1. What is a life cycle? Put these stages of our life cycle in order
Teenager
Child
Birth
Middle Aged
Pensioner
Conception
Young Adult
Baby
Alphabet
3.1.4 Product life cycle
3.1.4 Product life cycle

2. Product Life Cycle
A product life cycle shows the sales of a product over time.
There are four stages associated with the product life cycle:
Introduction
Growth
Maturity
Decline
A business may use extension strategies to prolong the life of the product when it is in decline.
3.1.4 Product life cycle

3. Product Life Cycle Introduction Growth Maturity Decline
The product is launched onto the market. This might be expensive as the firm advertises in order to promote the product
Growth
Consumers become familiar with the product and repeat custom is built up
Maturity
Sales reach a peak and start to level off. Competition becomes stronger
Decline
Product sales start to fall and the firm will decide on an extension strategy or discontinuing the product
3.1.4 Product life cycle

4. Product Life Cycle
Marketing Strategy - Product Life Cycle
As you watch this video clip make some additional notes on the product life cycle
3.1.4 Product life cycle

5. Product Life Cycle
Extension Strategies – used when a product reaches maturity to try and extend its period of maturity and stop it going into decline
Targeting new markets
Revitalising the image of the product
Rebranding
Redesigning
Repackaging
These may be supported with a new promotional campaign
Think of a product that is in need of an extension strategy.
How would you extend its life cycle?
3.1.4 Product life cycle

6. Group Activity On A3 paper draw a product life cycle diagram
Choose one large organisation e.g. Apple and carry out some research into its product range
Add your chosen business’ product range to the product life cycle diagram
Do you think that the business has a balanced product portfolio? Justify your answer.
3.1.4 Product life cycle

7. Product Life Cycle
Impact of extension strategies on other aspects of the business:
Operations management
Research and development is required
Finance
Increased costs for product development and promotion
Marketing
The 4ps will need to be considered
People
Has the business the human resource skills required to develop the product
3.1.4 Product life cycle

8. Product Life Cycle – question time
Kit Kat 2 Finger: Two Finger Kit Kat is the UK's number one biscuit. The 2 Finger Kit Kat was launched in the 1930s alongside the 4 Finger variant, and has remained a best–selling biscuit brand ever since. In the beginning, the 2 Finger Kit Kat was only produced as a milk variant, but is now available in Milk, Mint, Orange, Dark and Cookies and Cream. Annually we sell enough 2 Finger Kit Kat to go round the world more than one and a half times! Have a break with two crispy wafer fingers covered with milk chocolate, Kit Kat contains 107 Calories and no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives - a great lunchbox treat! (source:
Look at figure 1. At what phase was Kit Kat in 1930?
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Phase 4 (1)
Look at figure 1. What is phase 2 called?
Introduction
Maturity
Decline
Growth (1)
Have Nestle made efficient use of extension strategies? Justify your answer. (5)
3.1.4 Product life cycle

9. End 5 Minute Test Draw a product life cycle
What is an extension strategy?
Why might an extension strategy impact on the finance department?
End
3.1.4 Product life cycle

10. Product Portfolio Analysis
Product portfolio analysis looks at the range of products and brands (product portfolio) that a firm has under its control. This type of analysis can help a firm identify where every single one of its products is positioned in the market.
Perhaps the most common type of product portfolio analysis that firms use to analyse their product mix is the Boston Matrix.
Richard Branson runs the Virgin Empire. How many different type of products does Virgin have under its control?
3.1.4 Product life cycle

11. Boston Product Matrix
This is a popular method for product portfolio analysis. It consists of four sections that allow a firm to assess its range of products as shown in the diagram below.
3.1.4 Product life cycle

12. High market share in a high growth market
Stars
High market share in a high growth market
These products enjoy increasing sales revenue (they equate to the growth stage of the product life cycle). However, because the market is growing other firms are likely to enter with similar products. There will be fierce competition between these firms to establish their own product.
Characteristics can include:
heavy promotional spending
increased capital investment in order to increase capacity
cash flow can often be negative at first
3.1.4 Product life cycle

13. High market share in a low growth market
Cash Cows
High market share in a low growth market
These are established products (that have reached the maturity stage of the product life cycle). The profits made through these products can be used to finance other products such as rising stars.
Firms will want to establish as many cash cows as possible.
Characteristics can include:
less competition from new firms entering the market
firms can spend less on advertising.
3.1.4 Product life cycle 13

14. Low market share in a high growth market
Problem Children
Low market share in a high growth market
With growth in the market a product can be very successful if there is enough demand. However, some products are unsuccessful and the firm will have to decide whether to persevere with the product or discontinue it.
A problem child (or question mark) will require a lot of attention, particularly in the form of marketing. This will cost the firm time and money.
3.1.4 Product life cycle 14

15. Low market share in a low growth market
Dogs
Low market share in a low growth market
Dogs are unlikely to be kept on by a business. With little growth in the market and little market share the company might see little scope for future profits.
This does not always mean that the company will discontinue the product. If there is a market, then some products can still be profitable.
3.1.4 Product life cycle 15

16. Select one person and one sentence.
A product is called a cash cow because a firm can ‘milk’ the product to finance other areas of the business.
When a firm looks at its range of products it is more likely to concentrate on cash cows and rising stars rather than dogs.
It is hoped that a star can go on to become a cash cow but many stars eventually become dogs.
Stars are often funded from cash cows.
In pairs
Practise round:
Take it in turns to pick one of these sentences and explain it to your partner.
Whole class
Select one person and one sentence.
Can you talk about your allocated sentence for 60 seconds without hesitation or repetition?
If sales of a problem child can be increased there is the opportunity for increased profits in the future and the product can be turned into a cash cow.
3.1.4 Product life cycle

17. Activity - Boston Matrix
In small groups try to think of products that fall into the following categories :
Stars – High market share in a high growth market
Cash Cows – High market share in a low growth market
Problem Children – Low market share in a high growth market
Dogs – Low market share in a low growth market
On A3 paper produce a Boston Matrix showing products that fall under each heading.
3.1.4 Product life cycle

18. Activity - Product Life Cycle
Produce a product life cycle for a product of your choice. Use the internet to see if you can find the timeline of the product. Complete the time stages that the product went through during each stage of its lifetime:
Development
Introduction
Growth
Maturity
Decline
Extension strategy
If you are stuck look at some of the following: video recorders or cassettes, the Sony Walkman, vinyl singles or LPs, Playstation or any other similar type of product.
3.1.4 Product life cycle

19. Question time
The Boston Matrix categorises products in relation to market share and market growth. What name is given to a product that has high market share in a low growth market?
Cash cow
Rising star
Problem child
Dog (1)
Describe how the use of the Boston Matrix may benefit a business. (3)
Where would you place the McDonald’s Big Mac
On the Boston Matrix
On a product life cycle?
Justify your decisions (6)
3.1.4 Product life cycle