Considering Virgin Mobile’s background, goals and strategy, I would have choose the option 3 « A Whole New Plan » There are few reasons that explain this choice : Firstly, Virgin Mobile’s cultural values are to be innovative, fun. It also wants to make things different from its competitors and continuously improve customers’ experience through innovation. Indeed the options 3 offer something very different than competitors. Secondly, regarding the segment target, 14–24 years old, it is known that those categories can not pass the credit check with the current carriers due to their lack of revenue. The result is that this target market has been forgotten. Moreover, it is an age where teenagers are looking for “independence” and like to do things without parents. It is why the option 3 fit well. Thirdly, I believe that the option 3 is the one that fit the best selling model that has been chose by Virgin. In fact, it does not require any salespersons...
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...Q.1 Given Virgin Mobile's target market 914 to 24-year-olds), how should it structure its pricing? The case lays out three pricing options. Which option would you choose and why? In designing your pricing plan, be as specific as possible with respect to the various elements under considerations (e.g., contracts, the size of subsidies, hidden fees, average per-minute charges, etc.). I will recommend third pricing strategy, which is to come up with a completely new plan, since we are trying to target a new market segment. The following will be the structure of the new price plan, which employs a revolutionary and aggressive approach. Subscription Type All of the plans will be prepaid thereby completely eliminating the need for indulging into contracts. The subscription will come into packages that resemble consumer electronic packaging and would be plug_and_play when you buy them. Contracts: Since the plans will be all prepaid, the services will be offered without indulging into a contract. This will allow e.g. the teenagers 14-17 to be able to get the subscription because otherwise they are not eligible to sign the contracts. This is clearly an untouched segment and will bring lot of new customers. However the risk of churn will be increased to 6% per month, but that will be catered into pricing calculations given in the end. Handset Subsidies: All customers will be offered handset subsidies at 50% of the handset costs. This will reduce the subscription price and...
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...Given Virgin Mobile’s target market (14 to 24-yeard-olds) How should it structure its pricing? The case lays out three pricing options. Which option would you choose and why? In designing your pricing plan, be as specific as possible with respect to the various elements under considerations (e.g. contracts, the size of the subsidies, hidden fees, average per-minute charges, etc.) There are two different pricing structures for Virgin Mobile. The first pricing structure is for their target market, 14 to 24-year-olds, and any new product entering a saturated market, the pricing should be low in the market. The second pricing structure is that Virgin Mobile is pricing their product in the middle or average of the industry standard. For Virgin Mobile, I believed that the first structure is easier to attract their target market, 14-24 year olds young demographic. The reason is that this age demographic group does not have too much money to use or to pay for their mobile phone bill. This pricing structure would appeal to the target market and help Virgin Mobile to create brand image which is young, interesting, and fun. While this pricing structure strategy would help gain consumers that value pricing when choosing their products, it could also work against Virgin Mobile. This pricing can create the image that the phones do not have as high of a quality if they are priced below the industry low. This structure would achieve the goal of attaining a sizable amount of the market share...
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...is helpful to begin by looking back at its roots. Founded in 1976, Apple built its early reputation on innovative personal computers that were par-ticularly easy for customers to use and as a result were priced higher than those of competitors. The inspiration for this strategy came from a visit by the founders of the company – Steven Jobs and Steven Wozniack – to the Palo Alto research laboratories of the Xerox company in 1979. They observed that Xerox had developed an early version of a computer interface screen with the drop-down menus that are widely used today on all personal computers. Most computers in the late 1970s still used complicated technical interfaces for even simple tasks like typing – still called ‘word-processing’ at the time. Jobs and Wozniack took the concept back to Apple and developed their own computer – the Apple Macintosh (Mac) – that used this consumer-friendly interface. The Macintosh was launched in 1984. However, Apple did not sell to, or share the software with, rival companies. Over the next few years, this non-co-operation strategy turned out to be a major weakness for Apple. Battle with Microsoft Although the Mac had some initial success, its software was...
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...[pic] |Particular | |Page No | |Introduction To The Report |: |7 | |Royal Crown Cola History |: |8 | |The Partex Beverage Ltd |: |8 | |Mission Of The Partex Beverage Ltd |: |9 | |Vission Of The Partex Beverage Ltd |: |10 | |Objective of The Partex Beverage Ltd |: |10 | |Market share of Partex Beverage Ltd |: |12 | |Environmental Concern |: |12 | |The portfolio Matrix |: |14 | |Major Competitors |: |14 | |Marketing Process |: |16 | |Marketing...
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...Science Division, Babson College, Wellesley, Massachusetts 02457 {dpachamanova@babson.edu, kopcso@babson.edu} T his article illustrates how simulation can be used in the classroom for modeling customer behavior in the context of customer lifetime value estimation. Operations research instructors could use this exercise to introduce multiperiod spreadsheet simulation models in a business setting that is of great importance in practice, and the simulation approach to teaching this subject could be of interest also to marketing and accounting instructors. At Babson College, the spreadsheet simulation exercise is part of an integrated one-case teaching day of the marketing, accounting, and operations research disciplines in the full-time MBA program, but the exercise is directly transferable to stand-alone courses as well. In our experience, students have felt empowered by the ability to incorporate their ideas about customer behavior directly into customer lifetime value models, and have appreciated the ease with which simulation enables them to obtain intuition about the sensitivity of their estimates to different assumptions. Key words : customer lifetime value models; spreadsheet simulation models; cross-disciplinary integration;...
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